The Ah Quin Diaries Scholarly Editing Project

FAIN: FB-55535-11

Susie Lan Cassel
University Auxiliary and Research Services Corporation (San Marcos, CA 92096-0001)

The Ah Quin Diary is a ten volume, 3,300 page diary spanning twenty-five years from 1877-1902. It is arguably the first significant writing in English by a Chinese immigrant to the United States and, as such, fills a gap in the documentary record of American immigration and labor history, and also the genre of Asian American literature. It begins in 1877 in the Pacific Northwest, just five years before the federal 1882 Chinese Exclusion Law is passed, and thus gives us a rare, first-person Chinese laborer's perspective during the Age of Chinese Exclusion. As important, it challenges the stereotype of an illiterate Chinese workforce since it is written in English, at a length and with a degree of eloquence that few people believed possible for a nineteenth-century Chinese laborer. The goal of this project is to publish with Stanford University Press a scholarly edition of this important primary source.

Media Coverage

San Diego Trolley named after Ah Quin (Media Coverage)
Author(s): Peter Rowe
Publication: San Diego Union Tribune and
Date: 8/27/2016
Abstract: Update on the SD Chinese American History Museum and the naming of a San Diego trolley after Ah Quin.
URL: http://www.sandiegouniontribune.com

Associated Products

“The Mayor of San Diego’s Chinatown: Tom Ah Quin and His Diary,” (Article)
Title: “The Mayor of San Diego’s Chinatown: Tom Ah Quin and His Diary,”
Author: Susie Lan Cassel
Abstract: Analysis of Ah Quin's contribution to San Diego City, as seen through his Diary.
Year: 2014
Primary URL Description: This is an international journal published in China in print
Format: Journal
Periodical Title: Yinxin And The Wuyi Xiaoxiang Society. ?????????.
Publisher: Overseas Chinese Press of China

“The Mayor of San Diego’s Chinatown: Tom Ah Quin and His Diary,” (Conference Paper/Presentation)
Title: “The Mayor of San Diego’s Chinatown: Tom Ah Quin and His Diary,”
Author: Susie Lan Cassel
Abstract: Discussion of Ah Quin's contributions to San Diego--given in English and translated spontaneously to Mandarin.
Date: 11/20/2012
Conference Name: International Symposium on International Migration and Qiaoxiang Studies, Wuyi University, Jiangmen, China.

“Stories from the Ah Quin Diary: Cooks, Kids, Gangsters, & Gun.” (Public Lecture or Presentation)
Title: “Stories from the Ah Quin Diary: Cooks, Kids, Gangsters, & Gun.”
Abstract: Keynote talk celebrating the donation of a newly found Diary to the Ah Quin collection.
Author: Susie Lan Cassel
Date: 02/22/2014
Location: San Diego Chinese Historical Museum

Newly discovered Ah Quin Diary #11 (Acquisitions/Materials Collection)
Name: Newly discovered Ah Quin Diary #11
Abstract: After the death of a family member, the surviving spouse found another Ah Quin diary. It takes place in San Diego and will be #11. We have facilitated donation to the San Diego history center where it will join the other ten volumes.
Year: 2014
Address: San Diego History Center, Prado, Balboa Park.

The Ah Quin Diary (Public Lecture or Presentation)
Title: The Ah Quin Diary
Abstract: Achievements for Chinese Americans as displayed in the Ah Quin diary.
Author: Susie Lan Cassel
Date: 04/15/2012
Location: Osher Around the World Lecture Series in Carlsbad, Temecula, and Rancho Sante Fe lectures

“Making History: The Ah Quin Diary Project.” (Public Lecture or Presentation)
Title: “Making History: The Ah Quin Diary Project.”
Abstract: Discussion and poster presentation of facets of scholarly editing
Author: Susie Lan Cassel
Date: 04/20/2012
Location: Cal State University, San Marcos--celebration of faculty Scholarship

Cassel receives President's Outstanding Faculty Award for Schoalrship (Public Lecture or Presentation)
Title: Cassel receives President's Outstanding Faculty Award for Schoalrship
Abstract: Susie Lan Cassel receives the CSUSM President's 2014-2015 award for Scholarship based on her work on The Ah Quin Diary.
Author: Karen Haynes
Date: 01/10/2015
Location: CSUSM
Primary URL: http://blogs.calstate.edu/outstanding-faculty/index.php/susie-lan-cassel-ph-d/
Primary URL Description: campus blog

The Ah Quin Diary (Article)
Title: The Ah Quin Diary
Author: Susie Lan Cassel
Abstract: Encyclopedia entry for Ah Quin Diary
Year: 2014
Format: Other
Periodical Title: Asian Americans: An Encyclopedia of Social, Cultural, and Political Change.
Publisher: ABC-CLIO, Inc

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