Members of the Yasui family were among the millions of immigrants who came to the United States seeking new opportunities during the late 1800s and early 1900s. Like many Issei (first-generation Japanese immigrants), they experienced racism and oppression; state and federal laws prevented Japanese immigrants from owning land, and anti-Japanese organizations sought to strip Nisei (second-generation Japanese Americans) of their birthright citizenship. Yet Nikkei (Japanese immigrants and their descendants) like the Yasui family persisted in establishing roots in Oregon, starting families and businesses, and shaping the social and economic fabric of the communities where they lived.
In honor of Independence Day, the Oregon Historical Society is hosting a special display of what is believed to be the first United States flag raised in Portland after Oregon became the 33rd state. The flag was hand-sewn by Ann Elizabeth Bills in 1861 and is preserved in OHS’s museum collection.
