Asian Man Among the Graduates in an 1880s California Large Albumen College Graduation Photograph

Asian American, California

Original Photo

Very large albumen photo of college graduates in California including one Asian male, circa 1880s. This very large photo measures 22 x 17 inches. Mounted to photographer's board from Elite Studio in San Francisco with marked letters in gold at bottom of board. Ten graduates pose with rolled diplomas in hand, the men in tuxedoes with white ties and women in white floor-length dresses with puffed sleeves and bustles. One young Asian man poses at the edge of the group, gazing toward the camera. Anti-Asian discrimination was rampant in the United States throughout the 19th century particularly in California. Chinese immigrants migrated to the American West to work the gold mines and play an instrumental role in building railroads. As the numbers of Chinese laborers increased, so did the anti-Chinese sentiment among white workers. In 1882 Congress passed the Chinese Exclusion Act suspending immigration from China for a period of 10 years with subsequent laws furthering acts of discrimination. In the 1850s, Chinese workers migrated to the United States, first to work in the gold mines, Chinese immigrants were particularly instrumental in building railroads in the American west, and as Chinese laborers grew successful in the United States, a number of them became entrepreneurs in their own right. As the numbers of Chinese laborers increased, so did the strength of anti-Chinese sentiment. In 1879, advocates of immigration restriction succeeded in introducing and passing legislation in Congress to limit the number of Chinese arriving to the USA, In 1882, Congress passed the Chinese Exclusion Act, which suspended the immigration of Chinese laborers for 10 years. The Act also required every Chinese person traveling in or out of the country to carry a certificate identifying his or her status as a laborer, scholar, diplomat, or merchant. The 1882 Act was the first in American history to place broad restrictions on immigration. Given the racism of that time in California, it is rare to find an early image of an Asian person within a graduating group in the upper class of California society . Crease down one side of photographer board, bottom of board has some glue stains not affecting the image. Some sunning to top of image does not affect subjects whose expressions and details remain clear. Overall good to very good condition.

Item #18283

Price: $950.00