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Baltimore's Chinese Stories, Preserved

Explore the long arc of Chinese life in Baltimore—from early storefronts to present-day families—through an accessible digital archive.

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Mission

Small Moments, Big History

Our mission is to collect, preserve, and share historical documents, photos, and personal stories that highlight the lives and contributions of Chinese immigrants and their descendants in the region. We aim to make these resources accessible and educational, helping people better understand and appreciate our community’s history.

 

Mercia, Ellen, Lillian Chin with Rose at the China Clipper.

Explore the Collections

Pick a path: Family Albums, Immigration Papers, School & Military,
Restaurants & Shops, Neighborhoods, or Oral Histories. Each
collection grows as the community contributes.

Families

Family albums, names, and lineages—connect relatives and share your own.

Families

Occupations

Professions, restaurants, shops and more – work that shaped families and the city.

Social Events

Needs content.

Military Service

Photos, letters, and honors documenting service across branches and eras.

Recreation & Sports

Sports like softball and basketball played an important role by bringing people together, building community, and offering a sense of belonging. They provided opportunities for social connection, teamwork, and pride, especially for younger generations navigating life that centered around the work of the family businesses.

Organizations

Associations, churches, temples, and clubs—records that built community.

Neighborhoods

Explore the neighborhoods where families worked, worshipped, and raised their families in Baltimore.

Record Types

Needs content.

Decades

Needs content.

“An invisible red thread connects those who are destined to meet, regardless of time, place, or circumstance. The thread may stretch or tangle, but it will never break”

An ancient Chinese proverb often used to symbolize the bond between people

Feature/Story

Saint Peter’s Church

Originally Grace Church, built in 1852 as a Gothic Episcopal church on Park Avenue in Mount Vernon, notable for being the city s first stone church with imported English elements.