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Go directly to the collection, The Chinese in California, 1850-1925, in American Memory, or view a Summary of Resources related to the collection.

• Racial Stereotypes in Popular Culture
• Drama
• Persuasive Writing
• Creative Writing
• Community and Photography

Creative Writing

The variety of fascinating primary source materials available in American Memory collections provides wonderful starting points for creative writing projects that can also foster historical comprehension.

This collection includes an album of postcards compiled by Mrs. M. E. Duggin. Duggin collected postcards of San Francisco, including a series depicting Chinatown. Select three or four of these and write postcards in the persona of someone who visited Chinatown between 1860 and 1900. Before you select and write your postcards, read about Chinatown in the collection's Special Presentation and in texts mentioned in the section on Chinatown in these Collection Connections.

• What information from your reading do you find most interesting? Which postcards do you like the most?
• How will you describe your day's itinerary?
• What are your opinions and reflections on Chinatown?
• What information about Chinatown will you share?
• What can old postcards tell us about people and places of the past?

This collection also contains numerous portraits. Search on portrait for images of men, women, boys, and girls. Assume the persona of one of these people and write a letter to friends or family in China. Describe your life in California and, if appropriate, your voyage to the United States and your experience at the immigration station. For help with the content of your letter, refer to the history section of these Collection Connections. For help with letter writing, Search on letter for examples. To get started, make some hypotheses about the person in the portrait based on caption information, such as the date, as well as the person's clothing and other personal objects.

• Were you born in China or in California?
• If you were born in China, why did you decide to go to California?
• Where and with whom do you live?
• What do you, or your family, do for income?
• What do you think of California and why?
• What can a portrait tell us about its subject?