California Story Fund
In Our Own Voice: The Making of a Korean Community
Oakland Museum of California
Oakland
Project Director: Aimee Klask
Documenting the Korean American experience
This project collected the stories of a wide range of Korean Americans in the San Francisco East Bay, from recent immigrants to long-term residents. The stories focused on such themes as pre-emigration experiences related to the Korean War, adjustment to life in America, and the development of business, churches and communities.
"Koreans have helped shape California's history, but for the most part the record of their achievement exists only in the memories of community elders and the informal archives of community organizations. This project addressed a critical need to collect and preserve primary source material," said Aimee Klask, project director and historian at the Oakland Museum.
This stories will used as the basis for a nine-month exhibit at the Oakland Museum. The exhibit will feature photographs, archival material, artifacts and a video of interviews. The museum will also hold an evening of conversation with the oral history participants for the general public.