ORDER -- Item #3505, Price $19.99 Book Description from Back CoverThe fertile Santa Clara Valley-once called the Valley of Heart's Delight and later Silicon Valley-has long been home to a substantial Chinese population. Like other immigrants, they arrived seeking opportunity and armed with survival instincts and the ability to persevere, but the struggles they faced were unique. From 1866 to 1931, five distinct Chinatowns existed in San Jose, each one devastated by mysterious fires or stifled by unjust laws. Early Chinese in the region labored relentlessly, building railroads and levees and toiling as laundrymen, grocers, cooks, servants, field hands, and factory workers. In the 20th century, new industries replaced agriculture, and an influx of Chinese invigorated the valley with innovative ideas, helping it emerge as a leader in technology.This exceptional story is told through compelling images from personal collections and institutional photographic archives under the auspices of the Chinese Historical and Cultural Project (CHCP), whose founders, Lillian Gong-Guy and Gerrye Wong, are the principal authors of this book. The CHCP built the replica Ng Shing Gung temple as a Chinese American museum, which was gifted to the City of San Jose in 1991. For over two decades, Gong-Guy and Wong have been dedicated to CHCP's vision of sharing the history and achievements of Chinese Americans throughout the valley. The Images of America series celebrates the history of neighborhoods, towns, and cities across the country. Using archival photographs, each title presents the distinctive stories from the past that shape the character of the community today. Arcadia is proud to play a part in the preservation of local heritage, making history available to all.
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