Chelsea Rose, of the Oregon Chinese Diaspora Project, will speak on the topic: “The Wah Chung and Company: How a small store helped Ashland’s early Chinese community outfox a racist immigration system.”

Her talk will feature Mr. Wong, a leading Ashland citizen of the time (pictured at left with his wife and daughter).

Following Chelsea Rose’s talk, Peter Finkle of WalkAshland will tell stories, both humorous and sad, about Ashland’s Chinese community in the early 1900s.

(This event is not sponsored or endorsed by the Library.)

Also – on Saturday, May 18 at the Railroad Park Gazebo (starting at 10:30 am), there will be Historic Preservation awards and Public Art recognitions; remarks by the Mayor; followed by a one hour walking tour led by Peter Finkle, to see and learn about the five new historic sidewalk medallions. One of the five bronze medallions honors the Wong family and Ashland’s small Chinese community at the time. Register for the event >>

These events are part of Ashland’s Historic Preservation Week, proudly sponsored by the City of Ashland, Advisory Committees for Historic Preservation and Public Arts, Ashland Chamber of Commerce, SOU Laboratory of Anthropology, Oregon Chinese Diaspora Project and WalkAshland.

Maggie Gee was our Grand Marshall at the Jacksonville parade in 2010. She also did a book talk about her true story in “Sky High.”

The other Chinese American woman featured in the article was Hazel Ying Lee from Portland.

These two women were the only Chinese Women Air Force Service Pilots in World War II.