Dr. Margaret 'Mike' Chung
19th Amendment Outdoor Museum
Dr. Chung advocated for the voting rights of Chinese and American women through her activism in the Woman's Auxiliary of the Chinese American League of Justice, the Chinese Protective Association, and the Chinese Women's Reform Club.
Dr. Chung, with her slicked-back hair, black tailored suit, hat, and cane, attracted much
attention in early twentieth-century California. Chung, or "Mike” as she preferred to be
called by friends, not only broke down barriers as a pioneering Chinese-American woman
physician (the first in the country), but also brazenly knocked down gender norms through
her clothing and affinity for behaviors that were considered unladylike at the time, such as
drinking, gambling, and swearing.
Erected 2020 by Maren Conrad.
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Asian Americans • Civil Rights • Science & Medicine • Women. In addition, it is included in the Women's Suffrage series list.
Location. 38° 34.544′ N, 121°
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Laura de Force Gordon (here, next to this marker); Mabel Ping-Hua Lee (here, next to this marker); Julie Soderlund (here, next to this marker); Maria Guadalupe Evangelina de Lopez (here, next to this marker); Jeannette Rankin (a few steps from this marker); Naomi Anderson (a few steps from this marker); Jovita Idár (a few steps from this marker); Sara Plummer Lemmon (a few steps from this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Sacramento.
More about this marker. This is one of nineteen markers that comprise the 19th Amendment Outdoor museum, erected in 2020 as part of the "I Vote" project, honoring suffragettes and their work.
Also see . . .
1. Margaret Chung (Wikipedia). "Margaret Jessie Chung (Chinese: 張瑪珠, October 2, 1889 – January 5, 1959), born in Santa Barbara, California, was the first known American-born Chinese female physician. After graduating from the University of Southern California Medical School in 1916 and completing her internship and residency in Illinois, she established one of the first Western medical clinics in San Francisco's Chinatown in the early 1920s." (Submitted on April 22, 2021.)
2. Dr. Margaret "Mom" Chung (US National Parks Service). "Dr. Margaret “Mom” Chung was the
3. Dr. Margaret Chung’s Secret Identity (Lo & Behold). A short article considering Dr. Chung's sexual orientation. (Submitted on April 22, 2021.)
4. The First American-Born Chinese Woman Doctor | Unladylike2020 | PBS (YouTube, 11 min.). (Submitted on April 22, 2021.)
Credits. This page was last revised on April 22, 2021. It was originally submitted on April 22, 2021, by Andrew Ruppenstein of Sacramento, California. This page has been viewed 125 times since then and 55 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on April 22, 2021, by Andrew Ruppenstein of Sacramento, California.