(Ashland, Ore.) – Hannon Library celebrates Chinese New Year on Friday, February 11th at noon in the Meese Meeting Room. Oregon author R. Gregory Nokes will deliver a slide presentation from his book, “Massacred for Gold: The Chinese in Hells Canyon,” published by Oregon State University Press. Nokes will be signing copies of his book. Traditional Chinese folk music will begin the brown-bag lecture with Stephen Bacon performing pieces on folk instruments from the Schuman Collection.
“Massacred for Gold” is the first authoritative account of the little-known massacre of as many as 34 Chinese gold miners by a gang of horse thieves and school boys in Hells Canyon in 1887. The “Oregonian” listed the book as one of the top 10 new books in the Pacific Northwest in 2009. Nokes is a former reporter and editor, with more than 40 years in journalism, including with the “Medford Mail Tribune,” the Associated Press and the “Oregonian.” He served as a diplomatic correspondent in Washington, D.C., traveling with three presidents to more than 50 countries, including three trips to China.
The book traces the author’s journey in digging out the facts of the crime, including persuading reluctant long-time residents of Wallowa County to share what they knew. Nokes’ research has resulted in the official naming of the massacre site as Chinese Massacre Cove, noting it as one of the worst of many crimes by whites against the approximately 300,000 Chinese immigrants. The book also tells the wider story of Chinese immigration in the West in the latter 19th century. It explains why the Chinese came to the west, what they did, how they were treated, and what became of them.
Prior to the slide presentation, traditional Chinese folk music will be performed by Stephen Bacon of Bellwood Violin. Bacon is conservator of the Schuman Collection of Musical Instruments, housed at Hannon Library, and will demonstrate some of the Chinese instruments from the collection. Both presenters are sponsored by the Southern Oregon Chinese Cultural Association whose Chinese New Year celebrations will culminate with the parade in Jacksonville the following day.
This Friday brown-bag event at Hannon Library is free and open to the public. For further information, see www.massacredforgold.com or phone (541) 552-6835.
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