Oral history interview with Caroline Chang. Chang summarizes the history of immigration from China into New England and the growth of Boston’s Chinatown from the late 1800s onward. She traces Chinese immigrants’ employment from whaling and textile manufacturing to laundry businesses and the restaurant industry. Chang notes that Chinatown served as the hub for Chinese immigrant populations in the greater New England area, especially due to the influence of fraternal organizations. She also describes how the Mid-Autumn Festival (“August Moon Festival”) and Lunar New Year celebrations contributed to Chinatown’s community identity. Other topics mentioned include the Central Burying Ground, the Boston Common, Salem, California, Guangdong Province, Shanghai, Beijing, the Chinese Merchants Association, the Hip Sing Association, World War II, and the Great Depression. Transcript is heavily marked with pen.
