SAINT LOUIS, Mo. — Reclaiming history has been a big theme in recent Asian-American stories in St. Louis. Now, Washington University researchers are working on a new, interactive project that would map out even more stories from the 1850s to the 1980s.

A group from Washington University is working on a StoryMap project, called Asia in St. Louis, which traces the history and experiences of people of Chinese and Japanese descent. It was created by East Asian studies librarians and students and is an interactive digital platform that combines maps, pictures, personal stories and more.

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“The first Chinese American arrived around 1857,” said Joan Wang, East Asian and Chinese studies librarian. “Also in 1942, WashU actually accepted the location of Japanese American students during the second World War.”

When the nation incarcerated Japanese Americans in internment camps, Washington University famously opened its doors to Japanese American students. Legendary architect Gyo Obata came from that time, and his mark is all over the world today including the Priory Chapel and the planetarium in St. Louis. His story will be one of many included in this first-of-its-kind project.

From the first recorded Chinese immigrant in 1857 to today, Asian immigrants have made their mark on St. Louis. “Asia in St. Louis” looks at the impact on the city’s social, physical and cultural landscapes, the project explains on its site. It looks at Asian American civil rights, as well.

Ultimately, it could change the way we see diversity in the city and understand who gets to write history in the first place.

“I think this digital project is more likely to tell the public in St. Louis about the diverse community,” Wang said.

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