Celebrating Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Heritage

Historians long thought the Qing dynasty was arrogant, xenophobic, and closed to the world. Recently, however, scholars have shown that the Qing were far more cosmopolitan, open, and connected than once believed.

Yukio Lippit, professor of Japanese art and architecture at Harvard University, discusses how The Huntington’s Shōya House offers a unique opportunity to explore an abundance of ideas and elements about Japanese architecture as a whole.

In 1906, Nekketsu Takei produced at least two maps of Hawaiʻi to attract Japanese immigrants as well as to help newcomers familiarize themselves with the islands.

The Huntington has acquired 216 rare photographs depicting life and culture in the Philippines from 1858 to 1910.

Author Lisa See has given The Huntington a trove of more than 300 rare glass plate negatives and photographs, some dating back to the late 19th century. 

This symposium, held on March 4, 2023, brought together scholars, public intellectuals, and community leaders to reflect on Asian American histories and experiences in California.

Explore the history of Los Angeles’ Chinatown, the first community in North America to be planned and owned by people of Chinese descent.

For 86 years, Phoenix Bakery’s confections have been featured in the celebrations of countless birthday parties, weddings, and other festive occasions. The bakery’s historical archive at The Huntington offers scholars insight into the formative years of Los Angeles’ New Chinatown and chronicles the bakery’s impact.

On April 13, 1982, Lily Lee Chen was elected to the city council of Monterey Park, a city that had become one of the first “suburban Chinatowns” in the United States. In 1984, Chen made history by becoming the first female Chinese American mayor in the nation.