Tag: San Francisco
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Hindus, Muslims, Persians, and Arabs in Gold Rush San Francisco
An 1851 San Francisco paper described a city of immigrants… I found a lovely line in an 1851 San Francisco newspaper that celebrates the diversity of Gold Rush San Francisco—a boom town whose residents included “Hindoos” (South Asians), “Mussulmans” (Muslims), and people “from the fairy lands of Persia and Arabia”: “In our streets, the fair…
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A Sikh American Christmas story from 1911
A Sikh American Christmas story from 1911 In 1911, the San Francisco Call published a Christmas short story about a Sikh immigrant taking in a group of cold and tired railroad workers trudging through the Sierra Nevada mountains. This was a time of significant anti-Indian sentiment, just a few years after the Bellingham Riots, when hundreds…
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A lonely South Asian in 1850 San Francisco
Was he the first South Asian in Northern California? South Asians started slowly trickling into Northern California during the Gold Rush. We recently found evidence of a South Asian man who lived and died in 1850 San Francisco. In my research, this is the earliest evidence I’ve seen of South Asians in Northern California. In…
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3 East Indians seeking work in 1900s San Francisco
We’ve been finding records of early Indian immigrants to San Francisco advertising for jobs. Here are some of the ads we found. 1899: Hotel or pantry work “A young East Indian would like a position as porter in hotel or pantry work. Address box 2275, Call office.” 1905: Languages and cookery “An honest East Indian, 26 years…
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8 Indian chutney ads from 19th century San Francisco
“Bombay chutney 50¢ · 10 varieties, hot and sweet” San Francisco after the gold rush was a hub of trade. And with that trade came goods from around the world, including from India. Here are 8 ads for Indian chutney from post-Gold Rush San Francisco Bay Area. 1868: “Bengal Chutney” 1884: “Indian chutney” as table delicacy 1885: “Genuine…
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How to tie a turban in 1892 San Francisco
“a series of rapid, graceful motions that defy analysis” An 1892 San Francisco paper featured this lovely description of how a Desi man (presumably Sikh) ties a turban: The sight of a man putting on his hat is not usually impressive, but to see an East Indian don his turban before it is rolled is…