1940s

DECADE IN PERSPECTIVE

Changing Sentiments towards Chinese Americans

Attack from Planes View: Pearl Harbor, HI, December 7, 1941

1941: Attack on Pearl Harbor, China became a vital ally in the United States’ war against the Japanese. While the resulting relationship helped develop political and military ties, there was still a push to remain independent but united. 

‘The Chinese Must Go’: Library of Congress, c. 1886

1943: Repeal of Chinese Exclusion Act, allowed Chinese immigration for the first time since the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882.

United China Relief: New York Public Library Archives, est. 1941

1941-1947: United China Relief,combined pre-existing groups dedicated to raising funds for war-torn China. The underlying goal of this charity group was to serve as a medium for informing Americans on events and conditions in China, and to help to reassure the Chinese people of continued American concern and friendship.

WHAT WE FOUND

Capitalizing on the Beginnings of a Domestic Fascination with the Orient:

The Kings Mountain Herald: Kings Mountain, NC, September 9, 1949

The Perquimans Weekly: Hertford, NC, October 21, 1949

The Daily Tarheel: Chapel Hill, NC, November 3, 1949

What’s La Choy?

La Choy is brand name of canned and prepackaged American Chinese food ingredients. The company was founded in 1922 by Dr. Ilhan New and Wally Smith. Their first product, canned mung bean sprouts, were originally sold in Detroit, Michigan. Although both New and Smith had died by the late 1930s, the company had developed a line of products including bean sprouts, soy sauce, subgum, kumquats, water chestnuts, brown sauce, bamboo shoots, and chow mein noodles.

The company built its first manufacturing facility in Detroit in 1937. This plant was sold during World War II to the federal government for production of munitions.

(source)

La Choy advertisement

Woman

Delbert the La Choy Dragon

Building an Economic Relationship:

Erwin’s Mill, a textile mill that operated for 95 years, accomplished the feat of gaining a new relation with the Chinese market. As the image portrays, it’s possible that this Durham mill was the first to deliver denim to China. This market expansion symbolizes improved, new relations with China due to the amalgamation of improved political relations.

Edward Mills, Wilson Special Collections Library

More Chinese Food in the Domestic Space:

The Cherokee Scout: Murphey, NC, November 6, 1941

The Hilltop (Mars Hill University): Mars Hill, NC, April 5, 1940

METHODOLOGY

We searched through 1940s NC city directories (online and in Wilson Library) and scanned for keywords we thought might reflect the existence of a Chinese restaurant (ex: “Chinese”, “palace”, “garden”). Additionally, we used the Wilson Special Collections Library online catalog to find relevant objects using similar keywords and date ranges. Visiting the Wilson Library reading room was very helpful because the staff would often bring relevant materials to supplement our requested items.