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Explore stories in Northwest history through highlights from MOHAI’s collections. Search by keyword below or browse the entire online collection by entering the asterisk symbol (*). Filter your search by type of materials.

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584 results for: Asian American

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Image of Bruce Lee and Sheldon Wong in martial arts pose, 1961
Photograph

Bruce Lee and Sheldon Wong in martial arts pose, 1961

Legendary martial artist Lee Jun Fan (1940-1973), known professionally as Bruce Lee, was born in San Francisco, raised in Hong Kong, and attended college at the University of Washington in Seattle, before moving to back to California. During his time in Seattle Lee began teaching martial arts, and later his Hong Kong and Hollywood-produced films elevated the traditional Hong Kong…
ID Number:2000.107.111.30.04
Date:1961
Image of Terri Mast and daughter Kalayaan Domingo, August 5, 1982
Photograph

Terri Mast and daughter Kalayaan Domingo, August 5, 1982

Terri Mast is an activist and labor leader from Seattle. She was involved in the antiwar and women’s rights movements, and was an important figure in the Union of Democratic Filipinos (KDP). She helped start the Committee for Justice for Domingo and Viernes (CJDV) and led the International Longshore & Warehouse Union Local 37. As of 2022, Mast is secretary-treasurer…
ID Number:2000.107.119.32.01
Date:1982
Image of Terri Mast speaking at memorial service for Silme Domingo and Gene Viernes, Seattle, June 1982
Photograph

Terri Mast speaking at memorial service for Silme Domingo and Gene Viernes, Seattle, June 1982

Terri Mast is an activist and labor leader from Seattle. She was involved in antiwar and women’s rights movements, and was an important figure in the Union of Democratic Filipinos (KDP). She helped start the Committee for Justice for Domingo and Viernes (CJDV) and led the International Longshore & Warehouse Union Local 37. As of 2022, Mast is secretary-treasurer of…
ID Number:2000.107.119.32.02
Date:1982
Image of Men at Nisei Veteran's Committee Memorial Day service, May 30, 1953
Photograph

Men at Nisei Veteran's Committee Memorial Day service, May 30, 1953

The Nisei War Memorial Monument at Lake View Cemetery in Seattle was erected in 1949, funded by many small donations raised in a massive door-to-door campaign in the Puget Sound region. The 21-foot-high column lists the names of 47 Japanese American soldiers from Seattle who were killed during World War II. Later, the names of nine Seattle-area service members of…
ID Number:2000.107.124.07.01
Date:1953
Image of Ruby Chow at Holly Park bus shelter dedication, Seattle, March 13, 1982
Photograph

Ruby Chow at Holly Park bus shelter dedication, Seattle, March 13, 1982

Ruby Chow Ma Seung-gam (1920-2008) was a Chinese American restaurateur and politician in Seattle, Washington. She opened Ruby Chow’s Restaurant in 1948, the first Chinese restaurant outside of Seattle's Chinatown - International District. Chow served three terms as a King County councilwoman.In this image a new bus stop shelter is dedicated by Ruby Chow with residents of the Holly Park…
ID Number:2000.107.124.31.04
Date:1982
Image of Filipino veterans Benjamin Escano, Jose Morales, and Fidel Rubias at their lawyer's office, October 30, 1990
Photograph

Filipino veterans Benjamin Escano, Jose Morales, and Fidel Rubias at their lawyer's office, October 30, 1990

During World War II, thousands of Filipinos fought for the US armed forces, including many who suffered years of poor treatment in prisoner of war camps or who continued fighting a guerrilla war after the US abandoned the Philippines. These veterans were promised US citizenship in return, but after the war many were told they were too late to become…
ID Number:2000.107.128.04.01
Date:1990
Image of International Festival Queen Jo Anne Squires and her princesses, July 6, 1951
Photograph

International Festival Queen Jo Anne Squires and her princesses, July 6, 1951

In July 1951, Jo Anne Squires was chosen Queen of Seattle's Black community for the International Festival, a part of Seafair, to be held August 9-11. There, she would represent Chinatown - International District as a Seattle Seafair Princess, along with "royalty" from the Filipino, Japanese, and Chinese communities.This photos shows Jo Anne Squires, left, with her "princesses," left to…
ID Number:2000.107.131.21.20
Date:1951
Image of Baptist missionary Hanh Nguyen with Giu Vo and her family in their apartment, Seattle, March 1982
Photograph

Baptist missionary Hanh Nguyen with Giu Vo and her family in their apartment, Seattle, March 1982

After the Vietnam War ended in April 1975 with the fall of South Vietnam to North Vietnamese communist forces, many thousands of people from Vietnam, Cambodia, and Laos fled violence and persecution in their home countries and sought refuge in the United States and elsewhere.This image shows a family of refugees in their apartment shortly after arriving in Seattle. Hanh…
ID Number:2000.107.132.14.01
Date:1982
Image of The Nguyens in their Pioneer Square grocery store, Seattle, December 28, 1977
Photograph

The Nguyens in their Pioneer Square grocery store, Seattle, December 28, 1977

Thuy-Ngan (left) and Hy-Van Nguyen came to Seattle in 1975 with their seven-month-old son. They were part of the large number of refugees who settled in the Seattle area after the fall of Saigon. Both in their 30s, they had held professional jobs in Vietnam: Thuy-Nan taught French at the University of Saigon, and her husband was an architect. Unable…
ID Number:2000.107.132.14.02
Date:1977
Image of Mau Duc and Cuc Nguyen working at New Saigon Market, Seattle, December 1990
Photograph

Mau Duc and Cuc Nguyen working at New Saigon Market, Seattle, December 1990

Mau Duc Nguyen and his family were among thousands of people who escaped from Vietnam after the fall of the country to the communists. Having been a South Vietnam naval officer, Mau was sent to a prison camp but managed to escape. After months of planning, he and his wife Cuc and their three children, plus various family members and…
ID Number:2000.107.132.15.01
Date:1990
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