Living and Learning: Chinese Immigration, Restriction & Community in Brooklyn, 1850 to Present
Curated by Andy Urban
On view May 8 - October 18, 2009.
Learn about the experiences of Chinese immigrants to Brooklyn in the past and present by exploring historical newspaper and periodical articles, cartoons, photographs, and government documents. This exhibit offers insight into the cultural, social, and legal implications of the history of Chinese immigration to Brooklyn, and how many of the issues involved continue to resonate today.
Image: Goon Bow. Statement of Registered Chinese Laborer about to Depart from the United States with the Intention of Returning Thereto, Case File 56; Chinese exclusion acts case files, 1880-1960; Immigration and Naturalization Service, Record Group 85;
National Archives and Records Administration – Northeast Region (New York).
Sunset Park Oral History Collection 1993 - 1994
The Brooklyn Historical Society collaborated with the Chinatown History Project - now the Museum of Chinese in America -- in order to conduct a series of oral histories with residents of Sunset Park. Mary Lui, who contributed an essay to this exhibit in her capacity as professor of Asian American History at Yale University, was one of the oral history project's interviewers. The interviews focused on what was then a new presence of Chinese and Asian immigrants concentrated along Eighth Avenue. Among the topics that are explored in the interviews are tensions between different groups of Chinese immigrants, crime and safety in the neighborhood, Sunset Park's relationship to Manhattan's Chinatown, and how long-term residents of Sunset Park had adjusted to the area's "newcomers." These interviews were digitized from cassette by Alexis Taines and Niles French and the complete interviews and transcripts are available through the Othmer Library.
Tony Giordano, b. 1948 in Brooklyn, Interviewed by Greg Ruf 6/29/1993
Billy Wong, b. 1964 in Hong Kong, moved to Brooklyn when 19 years old, Interviewed by Mary Lui 5/26/1993
Edmundo Quiñones, b. 1945 in Manhattan, Interviewed by Greg Ruf and Fabiana Chiu 6/10/1994
David Chan, b. 1955 in China, grew up in Hong Kong, moved to the U.S. in 1975, Interviewed by Mary Lui 4/17/1993
Yan Chen, b. 1974 in China, moved to U.S. when 8 years old, Interviewed by Mary Lui 4/23/1993
These audio tracks are also available for download through the Brooklyn Historical Society's podcast on iTunes.
or by clicking here.
PS94 Oral History Collection 2009
Oral histories are unique because they represent memories, anecdotes, and perspectives on events that might otherwise never make it into an archive. As part of this exhibit, fourth and fifth grade students at PS 94 in Sunset Park interviewed faculty members, their families, and neighbors in order to capture their perspectives on the neighborhood's history. Situated in one of New York's most racially and ethnically diverse neighborhoods, these histories of Sunset Park offer important insights into immigration, changes in the population and physical landscape, and the neighborhood's cultural life.
Carolyn Frere has been teaching in Sunset Park for 25 years
Interviewed by students at PS94 with Andy Urban 3/13/2009
Enid Ramos has lived in Sunset Park over 40 years
Interviewed by students at PS94 with Andy Urban 3/13/2009
Kiara, Marilyn, Wendy, Karen, Aisha, and Chrystin are students at PS 94.
They presented their oral history projects on 5/4/2009. Click here to see their photos.
These audio tracks are also available for download through the Brooklyn Historical Society's podcast on iTunes.
or by clicking here.
Brooklyn Chinese- American Association 2009
On May 5, 2009, Susan Chan, Betty Lee, and Alan So participated in a roundtable interview at the Brooklyn Chinese-American Association in Sunset Park. Sharing their own personal observations on the changes that have affected the Chinese community in Brooklyn since 1950, they offer important insights into issues such as work, social services, generational differences, and prospects for the future.
Betty Lee (b 1935), Alan So (b 1948), and Susan Chan (b 1940)
Members of the Brooklyn Chinese-American Association
Interviewed by Andy Urban with Sady Sullivan 5/5/2009
These audio tracks are also available for download through the Brooklyn Historical Society's podcast on iTunes.
or by clicking here.
