Contributor Carolyn Jacobson profiled Forest Hills resident Scott Seligman last fall, shortly after the release of his book “Three Tough Chinamen,” about three brothers who immigrated to the U.S. in the late 19th century.
Scott’s latest book was released this week. “The First Chinese American: The Remarkable Life of Wong Chin Foo” once again demonstrates his passion for the Chinese people and their culture. The book is about a Chinese immigrant who is credited with coining the term “Chinese American,” and advocated for the rights of his people in his adopted homeland. And he got his start in Washington.
Scott says: “Wong arrived in the United States in 1867 in the care of a Baptist missionary, and he was sent to Columbian College, a Baptist school located on College Hill – now known as Meridian Hill – in the District of Columbia. It was the ancestor of George Washington University. Wong studied at its preparatory academy for several months, and his transcript survives. I believe he was the first Chinese to matriculate there. He went on to a career as a lecturer, a journalist and a civil rights activist. He published New York’s first Chinese newspaper, organized the first association of American citizens of Chinese origin and was probably the first Chinese to testify before Congress.”
Scott’s doing three book talks in DC before he takes his show on the road. See the schedule below.
Saturday, May 4th
National Museum of American History
Asian-Pacific American Heritage Month Family Day at the Smithsonian
1400 Constitution Avenue, N.W. Washington, DC 20560
Second Floor, West Wing, 1:30 p.m.
Wednesday, June 5th
Tenley-Friendship Library
4450 Wisconsin Avenue, N.W., Washington, DC 20016
Second Floor Auditorium, 7:00 p.m.
Thursday, June 6th
The Library of Congress
James Madison Building, LM 620
Second Street and Independence Avenue, S.E., Washington, DC 20050
12:00 noon
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