IMMIGRANT VOICES |
Learn How to Create your Story |
|
Allende, Isabel : The Unexpected Immigrant by William Wong Year of Arrival 1987 |
|
|
Author of best-selling books such as The House of Spirits, Isabel Allende recounts the circumstances that led to her unexpected settlement in northern California and her eventual U.S. citizenship. Sprinkled liberally with amusing observations, Allende’s discussion with journalist William Wong also delves into the tragic circumstances of her daughter Paula’s illness and death. Allende honors her daughter’s memory through a foundation dedicated to needy immigrants. |
|
Berek, Eva Schott : Incredible Journey by Reese Erlich Year of Arrival 1940 |
|
|
The yellowing old photos show a sprightly young woman of 18 taking a sea voyage to San Francisco. It could be any vacation photo from 1940. But the smiling face and sea breezes belie the harrowing journey taken by Jewish refugee Eva Schott.
|
|
Campos, David : A Champion Through Education by David Tan Year of Arrival 1984 |
|
|
Through his hard work and commitment to striving for the best in education, David Campos is now a member of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors representing District 9. Yet, Mr. Campos came from humble beginnings. The following article examines David’s life and journey from Guatemala to America as an undocumented immigrant and explores how his experiences shaped his views as Supervisor today. |
|
Chen, Joan : Actress, Director, and Immigrant by William Wong Year of Arrival 1981 |
|
|
Internationally acclaimed actress/director Joan Chen (Chen Gong) immigrated to the U.S. at age 19 in 1981. In this special article for AIISF, Joan Chen tells journalist William Wong about her years as a student in the U.S. and her early career as a Hollywood actress before her breakthrough in the Academy-award winning film, The Last Emperor. |
|
Choi, Kyung Sik : A Night at the Immigration Station by Choi Kyung Sik Year of Arrival 1925 |
|
|
One hundred years after the Immigration Station opened, we are still uncovering bits and pieces of the Angel Island story. The following poem, “A Night at the Immigration Station” by Choi Kyung Sik was found by researchers Charles Egan, a professor at San Francisco State University, and his assistant Jikyung Hwang as they went through back issues of the San Francisco-based Shinhan Minbo newspaper. Mr. Choi’s poem was published on April 25, 1925, and this English translation is by Jikyung Hwang and Charles Egan. |
|
Curgus, Sanja : Sanja's immigration story by Alice Cary Year of Arrival 1987 |
|
|
Sanja Curgus was born in what is now known as Sarajevo, Bosnia. When she was born it was actually referred to as Yugoslavia, but due to a series of conflicts Yugoslavia was dismantled into several different independent countries. Her family came to this country in 1987. The plan was to only stay in the United States for one year. At the time Sanja was nine years old and her parents were in their early 30's. The family left what is now known as Bosnia and moved to Bellingham Washington because her farther was offered a visiting professorship at Western Washington University, but the family never moved back to Bosnia. |
|
Delevett, Kim : Finding My Way Home by Kim and Peter Delevett Year of Arrival 1975 |
|
|
Pham Kim Phuong, who came to the U.S. as a child in April 1975 when Saigon fell to the Communists, recounts her journey back to Vietnam. In an emotional turn of events, she revisits her home town and finds long-lost relatives who have kept her memory alive despite years of separation. |
|
Der, Gwing : Memories of Centenarian Gwing Der (aka Der Nea Yick & Nelson Der) by Nancy F. Fong, Dorothy Fong, and Sandra Tye Year of Arrival 1926 |
|
|
The following narrative was culled from previous interviews conducted with Mr. Der (including two interviews by UC Davis Pacific Regional Humanities Center’s Phong Chau in November 2004, and Angel Island Immigration Station Foundation’s Executive Director Eddie Wong in June 2010). |
|
Din (Gong Bow Gwun), Hew : Not one, not two, but three paper names! by Grant Din Year of Arrival 1912 |
|
|
Gong Bow Gwun, later known as Hew Din, came over from China as Ow Luen in 1912 on the SS Manchuria, which docked in San Francisco on August 15, 1912. He received his Certificate of Identity on September 7, 1912 after three weeks on Angel Island. Like many Chinese immigrants trying to come over during the Chinese Exclusion Acts, he came over as a son of a native born American citizen, which if true would mean he was immigrating legally. His paper father was from Namhoi, in Guangdong Province; in reality, he was from a village called Lok Cheung in the Fah Yuen district, now known as Huadu or Hua Xian. |
|
Dong, Kingman : Angel Island Memories by Dong Kingman Year of Arrival 1911 |
|
|
Dong Kingman, the internationally renowned artist, was born in Oakland Chinatown on March 31, 1911. When he was five years old, his father sold his clothing store and moved the family to Hong Kong. When he was 18 years old, his father decided to send the children back to the United States. |
|
Eng, James L. : James L. Eng’s Odyssey by James L. Eng Year of Arrival 1931 |
|
|
Our ancestral home was in Fook Lim Village in Hoysan, AKA Taishan, county in Quangdong Province, China. The village is approximately sixty five miles west of Hong Kong. My grandfather, Ng Ming Sun, left his wife and two young sons to return to Mexico for the second time. During his first visit, he realized that Mexico would not serve his future. His new plan was to work in the United States to help his family and later, retire to China.
|
|
Felipe, Eliseo : Angel Island Profile: Eliseo Felipe by Angel Island Immigration Station Foundation Year of Arrival 1933 |
|
|
Eliseo Felipe, a 100 year-old retired serviceman, shares his journey to the United States and his pride in becoming an American. |
|
Fong, Jimmy Mee Ning : Angel Island Story by Madeleine Fong Year of Arrival 1936 |
|
|
Jimmy Ning Fong (aka Fong Mee Ning) of Sacramento, California thinks his Angel Island experience did not have much of an effect on him. He can recall it well and likes to start with the day he first left his home in China. |
Page 1 of 6











