Chinese in Boston: 1870-1965

Images of America: Massachusetts

by Wing-kai To, Chinese Historical Society of New England

Chinese Americans in Boston trace their historical origins to pioneering settlements of merchants, workers, and students in different parts of New England. After the 1880s, hundreds of Chinese arrived in Boston. Beginning as a bachelor male-dominated society, the Chinese in Boston gradually developed stronger bonds of family and community life. Spared natural disasters that characterized the Chinese immigrant experience in the West, Boston's Chinatown nonetheless faced challenges of urban renewal and environmental degradation. Through their participation in community organizations, merchant activities, educational opportunities, and civic protests, the Chinese in Boston persevered, simultaneously maintaining their Chinese identity and acculturating into America. They formed a close-knit community that distinguished Boston's Chinatown as one of the oldest and most enduring Chinese neighborhoods on the East Coast.

128 pages, Paperback

First published February 4, 2008

Reviews

[Alexandra · Rating 3 out of 5]

I've been on a kick researching Asian-American history, and this was a really fun read for more info.

[Hom Sack · Rating 5 out of 5]

Short on narrative but made up in interesting photos. Most interesting is Toy Len Goon (pp.91, 92, 113), Maine's Mother of the Year 1952, and whose family move to Boston that same year.

Maine History Online - Toy Len Goon: Mother of the Year (https://www.mainememory.net/sitebuild...)