Pinoytown Rising Exhibit: September 8 – November 30, 2023

San José Public Library's California Room, in collaboration with local historian Robert Ragsac, proudly presents Pinoytown Rising: Filipino Americans in Santa Clara Valley.
About the Exhibit
The exhibit focuses on the "First Wave" Filipinos who immigrated to the U.S. and settled in the Santa Clara Valley during the first half of the 20th century. Many worked in agriculture and settled in San José's "Pinoytown," an area nestled between Heinlenville Chinatown and Japantown. Attendees can expect a rich display of artifacts, historical photographs, traditional clothing, uniforms, and various materials generously loaned by the descendants of these pioneer families.
More Details
- When: September 8 – November 30, 2023
- Where: Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Library, California Room, 5th floor
- Cost: Free
Special Event: October 14
Join the descendants of local pioneer Filipino families for a special event: Talk Story: Tales of First Wave Filipinos in the Valley of Heart's Delight. They will recount family stories and discuss their experiences growing up as second-generation Filipino Americans during the Depression, World War II, and the Post-War era.
- What: Talk Story: Tales of First Wave Filipinos in the Valley of Heart's Delight
- When: Saturday, October 14, 2023, 1–3 PM
- Where: Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Library, 2nd Floor, Room 225
- Cost: Free
Additional Resources
Further Reading from the California Room
- Filipino Americans: Forever Our Legacy, FANHS
- Pinoy: The First Wave, Dr. Roberto V. Vallangca
- The Filipinos in America, Alfredo N. Munoz
- Vanishing Filipino Americans, Peter M. Jamero