History

1848
First Chinese immigrants - two men and one women - arrive in San Francisco on the American brig, Eagle

1849
Gold discovered at Sutter's Mill

1853
Old St. Mary's Church erected.

1859
"The Chinese School" was created. Chinese children were assigned to this "Chinese only" school. They were not permitted into any other public schools in San Francisco.

1862
California’s Anti-Coolie Tax

1870
California passes a law against the importation of Chinese, Japanese, and "Mongolian" women for the purpose of prostitution

1870
Anti-Chinese ordinances are passed in San Francisco to curtail their housing and employment options. Queues are banned.

1874
Presbyterian Mission Home for Chinese women, later renamed Donaldina Cameron House is established

1875
Page Law bars Asian prostitutes, felons, and contract laborers

1880
US and China sign treaty giving the US the right to limit but "not absolutely prohibit" Chinese immigration. California's Civil Code passes anti-miscegination law. First Chinese Baptist Church founded.

1882
1882 Chinese Exclusion Act bans immigration of Chinese laborers to the United States and prohitbits Chinese from becoming naturalized citizens

1885
The "Chinese School" was renamed the" Oriental School," so that Chinese, Korean, and Japanese students could be assigned to the school.

1892
Geary Act

1900
Tung Wah Dispensary opens in Chinatown

1902
Chinese exclusion act extended for another 10 years

1904
Chinese exclusion act made indefinite

1906
San Francisco earthquake and fire

1908
Chinese Chamber of Commerce formed.

1910
Angel Island Immigration Station opens and operates as a detention and processing center for Chinese immigration. Thousands of Chinese immigrants spend weeks and months detained, undergoing rigorous interrogations by U.S. immigration officials.

1911
Chinatown YMCA is established

1916
Chinatown YWCA is established

1921
Chinatown Public Library opens.

1924
The "Oriental School" was renamed Commodore Stockton School. Alice FongYu was the first Chinese teacher. Students were barred from speaking Chinese in school or on the playground.

1925
The Nam Kue School is built. Tung Wah Dispensary is relocated and renamed Chinese Hospital.

1927
The Chinese Playground is built

1940
English-Language Newspaper for Chinatown

1943
Chinese Exclusion Repeal Act by Congress and grants Chinese aliens naturaliztion rights

1948
Displaced Person's Act

1957
Immigration and Nationality Act

1963
Chinese Historical Society of America founded

1965
Immigration Act of 1965.

1966
First Miss Teen Chinatown Pageant

1982
First Chinese American women seen regularly on national television

1995
Immigration Reform Act of 1995

1998
Commodore Stockton Elementary School was renamed Gordon J. Lau Elementary School in honor of the late civic leader and advocate for the Chinese community