Chinese mining history in Eastern Oregon uncovered
By Logan Bagett on Friday, June 17th, 2022 in Eastern/Southeast Oregon News More Top Stories
CANYON CITY – There will be a program on June 24th called “Uncovering the History of Chinese Mining in Eastern Oregon”at the Canyon City Community Hall. It’s free, open to the public, and is presented by researchers Don Hann and Katie Withee. Find the release from the Oregon Historical Society below:
(Press Release from the Oregon Historical Society)
| SERIES: OHQ ON THE ROAD Uncovering the History of Chinese Mining in Eastern Oregon Presented by Don Hann, William F. Willigham, and Katee Withee Friday, June 24, 2022, at 7pm At Canyon City Community Hall in Canyon City Free and open to the public |
| Although Chinese immigrants dominated placer gold mining in eastern Oregon and made up a large part of the population during that time, historical narratives have generally portrayed them as small populations of unskilled laborers who subsided on scraps of gold recovered by rewashing the waste rocks abandoned by white miners. Working as part of the statewide Oregon Chinese Diaspora Project, researchers Don Hann and Katee Withee have uncovered histories of Chinese mining partnerships in eastern Oregon — including business records, clothing, tools, and work and home sites — that shift our understanding of Oregon history and connect it to the global Chinese diaspora. This program is part of the OHQ on the Road series, with programs inspired by the Winter 2021 “Chinese Diaspora in Oregon” special issue. Program attendees are encouraged to visit the Grant County Historical Museum, which is just a block from the community center in Canyon City and which will stay open extra hours on June 24 so folks can visit on the way to the 7pm program. Thank you, Grant County Historical Museum! And thank you as well to 1188 Brewing Company, which will have available for sale at the program their Gam Saan ale, dedicated to the Chinese miners who worked in Grant County. Event attendees are also encouraged to sign up for tours of Kam Wah Chung on Saturday, June 25. Tour spots can go fast, so don’t miss out on this opportunity — especially if you are traveling from out of town to attend this program! Learn More |
