The Chinese American Council of Sacramento Foundation and the Folsom Historical Society will present “Fashion in Tradition,” a benefit Chinese fashion show and luncheon on Sunday, July 21, from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Happy Garden Restaurant, 5731 Stockton Boulevard, in Sacramento.
The fashion show will present exquisitely embroidered Chinese garments from the private collection of Karun Yee, dating back to the Qing dynasty (1644-1912). Garments and photographs from the archives of the Folsom History Museum will also be presented. The luncheon will feature fine Chinese Mandarin and Cantonese dishes.
Proceeds from the event will benefit the restoration of the historically significant Chan House, home of the future Chinese Heritage Museum in historic Folsom. The Chinese Heritage Museum will join the family of Folsom Historical Society museums, which include the Folsom History Museum (823 Sutter St.) and Pioneer Village, an outdoor interpretive center (196 Wool St.)
The Chinese Heritage Museum is being established to recognize the many contributions the Chinese have made in Folsom and California. Those contributions will be on display in the Chan House at 719 Sutter Street, which was the home of Howard Chan Sr. and Mabel Chan, descendants of Oak Chin Chan, a Chinese immigrant who arrived in Folsom in 1852 and became a prominent business man and the Chinese mayor of Folsom. The Chan family first rented the property in the 1920s but was not allowed to purchase the home until 1943 when the Chinese Exclusion Act was repealed. Howard Chan, Jr. and June Chan grew up in the home and are still local residents.
Folsom’s Chinese history is featured in the Folsom History Museum’s newest exhibit, “The Chinese Legacy in Folsom,” which runs from May 4 through September 1.
Tickets for the fashion show and luncheon are $50 per person. They can be purchased online at www.folsomhistoricalsociety.org/events, or by telephone at 916-985-2707 between 11 a.m. and 4 p.m., Tuesday through Sunday. The Folsom Historical Society is a 501(c)(3) corporation.