A Conversation with The Honorable State Senator Mae Yih, the First Chinese American Elected to the State Legislature in America
The Honorable State Senator Mae Yih
4 October, 2025
9:30 - 11:00am

     First Saturday PDX and Portland Chinatown Museum invite you to join us as we chat with The Honorable State Senator Mae Yih who made history in 1976 when she became the first Chinese-American ever elected to a state legislature in the United States. 

     We will talk with her about her early years in Shanghai, through her university years in New York and into the state senate.  During her 26 years in service in the House and Senate, as the longest serving member in the Oregon Legislature, Senator Yih earned a reputation for hard work, honesty, integrity, and fighting tirelessly for the interests and concerns of her constituents and her legislative district. We talk with Senator Yih about her experience that led to her successful political career, the priorities that were at the center of her legislative service, and an important message.
    
    Known as a conservative Democrat, Senator Yih's many  accomplishments included passage of laws establishing Enterprise Zones to promote job creations; Oregon trade consultant in Shanghai to enhance trade between Oregon and China; child support legislation to expedite child support and reduce public assistance; equal property tax relief for Linn County residents by correcting a legislative drafting error permanently; appropriation for regional Adolescent Drug & Alcohol Treatment Center; lottery funds for the rehabilitation and preventive maintenance of covered bridges and a study for assessing the health of the Willamette River.

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About the speaker:
     Born in Shanghai, China in 1928, Mae Yih's childhood was sheltered and privileged within a well to do family.  After high school, her college education began at St. John's University in Shanghai, and in 1948 she transferred to Barnard College in New York City, graduating in 1951 with a bachelor's degree in economics.  In 1953, her marriage to Stephen Yih in New York City, precipitated relocation to Albany, Oregon where he was the founding CEO of the Wah Chang Corporation in Albany for 20 years.  Senator Yih served 26 years in the legislature, six years in the House (1977 - 1983) and twenty years in the Senate (1983 - 2003) after she had served on the board of two local elementary and high schools for 13 years–a total of 39 years of outstanding elected services. 
     Following her retirement in 2003, Senator Yih received the Distinguished Service Award from the Albany Chamber of Commerce, the same award that her husband received in 1968.  Senator Yih funds college scholarships for students in Albany and China who need financial assistance to pursue a degree in chemistry, math, physics, or engineering. In 2017, she published a memoir, East Meets West: A Bridge to Understanding, Friendship, Trust, Peace and Prosperity between My Mother and Adopted Countries. Yih received the Legacy Award from the Museum of Chinese in America in New York City in 2019.
     The Albany street Yih Lane, where her district office was, is named for her family. 
Portrait by Toni Greaves
Co-sponsored with
Picture
Portland Chinatown Museum
Senator Yih's memoir will be available for purchase and book signing, cash preferred ($20)
All proceeds from this sale are Senator Yih's contribution to First Saturday PDX program series
​     ** ​       33 NW Davis St, 
       Old Town Chinatown
  • ​Excellent MAX and bus transportation right by the venue; plan your Trimet trip HERE
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​We recommend that attendees be vaccinated and boosted, and follow CDC guidelines regarding masking.
For those interested in continuing the conversation, there will be a no host lunch family style with the speaker at a Chinese restaurant close by, afterwards.   Please let us know if you are joining when you register for the program so that we can make the proper arrangements.  For ease of payment for this lunch, cash would be preferred.
Our program series is supported by Reed College, Northwest China Council, Lan Su Chinese Garden, PSU's IAS, and Portland Chinatown Museum.   ​
​All our programs are free and open to the public.   ​