Geary Act Panel Discussion with Connie Young Yu, Barre Fong & Gordon Chang

In bringing Asian American & Pacific Islander Heritage Month to a close, CHSA presents a panel discussion about certificates of residence during the exclusion era of the U.S. Chinese residents were mandated to carry these certificates as proof of legal entry and the right to remain in the country.

This presentation with Connie Young Yu addresses the “paper trail” of Chinese exclusion and the documentation of Chinese American history. They will discuss the Geary Act Project, a history archival project aimed at collecting public Geary Act certificates of residence, or “yellow cards,” kept by descendants of Chinese pioneers and “persons other than laborer.” The purpose of the Project is to reveal a hidden chapter in American history about an unconstitutional act toward a race of people, with far reaching consequences: for truth and justice, for today, for all.

The program moderated by Chuck McClain will include a discussion with keynote speaker Gordon Chang, professor of the first Asian American history course at Stanford University and author of “Ghosts of Gold Mountain, The Epic Story of the Chinese Who Built the Transcontinental Railroad.” Gordon will recount the journey of Asian American studies and the importance of archiving and documentation.

Doors will open at 12:30pm.
Program starts at 1pm.

Event Media Recap

Thank you for being part of our event! Below are links to media highlights you may want to revisit or share:

📽️ Event Livestream Recording
Watch the full event recording here:
👉 YouTube Livestream

🎬 Highlight Video by Barre Fong
A edited short recap video:
👉 Watch Barre Fong’s Video

📷 Slideshow Photos by Connie
View Connie’s photo slideshow from the event:
👉 View Connie’s Slideshow