Asia in St. Louis: Stories of Community Building and Resilience

What was the experience of Asian American migrants to the Midwest in the late nineteenth century? What did Chinatown in St. Louis look like before its demolition in the 1960s? What happened to Japanese Americans who escaped internment camps and settled in St. Louis during World War II? How did the Asian American immigrants establish successful businesses with the support of the local community? How did national developments in race relations and social activism in the twentieth century influence Asian Americans in St. Louis?  

In anticipation of Asian Pacific American Heritage Month, and in recognition of the historical and cultural contributions of individuals within the AAPI community in St. Louis, Washington University Libraries and the Center for Diversity and Inclusion invite you to join us for a forum on the history of Asian Americans in St. Louis. With the support of the Missouri Humanities Council, Washington University students and staff have created a series of webpages using GIS (Geographic Information System) technology to showcase the contributions of the Asian American community on St. Louis, called the ‘Asia in St. Louis’ project. 

Guest speaker Anna Crosslin will reflect on the evolution of St. Louis’s Asian American community, sharing stories from her private and professional experience in helping bring greater visibility to the Asian American community. The Asia in St. Louis project members will present their StoryMaps which focus on the arrival of early Chinese immigrants, urban life in St. Louis’ first Chinatown (Hop Alley), the relocation of Japanese American students to WashU during World War II, and how national developments in social justice influenced Asian Americans in St. Louis. 

Free and open to all, registration is required. Refreshments will be provided. 

Co-sponsored by Chinese Students and Scholars Association, The Graduate Center; Cross Cultural Connections, Center for Diversity and Inclusion; and East Asian Library, Washington University Libraries. Funded by the Missouri Humanities Council with support from the Missouri Humanities Trust Fund.

Keynote Speaker

Anna Eriko Crosslin

Anna Eriko Crosslin worked as President & CEO of the International Institute of St. Louis for 42 years. Prior to joining the Institute, Crosslin worked for Professor Stanley Spector, a noted China scholar and the founder of the East Asian Library at Washington University. In May 2006, she was awarded an honorary doctorate in humanities by Washington University at St. Louis, her alma mater.  Crosslin, a recipient of more than two dozen awards and recognitions, is a well-known authority on immigration issues and has led a number of regional and national initiatives to connect immigrant and refugee newcomers with their communities and services.