Irvine City Hall photo exhibit spotlights Chinese Americans' role in U.S. history

Irvine City Hall has turned into a history gallery. A photo exhibition titled Across the Pacific opened Thursday with images that follow the lives and contributions of Chinese Americans through U.S. history. It runs through Oct. 21 and anyone can walk in.

A personal mission for the host

Councilmember Melinda Liu brought the show to City Hall with the Dehuai Foundation for Historical Images. Liu made history as the first Taiwan-born member of the Irvine council and the first Chinese American woman who speaks Mandarin to win a seat there. She said starting over in a new country taught her why immigrant stories deserve to be seen.

At the opening ceremony Liu told guests that every family, wherever it came from, helps write the American story. She urged visitors to take their time with each picture and learn about the people in it.

Wartime service and relief

The collection highlights Chinese Americans who served during World War II. It also covers American efforts to aid China from 1938 to 1942, including the fundraising push people called the One Bowl of Rice movement.

Foundation president Emily Wang said Irvine is the first stop in a plan to bring historical displays out of museums and into everyday public spaces such as city halls, schools and libraries. Co-founder Zou Dehuai has gathered roughly 100,000 historical photographs to draw from.

Cultural, education and community groups from across Southern California came to the opening. An aide to California State Treasurer Fiona Ma handed over a certificate honoring the exhibit.