The Middle Kingdom under the Big Sky, book cover

Historian Mark Johnson will present Montana's Historic Chinese Communities at 1pm in the Ozark Club. Johnson is the author of the new book The Middle Kingdom under the Big Sky: A History of the Chinese Experience in Montana, and in this presentation he will discuss the underrepresented history of Chinese communities in Montana. Johnson’s research comes from several large collections of primary documents left by Chinese pioneers translated into English for the first time. These collections, spanning the 1880s through the 1950s, provide insight into the pressures the Chinese community faced — from family members back in China and from non-Chinese Montanans — as economic and cultural disturbances complicated acceptance of Chinese residents in the state. Through their own voices Johnson reveals the agency of Chinese Montanans in the history of the American West and China.

Mark Johnson is a professor with the University of Notre Dame partnering with teachers who work in Catholic schools across the nation. His research interests focus on the history of Chinese communities in Montana, detailed in his book The Middle Kingdom under the Big Sky: A History of the Chinese Experience in Montana (2022). Born and raised in Great Falls, he now lives in Helena. 

Especially for kids: After the presentation, craft your own paper lantern! Paper lanterns have been used in China for almost 2,000 years. Today lanterns are used to decorate festivals and important events. This activity is free and open to all ages.

The Gift Shop Holiday Open House starts 12pm-5pm. Enjoy a wide variety of Montana Made gifts and Montana books! Music in the Ozark Club, Christmas Songs with choral group Sound of the Falls starts at 3pm.

This Second Saturday is sponsored by The Montana History Foundation