LancasterHistory Online Lecture to Explore Stories of Chinese American Soldiers in the Civil War

Discover Their Extraordinary Contributions with Historian Anneliese Meck

LANCASTER, PA — LancasterHistory is thrilled to welcome Anneliese Meck, a public historian and historical costumer, for an online presentation on Thursday, November 7 about "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 explore the story of Mr. Woo and other Chinese Americans who fought for freedom, citizenship, civil rights, and belonging in 19th-century America.

This lecture is part of LancasterHistory's Regional History Colloquium Series, which features historians and other scholars presenting research on issues related to southeastern Pennsylvania and its wider borders.

Anneliese Meck is a public historian and content creator (@thesewphisticate), 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.

About Hong Neok Woo

Born on August 7, 1834 near Changchow, China, Hong Neok Woo traveled to the United States with Dr. John S. Messersmith aboard the USS Susquehanna at 20 years old. Woo lived with Dr. Messersmith in Lancaster from 1855 through 1864. During his time in Lancaster, Woo attended Saint James Episcopal Church and worked at the Lancaster Examiner and Herald as a printer and a The Daily Express as a pressman. On September 22, 1860, Woo was naturalized as an American citizen in Lancaster County, becoming the only known Chinese person naturalized in Lancaster County at that time and one of the first in the United States. Woo later joined as a private in Company I, 50th Regiment Infantry, Pennsylvania Volunteer Emergency Militia during the Civil War. To read more about Hong Neok Woo, please visit LancasterHistory's blog. 

EVENT DETAILS & HOW TO REGISTER

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

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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About LancasterHistory

LancasterHistory is a community-based, not-for-profit organization established to educate the public on the history of Lancaster County and its place in the history of Pennsylvania and the United States, to advance the missions of regional historical organizations, and to promote the acquisition, preservation, and interpretation of resources representing the history of Lancaster County, Pennsylvania within the broader context of state and national history, including the homes of 15th US President James Buchanan and Congressman Thaddeus Stevens and Lydia Hamilton Smith.

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