For this project, I will use several digital humanities tools to explore how immigration pathways and labor market segmentation have shaped the experiences of Chinese and other Asian American subgroups in Pennsylvania and the surrounding region.
One tool I plan to use is a timeline that traces the history of Asian immigration to the United States. The timeline will highlight major immigration policies, historical events, and demographic changes that influenced migration patterns over time. By placing these events in chronological order, I can provide historical context for my research and show how changes in immigration law and policy affected different Asian immigrant communities.
I will also use mapping to visualize geographic patterns related to Asian immigrant populations. While I am still determining the exact focus of the maps, I may map the distribution of Chinese and other Asian American populations across Pennsylvania counties or compare settlement patterns in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and New York. Mapping will help identify regional trends and make it easier to understand where different immigrant communities have concentrated and how those patterns have changed over time.
The platform I will use for this project is ArcGIS StoryMaps. StoryMaps allows me to combine maps, timelines, images, and written analysis into a single interactive website. This format is especially useful because it enables readers to explore historical and geographic information alongside my research findings. By integrating multiple forms of digital storytelling, StoryMaps will help communicate complex information in a clear and engaging way.