08/25/2017

— Columbia Gorge Discovery Center and Museum—

Trish Hackett Nicola will make a presentation on “Chinese Exclusion Act Case Files: A Treasure Trove of Original Documents,” on Friday, August 25 at Columbia Gorge Discovery Center and Museum, 5000 Discovery Drive, The Dalles. A pre-program dinner will begin at 6 p.m. and the program will start at 7 p.m.

The dinner menu includes halibut, vegetable and cashew biryani (golden raisins), salad, and lemon bars for dessert. Tickets for the dinner and program are $22; the program only is $5. Tickets must be purchased by Wed., August 23.

The Chinese Exclusion Act Case Files produced a treasure trove of original documents. The purpose of the Chinese Exclusion Act was to limit the number of Chinese entering the United States, exclude laborers, and prevent the Chinese already here from becoming naturalized citizens. The Act created thousands and thousands of files. Most files contain photos and biographical information on the applicant who was frequently questioned in great detail about his family, home and village in China.
Trish Hackett Nicola’s presentation will give you background information about what was happening in China and the U.S. leading up to passage of the Act, tell you who was excluded, and the dates the Act was in existence. Learn about paper sons and daughters. See examples of documents and photos from the files, with some specifically from The Dalles. Find out how and where to find the files for your research.
Trish Hackett Nicola, a Certified Genealogist, is a volunteer at the National Archives-Seattle and has worked with the Chinese Exclusion Act Case files for over fifteen years. She has a blog at www.ChineseExclusionFiles.com, and has given many presentations and written articles about the act and the case files. She is a retired CPA and librarian and now works as a professional genealogist and historian.

For more information or tickets, phone (541) 296-8600 ext. 201.