Material Culture of the Chinese in America

Join Dr. Christopher Merritt of the Utah State Historic Preservation Office for a workshop on identifying the unique material culture of the experience for Chinese in the United States during the 19th and early 20th century. Learn about the history of China during the 19th century, what were the push factors that led to the Chinese migration around the globe, and a deep dive with hands-on examples of the objects these immigrants brought with them and purchased through complex mercantile networks. In a new land, railroad workers, miners, merchants, business owners, and other forms of Chinese immigrants continued to eat a diet from home, even in as rural of locations as Utah. Learn how not just to identify these objects but also how these small items tell big stories of these oftentimes forgotten contributors to our nation’s history.

This event is free but a cash donation to the Silver Reef Museum for allowing us access for this presentation would be greatly appreciated.