Almost lost to our common knowledge today is the story of the Chinese who came in great numbers to the Sonoma Valley in the mid-19th century. They came to work and their industriousness made them successful and indispensable in an assortment of occupations. The laws of the day prevented them from becoming citizens or owning property, which in turn prevented their integration into mainstream American society. Their culture was looked upon with suspicion by those who did not understand them. Dr. Meyerhof’s talk today will look more closely at the early Chinese community of the Sonoma Valley and how it greatly influenced the history of the Sonoma Valley. He will give many examples of specific Chinese individuals who lived here to personalize this forgotten history.

You can read more about the history of Chinese people in Sonoma on the Sonoma Valley Historical Society’s website here.

About the Lecturer:

Peter Meyerhof has lived in Sonoma for over 30 years and practiced dentistry here before retiring last year. For many years, one of his passions has been researching the early history of Sonoma County. He has given over 40 presentations on a wide range of topics and published some of his findings. He has relied almost entirely on primary sources from archives and research libraries across the country. Over the years he has discovered a considerable amount of new information. He has written biographies of several early residents, the unknown history of several buildings, the socio-political basis of the Bear Flag Revolution and its role in the American Conquest of the west, California’s first printing press and its connection with California’s greatest human disaster – the smallpox epidemic of 1838. He has also promoted history through the placement of plaques to commemorating a general, a Native American winemaker, and a schoolteacher who was of the most influential in the history of the United States.

In Collaboration With: