The Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882 prevented all but a few Chinese to enter the United States legally. In 1906, a major earthquake and resulting fire in San Francisco destroyed public records, allowing many Chinese to claim that they had been born in San Francisco. These men, with newly established c

In 1906 Ng Shee Lee packed her clothes and belongings in this trunk and left China for America. It was a difficult trip. She slept next to the noisy engine room; arriving tired and sick in San Francisco she was met by the devastating 1906 earthquake. Ng Shee then made her way alone by train across C

Mr. Lee only wore these slippers in his home or with his traditional Chinese clothes on special occasions. The slipper sole was thick, flat, inelastic, and shorter than the upper sole to give enough spring for walking. For much of his early life, the Chinese New Year was Lee’s only day of rest fro

This historical investigation is aligned with the C3 Framework and is from C3teachers.org. The goal of this inquiry is to help students develop their thinking in terms of continuity and change through

Imagine what it felt like to be an immigrant arriving at Ellis Island or Angel Island during the late 1800’s and early 1900’s. Could you pass the interview to enter the country? Part of an OurStory module entitled Coming to America, this activity includes interview questions,

In this set of classroom activities developed for the exhibition America on the Move, students will use visual, analytical, and interpretive skills to examine primary sources including historical maps to answer questions about farming, transportation, immigration, and racism in

Ocean liners were ships of transport for immigrants and machines of leisure, status, and national prestige.  Students will learn about the roles that these ships played during the massive immigration of people to the United States from both Europe and Asia during the late 19th