Forgotten Fighters: Chinese Soldiers in the Civil War

Forgotten Fighters: Chinese Soldiers in the Civil War

Two sepia historic photographs of two Chinese men. The man on the right stands posed next to a chair in a suit. The man on the right is seated and is wearing a Civil War uniform.
(left) Hong Neok Woo c. 1860 in Lancaster, PA. From the Collections of LancasterHistory. (right) Corporal Joseph Pierce of Co. F 14th Connecticut Infantry Regiment. Liljenquist Family Collection.

On Thursday, November 7, join LancasterHistory as we welcome Anneliese Meck, a public historian and historical costumer, for an online presentation on “Forgotten Fighters: Chinese Soldiers in the Civil War.”

When Hong Neok Woo, a Chinese American citizen living in Lancaster County, enlisted as a private in the United States Army in 1863, he joined ranks with a small yet significant number of Chinese soldiers who fought for their adopted country. In the years that followed, the US would discriminate against these citizens and all but forget their contributions on the battlefield and beyond. In this online lecture, Anneliese Meck will join us to explore the story of Mr. Woo and other Chinese Americans who fought for freedom, citizenship, civil rights, and belonging in 19th-century America.

A young woman of Asian descent stands in bright green foliage. She wears a bonnet and dress from the 19th century.
Anneliese Meck

Anneliese Meck is a public historian and content creator, specializing in historical costume construction, Chinese American history, and living history practice. She studied costumes and textiles at Kent State University, and has worked with historical societies and museums throughout the East Coast. She previously served as the Associate Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at Genesee Country Village & Museum in Mumford, New York, and, as of June 2024, serves as an event coordinator at the Women’s Rights and Harriet Tubman National Historic Parks for the National Park Service. Find her latest projects on the blog – The Sewphisticate – and social media: @thesewphisticate.

EVENT DETAILS & HOW TO REGISTER

This event will take place online via Zoom on Thursday, November 7, 2024 at 5:30pm ET.

This program is free and open to the public, but requires advance registration in order to receive the Zoom link. Register online or by calling (717) 392-4633. Registration will close online on Thursday, November 7 at 5:30pm. At the speaker’s request, the presentation will not be recorded.

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Lecture Online/Virtual Event

November 7, 2024 Online via Zoom 5:30pm ET FREE | Registration Required to Receive Zoom Link