Chinese immigrants passed through Angel Island from 1910 to 1940, being detained for days, weeks, and even years, leaving poetry on the walls as well as tens of thousands of case files still in the National Archives in San Bruno. Grant discussed some of the documents that he has found about immigrants' Angel Island experiences.
Chinese New Year Foods 12 to 1 p.m. Celebration of the Year of the Boar by eating and learning about traditional Chinese New Year foods.
Chinese Settlements in the Sacramento River Delta: 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.
Attendees learned about Chinese who settled in the Delta, including Locke, Walnut Grove, Courtland, Isleton, Rio Vista, and nearby towns. Even before Angel Island was in use, Chinese helped build the levees, which turned the Delta into fertile farmland, established communities, and created a rich history in the area. Grant talked about the history of the area, resources that are available, and what you can find if you visit the area.
Grant Din
Grant Din lives in Oakland with his family and is the grandson of a paper son really named Gong. He currently consults with nonprofit organizations and has been doing genealogical research for over thirty years. He worked for eight years with the Angel Island Immigration Station Foundation, and he still volunteers to oversee its Immigrant Voices website. Grant has a B.A. from Yale University in sociology, an M.A. from Claremont Graduate University in public policy analysis, and a Certificate in Genealogical Studies from Boston University's online program.