The history of California is often told in the stories of young single men, especially when it comes to the earliest Chinese immigrants. While their numbers were smaller, women also arrived from China, although their reasons for crossing the Pacific were often less romantic than seeking fortune in the Gold Mountain. The book tells the story of the white Christian women who were the earliest allies of Chinese women and girls escaping slavery.
But in the course of her interviews, she also learned about more-recent and disturbing events that took place at Cameron House, which in the 20th century became a beloved youth center for Chinatown kids. Tell us a little about how you first became interested in the history of Cameron House?
I grew up in Northern California and have long loved San Francisco. She described her experience of leading a group of around 60 girls and young women across the burning city in the hours and day after the earthquake and fires. I could smell the smoke in the air from her descriptions and taste the fear and chaos of the city. After reading her account of living through that disaster, I wanted to find out more about Dolly and Cameron House.
I started digging around and soon realized there was a wealth of primary material from the home and the Presbyterian Church, as well as from immigration files at the National Archives. Just as important, I began tracking down the stories of the Chinese aides who made her work possible and the accounts of girls and women who passed through the home on their way to freedom.
It occurred to me that I could tell much of the history of the city through one placeโ Sacramento Street, which is where Cameron House is still located today. When writing about the intersection of several delicate subjectsโsexual abuse, race, and religionโhow did you gain the trust of the survivors who spoke to you and the people who are close to the story?
