This volume contains the proceedings and the papers of the first national conference on the life, influence, and the role of the Chinese in the U.S. The proceedings include papers, films, slide presentations, and addresses. Among the topics covered by the papers presented are the following: (1) contributions of Chinese art to Fresno culture, (2) the Cantonese opera, (3) conflict and contact between the Chinese and indigenous communities in San Francisco, (4) Chinese Americans in politics, (5) the influence of the Chinese on United States history, (6) textbook bias, (7) the origins of Chinese immigration in the U.S., (8) discrimination against the Chinese in the U.S., (9) the role of Chinese women in the West, (10) an economic profile of Chinese Americans, (11) federal funds for Chinese American projects, (12) opportunities in professional education for Chinese Americans, and (13) a description of a curriculum kit for understanding Chinese Americans. (Author/AM)