Our Notable Past

Chinese San Luis Obispo

Presented on February 7, 1998 at the Cuesta College Forum

Speakers at this event included:

Grace Mitchell and Howard S. Miller opened the event with a welcome message. Grace Mitchell is the President of Cuesta College. Howard Miller has taught and published American social, technological, and urban history, developed curricula and public programming, and co-curated major museum exhibits. He is Emeritus Professor of History, University of Missouri-St. Louis. He is the President of Heritage Shared. 

Lynn Landwehr and Paula Juelke Carr hosted "In Search of Chinese San Luis Obispo: An Open Forum for Sharing Discoveries, Questions, Experiences. Lynne Landwehr is a writer and editor, currently researching a history of the San Luis Obispo Chinatown. She serves on the staff of the San Luis Obispo County Historical Museum. Paula Juelke Carr is an independent historian, cultural resource researcher, and museum exhibit developer. She currently serves on the San Luis Obispo Cultural Heritage Committee.

Sandy Lydon is a Professor of History at Cabrillo College and Adjunct Professor of History at California State University, Monterey. His book, Chinese Gold: The Chinese in the Monterey Bay (1985), won the Book of the Year Award from the Association of Asian-American Studies. His presentation at this event was titled "The Chinese at the Bottom of the Hole: Chinese Immigrants and the History of the California Coast."
 
Roberta Greenwood is the founder of Greenwood & Associates, is a widely published archaeologist with special expertise on California Chinese communities. She has received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Society for California Archaeology. Her book, Down by the Station: Los Angeles Chinatown, 1880-1933 (1996), won the Cotsen Prize Imprint for Outstanding Studies in Archaeology. Her presentation was titled "How Archaeology Contributes to the Knowledge of Chinatown Development."
 
John Parker has directed archaeological and historical research projects, conducted field schools, and taught related college level courses. He is founder of Parker & Associates, an archaeological consulting firm, and currently directs the San Luis Obispo Palm Street Archaeological Project. His presentation was titled "Sorting through Five Tons of San Luis Obispo History: The Archaeology of the Palm Street Chinatown."
 
Dennis Judd is the Vice President of Heritage Shared. He teaches history at Cuesta College, and since 1975 has been an interpretive guide at the Hearst San Simeon State Historical Monument. He has conducted numerous oral history interviews, directed internships, and taught Elderhostel programs.

The Cal Poly Lion Dancers, members of the Cal Poly Chinese Student Association, performed.

Charlie Chin, an independent writer, actor, Asian Studies scholar, and former Education Director of the New York Chinatown History Museum, portrayed Dr. Yee Fung Cheung, a California gold rush-era Chinese herbalist.  

Click here to see the complete program in PDF format.

Agricultural History Forum
Chinese San Luis Obispo
Heritage Home Tour
San Simeon Point