This album contains many precious historical pictures and much detailed descriptions. It realistically depicts the miserable experience of the tens of thousands of overseas Chinese laborers and explores the life of Chinese laborers, ranging from their struggle for survival to their final taking roots in North American societies. It illuminates the enormous contributions of Chinese laborers in the building of North American civilizations.

Huang Annian is a Professor of Beijing Normal University. He was born in 1936 in Wujin County, Jiangsu Province. In 1958, he graduated from the History Department of Beijing Normal University. He has long been engaged in the teaching and research of US history and modern world history. He has written, compiled and translated more than 30 publications, mainly including The Silent Spikes, Chinese Laborers and the Construction of North American Railroads (Beijing: China Intercontinental Press，2006； with both Chinese and English versions； The Spikes No Longer Remain Silent: Chinese Laborers and the Construction of North American Railroads (Shenyang: Baishan Publishing House, 2010, Simplified Chinese Edition； Taipei: Airiti Press, 2014, Traditional Chinese Enlarged Edition)； Old Topics and New Challenges: The Rise of the United States and Contemporary America (Beijing: China Legal Publishing House, 2009)； Contemporary American Social Security Policies (Beijing: China Social Sciences Press, 1998)； Fifty Year of Contemporary World,1945-1995 (Chengdu: Sichuan People’s Publishing House, 1997)； Essays on American Social and Economic History (Taiyuan: Shanxi Education Publishing House, 1993)； The Rise of the United States: The United States from 17th Century through 19th Century (Beijing: China Social Sciences Press, 1992)； The United States in the 20th Century (Shijiazhuang: Hebei People’s Publishing House, 1987)； From Battleground to the Field of History: Anthology Marking 90th Birthday of Deng Shusheng (Beijing: China Legal Publishing House, 2012)； American Chronicles: American Life in the Eye of a Chinese Scholar (Beijing: Culture and Art Publishing House, 2005)； Footsteps of the Silent Spikes (Beijing: China Railway Publishing House, 2015；coauthor with Li Ju). In addition, Professor Huang has published over 300 academic papers. He once served as Vice President of American History Research Association of China (1993-2008) and Secretary General of the Association (1990-1996), the International Contributing Editor of The Journal of American History (published in the US) (1992-2008), and Secretary General of History Research Association of Beijing. Currently, he serves as an adviser of American History Research Association of China (2008-present) and an executive council member of Chinese Association of American Studies. Since 1991, he has been to the United States for six times for academic visits or inspection, with a cumulative duration of stay of 4 years.