Upcoming Program Events

Every month you are invited to attend a reading, walking tour, gallery talk or book signing as part of our regular programming. We encourage you to attend these monthly events and bring a guest or two. We look forward to seeing you soon at the California Historical Society. Unless otherwise noted all events will be held at the California Historical Society's headquarters located at 678 Mission Street, San Francisco, CA 94105.

Chinatown Stories: A Visual Presentation Book Talk and Signing by Judy Yung
Judy Yung, Professor Emeritus will read and discuss from her booksUnbound Feet, Unbound Voices, and Island.  Special guest Eddie Fung will join her during a presentation of her most recent book, The Adventures of Eddie Fung. This event will highlight the struggles and experiences of Chinese Americans from the beginning of the 20th century to the present. After the presentations, please stay for the Q & A session.

Chinese American Experiences in Songs and Stories by Charlie Chin
Actor, singer, and story-teller, Charlie Chin will share his collection of unique songs and stories about Chinese Californians during the Gold Rush the building of the Transcontinental Rail Road, and early immigrant life in Chinatown. Join us for this fun and delightful evening! 

San Jose’s Chinatown, a bus tour with Gary Holloway & Dr. Rod Lum
Tour guide Gary Holloway will lead a one-day coach tour from CHS to the South Bay to visit sites where the Chinese Community lived and worked.  Chinese historian, Dr. Rod Lum, will join Gary on visits to the five historic Chinatown sites in San Jose, plus a visit to the replica 1888 Ng Shing Gung Temple, that serves as a museum for the Chinese history center.  Other Chinese sites will also be visited.

Chatauquan Performance, “Chinatown is Burning! Hugh Liang: Eyewitness to the 1906 Earthquakeand Fire” (as performed by Charlie Chin)
Fifteen-year-old Hugh Liang woke up abruptly at 5:13 AM on April 18, 1906 as pieces of plaster and wood fell from the ceiling in the back room of his family’s grocery store.  Meet Hugh as he recounts his amazing story of survival amidst great odds and talks about the rebuilding of Chinatown.  Learn about his amazing life as he moved on to become a Vaudeville star and radio personality. 

Chinese Communities of the Sacramento Delta, an overnight bus tour with Gary Holloway & Dr. Steve Yee
In this two-day overnight tour we’ll follow the Chinese up the “River of Gold” – the Sacramento River.  Commencing at “Dai Fow” (“Big City” or San Francisco) we’ll head through California’s delta country, stopping at Locke, our state’s premiere historic Chinese community.  Following levees built by the Chinese, we’ll explore the Chinese heritage of “Yee Fow” (“2nd City” or Sacramento), which formerly had three Chinese temples.  Overnight we’ll stay in Old Sacramento, with dinner at a Chinese restaurant. 

Digging to Chinatown Book Talk & Presentation with Historian and Author Connie Young Yu
Author of Chinatown, San Jose, USA, Connie Young Yu will be sharing her knowledge and involvement in Heinlenville, the San Jose Chinatown and multicultural community that transformed into today's Japantown. A descendant of the Heinlenville community, she and her family were central to the creation of San Jose's Ng Shing Gung museum. Connie Young Yu will be discussing the newly emerging results of an archaeological excavation taking place at the site of her grandparents' store.