In June, Greg Morris (Kennel Bookstore) attended the World Former Foreign Harbiners Conference in Harbin, China.

"Meeting people from around the world with this shared history was an amazing experience," he said. "It has sparked my continued research into the history of this unique place, turbulent times and remarkable people."

During the first two decades of the 20th century, tens of thousands of refugees, many fleeing revolution and civil war in Russia, flooded into Harbin, creating a unique and complex society, remnants of which are still visible today.

As a descendant of Harbin Russians, Greg was invited to share his family story and photos and participate in the events, which included an international academic seminar on the history of the former foreign residents, a history and photo exhibition, trips to historic relics and discussions on historic preservation efforts.