Title
Salem Pioneer Cemetery Chinese Shrine Project: Preserving Community Histories of the Chinese Community in Salem, Oregon.
Date
5-31-2018 1:00 PM
End Time
31-5-2018 1:30 PM
Location
WUC Willamette Room
Session Chair
Robin Smith
Session Chair
Kate Miller
Session Title
Anthropology Symposium
Presentation Type
Presentation
Faculty Sponsor(s)
Kate Miller
Abstract
In September 2017, a Chinese shrine was uncovered in Salem Pioneer Cemetery. Due to the historical erasure of Chinese immigrant presence in Salem, exemplified by the city council order to burn Chinatown to the ground in 1903, the shrine is an invaluable artifact for preserving and re-exploring Chinese histories in Salem. This proposed project seeks to explore what the forgotten Chinese shrine can tell us about the historical presence, impacts, and experiences of Chinese immigrants in Salem. How did Salem City Council’s decision to burn down Chinatown in 1903 affect the Chinese community in Salem? Is there any evidence that supports the claim that the event was a racially motivated purge? What are the personal histories of the Chinese Americans who lived in Salem during this time, and what memories were carried on through their relatives who remained in the area? With this in mind, I hope to frame my research as a Community Memory Project. This would form a collection of institutional histories in addition to local memories and personal recollections of descendants and current Chinese American residents in Salem.
Recommended Citation
Douville, Melanie, "Salem Pioneer Cemetery Chinese Shrine Project: Preserving Community Histories of the Chinese Community in Salem, Oregon." (2018). Academic Excellence Showcase Schedule. 133.
https://digitalcommons.wou.edu/aes_event/2018/all/133
Salem Pioneer Cemetery Chinese Shrine Project: Preserving Community Histories of the Chinese Community in Salem, Oregon.
WUC Willamette Room
In September 2017, a Chinese shrine was uncovered in Salem Pioneer Cemetery. Due to the historical erasure of Chinese immigrant presence in Salem, exemplified by the city council order to burn Chinatown to the ground in 1903, the shrine is an invaluable artifact for preserving and re-exploring Chinese histories in Salem. This proposed project seeks to explore what the forgotten Chinese shrine can tell us about the historical presence, impacts, and experiences of Chinese immigrants in Salem. How did Salem City Council’s decision to burn down Chinatown in 1903 affect the Chinese community in Salem? Is there any evidence that supports the claim that the event was a racially motivated purge? What are the personal histories of the Chinese Americans who lived in Salem during this time, and what memories were carried on through their relatives who remained in the area? With this in mind, I hope to frame my research as a Community Memory Project. This would form a collection of institutional histories in addition to local memories and personal recollections of descendants and current Chinese American residents in Salem.