Description
The Chinese Historical Society of Southern California (CHSSC) and the UCLA Asian Studies Center (AASC) conducted the Southern
California Chinese American Oral History Project from 1978 to 1984. They collected 165 oral histories, from which transcripts,
summaries, indices, and the book
Linking Our Lives: Chinese American Women in Los Angeles were made. This collection contains approximately 1700 pages of transcripts and summaries, in English with small amounts
of Chinese; a partial collection of audio interviews in English and Chinese; approximately 1600 photographic prints of reproduced
photographs and documents lent to the project by interviewees; and other photographs, documents, news clippings, books, and
other ephemera donated by interviewees. The collection also contains records related two other collaborations between CHSSC
and UCLA AASC during this time, the book
Linking Our Lives: Chinese American Women in Los Angeles and the Family History for the Chinese American workshop.
Background
The Southern California Chinese American Oral History Project (SCCAOHP, or Southern California Oral History Project (SCOH)),
jointly sponsored by the UCLA Asian American Studies Center (AASC) and the Chinese Historical Society of Southern California,
was initiated in September 1978. The goal of the project to address the archival gaps concerning Chinese American history
and the Chinese American experience in the greater Los Angeles area, focusing mainly in the period prior to World War II.
With guidance and support by UCLA AASC and its director, Lucie Cheng Hirata, CHSSC staff and volunteers led by Munson Kwok
and Suellen Cheng collected 165 interviews spanning almost 400 cassette tapes. With help from a grant from the National Endowment
of the Humanities in 1982, over 1700 pages of accompanying transcripts and indices were created. These tapes and transcripts
are jointly owned by CHSSC and UCLA. The full collection is the property of UCLA Special Collections. A majority of the transcripts
and a small collection of the audiotapes are part of this collection.
Extent
3.83 Linear Feet
Two bankers boxes, two 14.5"x4.63"x8" plastic bins, and one 5"x12.5"x15.5" document case.
Availability
This collection is open to researchers and to the public for access. Please contact the Chinese Historical Society of Southern
California for more information.