"The Middle Kingdom Under the Big Sky" author Mark T. Johnson
At Montana Historical Society. This presentation is part of the Lewis & Clark Library Foundation's Community Read.
In 1870, Chinese residents made up more than 20% of Helena’s population. But this population, so crucial to Montana’s history, remains underrepresented in historical accounts. Using documents left by Chinese pioneers and preserved through the efforts of the Montana Historical Society, The Middle Kingdom under the Big Sky recovers the stories of Montana’s Chinese population in their own words. This event focuses specifically on the experiences of Helena’s Chinese residents, examining the pressures they faced, how they advocated for their rights, and how they fought to keep their culture alive in an often-hostile environment.
About the Author:
Mark T. Johnson is an associate professor with the University of Notre Dame’s Institute for Educational Initiatives. Author of the recent book The Middle Kingdom under the Big Sky: A History of the Chinese Experience in Montana(University of Nebraska Press, 2022), Johnson’s research focuses on telling the history of Chinese communities in Montana in their own words and through a global lens. A native of Montana, Johnson grew up in Great Falls and lives in Helena.
- Date:
- Thursday, October 20, 2022
- Time:
- 4:30pm - 5:30pm
- Time Zone:
- Mountain Time - US & Canada (change)
- Campus:
- Helena Main Branch
- Audience:
- Adults
- Categories:
- Offsite Presenters and Speakers