Lost Bay Area Stories

As mentioned in earlier posts, Ma Chuck was the first Chinese American male to register to vote in Santa Clara County. He also paid a price for being more 'Americanized' amongst his fellow immigrants. Ma Chuck was born in San Francisco, CA and received an education at the Occidental school on 725 Clay Street. He also had an interest in science and mathematics. He also studied the 110 Chinese tables and Chinese Almanac. Apparently, he tried bringing various Chinese methods

As mentioned in a previous post, San Jose resident and Chinese American, Ma Chuck, became the first man of Chinese decent to register to vote in Santa Clara County in 1894. This path to suffrage did not come easily for Ma Chuck. There was some debate whether it was legal to vote. Fortunately, the Fifteenth amendment settled the issue and there had been another Asian to vote in Monterey County before him. Unfortunately, Ma Chuck was viewed by some in the Chinese community a

An American born Chinese man named Ma Chuck was the first man of Chinese decent to register to vote in Santa Clara County on September 25, 1894. Chuck, then a resident of San Jose appeared at the County Clerks office and asked Deputy Clerk F. A Schilling to register. It sparked a debate about Article 11, Section 1 in the California Constitution whether it was legal for him to vote. The debate was over whether Chuck being on the Chinese race disqualified him from the possib

More than 120 years ago, during the era of Monarchies and the Gilded Age, the San Jose Mercury pointed out the inequities in society. Here's a table that translates the salaries listed in the article into 2022 dollars. At some point it would be interesting to compare these salaries against current world leaders or even against the likes of Jeff Bezos, Elon Musk and Mark Zuckerberg. Sources: San Jose Mercury News, December 17, 1886

Heinlenville was one of the original Chinatowns in San Jose. It was located near 6th and Jackson St (currently Japantown). It is striking to read a San Jose Mercury article from 1896 describing Chinese New Years celebrations and notice the less than subtle racism that pervaded. San Jose Mercury News, February 12, 1896 All Heinlenville was hustle and excitement last evening. The residents of the Oriental addition to San Jose rushed to and fro, from store to store, and from t