Phase 1: Elder Interviews
About the Elder Interviews (Phase 1)
During the spring and summer of 2007, 11 high school youth interviewed 10 elders who lived or worked in Oakland Chinatown throughout the 1940s-1970s, when Chinatown faced intense change. The youth interviewers were greatly impacted by the elders’ vivid personal stories of early life in Chinatown and community formation in times of war, discriminatory laws, urban renewal, and grassroots organizing.
This set of ten 90 minute face-to-face interviews were captured on digital video and transcribed. They are available at the Oakland Public Library’s Main Branch & Asian Branch, Mills College, and the Oakland Asian Cultural Center (OACC). The transcripts are also available digitally by request to the OACC. For more information, contact Roy Chan at (510) 637-0463 or rchan(at)oacc.cc.
"Tell your story! It will make an impact."
David Joseph-Goteiner, youth interviewer
Evangeline Buell, interviewed by Milton Lee with Francis Chen
Henry Chang, interviewed by Sandy Liao with Sakura Huang
Alicia & Sherlyn Chew, interviewed by David Joseph-Goteiner
Ted Dang, interviewed by Louie Chen with Edan Qian
Dr. David Der, interviewed by Eric Chen and Tiffany Chen
Darlene Lee, interviewed by Sakura Huang with Alan Wong & Wilson Wong
George Ong, interviewed by Tiffany Chen with Eric Chen
Charles Sumimoto, interviewed by Francis Chen with David Joseph-Goteiner
Li Keng Wong, interviewed by Edan Qian with Sakura Huang
William Wong, interviewed by Rose Huey with Sandy Liao
Phase 1 Team
Project Director: Dr. Anne Huang
Project Manager: Angela Zusman of Uniquely Perfect.
For more details about the Phase 1 Interviews:
1. Check out a video of a KTVU Channel 2 interview by Rosy Chu with Anne Huang and Angela Zusman.
2. Check out an Oral History Association article written by Angela Zusman.
Phase 1 Interviews were supported in part by the Clorox Foundation, San Francisco Foundation, City of Oakland, and individual donors.