Pearl of the Desert | Chinese History in Arizona, USA (75) Original historical books and publications – 9. "Golden Mountain in the Desert"

Arizona Chinese Historical Association Zhang Zhaohong 9. "Golden Mountain in the Desert" "Golden Mountain in the Desert" The first group photo of the new book: Welfare Association establishes "Chinese...

Arizona Chinese Historical Association Zhang Zhaohong

9. "Golden Mountain in the Desert"

"Golden Mountain in the Desert" 》

The first group photo in the new book: The Welfare Association established the "Chinese Ancestors Monument"

In 1968, the "Fei Ni Federation of Overseas Chinese Federation" was established and later renamed the "Greater Phoenix Chinese Federation." Over the past half century, the Federation of Overseas Chinese has published many annual special issues. DESERT), is the first new historical book compiled by the Overseas Chinese Federation, and was published on July 23, 2022.

The Arizona Chinese Historical Association expresses warm congratulations to the Greater Phoenix Overseas Chinese Federation for publishing the book "Golden Mountain in the Desert"!

The new book is in English, with a total of 224 pages, recording the history of the Chinese in Greater Phoenix from 1872 to the present, including 34 chapters. The new book has a Chinese preface:

Like many towns in the West, Phoenix had a small Chinese population almost from the beginning. Initially, the Chinese were sojourners from California and other western states, but eventually they saw a unique opportunity in the growing desert city. Phoenix's Chinese community has never exceeded 10% of the total population, so it is often overlooked in local history.

"This book aims to highlight the well-known pioneers such as Shing Tang and Sing Yee ), and the lives and successes of some nearly forgotten men to change that. Chinese Americans from Phoenix fought in World Wars I and II, and every conflict since.

"In the 1950s and 1970s, new waves of immigrants from China, Taiwan, and other Asian countries strengthened Phoenix's original Chinese community. Together, the two have contributed to Sun Valley's phenomenal growth in high-tech and defense industries and have left their mark on these industries.

"Today, Greater Phoenix's Chinese community is concentrated in the Mesa-Chandler-Gilbert area, where young entrepreneurs have opened a variety of businesses catering to every Asian taste.

Learn about this vibrant culture and its historical journey..., from China to the Sonoran Desert of Arizona!"

Chinese history is precious. There were not many Chinese in Phoenix in the early days, and there were even fewer Chinese and companies that could be recorded. Most of the records were left by mainstream media or historical scholars, such as information and maps of "Chinatown" during two periods of Phoenix's history.

Our overseas Chinese ancestors cherish their own history very much. They provided their family history, group history, and information and photos of advanced figures, plus documents collected from the Internet, and compiled them into the book "Golden Mountain in the Desert". This is a great contribution to the discovery and addition of the history of the Chinese people in Phoenix.

"Golden Mountain in the Desert" It records the early Chinese history in Phoenix; outstanding Chinese overseas leaders, including Yu Kangzhong, Deng Sheng, Guan Chongqiong, Deng Kailong, Deng Yuening, Deng Xinping, Deng Daming, Deng Wenhua, Deng Tongzhen, Yu Wenyu, Yu Wenjin, Fang Huixian... There are also current Chinese representatives Yu Yanfen, Huang Shijun, Deng Chaoju, etc., as well as information on many presidents of the Overseas Chinese Federation. In terms of Chinese enterprises, there are early Chinese restaurants such as Citi Restaurant, Sun Commercial Building, Deng Yue'ang Warehouse, etc.

"Golden Mountain in the Desert" contains the history of the groups under the Greater Phoenix Overseas Chinese Federation. The book also describes the cultural and artistic situation in Phoenix in a large space, especially in recent years, such as the National Day activities organized by the Overseas Chinese Federation, as well as China Week, China Town and its evaluation.

The cover photo of the new book is a group photo of the "Helan Family". Helan was one of the first Chinese families to come to Phoenix. Their history, "The Holland Family of Phoenix, 1878-1934," was written by historian Donna L. Carr. Mr. Tang Xiaoxian of the Historical Association translated the article into Chinese and published it in newspapers and magazines.

Dr. Donna Carr is the author of "Golden Mountains in the Desert". She is a volunteer at the P&MMP Memorial Cemetery and can provide a lot of historical information on deceased Chinese. She has worked closely with the Overseas Chinese Federation for many years. More than ten years ago, the author visited the memorial cemetery in order to solve the "tombstone mystery" and received a lot of help from Donna Carr. After the first episode, "Pearl of the Desert," was published, the author gave the book to her.

When "Golden Mountain in the Desert" was written, Deng Junquan, the current chairman of the Overseas Chinese Federation, solicited information. The author provided the history of two groups, Longgang Qinyi Office and the Chinese Welfare Association in Phoenix City. In the new book, there are many photos of restaurants, clubs, community groups and dragon boat races provided by the Zhang Zhaohong Photography and Historical Association, most of which are published for the first time.

Over the years, the Federation of Overseas Chinese has strongly supported the publication of "Pearl of the Desert". A total of nine presidents of the Federation of Overseas Chinese have encouraged it with congratulatory messages, articles and prefaces. This time the Overseas Chinese Federation published a book, and the Chinese Historical Association of Alberta provided all four episodes of "Pearl of the Desert" for reference and sponsored the publication of the new book. (Photos: Dragon Boat Race; "Shanghai Tower" Restaurant; Courtesy Historical Society)