Ah Chung

The Springfield Daily Republican

(Massachusetts)

May 15, 1867

(click image to enlarge)

The Californians are having equal rights presented in a shape they do

not quite relish: Ah Chung, a Chinese artist of San Francisco, desiring to 

become an American citizen, recently applied to a court of record in that 

city for the necessary papers. “All free white male citizens” of the age of 

21 years, and upward, are certainly eligible to American citizenship. But 

whether the Mongolian race can justly claim to be classed with white 

citizens is a controverted point on the Pacific slope, and consequently 

Judge Hoffman set counsel to work to study the civil rights bill and the 

law bearing on the case, before granting or rejecting “John’s” application 

to join the great American family.

(Next post May 3: James Wong Howe’s Stars)