The Years in Review: Documenting the History of the Chinese Community Church
Ever since D.C. Chinatown first formed as a neighborhood of immigrants along Pennsylvania Avenue during the 1880s, the Chinese American community has fostered rich cultural and historic landscapes throughout Washington. Despite the integral presence of Chinese Americans in D.C., the history of local Asian American and Pacific Islanders has been largely overlooked. From Chinatown being re-centered on H Street between 6th Street and 7th Street, to gentrification and threats of eviction with rising housing prices, D.C.’s Chinese American community has continuously faced displacement, discrimination, and erasure. Nevertheless, developing a better understanding of Chinese American communities’ history and experiences is essential to understanding D.C.’s history.
The Chinese American community has a diversity of associations, including the Chinese Community Church and the Chinatown Service Center. Public history graduate students at American University have been working with the 1882 Foundation to learn their role and contributions to Chinese American history in DC. Through research about the CCC and other significant places within D.C’s Chinese American community, we seek to gain a better understanding of local Chinese American history for D.C.’s first Asian American Historic Context Statement. The historic context statement is a report that will identify resources within the community to assist with future research, documentation, and recognition of Asian American and Pacific Islander history and experiences.
When it comes to the history of Chinese Americans in Washington, D.C., there is no better expert than the community members themselves. Research about the CCC would be nearly impossible without the guidance and support of the church community. During March, members of the CCC shared their personal testimonies during the church’s Sunday School session. Each of them shared their unique experiences joining the CCC. Additionally, conversations held with church members have been invaluable for identifying the key people, places, and events within CCC’s history. Several members also graciously shared their time to discuss their memories and experiences at the church as well as photographs, videos, and personal documents related to the church. During our conversation with former church member Raksa Yin, he shared some of the graphic designs that he created for the church, which includes the current CCC logo.
Raksa also designed the CCC’s current Facebook cover page image.
Another one of these informal interviews included a conversation with Shirley and Walter Woo, who are long-time members of the church. Shirley and Walter have both attended the CCC and served in leadership roles at the church for several years. During conversations with Shirley and Walter, they shared stories about meeting at the church, volunteering at the Chinatown Service Center, and participating in social groups and activities with church members. Walter and Shirley were enthusiastic about preserving the CCC’s history, and they shared another invaluable piece of CCC history: the CCC’s Anniversary Yearbooks.
Video call with CCC members Shirley and Walter Woo over Zoom.
Pictured clockwise from left to right: Mia Owens, AU; Jenn Low, 1882 Foundation; Mengshu Ye, AU; Claudia Vinci, AU; Ted Gong, 1882 Foundation; and Shirley Woo (not pictured Walter Woo)
Beginning in 1970, the CCC published yearbooks every five years to document and celebrate the church community’s achievements and milestones. Shirley and Walter graciously let us borrow their copies of the yearbooks, which ranged from 1975 – 2015. Each of them include a wealth of images, reflections, and written histories related to the CCC and the Chinese community in D.C. In the 2015 Yearbook, individuals and families shared personal testimonies about their faith in God, immigrating to the United States or growing up in Chinese American communities, and their decision to join the CCC.
The CCC’s 75th Anniversary, 80th Anniversary, and 85th Anniversary yearbooks.
Located at the end of the yearbook, many families and church social groups purchased pages to convey well-wishes, document family milestones, and celebrate the church’s achievements over the past five years. Several restaurants and businesses throughout D.C., Maryland, and Virginia also purchased advertisements that listed their address and contact information. These advertisements reveal additional facets of the Chinese American community by signifying the places, celebrations, social groups, and organizations that represent Chinese American experiences. The CCC’s yearbooks illuminate not only local D.C. history, but also histories of Chinese Americans throughout the United States. Through the information in the yearbooks, we can develop additional historical interpretations such as timelines of significant moments in CCC history in relation to D.C. history or digital maps that visualize the history of place with Chinese-owned businesses in D.C.
Throughout our time learning about the CCC, we’ve appreciated the church members’ support of our research as well as their enthusiasm for sharing the CCC’s history. As research for the historic context statement continues, we are thankful for their invaluable expertise and their assistance in helping us document the history of Asian Americans in Washington, D.C.
