Report on the Kam Wah Chung History Pub
Background information [50]
The online lecture, dated November 28, 2011, is about the history of the Kam Wah Chung museum in John Day by Chrissy Sweet. Chrissy is a curator at the Kam Wah Chung state heritage site. The lecture by Chrissy is forty-two minutes long and is recorded at McMenamins Kennedy School.
Summary [193]
Chrissy begins the lecture by showing a picture of the Kam Wah Chung museum and the location of John Day. In the 1860s, John Day became a gold mining area that attracted many Chinese laborers. The total number of Chinese immigrants that settled in John Day was about two thousand, Doc Hay and Lung On being part of them. The two formed a business partnership and bought a building in 1887, which became the Kam Wah Chung. The two, as Chrissy mentions, were very different in character. Doc Hay was a doctor who practiced traditional Chinese medicine in the building. He was benevolent and down to earth. His excellence in curing people made him known by many. Lung On, on the other hand, was a lavish businessperson, who operated many businesses in the same building. The two men were very generous to the people and offered food and a social area for the miners. Their businesses made them very rich, and apart from owning the Kam Wah Chang, they invested in real estate, stocks, and banking. They eventually became accepted and well-respected people in the community until they died and were buried in America.
Evaluation of the Lecture as an Oral Presentation [100]
Chrissy used simple English that was easy to understand. Her delivery is chronological, starting from the very reason why the Chinese settled in John Day. Every time she tells new information, she shows a picture and explains in detail what is in each image. To clarify the impact or extent of something, she presents receipts and even reads out letters. For example, on the amount of hatred that the Chinese got from the locals, she read a letter that was sent to Doc Hay. She links exciting stories to the topic and also makes jokes that keep the lecture interesting.
Personal reaction [95]
The topic was fascinating, as I had never heard of the Kam Wah Chung Museum. The journey of Doc Hay and Lung On, from the beginning of their business to their assimilation and death, was incredible. I clearly understood ninety-eight percent as Chrissy made sure to explain new information. The question and answer part helped me understand the interactions between the two Chinese men and other businesspersons outside John Day. The question that I thought of was how the locals began seeking medical help from Doc Hay despite their hatred for the Chinese.
Note-taking [95]
Chrissy talked fast and was a little inaudible; hence, I missed out on some words. There was the use of new vocabulary that I did not know how to write down, such as the names of the businesspersons; hence I put a star next to what I was not sure of and looked it up later. I think I can improve my note-taking skills by focusing more on the essential things and not trying to write down everything. I will also take care not to scribble but to write down clear and well-organized notes.