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 CHCP enriched the event by sharing historical documents, photos, and video from Chinese American Flower Grower families, offering a deeper connection to their legacy.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.

The new documentary film, Valor and Memory, explores the complex historical relationship between the United States and China. It is the story of the “Flying Tigers,” American pilots who traveled to China to help its people repel a brutal invasion; the “Chinese Tigers,” Chinese pilots who earned their wings at American flight schools in places like Arizona and Texas, then returned home to defend their homeland; and what might be called the “Chinese American Tigers,” young men raised in big city “Chinatown” neighborhoods, sent by the U.S. Army to China for their language and cultural knowledge as much as their technical skills. 

The “Flying Tigers,” the “Chinese Tigers” and “Chinese American Tigers” have almost all passed into history. But their valor and sacrifices deserve to be remembered. Explore their lives and legacies, and why their stories are now being celebrated again.

CHCP Member Min Zhou is one of the film's producers, and CHCP Director Brenda Wong and CHCP Advisory Board Member Teddy Sue provided support to the film's production (watch for their names in the film's final credits). WWII Veterans Harry Lim and Wing Lai, who are featured in this film, were also featured in CHCP's WWII film, Our Story of War and Remembrance. Watch a shortened version of CHCP's film on our WWII Project page.

By Sue Gong Lee, CHCP Member

I have lived in Santa Clara County for 49 years and I remembered there were some orchards and farmland in the valley when I moved here in 1975. As Silicon Valley grew, many of these farmlands were replaced with housing and businesses. I took my three children to Emma Prusch Farm Park in the 1980’s and it was the first time they went to a farm. They loved it.

When CHCP offered a tour of Veggielution which is located in Emma Prusch Farm Park, I jumped at the chance to visit it. I was not aware of this organization and was surprised at what a hidden gem I discovered. Veggielution is a non-profit organization that operates a 2-acre community farm within Emma Prusch Farm Park. Their mission is to create a more sustainable food system and to promote healthy eating habits by providing access to fresh, locally grown produce and by offering educational programs and workshops.

Veggielution has a permanent exhibit called Growing AgriCultural Roots that tells the significant contributions made by Chinese, Japanese, and Filipino immigrants in the agricultural development of Santa Clara Valley during the 1880s through the 1960s. It was really wonderful to see and read the historical signs which has pictures or quotes from residents. I was really surprised to see some of our very own CHCP members Gerrye Wong, Connie Young Yu, and Liz Fong Chew’s family being featured (view their quotes by clicking on the photos to enlarge).

This is a great place to visit and bring the family. They are open on Fridays and Saturdays. On the 1st Saturday of each month, they have special events where visitors can explore the farm, participate in their activities, learn about community resources, and bring home fresh fruit and vegetables. Veggielution is located inside Emma Prusch Farm Park, 647 South King Road, San Jose, CA 95116  (408)753-6705. Their website is veggielution.org.

Congratulations to CHCP Student Docent Cultural Ambassador Program (SDCAP) member Kasey Walker. Her poem entry in the Contemporary Asian Theater Scene (CAT)'s Dr. Jerry Hiura Inspiration Award challenge for 2024 was recognized as one of the top 5 awardees.

Kasey was also part of the CHCP SDCAP team for the "Uncovering Asian Experiences" video, which placed as an awardee in the Dr. Jerry Hiura Awards challenge in 2022.

Read her award-winning poem for the 2024 contest's theme of "Human Connections in the Digital Age" below:

An Orientation / Training class was held for CHCP's Student Docent Cultural Ambassador Program (SDCAP) at History Park San Jose. Visit our SDCAP page for information about this rewarding program for high school / college students and their parents.

By Connie Young Yu, CHCP Advisory Board Member

In celebration of Constitution Week 2024, Citizen Wong, a one-man play about the first Chinese American activist, Wong Chin Foo, had two performances – one in San Jose and the other in Saratoga. I was invited by CHCP President Dave Yick to participate in a panel discussion following the performance.  My pioneer ancestors suffered greatly from relentless Chinese exclusion laws, and so this is personal. I gladly agreed to be on the panel for both programs.

Sunday afternoon, September 22
Saratoga Public Library

Citizen Wong comes to the Saratoga library. The community room has a capacity of 130 and every seat is filled.  We are made welcome by librarian Lisa Liu, and tea and cookies are on a side table for us. Enter Wong Chin Foo, as played by Richard Chang. He is as powerful and mesmerizing as the last time, connecting with the audience with references to this town of Saratoga, where several thousand Chinese workers cleared land and built the roadways. He speaks again of the large Chinatown in San Jose burning down and Yung Wah Gok of Heinlenville.  He takes us back in time – all the while his speech evoking today’s social turmoil over immigration and the never-ending battle against racial injustice. The audience is mesmerized by Citizen Wong, and when it’s over, everyone wants to talk about it.

Richard Chang as Citizen Wong returns to join the panel discussion, moderated by Yvonne Kwan, Professor of Asian American studies at SJSU. We start on the relevance and substance of Citizen Wong. There’s Professor of Anthropology Barbara Voss, who heads the Market Street Archaeology Project at Stanford, and Professor Loan Le of SF State University speaking on civic involvement today and that local politics matter, and I’m there with family documentation. I show the Certificates of Residence of my grandfather and others, and this time I hold up a placard copy of a receipt in Chinese for a dollar donation – a day’s wages - from a Mr. Ng of San Jose toward legal fees to fight the Geary Act in the Supreme Court. The audience then enthusiastically takes over with questions and commentary. "Why isn’t the Chinese Exclusion Law taught as part of American history? It’s the root of anti-Asian hate!" "How did it last for 61 years?" ...

After the discussion people stay involved, lingering to chat and have their pictures taken with Citizen Wong. We are in solidarity with his bold activism of the 1880s. We have been immersed in a drama of American history and emerge inspired and motivated.

Citizen Wong lives!

Be sure to read about the 09/20/24 San Jose performance of Citizen Wong: 
09/20/24 CHCP Speaker Series: "Citizen Wong: Portraying the First Asian American Civil Rights Leader"