By Kimberly Eng Lee, CHCP Co-Vice President of Marketing/Outreach

This year, CHCP started researching and interviewing Chinese American Chrysanthemum growers in the Santa Clara Valley as part of its new Oral History Project. On November 22, CHCP, the Chinatown History and Culture Association (CHCA), the Bay Area Chrysanthemum Growers Association (BACGA), and Stanford University joined forces to honor the histories of Asian Chrysanthemum growers with a corsage-making workshop.

Sydney Kaminski, a Stanford student, recently discovered that floral corsages were popular fashion accessories worn to the “Big Game” a century ago. Corsages purchased on their way to the annual football matchup between Stanford and Cal were from local Asian American farmers on land leased from Stanford or nearby Bay Area family farms. Kaminski coordinated the workshop with posters about Stanford’s floral tradition; CHCA and BACGA arranged for all the large blooms, accessories, and corsage-making instructions; and CHCA donated a selection of Chinese pastries from San Francisco’s Chinatown. CHCP enriched the event by sharing historical documents, photos, and video from Chinese American Flower Grower families, offering a deeper connection to their legacy.

CHCA Co-Founder and CHCP Advisory Board Member Lee Liu Chin said that the florist tended hundreds of Chrysanthemums all week for the event. “They arrived in bunches as buds, and have been moved in and out of the walk-in coolers to maximize the size of every flower.” Members of BACGA excitedly identified their key founders in pictures; other attendees were amazed to see lush farms and learn more about Chinese Americans’ early contributions to Santa Clara Valley. Kaminski said, “I loved seeing everyone interact with your [CHCP] table." CHCA Co-Founder George Chin remarked, “What a great turnout yesterday at The Farm. We did well.” He added, “I’m glad we had the opportunity for the community to revisit this important chapter of the Chinese flower growers’ legacy within Stanford’s football culture and the University’s history.”

Chrysanthemums were first cultivated in China in 15th Century B.C., during the Shang Dynasty, primarily as a culinary herb. Flowers and leaves were brewed into teas, and roots were used as a remedy. But the Chrysanthemum's enduring influence is the result of its deep cultural significance, symbolizing longevity, rejuvenation, nobility, and the fleeting nature of life. Chrysanthemums were introduced to Japan during the Tong Dynasty (6th to 8th Century). Japan being greatly influenced by Chinese culture, was so taken with the flower that they assigned it a royal status. It is featured in artwork and clothing, and in some cultures used as a memorial flower to honor loved ones. Nowadays, Chrysanthemums, commonly known as "mums," are a key component of flower production in states like California, Florida, and Texas, with a strong focus on potted varieties. Even in 1968, Chrysanthemums were the single biggest crop in Santa Clara County – accounting for almost 15% of the agricultural industry. The majority of flower growers in Santa Clara Valley originated from the same region in southern China as the former workers of the Stanford Farm.  These workers played a pivotal role in commercializing the flower-growing industry in the Valley. Prolific during autumn, the Chrysanthemum generally symbolizes friendship, happiness, harvest, and goodwill.