Pioneers from the East

AR.2008.002.003

Pioneers from the East Revisited: Early Chinese Families of Austin

Austin Central Library, 710 W Cesar Chavez St. / May 1, 2019 - June 30, 2019

The photographs from Pioneers from the East Revisited: Early Chinese Families of Austin highlight the nuanced journeys of five early Chinese families. These families have made great contributions to Austin’s cultural and professional landscape while paving the way for future immigrant families and Chinese American community. Early Chinese immigration to Texas was often slow and stilted, primarily due to anti-Asian policies such as the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882. Yet a small number of Chinese people made their way to Austin in the late 1800s. According to the 1875 Austin Census, there were 20 Chinese people living in Austin. Many these were male laborers formerly engaged in railroad construction in California and Mexico.

In Austin, most of the early Chinese families practiced service-oriented work in environments such as restaurants, groceries and laundromats. The 1943 abolition of the Chinese Exclusion Act coupled with future immigration policy such as the 1965 Immigration Act, caused the Chinese population in Travis County to jump from 94 in the 1960s to 332 in the 1970s. Today, Asian Americans in Austin are the fastest growing demographic in the city, making up nearly 8% of Austin’s population. Austin’s Chinese population comprises 19.9% of the city’s Asian population. Austin’s Chinese Americans are small business owners, social workers, health care professionals, activists, software engineers, service industry workers, caretakers and much more.

These photographs from the Austin History Center’s Asian American archives provide an intimate look into the lives of the Lung, Ng, Sing, Tu and Wong families. Pioneers from the East was originally an Austin History Center photo exhibit curated by the inaugural Asian America Community Archivist, Esther Chung Martin, and opened to the public on October 17, 2010. The Austin History Center’s Asian American Community Archives Program would like to share these captivating photographs with new audiences as a celebration of Austin’s Asian American and Pacific Islander heritage.

The Austin History Center’s Asian American Community Archivist Program actively collects archival materials from AAPI communities in Austin and Travis County through outreach efforts and programming. Our Asian American Archivist, Ayshea Khan, gives presentations, conducts research and oral history interviews, coordinates programs and events, and provides reference service to the public. To learn more visit austinhistorycenter.org or email ayshea.khan@austintexas.gov

For more information and images from the exhibit you can also check out the online exhibit here.