"The Awakening Came with the Railroad": The history and archaeology of Southern Oregon’s Chinese Railroad Workers

Summary

On December 17, 1887, the final spike connecting the railroad between Oregon and California was driven in Ashland, Oregon.  Like earlier railroads, this track was largely constructed by Chinese workers.  However, due to experience and expertise, these men were able to demand better pay and working conditions than their earlier counterparts. Upon completion, the railroad continued to provide economic opportunities for Chinese residents in Southern Oregon. The Wah Chung Company supplied goods, groceries, and ran railroad crews across the state well into the twentieth century, providing both financial security and a means to navigate some of the challenges associated with the discriminatory legislation of the day.  In many ways, the Wah Chung Company was able to create a small community resilient to the challenges associated within living in rural areas during the height of the Chinese Exclusion-era. 

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• Placemaking Within (the) Diaspora: Creating and Living Novel Landscapes and Places   •
• Society for Historical Archaeology 2018

Keywords

Spatial Coverage

Individual & Institutional Roles

Contact(s): Society for Historical Archaeology

Record Identifiers

PaperId(s): 863