Lecture to look at 1907 ‘anti-Hindu’ riots in Bellingham

Paul Englesberg will explore the background and history of the 1907 riots in Bellingham and subsequent expulsion of the Punjabi population from the community during a presentation from noon to 1 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 11, in the Goltz-Murray Archives Building on campus.

The event is being put on by the Western Libraries division of Heritage Resources.

In his talk, Englesberg will highlight his research on the riots and expulsion, including substantial investigation of sources from archival collections at the Goltz-Murray Archives Building and elsewhere. The program will include a screening of the new documentary “We’re Not Strangers,” directed by Spencer Creigh and filmed this past fall in Bellingham.

Englesberg is professor of education at Walden University, specializing in adult and higher education and educational research. Previously he was on the education faculty at Western Washington University, where he initiated the Asian American Curriculum and Research Project.

This event is free and open to the public, and Western faculty and students are especially encouraged to take advantage of this unique opportunity to explore the Bellingham community’s diverse and complex past. Limited parking will be available in the Archives Building lot (Lot 33G); please contact Western’s Parking Services to arrange for alternate parking options in case of overflow.