Immigration, Immigrants, and Visitors (In Progress)

  • ​[1852] An article on Chinese immigrants in California also references the existence of Hindoos [Maine Farmer, 1/1/1852, pg. 3, "Chinese in California"]
  • [1852] An Illinois newspaper quotes a professor, recently returned from California, who speculates that Chinese, Japanese, and Hindoos in California will "soon catch the spirit of our free institutions, and rapidly become Americanized." [The Ottawa Free Trader, January 17 1852, p 1, col 6, "The New Graft on American Stock"]
  • [1853] A lascar (perhaps South Asian?) was buried in San Francisco. No name, age, or birthplace was listed.[Daily Alta California, Mar 7 1853, p 2, col 5, "Died: Internments in San Francisco"]
  • [1854] A Goan man was brought in as a witness at the San Francisco Recorder's Court. There was an objection made as to whether he was able to provide evidence because of his race. But the Recorder admitted it, because he was not black. [The Shasta Courier, 14 October 1854, pg. 2, "Competent Witness"]
  • [1855] The Annals of San Francisco refers to lascars (perhaps South Asian?) as part of the "multitude of foreign races" in San Francisco. [The Annals of San Francisco, 1855, p 505]
  • [1857] In March 1857, Hutchings' Illustrated California Magazine published the earliest (?) image of a South Asian in California, a portrait of a "Hindoo" gold miner getting ready to return from San Francisco to India with his savings after 3 years working in the mines. This means that there was a South Asian gold miner in California as far back as 1854.
  • [1860] The 1860 census records a household of sixteen men, primarily Indian Muslims, living in northeast San Francisco​
  • [1871] The book À la California: Sketch of Life in the Golden State twice references South Asians in San Francisco. "A couple of small, wiry, supple little fellows, with black skins, straight black hair, with little black eyes which twinkle like those of a snake, carrying huge baskets, filled with soiled clothing, on their heads, may attract your attention next; they are Lascar or Hindoo washermen from the Laguna, in the western part of the city, where they work." And it also says, "here and there in the throng, at wider intervals, you may at times see the silent little Lascar, or Hindoo, gliding stealthily and serpent-like through the throng" ["À la California: Sketch of Life in the Golden State" by Albert S. Evans, pages 132 and 273, 1873, but probably describing events ~1871]
  • [1872] The Hindoo servant of Lord Blandford is quoted in the San Francisco Chronicle as saying that California is a "good country," with "gold plenty," but "hard to get." ["Jottings About Town," SF Chronicle, July 17 1872, page 3]
  • [1879] The San Francisco Police Department barred two South Asian sailors from cremating "a dead comrade" who had died of natural causes. The police suggested they bury their friend, and threatened to send them to San Quentin if they performed a cremation. [SF Chronicle, Jan 6, 1879, pg 3, "Wanted to Cremate Him"]
  • [1881] Two rich Indian merchants, Harnambhay Visram and Damodar Gordundass, travel the world, pass through San Francisco. [SF Chronicle, Dec 13 1881, pg. 4, "UNUSUAL VISITORS: Two Wealthy East Indian Merchants on a Tour of the World"]
  • [1885] Gopal Vinayak Joshi (Anandibai Joshi's husband?) visited Sacramento, and was interviewed by a local paper. There was some apparently kind of a kerfuffle with his Sacramento appearance, as he was challenged by someone British, and his identity (mis)outed by another South Asian. He also stopped in San Francisco, and a newspaper columnist reported that he was mistaken as Irish.
  • [1885] Newspaper report from San Francisco says "Three East Indian merchants, who are inspecting the city, bear the names Babooralli, Osmanli and Asshak." More on him in the 1887 entry ("Baboor Ally") [Sacramento Daily Record-Union, November 18 1885, p4, col1, "San Francisco Items"]
  • [1887] "Meer Baboor Ally, a Hindoo resident of San Francisco, has filed a declaration of his intention to become an American citizen. He is the first of his race, as far as known, who has ever done so." (More on Ally. There are more references to him around the East Coast.) [Wichita Eagle, July 23 1887, p 2, col 1]
  • [1892] A San Francisco newspaper comments wonders at the ability of a South Asian (presumably Sikh) man to tie a turban. [SF Call, Oct 18 1892, p1, "Rolling A Turban"]
  • [1893] A 68-year old South Asian man was part of the small "leper colony" at the 26th Street Hospital in San Francisco. There was public discussion of moving the people with leprosy to a facility in Hawaii.
  • [1893] Prince Hamid Ali Khan of Rampur visits San Francisco. The visit by the ~18 year old ruler and his munshi to a boxing match between a human and a kangaroo is covered with (respectful) glee by the San Francisco Call. The Chronicle includes any more details, not transcribed here. [SF Call, June 11 1893, "That 'Ere Nawab"; SF Chronicle, June 7 1893, "Nawab of Rampur, p. 5"]
  • [1893-4] Purushotam Rao Telang, a Brahmin from Bombay, visits San Francisco for the California Midwinter International Exposition, planning to be in the area for roughly half a year. His views on music were widely covered in the press — see the arts/literature page for details. [SF Call, Jan 21 1894, p8, "Universal Music"] [SF Chronicle, 5 Dec 1893, pg. 10, "FAMED HINDOO ARTIST: Arrival of Purshotam Rao Telang He Makes Pictures With His Finger Nails Strange Impressions He Gained Here--Author of a Humorous Book"]
  • [1896] Four South Asians who came to attend the 1893 Chicago World Fair were to be deported via San Francisco. They were two women and two men, possibly a father and son) and may have stayed on in Chicago after the 1893 World Fair. A Los Angeles newspaper indicates that they were being sent to San Francisco to catch a ship back to Calcutta via Hong Kong, apparently at government expense.
  • [1896] A Hindoo sailor originally from Mauritius, living at 117 Drumm Street, apparently stalked a young White woman (from a German family?), before killing her and committing suicide. More details in the Chronicle. [SF Chronicle, Mar 29 1896, pg. 27, "TWO LIVES TAKEN WITH A KEEN RAZOR: Jealousy, Revenge and a Tragedy A GIRL CRUELLY BUTCHERED PRETTY EDLA MEYER'S FIGHT FOR LIFE Slashed to Death by a Hot-Blooded East Indian Who Killed Himself"]
  • [1899 ★] Earliest (non-student) South Asian meeting in Berkeley? The San Francisco Chronicle reports that "The local Salvation Army held a Hindoo meeting at its barracks tonight. Native costumes were work and [undecipherable] songs were sung. The meeting was conducted after the fashion of the army meetings in India. (SF Chronicle, 10/12/1899, pg. 9)
  • [1900] Punjabi princesses Bamba Duleep Singh and Sophia Duleep Singh pass through San Francisco by ship. More in "women" page.
  • [1901] A "mysterious man  who came from India many years ago" died at his home in North Oakland. The Chronicle reports that "Eugene Varrago" spoke only Hindustani, was perhaps 70 years old. [SF Chronicle, 12/15/1901, p15, col 1, "A Hindoo Dies Far From Home"]
  • [1903] Vishnupant Moreshwar Chatre's Hindoo CIrcus came to San Francisco. They were performing in San Francisco's Central Park around January, when acrobat T.K. Kupparao accused Chatre of stealing a gold bracelet from him. Police arrested Chatre, who paid bail. Barber Vitoba also had labor complaints. The San Francisco Call later published a complicated story about a loan dispute among Chatres, the advance agent, etc., and the use of an elephant to secure the debt. [San Francisco Call, 17 Jan 1903, page 5, col 2, "Hindoo Files Complaint Against Circus Manager"; San Francisco Call, 27 Mar 1903, page 14, col 1. "Takes Elephant to Secure Debt"]
  • [1903] Circus acrobat Bahadoor Ali and dancer Anni are the parents of newly-born "Francisco." The child was named after the city of his birth, and the parents were living at 604 Minna Street in San Francisco. The parents are originally farmers from Punab, but traveling with the circus since 1899. He's an acrobat, weary of the farming life, and she bears a tattoo, and tells the reporter that she hopes to take Francisco back to Punjab's rice fields, to the life they left. The newspaper has an illustration of young Francisco, and a photo of Anni, looking at the camera with confidence and swagger. [San Francisco Examiner, 3/30/1903, p3, "Hindoo Babe Thrives and Mother Rejoices"]
  • [1903] C.F. Saldhana of Bombay spoke at the Academy of Sciences Hall in San Francisco on all the ways Indians love animals, in a very over-the-top talk. For example, he describes animal hospitals with wards for insects, and how miscreant humans are placed in the insect ward to feed them. [San Francisco Call, 14 Nov 1903, page 9, "Hindoo Speaks about India: C.F. Saldhana, a Native of the Orient, Tells of His People"]
  • [1906] South Asians were among those impacted by the 1906 earthquake and fire. Before the earthquake, lascars were one of the groups seen on the waterfront. After the earthquake, an observer mentions seeing "a Lascar sailor in his turban" in waiting in line for provisions at Jefferson Park. [The San Francisco Calamity by Earthquake and Fire, pps. 107, 158] 
  • [1906] Sayajirao Gaekwad III, the maharaja of Baroda, and his wife visited Oakland and San Francisco during a U.S. trip. [SF Chronicle, June 8 1906, p23, "East Indian Ruler Here"]
  • [1907] In Oakland, Veer Singh was denied the right to citizenship because he wore a turban, while Dakam Chand and Fukur Chand removed their turbans and were given the oath. Subsequently, San Francisco immigration commissioner Hart North subsequently instructed the Alameda County Clerk that Indians were not allowed citizenship under any circumstance, in light of new immigration law. [San Francisco Call, 31 January 1907, page 10, column 1, "Law Bars Hindoos From Citizenship"; SF Chronicle, Jan 23, 1907, "Prefers Turban to CItizenship"]
  • [1907] White men attacked South Asian factory and lumber yard workers in Stege, which is in present-day Richmond. Many of the workers were pushed out of Bellingham, Washington, and were pushed toward Oakland, from where they went to Stege. Per the Call, "Incipient signs of a race war have been manifested for several days In an outbreak of violence against a colony of Hindus who have settled here. The orientals canui to work at the California Cap company's plant, but after establishing themselves the dark skinned Asiatics percolated through several other Industries. They have slowly but surely found footing in factories and lumber yards against the serious objection of white workmen. Considerable feeling haa been aroused against the newcomers with the result that several minor demonstrations have been made. Bunkhouses occupied by the Hindu laborers have been the targets for volleys of rocks at night time, after the occupants were supposed to have gone to bed. These signal evidences of antiAsiatic sentiment have thus far been followed by no serious injury to any one. The attacks have been of frequent occurrence and have given rla« to some alarm on the part of the authorities lest more energetic effort shall be made to rid the town of the Invading swarthy laborers from the far east." [Bellingham Herald, October 11 1907] [San Francisco Call, November 15 1907, p9, "Hindu Workmen Protest Against Hindu Toilers"] [San Jose Evening News, November 16 1907] [San Francisco Chronicle, December 5 1907]
  • [1908] It's debatable how much much protection South Asian immigrants derived from being part of the British empire, but an article in the San Francisco Call gives an example where "Hindu is Protected as British Subject: Oriental is Allowed to Land, While Chinese Woman Servant Must Return." Another article describes how the British Consul Makes Protest — Calls upon Governor to Protect the Hindoos in Sutter County" after a raid on South Asians in Live Oak, Sutter County. [SF Chronicle, 1/31/1908, pg. 3, "British Consul Makes Protest"]
  • [1910] Restrictions on immigration and anti-immigrant sentiment were showing up in the press, e.g. a San Francisco Call article, "59 Undesirable Asiatics Arrive," which describes the immigration of 59 Sikh and Muslim men (one of whom is pictured), as well as the deportation of 75 South Asians, some of them on charges of polygamy. [SF Call, Aug 14 1910, p46, "59 Undesirable Asiatics Arrive"]
  • [1910] Immigrants were turned away because they reportedly had hookworm, with the San Francisco Chronicle gleefully reporting that "Law is Sufficient to Stop the Influx"; the article quotes immigration inspector Ainsworth, who reported that the rate of "Hindoo" immigration was about 6000 per year, and that despite public agitation, no way had been discovered to slow down the influx. Hookworm might be more effective than grounds like keeping out the poor (i.e. "those who were likely to be public charges") or claiming that Muslim immigrants were liable to practice polygamy. [SF Chronicle, 9/29/1910, pg. 2]
  • [1910] Oakland St. Mary's College student paper writes editorial against South Asian workers [SF Call, Feb 19 1910, p14, "Writes an argument against the Hindus"]
  • [1911] Eighteen "Hindoos," including five women (two of them pregnant) and several children arrived at Angel Island. Nine of them were "found to be afflicted with contagious diseases," and the whole group was ordered to be deported. The group contested the deportation order.
  • [1913] Missionary Dalta Kumar (sp?) becomes reportedly the second South Asian to gain U.S. citizenship, in San Francisco, after a federal judge in Washington decides that "Aryan"/"Caucasian" Hindus are eligible. [SF Call, May 25 1913, p21, "Second Hindu Becomes Citizen of United States"; SF Call, May 24 1913, p18, "Naturalization Is Extended to Hindu"]
  • [1914 ★] Two South Asian students tried to enter the Berkeley high school, but their request faced opposition at the school board meeting from Principal Biedenbach, Superintendent James. School board president James made a spirited anti-racist defense. It's unclear what the outcome was. [Berkeley Daily Gazette, Aug 5 1914, pg 1, "School Board in Quandary Over Admitting Hindus"]
  • [1918–] The Afghanistan Welfare Association-linked burial plot in Sacramento, California was the final resting place for dozens of Afghan/Pakistani men starting in the 1920s, and likely an early of South Asian / Muslim mutual aid in California. FindAGrave.com includes lists and images of those buried, including at least 37 men with the last name "Khan" buried in the Sacramento City Cemetery between 1918–1950. See photos of association President Akbar Khan's grave from Tom Spaulding and Lizzie Fox.
  • [1920 ★] UC Berkeley student Sant Ram Mandal became a naturalized U.S. citizen on the grounds that Hindoos like him were Aryan. [San Francisco Chronicle, 17 Oct 1920, page 1, column 3, "Hindoo Art Will be Theme at Tamalcraft"]
  • [1920s ★] Vaishno Das and Kala Bagai bought a home in Berkeley and tried to move in, their neighbors locked the house to prevent them from entering. Kala was afraid that neighbors might hurt their children, so they were forced to return to San Francisco with all their belongings. [AIISF, “"Bridges Burnt Behind”: The Story of Vaishno Das Bagai"]
  • [1922 ★] Syed Hossain, Congress party activist, gave two talks in Berkeley. The first talk was very sold out, and a newspaper story about "Syud Hassain," describes the second talk, on "India and World Reconstruction," to be held at Berkeley High School auditorium. [Oakland Tribune, July 16 1922, p78, "Indian Lecturer to Speak Tomorrow"]
  • [1930 ★] The US Census records a household of 7 South Asian men, ages 25–31, living as lodgers at 2034 Kittredge (S G Lanewala, Mohammed Ali, Vinayak N Moghe, Hafiz A Rahman, H S Dhillon, Bhag Singh, Gupta D Das); they lived there along with 10 Filipinos. One of the South Asians worked as a tailor, one as kitchen staff, and the other are marked as "none." This is an interesting instance of a South Asian household where residents weren't all doing the same thing (e.g. all students, or all railroad workers). [1930 US Census, California > Alameda > Berkeley > ED 314 > image 16 of 20; citing NARA microfilm publication T626]
  • [1967-1972 ★] Immigrant South Asian men were advertising for love and sex in the personals pages of the Berkeley Barb. Sources: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5