Messages from the Exec’s Desk

[June 3, 2021] The 1882 Foundation takes great pride in the National Trust for Historic Preservation’s selection of the Summit Tunnel and Camp as among America’s Most Endangered Historic Sites. All Americans should take pride in this selection. While it highlights particularly the skills and strength of the Chinese workers who made up 80-90 percent of the Central Pacific Railroad’s workforce, the selection rivals most places in its ability to dramatically tell the continuous story of many people building the American nation. This includes references…

[April 19, 2021] On this #PatriotsDay, I’m wearing a yellow whistle to commemorate our struggles to BELONG, as Americans and with all Americans. We stand in solidarity against racial discrimination; we are whistleblowing on hate and violence. #WeBelong #TheYellowWhistle #StopAAPIHate #StopAsianHate #StopRacialProfiling www.theyellowhistle.org

[June 3, 2020] A Message from Ted Gong, Executive Director of the 1882 Foundation At this perilous time for our American republic –facing a relentless pandemic that has seen over 100,000 American lives lost, an economic disaster that has more Americans unemployed since the Great Depression, and violence throughout the country that exceeds the aftermath of Dr. Martin Luther King’s assassination and the LA riots–individuals and organizations throughout the country are calling for solidarity. Police brutality and systemic racism cannot continue. We must collectively take…

Corky Lee, 1947-2021.   He was a good friend. His spirit continues in the decades of images documenting the Asian American experience, in countless lives, forever strong. 

[8/10/20] The 1882 Foundation joins with all Americans in applauding the enactment of the The Great American Outdoors Act.  It became law with President Trump’s signature on August 4, 2020 after having been passed by the Senate on June 17, 2020 by a bi-partisan vote of 73-25 and by the House on July 22, 2020 by a vote of 310-107. Read More Here

[7/30/20] The 1882 Foundation mourns the recent passing of Michael Kwan, who was a stalwart advocate, organizer, and leader in the AAPI community.  He was a longtime municipal judge in Utah and among his many roles was former national president of the OCA – Asian Pacific American Advocates.  More recently, he was one of the main organizers and leaders of the celebration in 2019 of the 150th anniversary of the completion of the US Transcontinental Railroad which highlighted the major role of Chinese workers in…