AN ABSTRACT OF THE DISSERTATION OF Maryanne Maddoux for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Applied Anthropology presented on May 6, 2019. Title: At River’s Edge: An Examination of Overseas Chinese Settlements in Northern Oregon during the Exclusion Act Era. Abstract approved: ______________________________________________________ David Brauner The written history of Oregon spanning the late 18th and early 19th centuries lacks evidence of the contributions made by the Overseas Chinese communities who existed in Oregon during this period. The purpose of this examination is to study the Overseas Chinese communities which resided in the cities of The Dalles, Portland, and Astoria during the Exclusion Act Era (1882-1943).
The examination of these communities in Oregon will enhance the historical record by adding an in-depth examination of Overseas Chinese populations and occupations in these northern cities, as well as, describing the typical experiences of Overseas Chinese individuals. Previously, little information was examined in an effort to connect or compare Exclusion Act Era Overseas Chinese communities in Oregon, and less information was compiled to examine the daily lives of the individuals whom comprised these communities. By contrasting and comparing these specific Exclusion Act Era Overseas Chinese communities in Oregon, it is probable to provide more accurate estimates of population size and population composition. Further, from this examination, it is possible to identify evidence of social and economic networks in these communities which are otherwise not apparent in the written record.
©Copyright by Maryanne Maddoux May 6, 2019 All Rights Reserved At River’s Edge: An Examination of Overseas Chinese Settlements in Northern Oregon during the Exclusion Act Era by Maryanne Maddoux A DISSERTATION submitted to Oregon State University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy Presented May 6, 2019 Commencement June 2019 Doctor of Philosophy dissertation of Maryanne Maddoux presented on May 6th, 2019 APPROVED: Major Professor, representing Applied Anthropology Director of the School of Language, Culture, and Society Dean of the Graduate School I understand that my dissertation will become part of the permanent collection of Oregon State University libraries. My signature below authorizes release of my dissertation to any reader upon request. Maryanne Maddoux, Author ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS The author expresses sincere appreciation to my doctoral committee, comprised of Dr. David Brauner, Dr.
Elaine Pedersen, Dr. Leah Minc, Dr. Bryan Tilt, and Dr. Harvey, for continually providing support and guidance throughout the research and writing process.
Each member of my doctorial committee was instrumental in the progression and supposition of this dissertation. Without the contribution of their valuable time and considerable advice, this project was otherwise not possible. Many local historians, archivists, and archaeologists were also fundamental to this project. Eric Gleason and Jacqueline Cheung provided the initial research and excavations for The Dalles Chinatown site.
Connie Lenzen shared research advice and introductions to a wealth of connections. Jonathan Lipman provided advice regarding researching the history of China and a beginning bibliography. Archivist Liisa Penner provided guidance regarding the history of Astoria and assistance in navigating the Clatsop County archives. A huge thank you to National Archives volunteer, Trish Hackett Nicola who contributed advice via direct correspondence and her online blog.
I also wish to thank my fellow graduate students for all of their support and advice throughout graduate school. Lastly, I wish to thank my family for supporting me unconditionally through this project. I could not have done this project without my loving husband Steven who supports me emotionally, and serves as my first draft editor. Thank you to my amazing daughter Bailey who gives her time, patience, and support, by coming with me on numerous museum and site visits.
And to my mom and dad, Fey and Jim, who did not let me give up, no matter how impossible this task may have seemed. TABLE OF CONTENTS Page 1 Introduction.1 Objectives and Purpose……………………………………………………7 1.5 Significance………………………………………………………………10 2 Method and Theory.3 Archival Research of Primary and Secondary Sources……………….5 Archaeological Excavations and Artifacts…………………………….26 3 Lifeways in China………………….2 Geography and Population ………………………………………………33 3.3 Lineage and Social Networks………………….44 4 Overseas Chinese in the United States…………………………………………….1 Overview…………………………………………………………………46 TABLE OF CONTENTS (Continued) Page 4.2 The Western United States….55 5 Political and Social Aspects of Life in the United States………………………….4 Evidence in the Material Record………….2 Location and Population ………….3 Class Distinctions and Public Acceptance……………………………….2 Location and Population……………………………………….3 Class Distinctions and Pubic Acceptance………………………………100 7.2 Location and Population……………………………………………….107 TABLE OF CONTENTS (Continued) Page 8.112 9 Community Organization and Networking……………………………………….2 Immigration Enforcement and Altered Family Composition………….3 Invented Families and Business Partnerships……………………….4 Secret Societies and Tongs…………………….131 10 Summary and Future Research………………………………………………….2 Implications and Consequences……………………………………….3 Overseas Chinese Occupations………………….4 Research Questions Revisited…………………………………………144 10.156 LIST OF FIGURES Figure Page 1.1 American Born Chinese Brigade………………………….2 Portland’s Chinatown at the intersection of 2nd & Washington………….3 The Chinese Passive…………….4 Girls in Chinese Home S. 14th and Nell St. Portland, OR August 30, 1890….5 Oregon Native Sons…….1 Timeline of Recent Chinese Time Periods……….3 Pearl River Delta Map……………………………………………….4 Shipping off Canton 1849……………………………….5 Bridges by Which the Night Police of the Roofs Cross the Streets, Canton, China…………………………………………………………………………….6 Chinese Family including Female Members…………………………………….8 1900 Chinese Women’s Slippers for Bound Feet…………….
Lee Behind the Counter……………………………………………….2 Across the Continent…………………………………………………………….3 Photograph of Goon Dip and Family in 1911……………………………………50 4.4 Toy Vendor………………………………………………………………………52 LIST OF FIGURES (Continued) Figure Page 4.5 Chinese Brigade, Portland Oregon 1900……………………………………….6 Columbia River Map……………………………………………………….1 Map of Astoria, Oregon……………………………………………………….2 Salmon Cannery-Columbia River……………………………………………….3 Looking North Across Bond Street………………………………………………79 6.4 Astoria Oregon Sanborn Map……………………………………………….5 Astoria Oregon Sanborn Map……………………………………………….6 Astoria Oregon Sanborn Map……………………………………………….7 Astoria Oregon Index Sandborn Map……………………………………………82 6.8 Fish Cutting Machines Replace Chinese Laborers………………………………85 6.9 Clatsop area Chinese Population……………………………………….10 Wah Sing and His Wife…………….11 1922 Astoria, Oregon Fire………………………………………………….12 Chinese Artifacts in Clatsop County Heritage Museum…………………….13 The Garden of the Surging Waves………………………………………….1 Map of Portland, Oregon……………………………………………………. to Ash St…………………………………………………………. to Alder St………………………………………………………96 7.4 Chinatown Portland, Oregon…………………………………………………….6 Hung Far Low Sign…………………………………………………………….102 LIST OF FIGURES (Continued) Figure Page 7.7 Lan Su Chinese Garden……………………………………………………….1 Street Map of The Dalles, Oregon………………………………………….2 The Dalles Chinatown Main Street, Sanborn Map…………………………….3 Artifacts from The Dalles Chinatown Site 35WS453………………………….4 The Wing Hong Tai Building…………………………………………………. First Street Business Owners and Residents……………………………115 8.6 Chinatown – The Dalles Archaeology………………………………………….1 Seid Back, Portland…………………………………………………………….2 Chong Wong Chong……………………………………………….3 1904 Altar from Bow On Tong Hall……………………………………………124 9.4 Hip Sing Association Building…………………………………………………130 10.1 The Columbia River between The Dalles and Portland……………………….2 Chinese in Oregon………………………………………………………….4 Decorative Incense Burner…………………………………………………….5 Lan Su Garden………………………………………….6 35WS453 210 East First Street…………………………………….7 Chinese Sailors Portland, Oregon 1946……………………………………….155 LIST OF TABLES Table Page 4.1 Estimated Overseas Chinese Population in Oregon.1 Exclusion Era Laws Impacting Oregon………………………………….1 Astoria, Oregon Chinese Businesses……………………………………….1 1898 Polk’s Portland City Directory Listing of Chinese Businesses…….2 Chinese Population in Portland, Oregon 1860-1950………….1 1910 Polk’s Wasco, Hood River, and Sherman County Directory Listing of Chinese Businesses…………………………………………………………110 9.1 Comparison of family kinship structure in southeast China and new social structures in the western United States…………………………………….132 1 Chapter One - Introduction The settling of the western United States in the late 19th and early 20th centuries is an important part of American History.
Fictional tales and historic accounts of the California Gold Rush, the Continental Railroad, and the Oregon Trail continue to spark the imaginations of people worldwide. This rugged and unpredictable period of history is recounted in history books, movies, on television, and throughout fictional novels. These historic accounts tend to provide details concerning only large-scale events and/or wealthy individuals; precluding the day to day lives and experiences of those early Euro- American explorers and settlers. Even today, written history focuses primarily on the experiences of the wealthy Euro-American settlers.
History books have a powerful impact on how Americans view their history and their surroundings. There are countless parks, museums, and works of art which celebrate American history. Historic preservationists continuing working to protect buildings and sites associated with those Euro-American settlers who envelope the pages of American history books. The ability to interact with physical historic reminders provides individuals with connections to the past, reinforces the history personal to them, and provides a common bond for all Americans.
The preservation and re-creation of sites which celebrate only Euro-American ancestry tell an incomplete story of the past, and by the exclusion of those who are not of European ancestry, damage minorities by exclusion (Saito 2009; Takaki 2008). 2 The contributions of Overseas Chinese communities and the accomplishments of individuals in the western United States are significantly absent from written history. Additionally, the historic preservation of sites associated with Overseas Chinese influences are not prevalent in the western United States. Prior academic attempts to fill in our lack of knowledge have primarily focused on Overseas Chinese workers who provided labor to the railway and mining industries (Baxter & Allen 2015; Chace & Evans 2015; Chen 1980; James 1995; Lai, Yung and Chang2006; LaLande 1981; Mead 1994; Polk 2015; Tsai 1983; Wegars 1993).
Research concerning Overseas Chinese laborers is only a starting point. While being an important first step, the research is incomplete and may support the portrayal of Overseas Chinese individuals in the West as being male sojourners with little incentive to invest in their temporary homes. The written history of Oregon follows this pattern of historical exclusion, barely examining and reporting on the contributions of Overseas Chinese populations in the State during the Exclusion Act Era (1882 – 1943). Despite the written history of Oregon generally failing to document the contributions of the Overseas Chinese, the archaeological record and primary documentation do not discriminate.
For instance, the American Born Chinese brigade of the National Guard is rarely noted in historical accounts of Oregon. Fortunately, the Oregon Historical Society has maintained photographic evidence of their presence in Portland in 1898 (Figure 1. The brigade is believed to have had a unit of 43 men who practiced together but were never involved in active duty (Stobridge 1994:103). Examination of the archaeological record and primary documentation indicate Overseas Chinese individuals were essential community 3 members that helped to establish businesses, provided essential services, and participated in their local communities and governments (Harrington 2010; Lalande 1993; Maddoux 2016; Wernz 2001).1 American Born Chinese Brigade, Portland Oregon.
ORHI Negative No. (Oregon Historical Society Research Library, 1901.) 4 During the Chinese Exclusion Act Era Overseas Chinese individuals were subjected to continually restrictive legislation and a hostile social environment. These impacts were far reaching and included limiting types of employment, places of residence, and family composition through the restricted admittance of women and children (Greenwood 1993; Soennichison 2011). These factors all influenced the material record as communities made adjustments to endure difficult economic and social factors (Figure 1.
These factors, despite their impact, are generally absent in commonly used archival resources such as the United States Census and Sandborn Insurance maps. Although these resources are valuable, they often times provide only limited information such as presence or absence. Language barriers, discriminatory practices, and an unwillingness to disclose information on the part of the Overseas Chinese communities and individuals, may have contributed to these omissions. Despite restrictive legislation, it is my opinion, that many Overseas Chinese individuals and communities were resistant to external social and legal pressures.
Ultimately, the Overseas Chinese were resilient against these influences by utilizing family name associates and tongs to maintain social ties.2 Portland’s Chinatown at the intersection of 2nd & Washington. ORHI Negative No. (Oregon Historical Society Research Library, 1890.) 6 Overseas Chinese communities, to varying degrees, were able to communicate with one another regardless of geographical distance and support individuals despite relocations and loss of income. I originally found evidence of this through archaeological research associated with site 35WS453 in The Dalles, Oregon.
Immigration documentation for the inhabitants of the site demonstrates that at least a few individuals traveled frequently through Oregon and Washington (Maddoux 2016). In addition, the local newspaper, The Dalles chronicle noted political alliances between communities (Figure.3 The Chinese Passive. (The Dalles Daily Chronicle, 1893.) 7 Objectives and Purpose 1.1 At this point in time a comprehensive resource does not exist pertaining to the Overseas Chinese population of Oregon during the Exclusion Act Era.