Small Moments, Big History
Our mission is to collect, digitize, and curate historical documents, photographs, and personal narratives that illuminate the experiences, contributions, and cultural heritage of Chinese immigrants and their descendants in the region. By providing accessible and educational resources, we aim to foster a deeper understanding and appreciation of the diverse narratives that shape our community’s history.
Who We Are
This community digital archive preserves and shares the histories of early Chinese families in Baltimore City. Through photographs, documents, oral histories, and personal stories, we honor the everyday lives, work, and contributions that shaped Baltimore’s neighborhoods and communities.
Built with and for the community, this archive centers family voices, lived experience, and cultural care. It is a living space for memory, connection, and intergenerational storytelling—ensuring these histories are visible, respected, and carried forward.
Why a Community Archive?
Many stories of early Chinese families in Baltimore were never recorded in official histories or institutions. Community archives exist to change that.
A community archive allows families and community members to:
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Tell their own stories in their own words
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Decide what is preserved, how it is described, and how it is shared
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Protect cultural knowledge while making it accessible for future generations
By grounding this archive in community leadership, consent, and care, we ensure that these histories are not only preserved—but honored as living, meaningful parts of Baltimore’s past and present.