History

March 14, 2022 0

Chinatown Heroes, Cast in Bronze

A laundryman, a cook, a garment worker, and a grandmother with a child — these figures might seem ordinary and unrecognizable to many. Yet, the figures and the community they represent are the foundation of Boston Chinatown and its community. And now, artist Wen-ti Tsen is working on making these characters into four life-size bronze statues. The work-in-progress project, Chinatown Worker Statues, is created by the 85-year-old artist who intended to “commemorate and pay tribute” to Chinatown workers who have […]

February 28, 2022 0

SFFA v. Harvard

by Chelsea Wang

The Supreme Court has agreed to hear cases challenging affirmative action–race-conscious–admissions policies at Harvard University and the University of North Carolina. Students for Fair Admissions (SFFA), an organization led by legal strategist Edward Blum, sued the universities in 2014, alleging that their admissions policies discriminate against Asian American and white applicants. SFFA accused Harvard of discriminating against Asian Americans through the personal rating–which purports to measure personality traits such as leadership and kindness–it assigns to each applicant. On January 24, […]

February 15, 2022 0

Charles Shue, First Chinese-American Justice of the Peace, Lived Fascinating, Inspirational Life

by Richard Auffrey

Charles K. Shue, who lived in Boston’s Chinatown, was a wealthy merchant, restaurant owner, and the first Chinese-American justice of the peace in the United States. He would also be the first Chinese-American man in the U.S. to win a nomination to public office. He was also known as Chin Shue, Chin Quong, and Chin Que Shue. No matter the name, his tale is a fascinating and inspirational one. Shue was born in Seattle, Washington around 1874, and came to Boston almost twenty years […]

January 7, 2022 0

Who Invented the Eggroll?

by Richard Auffrey

Are egg rolls a traditional Chinese dish, or were they invented in the United States? If they were invented here, who created them?

December 17, 2021 0

MA’s Longest Nurse Strike Hits 9 Months

by Admin

On December 8, the ongoing nurses strike at Saint Vincent Hospital hit the nine month mark. Beginning in March, this nurses strike has become the longest in Massachusetts history.

Advertisement from Los Angeles Evening Citizen, December 10, 1949

December 17, 2021 0

The Origins of the Chinese Buffet

by Richard Auffrey

At least as early as 1837, you could find all-you-can-eat dinners, which were, initially, primarily for American cuisine. During the latter part of the 19th century, the “smörgåsbord” made its appearance.

December 15, 2021 0

Remembering Uncle Bill — a Community Leader

by Nancy Lo

On November 27, 2021, Chinatown said goodbye to Bill Chin, widely known throughout the community as “Uncle Bill”. Born locally in 1929 during the Chinese Exclusion Act, Uncle Bill was always keenly aware of the village that raised him, and lived to improve the quality of life of Chinese immigrants.

December 3, 2021 0

The Origins of the PuPu Platter

by Richard Auffrey

In an advertisement in the Boston Globe, October 14, 1982, Bob Lee’s restaurant, Islander, posted the claim, “We invented The Pupu Platter.” Did they invent it? If not, what is the truth behind the origins of the Pu-Pu Platter? There is no question that the term “Pu-Pu” derives from the Hawaiian word, “pū-pū”, which refers to “appetizers.” Originally, pū-pū only referred to shellfish, but was eventually expanded to include a variety of other foods as well. During the 1950s, a number of Hawaiian newspapers mentioned pu-pu. The Honolulu […]

November 19, 2021 0

Assembling Chinatown’s History

by Sampan Staff

Place of Assembly is a public art installation by local architect Ang Li, located at 8-12 Hudson street, right in the heart of Chinatown. The interactive display features various stoop-like structures, open for visitors to hang out and sit on, all assembled with repurposed bricks from demolished row homes. Guests from all over Boston came to gather during its November 6th unveiling, hosted by the Asian Community Development Corporation. Li aspired to help preserve and share the neighborhood’s history with […]

November 5, 2021 0

Tufts Medical Center hits 225 Year Milestone

by Sampan Staff

Community hospital Tufts Medical Center is celebrating its 225th anniversary this year. Founded in 1796, Tufts has been a cornerstone of public healthcare for local, lower income families since its conception. In a time before what we know as “organized medicine”, during which healthcare was only readily available to wealthier families through private doctors, Tufts, still known as the Boston Dispensary at the time, was formed to make healthcare more accessible by providing medicine and supplies to doctors making housecalls. […]

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