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UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSETTS LOWELL
SOUTHEAST ASIAN DIGITAL ARCHIVE
ORAL HISTORY PROJECT, 2019-ONGOING
UML 17
Thel Sar, Oral History #19.02
INFORMANT/NARRATOR: THEL SAR (TS)
INTERVIEWER: SUE J. KIM (SK)
DATE: APRIL 18, 2019
SPEAKER
DETAILS
TS:
I had involved a lot of work... in the past.
SK:
Oh, okay. Great. Okay. All right. So, this is Sue Kim, and I am codirector for the Center for Asian American Studies, and Project
Director for the Southeast Asia Digital Archive. Today is
Thursday, April 18th, 2019, and I am here with Mr. Thel Sar, at
UMass Lowell. We're in the College of Fine Arts, Humanities, and
Social Sciences, 820 Broadway Street in Lowell, Massachusetts.
So, thank you so much for agreeing to share your experiences with
us.
TS:
Thank you for letting me being part of it.
SK:
So, I thought we would just start... could you tell us about where
you were born, and where you grew up? We can start there.
TS:
Yeah, I can be briefed with that. So I was born in Cambodia.
SK:
What year?
TS:
In the late 1960s, and I lived in Cambodia through the Holocaust,
Khmer Rouge. And then I, you know, when the Vietnam invaded
Cambodian, I was left Cambodia to come to America. So, I lived
through, and I was one of the few survivors in my family. And on
October 1981, my aunt brought me to America, uh, my
grandmother. And so I had lived with my grandmother. First place
I lived was in Jacksonville, Florida. Yeah, I lived there briefly.
And then I went to Virginia; Arlington, Virginia. Went to high
school there. And after high school, I went to college in
Swannanoa, North Carolina.
SK:
Where did you go into... where did you go in North Carolina?
TS:
I went to a college called Warren Wilson College, which is located
near Asheville, North Carolina.
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SK:
What did you major in?
TS:
My major was in the General Education, specializing in helping
Southeast Asian, mainly the Cambodians.
SK:
Oh, that's fantastic!
TS:
Yeah. So when I graduated from college, I went back to Virginia.
In those times, in Lowell there was influx of Southeast Asians,
mainly the Cambodian immigrants came to Lowell, Ma. And with
the influx, there's a lot of crime. There's shortage of a
professionals. So I was pretty much recruited to come up here, and
to work with Southeast Asian youths.
SK:
So you... where were you at the time? Well-
TS:
After I graduated from Warren Wilson College, I went back to
Arlington, Virginia. And lived there... Stayed there very briefly
then in September, 1991 I came up here to Lowell, MA.
SK:
From Arlington?
TS:
Yeah, from Arlington, Virginia. I was interviewed for a job with
the CMAA of Greater Lowell as a youth counselor. My job
mainly, trying to create activities for youths because back in those
days we didn't have much activities for Southeast Asian youths, so
they mainly hung out with groups, and were alleged to been called
gangs. So the DA... there's a lot of murders, a lot of violence. So
they wanted to create some fun activities for the kid. So my job
was to bring them together, and come up with some activities...
SK:
Oh, I see. I didn't know that you were youth counselor at CMAA.
So, that was from about-
TS:
September 1991 until July 1992, when I went on to work for the
Department of Youth Services for the State of Massachusetts. I
worked there for about nine months.
SK:
Where does... for the record, in the '90s, where did the Department
of Youth Services, where did it fit? Was it related to DSS or-
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TS:
No, the department has its own separate department. It's a
department of corrections, pretty much. It's a Social... Department
of Correction for kids under the age of Eighteen, when they...
committed crimes, they'd go to the DYS instead of the adult
facilities.
SK:
And how did you get recruited into-
TS:
So I... so we... there was shortage of professionals, and [crosstalk
00:04:49] and so, when I was working for CMAA, I went to court
lot to watch trial at the courthouse, and with my degree, the
department of DYS wanted me. In addition, because of my
language skills, I speak Khmer, and I can write and read... fluently.
So I was a good candidate for the job.
SK:
And who's... before you started working for DYS, when you were
still with CMAA, whose trials generally? Was it the kids you were
working with? The family members?
TS:
Yes, it's... kids that I had worked with in the past. And then some
of the... so they needed some kinds of representation from the
community at the courthouse. And I was sent there to be a liaison,
so if people showed up at the trial, they could get me helped
them... translated to them so they could understand the processes.
So my job is to make sure that people who... well, the victims, the
friends, and families, they have good knowledge of what went on.
SK:
So, since you were involved with that, then you started working
with Department of Youth Services, and so what were your duties?
Or what was your position?
TS:
Well, a couple of times when I was with CMAA, when they ran
into problems with language, they asked me to help. So I would go
to juvenile detentions and helped in translation. So that was... they
said, "Look, we really needed you to..." so that's how I started, the
interview, and got position.
SK:
So, the position then was-
TS:
A caseworker.
SK:
Caseworker? Right. I see. And so, what was your job like then?
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TS:
Well it's... I'm from very conservative family. I was like, my job
was to... So I mainly worked with the Cambodian youths and the
parents. When youths committed crimes, they adjudicated them.
And then they sent by the court to the Department of Youth
Services; my job was to investigate their backgrounds, and also
looking into ways to help them... you can't lock them up for life, so
you tried to help them to assimilate back to the community when
they finished their sentences. And so my job was to make sure that
they... when they lived in the community, they followed the
conditions sat by court and the department.
SK:
So this is... so were you a probation officer at this point?
TS:
No, not yet. Not yet. My probation officer job..when I was still
working DYS, you also had to go to court as well. Because when
kids were arrested for serious crime and appeared in court they
would be sent to DYS detentions; I went court to get information
of their background and to report to the department. Sometimes,
court ordered treatments. And some time just to be there to write
down of new court dates or new status of the cases. So I was there
as a liaison from DYS, and that's how I was at the courthouse. The
court was also did not have Southeast Asian worker as well. I was
recruited to go into the position as well.
SK:
In the '90s, what were the biggest problems or issues that you saw
coming up, either on the side of the law enforcement or, or on the
side of the families, or the community members?
TS:
I think; it was discrimination. This community was not prepared to
receive such large group of people. And this community had a long
history of discrimination. People in the community did not treat the
new comes with welcome but hostile. There was lack of services.
There was very little help, and those newcomers knew nothing. So
we had to work hard to help them understanding the systems. We
had to confront many wrong doers that it was not right for them to
treat people unlawfully.
TS:
There was lack of facilities such as schools and playgrounds.
Everything they did was against the law. Until a group of people
say to them, "Look, we are not stupid. We're not dumb. We know
that this is illegal, so you have to treat us right do the right things".
And the leaders in the community started to do more to help the
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newcomers. In one situation, we had to take the city to court in
order to force them to integrated kids in schools and build more
schools. They agreed to build new facilities to accommodate new
students and hired people to represent the population.
TS:
And the kids, they had a lot of free times in their hands. Schools
did not provide good services. Many kids skipped schools and
hung out on the streets. They started label those kids as gangs and
criminals. And I refused to label them... I've been working here for
so many years. I refused to recognize that they're gangs and all
that.
SK:
So court cases goals were to fight racism and discrimination.
TS:
Yeah.
SK:
What were some of those instances?
TS:
Southeast Asian kids were called by bad names and they pushed
them around for no good reasons-
SK:
By other students or?
TS:
By white kids and Hispanic kids. These Southeast Asian kids took
pride in their cultures; they took pride in themselves they were
tough kid too because they had gone through so much in their
lives, in the camp (prison like). So their mentality is like, "No, I'm
not going to take this, and I'm going fight back". And the police
was not helpful, the kids "I'm going to take control of this place,
not you", and then that's how gang started.
SK:
That's a good. How would you describe the relationship between
the police and particularly the youth, Cambodian youth at this
time? In the '90s.
TS:
I think, again, the police didn't have good relationship with
Southeast Asian youths. The police said, "I'm going to step on you,
I know you", and they did it as far as they could to violate those
kids right. There was no hope; “If I did these things, maybe I can
suppress this people, and there's nothing going to happen". I did
not think this was right ways to treatment our youths. I'm getting
very emotional because I think thatPage 5 of 23
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SK:
Let me get some…
TS:
It's okay.
SK:
Very good.
TS:
So we came here to live. We were survivors from Cambodia. We
were legal immigrants. We did not buy our way here. The ways
they treated us was not fair. We knew that. We refused to take
abuse. We came together and said, "Look, we're not going to take
this". But we do this systematically and legally. We had enough
educated people to work with. We needed to change from inside,
outside, and all around. We needed to be humble enough to make
changes. So, my role with the DYS and all, I pulled kids in and
say, "Look, to give respect and get respect, you got to do
something to make sure that they don't... you don't want them to
look down at you, you'll need to do something meaningful".
SK:
Yes. Did you work as... When you were with the DYS
caseworkers, did you work a lot with the attorneys?
TS:
Not as many, but I worked with a lot of therapists and [crosstalk
00:14:29] but again, I wore many hats. So I was always very
active, even though I worked with DYS, I opened Khmer Sunday
School; I coached soccer, and did a lot of other stuffs. We knew it
was a struggle.
SK:
You mentioned Khmer Sunday school. What, what-
TS:
So when first I came here, a lot of kids did not grown up in
Cambodia. However, they wanted to learn Khmer language and
culture. So I started Khmer Sunday School Program by myself.
Even though I wasn't a Khmer teacher, I was able to teach them,
and then recruited teachers. We became a big program, hundreds
of kids attended.
SK:
Where was this building?
TS:
We had to use the old temple in North Chelmsford. We had many
volunteers, and we became very successful.
SK:
How long was that school?
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TS:
10 years.
SK:
And also you were... because you were coaching, what-
TS:
I had coached for a few years. I coached soccer and basketball.
SK:
Was it through an organization or, just…?
TS:
Lowell Youth Soccer and highlander youth basketball.
SK:
So, this... you were a caseworker in maybe '92 to '93 or something?
TS:
Yeah. '92 to '93.
SK:
And then in ‘93 became a [crosstalk 00:16:48]
TS:
Probation officer. March 1st, 1993.
SK:
So how did that happen? I mean, [crosstalk 00:16:54]
TS:
I'd been working with a lot of people, and one day someone in the
Probation Department approached me and asked me if I wanted to
work for the court, "Look, we need someone like you". And so he
encouraged me to apply, "There's a job posting, why don't you
apply?" So I applied. I was interviewed by 3 judges and was hired
two weeks later: 3/1/1993.
SK:
How did your duties change? Where... Were you doing things that
are very similar? Or did it change what you were doing?
TS:
It's almost about the same, but I didn't have to travel much. I was
in the courthouse.
SK:
Lowell District Court?
TS:
Yeah, Lowell District Court. But again like I said to you, I always
wore many hats.
SK:
So what were some other ways that you did that? Was it
individual... conversation?
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TS:
I interviewed people and helped with translation. I directed people
to the right places to get help. I helped recruit new workers. I
spoke to community.
SK:
So, when you mean by kids, you mean... Because you talked about
that you work with both; the defendants… and the victims…
TS:
Yes, I worked with defendants and victims to make sure they
understood their rights.
SK:
You're like an advocate, and a navigator for them in the
courthouse.
TS:
Yes.
SK:
One hat.
TS:
Yes, one hat.
SK:
I've spoken to some attorneys, like defense attorneys, and they
talked about like, who are not Khmer. And they've talked about
how difficult it was to communicate to sometimes the families,
right? The defendants, but also the families, but also the victims, if
there was a language issue. So, did you participate in those
process? I think the legal processes are so complicated already,
right? And so I can't imagine trying to explain all of this sort of
complicated legal stuff in two-year-old court languages.
TS:
So, my goals are to make sure every one walked out the court
house knew that they were served well.
Unknown Speaker:
Open up.
SK:
Oh, hey?
Unknown Speaker:
I just wanted you to say goodbye.
SK:
Okay.
Unknown Speaker:
I'm last one here. Hello?
TS:
Hi.
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Unknown Speaker:
I didn't want to go into...
SK:
Okay, bye!
TS:
So I think that a lot of times, a lot of attorneys did not give enough
times to Southeast Asian clients. They made up excuses because of
languages. There's always a way that they could work with people.
SK:
So, specifically working with probation, is that after a sentence has
been…
TS:
So, individual was arrested, the police job is almost done. They
documented their reports. The next morning, or the next day they
brought the individual to court, and probation took over. Probation
officers interviewed the individual and reported to judges. Cases
decided and found guilty. The individual placed on probation.
Probation Officer assigned to supervise individual. There are many
types of conditions: drug testing, GPS, and Scram and much more.
SK:
What's Scram?
TS:
Scram is a machine... breathing... alcohol testing machine. So we
can monitor it from anywhere. And GPS, just like the car, you can
see the people walking around. So that's... our job is to make sure
that... so we do all that
SK:
And when you monitor them, afterwards, is it sort of regular
checking or...
TS:
So it's different levels. Some are more severe, and some are less
severe. A couple scenarios, like assault and battery on somebody...
they probably get a split sentence. They get two years house of
correction; one year to serve, one year suspended. And the
suspended sentence is the one that they are on probation. Typical
order of probation conditions: drugs counseling, mental health
counseling and many others. And so we make sure that they do all
those things. If they failed to comply with the order then the judge,
their probation would be revoked and sent them to jail.
SK:
So you really are caseworker from the moment that they're arrested
[crosstalk 00:27:13] all the way through to the end of the
probation?
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TS:
And then we prose... at the same time if they violate the probation,
we prosecuted them. So we acting like a prosecutor as well. And
we also do a home visit. Make sure that they... yeah.
SK:
What were the... What was the... Who are the people that you were
working with most in the '90s right? It wasn't like...
TS:
I'm specializing in Southeast Asian probationers because the judge
could impose 20 different conditions, and if they did not
understand then they could not do the right things, then they could
go to jail. So I was assigned to work with them. I was successful in
helping them.
SK:
It was mostly young... Was it youth or all ages or...
TS:
So, back then it was older people.
SK:
Like, thirties, forties?
TS:
No, 20 to about 40, 50.
SK:
And what were some of the...
TS:
A lot of domestic. Gambling... not nearly enough number of drugs.
SK:
What kind of gambling? Actually, I just came out from another
interview, but the attorney…
SK:
Then how did things change like the late '90s to the 2000?
TS:
There's a lot more changes now a day. So there is less Southeast
Asian now. Now this has a lot with... still domestic. There's a good
number of domestic violence, and then it's also not as much
gambling, but not as much drugs either... it's OUI; driving under
influence, a lot of that.
SK:
So, what other kind of things sort of... like your experience, or
your working... your experiences with working with the
community, did things change? As we moved into the late '90s and
the 2000s?
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TS:
Yeah. There's... There are families who were struggling to
assimilate in the US.
SK:
What do you mean?
TS:
You had a lot people from countryside in Cambodia who were not
educated because of the service was not good... those kids dropped
out of school and committed crimes, generation after generation.
SK:
Are struggling.
TS:
Struggling and still of course. They had a lot of kids in troubles,
and their kids trouble.
SK:
So there's... there's the generation-
TS:
Generation.
SK:
I see.
TS:
And then... my son, he is doing research, so his finding is that...
over the summer, did on gang-
SK:
What is he? A student or... here, where?
TS:
He's a student at Wake Forest University.
SK:
Oh, Wake Forest? Your sweatshirt. So is he... what's his major?
TS:
He majored in psychology.
SK:
He did research?
TS:
Research on gang.
SK:
In...
TS:
Southeast Asian Gang. So he interviewed a bunch of gang
members
SK:
Around here?
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TS:
Yeah. And he interviewed with different ages.
SK:
That's fantastic!
TS:
He is the senior, and he going onto Columbia University for his
graduate school.
SK:
For graduate school?
TS:
Yeah.
SK:
Congratulations! That's wonderful. That's great. We need more
researchers on Southeast Asian American studies, but also
researchers who are Southeast Asian American for-
TS:
He's going to be... he's doing clinical psychology.
SK:
That's great. That's wonderful. What kind of things did he find?
TS:
So he saw... he found out that a lot of these kid parents were not
around. Parents disconnected with schools, and no mentor... lack of
mentoring. So those components leaded kids to struggle on theirs
owns.
SK:
Have you seen an impact of a lot of the youth services that have
arisen in Lowell in the last few decades? Like Teen BLOCK, or
UTEC, or Boys & Girls Club?
TS:
They do, they do. I think that the... I have to give them a lot of
credits, and I think they make a lot of efforts. But at the same time,
I think they are not very organized and appeared to be isolated
from each other. I have a task to do, and I'm just doing this on my
own. There is so much need. And I think... and I... So, this is
something that I see. Even UMass Lowell hasn't put a lot of effort
into it. Because I think they feel that we are incapable of doing the
job to maintain our own greater goods. So they don't give a hand.
And when you go and don’t give them a hand, they make it very...
Let me give you an example. So the changes took place in the '90.
So the leaders who were representing the community... two
decades later, 2000, this 20 years, they fired every one of those
guys. They made it a point you have to pass this process or that
process in order for you to stay employed.
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SK:
They fired, sorry, who-
TS:
Teachers. Back in the day they hired Khmer teachers to teach.
Then a lot of those teachers were fired.
And then now a day 97% of teachers and staffs in Lowell Public
School are Caucasian. I think the last time I heard them saying was
that they went to recruit diversity teachers were South Carolina;
Columbia, South Carolina… completely make nonsense.
TS:
And that's why I help find a Community Public Charter School in
Lowell, MA. I was part of that. I was a board member and
chairman for ten years. And the city was not happy with that.
SK:
What were the characteristics or what did you feel like you could
do with the Charter School that you couldn't do otherwise?
TS:
So, we brought in people representing the populations in the city,
so they understood the needs, and they made effort to meet those
needs, and they knew how to motivate, not just kids in school, but
they motivate parents to get involved in school. They don't just
stop saying, "Hey, I saw your kid here". They go to houses and
say, "Hey, your kid is doing well." They make the people feel like
one family.
SK:
And because the Lowell public schools were not meeting the needs
of the community, you had to work elsewhere?
TS:
I can talk about my family, about what I did with us, all that. While
I was at the probation department, I went to school here, got my
Master at UMass Lowell in Community Social Psychology. I was
working with Doctor Joyce Gibson, and since they move on, Linda
Silka… I don't know where she is right now, but-
SK:
She's retired. I know that she's still around.
TS:
So she... they were very supportive.
SK:
Did you know Robin too? Robin’s still here.
TS:
Robins and I were in same class. Yeah. She's really nice. So I got
involved, and from the data they collected, I saw that the data was
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useless to the school, because I know that they will not... I mean
they make some attempts, because they got extra money... to use
that money, but they didn't do a good job and tell them... So I...
from that data, I work on my own family in many ways, and I told
you I (unclear) school with CMAA. So they... in community
there's infighting …
SK:
African-American. So believe me I know…
TS:
Politic all over the community too, but I tried to stay out with it,
and focus on what's most affective... So for my role as probation
officer is to make sure that the kid who wanted to go into law
enforcement, making sure that if they wanted to do intern at the
courthouses, they could do it. In terms of kids who wanted to
become police officers I asked currently police officers to help
mentoring them.
SK:
That is fantastic.
TS:
So we have good relations with them. And also attorney and
anyone who is different, I want them to feel welcomed, and I fight
hard for that.
SK:
It sounds like you've done a lot of work, to help change the law
enforcement... the makeup of the law enforcement. Like you're
saying, the schools have to change. [crosstalk 00:37:48] Have you
seen any progress in trying to get the law enforcement to make that
systemic change?
TS:
So, from my conclusion, they know where to feed the hungry
mouth.
SK:
They know where to feed the hungry.
TS:
And a lot of times when people who got fed they were happy. They
stopped caring about anyone else. Then they stopped helping.
SK:
I saw something in the news, online news in 2017, there was a
People of Color Criminal Justice Conference that you spoke at.
Can you talk about what that was, and what the goals of that was,
and what you did there.
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TS:
So I don't know how they got me to talk about… that, but I was
very straightforward with them. I said... I didn't... I think it's very
challenging, the way... I wouldn't call it conspiracy, but I think it's
the culture that kind of lay these ground that... you got to prove
more, you got to prove more. And so-
SK:
You mean Southeast Asians have to prove more? [unclear] in order
to be better… in order to get the same treatment.
TS:
So I spoke... the other day, I spoke at the Lawrence Academy in
Groton, MA, and my prediction is in the next 20 years, most of
these prestigious boarding schools, there's going to be like 60% of
Southeast Asian in the school, because we got money, and then
we're going to send them to the best schools. Because I saw South
Korea, I saw Japan, China. A lot of times, they do not think you
are qualified to be where you are. So they make it hard for you to
move forward.
TS:
You've got to do the work. Show them how hard you work and
then they will respect you, because if we don't do that, that's not
going to help us. I suggested that
TS:
And then the people who I work with, will come back and say,
"You saved my life.”
I knew an Indian American lawyer. And before she became a
judge, she was a lawyer, and she did not know this court well. And
I used to ask her and say, hey, and I told her you go in front of this
judge, this is how you should do this and that.
TS:
And so when she became a judge, and she is like, Wow! And then
when she learned about my family, myself, and how I was... I'm
not important to these people’s eyes, but I do important things for
my kid and myself, so I only can do these things because I learned
and worked hard. I grew.
SK:
When you were working... when you started working the '90s in
Lowell District Court, were you the first Khmer… probation
officer?
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TS:
I was told I was the second probation officer, the other person, he
only lasted there briefly. He left, but I didn't even know that he
was...
SK:
What about now? How would you say-
TS:
So now there are more of us. There are more Probation Officers. I
recruited more.
SK:
Do you think that we have, in terms of both the police department,
but also probation officers and attorneys... I don't know. Enough is
not the right word. But-
TS:
Are well represented?
SK:
Yeah. Are we well represented?
TS:
We are not. We are not. I don't know whether in 20 years or 100
more years, no. I think, like I said to you, there's plenty of people
here that can do the job, but they don't give them a chance. Not a
chance. Not even a chance. They feel that...
SK:
Like the... there's a parallel between like the schools and like law
enforcement agencies about that there are people out there who can
do the job, but there are not-
TS:
They did not. I gave you the example. I used to coach, and winning
is not just something in my blood, but it's just something that I
work so hard at, you know, and in coaching, they'd rather give it to
somebody else than... But I say to them, I say, I said, "There's no
roadblock that can keep me from going forward", because I will go
forward, and I will make my way far and beyond.
SK:
What else has changed, and what hasn't changed? In the instance
from the 1990s to now? So you're saying that there are some more
probation officers, but we still need more?
TS:
The leadership. So we are lack of leaders of everywhere.
Everywhere.
SK:
You mean... within the community or everywhere?
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UML 17
Thel Sar, Oral History #19.02
TS:
A leader, it's not the people in front of you that you know, and you
see that, that you think is a leader. Leader who’s done well, who
established and accomplished who have visions, and I don't think
they call on them to help with the community. So, they don't call
on those guys. They call on somebody who will say, "Don't worry.
I will say you've done a good job. Keep doing what you do". And I
think that's where things... I give you an example. I don't know
how many times this gentleman screw up. I rather not mention
name. He had violated every ethic rules, he has his hands in every
politic meeting, and he's the best, I guess to the city. You ask me, I
always say... When you want somebody to lead you, let's... you
know, you gave him one time to make mistakes, but if he keeps
making mistakes, I don't think it's a good idea to have that
individual keep leading. That's just an example, and I think this
community, put a blind eye on a lot of... these are so many... I've
known so many people done well, but they are not going to
exhaust all energy to catch fire ... So there are a lot of times we
step back.
SK:
What about in relation to the Lowell District Courts and stuff like
that. How would you describe in terms of community members’
relationships to the court system? Has it improved?
TS:
Excuse me one sec. Let me text my wife a sec.
SK:
Oh, yeah.
TS:
Because I put an alarm at home, so I want to make sure that...
TS:
Sorry about that.
TS:
She's working DCF.. was known as the department of Social
Services before.
SK:
So you are very civic family?
TS:
I think so.
SK:
So do you and your wife and your... you said you have a son. Do
you have any other-
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Thel Sar, Oral History #19.02
TS:
Two sons. I have two sons. One's working in Boston. He's working
in a financial investment company.
SK:
Do you think that the understanding of the Lowell district courts of
say then the complexities of community members has improved?
TS:
I play a good part of it, because it's... We haven't gotten any
complaint from people. So, I think we have good relationship, and
I think they know how effective I am working with people. So I
think they allow me facilitate, and I don't think we have a lot of
problems with Southeast Asians.
SK:
Have you had any experience with people with orders of
deportation?
TS:
Oh, yeah. I've done... I do, I do. Over the year, so I knew a lot of
them. But I have also been telling them that they would be
deported if they stopped appealing. And I think some of them
stopped appealing, so they get deported.
SK:
And also just because the ground changed under…
TS:
Yeah, the ground changed. It's...
SK:
Because there was no repatriation agreement in the ‘90s.
TS:
I have a good knowledge of all these things, but again, you can
only do so much. And the one who approached me, who asking me
to advocate for them, I was very successful in stopping that
process.
SK:
So, what are some... As we were sort of going towards the end,
what are some other... because you that there are other challenges
that still face the community in relation particularly to the law
enforcement, but maybe just overall. You've mentioned like
leadership issues...
TS:
I think a lot of... I think we as community, I think we still...
because a lot of the infighting, because of lack of transparency...
There's a lot of thing happening, but I don't think it connected well.
And, with that, I think we become more suspicious of each other. I
think it just because of this community. I think that's a challenge.
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Thel Sar, Oral History #19.02
And I think not enough kids are going to colleges. I think UMass
hasn't done much to help. I think my son, the last time, I think his
finding it was like I think with 15 to 20% of the kids that finish
college in four years, and they might go back, but I doubt it. And I
think if you want to make a difference, I think they would... their
respond with, "You go and do it". I think their resource they waste
it on keeping people going further in life.
SK:
What do you mean?
TS:
So I... Let me see. My kids went to school, in Lowell, and then I
found the data with UMass Lowell, they're not doing a good job,
lack of parent participations. And I think the kids... They think that
the kids will never get as smart as them. Only a few can get
smarter. And so I said to them, “Getting involved with these things
give you so much more knowledge.” So my children were
exceptional because I told them... I learned from different people
that high school in Lowell, MA is not a good place to have
foundation for colleges. So I made sure my kid didn't go to high
school in Lowell.
SK:
Where did they go to high school?
TS:
My younger one went to Groton School, in Groton, MA and my
older one went to Central Catholic for two years. Sport, academic,
and family were the keys thing. And at Central Catholic, he was
recruited to play soccer at Lawrence Academy in Groton, MA.
The younger one who went to Groton school traveled the world.
He's fluent in Khmer and Spanish. He's a good writer. You can
read his blog color… “Khmer Odyssey.”
SK:
That's great!
TS:
You can learn a lot about family, and he's a... Both of them are
exceptional soccer player, and both of them are... the one... This
younger one is also a musician. He can play 10 instruments. But he
all... Both of them are grounded. At home, they clean, cook, and
help out. And the older one... so when he went to... The younger
who went to Groton schools and Wake Forest University, so he
went to India, France, Italy, Peru, and Spain, and Cambodia. So it's
all funded by the schools. The older ones graduated from
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�UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSETTS LOWELL
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ORAL HISTORY PROJECT, 2019-ONGOING
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Thel Sar, Oral History #19.02
Lawrence Academy got recruited to play soccer in Kenyon
College, Gambia, Ohio.
SK:
That was a very good school.
TS:
So both of them... and then the... So after Kenyon, he got a job,
two days before graduated. A job, an investment company. And
from there... and so he is there now for over a year. And I told my
kids, because... so my kid always... I keep telling them, say, "I'm
not paranoid, kid" they say, "Why, Dad?" Because you seem like
you (unclear) they discriminate, they racist against... I'm not, I'm
not. They say, "Well, how come?" I say, "Look, if people look at
you again and again and again and, do some facial. So any time
you know they are thinking of you the wrong way about you.
TS:
And then sometime you even overheard conversations or jokes.
And so my kid keeps saying, "That's not true". I say, "When you
get older, you'll know". So both of them run into discrimination.
So now they were like, "Dad, you were right." So I say to them, I
say, "So how are we going to overcome that?" They said, "Well,
work hard. Work hard". My older one is... he's doing well. So he
does that. And on the weekend he fixes houses. He has a girlfriend
whose family owns has some apartments. Very ambitious…
TS:
And the little guy, he goes to Columbia University for his Master.
And then he's going to seek a PHD. And I told them. Look, we
can't change the way people think, but if you have all the answers,
and how hard you work they will ask you. They will ask you. And
that is when they start asking you, and they will impress of how
hard you work, and how much you know. And so those are the...
And we remain humble. In the summer, when the kids are home, I
always make sure that they serve the community. Make sure they
get involved, make sure that they give back.
SK:
Have you ever spoken at the UMass Lowell... That we have a
School of Criminal Justice and Criminology?
TS:
No.
SK:
I think they would be interested to talk [crosstalk 00:58:29]
because you work with this particular... specifically as a case
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�UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSETTS LOWELL
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Thel Sar, Oral History #19.02
worker, Cambodian and [crosstalk 00:58:33] these Asian
American.
TS:
I have a lot of students who... who's interned at courthouse. So I
taught a lot, mentoring them. And recently, I've been speaking to
the kids at the Lawrence Academy and Groton school.
SK:
I think I just... I saw on the paper that Lowell Police Department,
they just had a swearing yesterday or a couple of days ago, with
four new police officers who were all people of color. So there's
slow change.
TS:
Now they need leaders. Someone who are in the circle. Because I
think they... From what I've seen from the outside-
SK:
Lowell Police Department?
TS:
Yeah. UMass and all, they need somebody to sit in, who can
effectively give them a good sense of the community itself.
SK:
They need more people from the community in those leadership
positions?
TS:
Yeah. They, shouldn't just... Like I said, use the same person to
advise them. I have families that I know who sent their kids to
Stanford, Harvard, and many other good schools. They did some
things right. And I think they can say, "Hey, what did you do?
How did you do it?" And I think get back to where I am, I think a
few years ago, they keep saying, "Do you really know what you
are doing?" I think nowadays they start asking me, "Can you teach
me how to do it?" With what I had learned from what I did with
my kids, I told them, I say it wasn't as easy as walking in the park.
We worked hard, and I think I learned something to get them to
there.
SK:
It only took 20 years for people to recognize.
TS:
But end of the day, I remain humble about that. I think the only
thing I can show them is the hard work.
SK:
So is there anything that we haven't talked about that you want to
make sure that... From your experiences?
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Thel Sar, Oral History #19.02
TS:
I think in your role, you can do a lot too. Do a lot of integral... We
have all these things. How can we let the kids know in this school?
Reaching out to them, and become their mentor. I think over the
years, the most effective thing that I think that helped a lot of this
kids was by-
SK:
Mentoring.
TS:
Mentoring. And I think if you're like Head of Department... I think
by allowing kids to have access to you. To see that, "Wow, look! I
got a chance to get into this place and I can be there". And I think
that would... The access to all the... It's the lack of access, is how a
lot of kids they... I think this is enough. There's so much more that
they can... And they have potential. They had the same abilities as
anybody else. But I think by advocating them, allowing them to
know about this normal potential, can allow them to go anywhere
... Sky is limit.
SK:
So, that's great. I actually had one more question just in terms of...
For your caseload in the ‘90s, did you... was it mostly from
Southeast Asian Americans? Was it mostly Cambodians, or did
you also have like Laos, Vietnamese.
TS:
I helped everybody. But I think most of them-
SK:
Most of them are Cambodians.
TS:
Yeah.
SK:
What about today, in the 20 teens, right? From 2010 to today,
would you say the number of your Southeast Asian American
cases has changed?
TS:
Yeah, yeah.
SK:
Is it less?
TS:
Yes, a lot less than before. [crosstalk 01:03:05]
SK:
Now you work with just sort of all different-
TS:
Yeah, yeah, all different races.
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UML 17
Thel Sar, Oral History #19.02
SK:
So it's interesting.
TS:
You see the changes.
SK:O
kay, great. Thank you very much.
TS:
I want to show you just a few things.
Interview ends
Page 23 of 23
�
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Southeast Asian Digital Archive Oral History Project, 2019-Ongoing
Relation
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<span>The collection draft finding aid, </span><a href="https://libguides.uml.edu/uml17" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://libguides.uml.edu/uml17</a><span>.</span>
The oral history project page, <a href="https://www.uml.edu/Research/SEA-digital-archive/oral-histories.aspx" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://www.uml.edu/Research/SEA-digital-archive/oral-histories.aspx</a>.
Description
An account of the resource
This collection is currently in progress and information will be updated as it becomes available. <br /><br />Read more about the project: <a href="https://www.uml.edu/Research/SEA-digital-archive/oral-histories.aspx" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://www.uml.edu/Research/SEA-digital-archive/oral-histories.aspx</a><br /><br />Part of the collection is accessible on this site. <br /><br />Oral history interviews include: <br /><br /><strong>Maryellen Cuthbert, April 2019, Oral History #19.01</strong> <br />An oral history interview with Maryellen Cuthbert and interviewer Sue J. Kim. Since the mid-1980s, Cuthbert has been a private defense attorney working in the Lowell, Massachusetts, area. In this oral history, Cuthbert shares information about her training as a lawyer and reflects on various cases she’s worked with related to Southeast Asian communities. <strong>Content warning: Mentions of weapons, abuse, assaults, and violent situations.</strong> <br /><br /><strong>Thel Sar, April 2019, Oral History #19.02</strong> <br />An oral history interview with Thel Sar and interviewer Sue J. Kim. In this oral history, Sar talks about his early life: living through the Khmer Rouge, resettling in the United States, and his education; his career trajectory: working at the Cambodian Mutual Assistance Association, working at the Massachusetts Department of Youth Services, and becoming one of the earliest probation officers of Cambodian descent at Lowell District Court; his other community activities; and his family. <br /><br /><strong>Sivaing Suos, August 2019, Oral History #19.05</strong><br />An oral history <span>interview with Sivaing Suos and interviewer Tyler Sar. In this oral history, Suos talks about her early life in Cambodia and immigrating to the U.S., her experiences pursuing education and holding various jobs, including working in the mental health field and with families experiencing domestic violence, and her family.<br /><br /><strong>Niem Nay-kret, September 2019, Oral History #19.06</strong><br />An oral history interview with Niem Nay-kret and interviewer Sue J. Kim. In this oral history, Nay-kret talks about her early life in Cambodia and during the Khmer Rouge and her experiences holding various jobs in the U.S. related to healthcare, including prenatal care, mental health, and more.</span><br /><br />-------------------------- <br />SEADA would like to thank the following individuals for their work in making this collection available online: Chornai Pech and Monita Chea.
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Southeast Asian Digital Archive Oral History Project, 2019-Ongoing. UML 17. Center for Lowell History, University of Massachusetts Lowell, Lowell, MA.
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Oral history
Dublin Core
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Title
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Thel Sar oral history transcript, 2019
Subject
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Probation officers
Lowell (Mass.)
Oral history
Description
An account of the resource
The transcript of an oral history interview with Thel Sar and interviewer Sue J. Kim. In this oral history, Sar talks about his early life: living through the Khmer Rouge, resettling in the United States, and his education; his career trajectory: working at the Cambodian Mutual Assistance Association, working at the Massachusetts Department of Youth Services, and becoming one of the earliest probation officers of Cambodian descent at Lowell District Court; his other community activities; and his family.
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Sar, Thel
Kim, Sue J.
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Southeast Asian Digital Archive Oral History Project
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University of Massachusetts Lowell
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2019-04-18
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UMass Lowell Library makes this material available for private, educational, and research use. It is the responsibility of the user to secure any needed permissions from rightsholders, for uses such as commercial reproductions of copyrighted works. Contact host institution for more information.
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application/pdf; 23 p.
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English
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Text
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uml17_19.02_003
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Lowell, Massachusetts
2010-2019
Cambodian Mutual Assistance Association
Cambodians
Documents
Lowell Community Charter Public School
Lowell District Court
Massachusetts Department of Youth Services
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UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSETTS LOWELL
SOUTHEAST ASIAN DIGITAL ARCHIVE
TITH, VERA T. AND WILLIAM A. ORAL HISTORY INTERVIEW, 1993
UML 16 (Oral History #93.7)
NOTE: This is the transcript for oral history tape 1 of 1, side 1 of 2.
CONTENT WARNING:
Mentions of war, death, and other situations readers and
listeners may find distressing.
INFORMANTS/
NARRATORS:
VERA T. TITH (VT)
WILLIAM A. TITH (WT)
INTERVIEWER:
DATE:
SHEILA L. KIRSCHBAUM (SK)
FEBRUARY 13, 1993
SPEAKER
DETAILS
(TIME)
SK (00:07):
This is Sheila Kirschbaum and I'm interviewing Vera Tith and her husband William Tith at their
home on February 13th, 1993. I'd like to start with some basic information about where you were
born. You were both born in Cambodia, were you?
VT (00:37):
Yeah.
SK (00:40):
And, were your children born there?
WT (00:40):
Yeah.
VT (00:41):
My children... My son born there in 1979. There’s the Khmer Rouge, you know, left from the
communist, that is the time that the communist leave.
SK (01:00):
And, was your daughter born here?
VT (01:02):
Yeah.
SK (01:07):
Page 1 of 36
�UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSETTS LOWELL
SOUTHEAST ASIAN DIGITAL ARCHIVE
TITH, VERA T. AND WILLIAM A. ORAL HISTORY INTERVIEW, 1993
UML 16 (Oral History #93.7)
NOTE: This is the transcript for oral history tape 1 of 1, side 1 of 2.
You have two children?
VT (01:07):
Yes.
SK (01:11):
When you say he was born in '79 after the communists leave, what did that mean for you? How
did your life change after the communists left?
VT (01:23):
For me, because since communists occupy in 1975, so that's why my son named Samnang which
means lucky. In English, it means lucky because he's very lucky. Because we both marry before
communists began. We both married, and after that, the communists start, in 1975. And we didn't
have my son on that generation that's very hard. We don't have enough food to eat, we worked
very hard. So, we don't have my son yet. When the communists tried to leave, that's my son was
born. That's why we put my son's name Samnang, which means lucky.
SK (02:14):
Is Samnang a common name for the children that were born after the communists left? I know
There's a child in Julie's class.
VT (02:20):
No. Samnang, which means lucky, that mean very lucky. That mean like that. Yeah.
WT (02:25):
It's just some parent that we believe in some... We just put it. Just give the name away. That we
are just thinking about we are just left from communists.
SK (02:44):
It meant something special.
WT (02:47):
Yeah.
VT (02:47):
Yes, sometime lucky in different way. Like my son's name Samnang. It's lucky because he not
born on that communist. You know?
Page 2 of 36
�UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSETTS LOWELL
SOUTHEAST ASIAN DIGITAL ARCHIVE
TITH, VERA T. AND WILLIAM A. ORAL HISTORY INTERVIEW, 1993
UML 16 (Oral History #93.7)
NOTE: This is the transcript for oral history tape 1 of 1, side 1 of 2.
WT (02:58):
Hard time.
VT (02:58):
On that hard time. Because, when we saw on that time, if we have children on that time, very
very hard. You know? Not enough food to eat. Was very hard. That's why we put name. And
some other Cambodian child name Samnang in different way because maybe in that family they
have something very very hard, and on that time, they have their child, they put that Samnang
because they left from you know the hard thing which mean that...
WT (03:29):
Like people, they live in the camp. They waiting immigration to call into the United States. But
on that time, they wait and wait. They don't have no name to come to the United States. And then
his wife become pregnant. Okay? They still no name to come to the United States yet. They wait
and wait and wait. So, after that child born one day, they put born and then they have the name,
come.
VT (04:12):
Come to the United States.
WT (04:12):
And then they give the name, Lucky.
VT (04:12):
Samnang. Samnang. Yeah. Which means that.
SK (04:13):
Lucky.
WT (04:13):
Yeah.
SK (04:13):
Wow.
VT (04:13):
Yeah. That's very good, it's important.
Page 3 of 36
�UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSETTS LOWELL
SOUTHEAST ASIAN DIGITAL ARCHIVE
TITH, VERA T. AND WILLIAM A. ORAL HISTORY INTERVIEW, 1993
UML 16 (Oral History #93.7)
NOTE: This is the transcript for oral history tape 1 of 1, side 1 of 2.
WT (04:13):
Different, different way to give the Samnang or Lucky name.
VT (04:18):
Like Samnang, which mean lucky.
SK (04:27):
Yeah, I can see why.
VT (04:28):
Yeah.
SK (04:29):
Does your daughter have a special name that means anything?
VT (04:34):
My daughter, when she was born in 1983, at Lowell General Hospital, they gave me the book
you know to choose the name, but my husband combined my name. So that's come out Deanna.
So Deanna, before my name is Dee, so he put it down combined together. Deanna, we saw on the
booklet, Deanna, so we took that name. So I thought all night, "That's very good." Meaningful,
too, for Deanna. I see on the book.
SK (05:08):
Mm-hmm (affirmative). So her name is Deanna?
VT (05:11):
Yes, Deanna.
SK (05:17):
It's very pretty.
WT (05:17):
D-E-A-N-N-A
SK (05:19):
D-A...
VT (05:19):
Page 4 of 36
�UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSETTS LOWELL
SOUTHEAST ASIAN DIGITAL ARCHIVE
TITH, VERA T. AND WILLIAM A. ORAL HISTORY INTERVIEW, 1993
UML 16 (Oral History #93.7)
NOTE: This is the transcript for oral history tape 1 of 1, side 1 of 2.
D-E-A-N-N-A
SK (05:20):
Oh.
VT (05:22):
Which mean very firm love, with you know my name, too.
SK (05:28):
Because your other name is?
VT (05:31):
Yes, Dee. D-Y.
WT (05:32):
D-E-E
VT (05:35):
No. Before we changed. D-Y. D-Y is called... You too, if you see D-Y, you not call Dee, you
called Di. Right? See? You say Di. When I became citizen, my husband say that's a good time to
change. So that's why I choose Vera. I don't know Vera, which means, which... I say "Oh, that's
good time." Because I go anyway, and I spelled D-Y, they called me Di. So that's a good time to
change, too. That's why I changed my name to Vera.
SK (06:06):
Oh, that's interesting. So you chose that the day you became citizens?
VT (06:06):
Yeah.
SK (06:11):
And did you choose William when you became citizens?
WT (06:16):
Yeah.
SK (06:17):
Is A-N your original name, then? Your Cambodian name? Wasn't it An?
Page 5 of 36
�UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSETTS LOWELL
SOUTHEAST ASIAN DIGITAL ARCHIVE
TITH, VERA T. AND WILLIAM A. ORAL HISTORY INTERVIEW, 1993
UML 16 (Oral History #93.7)
NOTE: This is the transcript for oral history tape 1 of 1, side 1 of 2.
WT (06:23):
Oh. Yeah.
SK (06:26):
What was your name before you chose William?
WT (06:28):
They have to call me, that's why I change.
VT (06:30):
They have to callWT (06:30):
Savoeun.
VT (06:30):
S-A-V-O-E-U-N. Savoeun. That's hard to call. You know?
SK (06:30):
S-A-V-O-E-U-N?
VT (06:31):
Yeah.
WT (06:31):
When I was at work, somebody tried to ignore my name.
VT (06:31):
They had to call, "Hey, you!". But that's what I call the easy name. You know? Let them call
easier. That's why he choose William.
SK (07:02):
How does it make you feel, though, to give up your Cambodian name and take an American
name?
VT (07:09):
For me, that seems like okay, because it seems like in here, it's easy for them to call. Like just I
mentioned, my husband, when he go to work, some people have to call, too. So that's a good
Page 6 of 36
�UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSETTS LOWELL
SOUTHEAST ASIAN DIGITAL ARCHIVE
TITH, VERA T. AND WILLIAM A. ORAL HISTORY INTERVIEW, 1993
UML 16 (Oral History #93.7)
NOTE: This is the transcript for oral history tape 1 of 1, side 1 of 2.
time to say, "Oh, maybe put that name." But, we don't mean like, "Oh, we change names."
Because my eyes still the same, my nose still the same. [inaudible] then my body's still the same.
So, just change name. Easy, the two way. Easy for the people in here, and easy when go to work,
too. So it's no matter. It's not a, "Oh, why we change name in here?" Seems like I think, from my
understand, I think they're very good too. Because easy for them, and easy for us.
SK (07:59):
Mm-hmm (affirmative).
VT (08:01):
Yeah.
SK (08:01):
One of my fathers, I think it was his great grandmother, changed the name, for the same reason.
Just to make it easier. They changed the last name. Well, I know Vera, you're a teacher. Have
you been a teacher ever since you've been here, or were you in Cambodia?
VT (08:19):
Yes. I teach at Cambodia for two years. And when I escape to Thailand, I teach like... Thailand,
almost two years too, in Thailand camp, because I stay there and...
SK (08:36):
What did you teach?
VT (08:36):
Teach young children in Thailand, and I teach...
WT (08:38):
French.
VT (08:42):
Secondary school. You know? Like [inaudible]. Because in Cambodia they have vacation too.
Seem like a [inaudible] in [inaudible]. I teach that. Yes. I have background in that. Yeah.
SK (08:55):
You taught French too?
VT (08:55):
Page 7 of 36
�UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSETTS LOWELL
SOUTHEAST ASIAN DIGITAL ARCHIVE
TITH, VERA T. AND WILLIAM A. ORAL HISTORY INTERVIEW, 1993
UML 16 (Oral History #93.7)
NOTE: This is the transcript for oral history tape 1 of 1, side 1 of 2.
Yeah.
SK (08:55):
Wow.
VT (08:57):
Because in Cambodia, learn French. So that's why move them in English. That's why I came
United States. The first time, I don't know English you know very well, but I know a lot
vocabulary in French, then just pronunciation little different. That's why, because I understand.
When I heard the word, I can like, "Oh, that is mean like that." Because it look similar to the
French word. It looks similar. Just pronunciation.
SK (09:21):
That's [inaudible]. People will ask me how to say something in Khmer. I'll say I cannot do that.
But I can say it in French.
VT (09:21):
Yeah. Oh. You look at like, demonstration. In French, “démonstration.” The same exactly
spelling. But just the same pronunciation. See?
WT (09:48):
Different.
VT (09:48):
Different pronunciation.
SK (09:49):
The English language has a lot of words from French.
VT (09:55):
That's right. So might be having easy to...
SK (09:57):
Yeah. And then French and Spanish are a lot alike. I think that's why [inaudible].
VT (09:57):
Yeah, that's right.
Page 8 of 36
�UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSETTS LOWELL
SOUTHEAST ASIAN DIGITAL ARCHIVE
TITH, VERA T. AND WILLIAM A. ORAL HISTORY INTERVIEW, 1993
UML 16 (Oral History #93.7)
NOTE: This is the transcript for oral history tape 1 of 1, side 1 of 2.
SK (10:04):
So did you have difficulty speaking when you first got here?
WT (10:15):
Yeah, we learn [inaudible] in Cambodia.
VT (10:15):
Then secondary school. At a secondary school that's why I know some English make me easier
come to United States. Because I know the word too.
WT (10:26):
...from high school, and college.
VT (10:28):
When I was away.
SK (10:29):
Mm-hmm (affirmative). [inaudible].
VT (10:30):
Yes. Everyone did when you go up to high school. They have one that was one hours a day. But
everything, every subject is in French. So I took one hours a day in English.
WT (10:43):
When we get upgrade, we learn more French and can go [inaudible]. When we beginning from to
upgrade, Cambodian more, learn French [inaudible] until we finish school 100% with all
subjects, French. All subjects, 100%.
SK (10:43):
Did you go to college in Cambodia, then? And did that make youVT (11:22):
I complete in there, but unfortunate I come here, no proof. That's why I study really hard.
WT (11:30):
They destroy everything when the communist control.
VT (11:31):
Page 9 of 36
�UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSETTS LOWELL
SOUTHEAST ASIAN DIGITAL ARCHIVE
TITH, VERA T. AND WILLIAM A. ORAL HISTORY INTERVIEW, 1993
UML 16 (Oral History #93.7)
NOTE: This is the transcript for oral history tape 1 of 1, side 1 of 2.
Empty hand.
WT (11:42):
How they move-VT (11:43):
Don't have anything.
WT (11:43):
They move all the population out from town to outside. To the farms. You know? Two to three
hours.
SK (11:48):
And did they consider you dangerous because you were educated?
VT (11:51):
That's why the point that I want to share too.
WT (11:55):
They [inaudible], because we saw keep eye on [inaudible] we moved before the communist
control [inaudible], and we saw what's going on [inaudible].
VT (12:09):
Only black, that we can wear. Only black.
WT (12:12):
A dressVT (12:12):
Wear black clothes, black pants, black shirt. Only black. You don't have any color.
WT (12:18):
Black shoe.
VT (12:19):
If you have color, have to be like a... You know? What it's called? Like, the [inaudible] of the
tree to make your clothes black. You cannot wear color. No way.
Page 10 of 36
�UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSETTS LOWELL
SOUTHEAST ASIAN DIGITAL ARCHIVE
TITH, VERA T. AND WILLIAM A. ORAL HISTORY INTERVIEW, 1993
UML 16 (Oral History #93.7)
NOTE: This is the transcript for oral history tape 1 of 1, side 1 of 2.
WT (12:37):
Oh. You mean like, if they don't provide black clothes enough, and then we have color clothes,
they can boiling the peel tree.
SK (12:41):
Bark of the tree.
VT (12:41):
The bark. Yeah. That.
WT (12:41):
Yeah. Yeah. And we put it inside. Then after that, we put in the [inaudible], to make it black.
SK (12:42):
If you had color clothes, they thought you knew how to make dye?
WT (13:10):
Mm-hmm (affirmative).
SK (13:10):
To cover your clothes with?
WT (13:11):
When they just said like this, then when we go change to black color, you still...
VT (13:19):
Your mind not follow them.
WT (13:21):
You mind still [inaudible] something, which you're going to [inaudible] one thing. And one
spoon of rice.
SK (13:37):
So now, do you like to wear colors? You have [inaudible].
VT (13:41):
Yeah. Usually.
Page 11 of 36
�UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSETTS LOWELL
SOUTHEAST ASIAN DIGITAL ARCHIVE
TITH, VERA T. AND WILLIAM A. ORAL HISTORY INTERVIEW, 1993
UML 16 (Oral History #93.7)
NOTE: This is the transcript for oral history tape 1 of 1, side 1 of 2.
WT (13:42):
It seem like that is still communist never change. They change the idea because the Vietnamese
control. And then they know the idea that Cambodian people don't like the [inaudible]. They just
make freedom about wearing [inaudible], and something. But the rule still communist.
SK (14:16):
So, when the Vietnamese army invaded, that made things better for you eventually. Right?
VT (14:16):
From my understand, it just Vietnamese invade in Cambodia, but on that generation, seem like
Vietnamese have something in their mind too. It's not just come for help us to on that time,
Khmer Rouge. Because that time, Vietnamese want to be occupied from, I understand history,
that... You know? That's hard. It's not just on that time, I say, "Oh, Vietnamese come, and Khmer
Rouge are gone." I don't know, because I don't like politics at all. That's why I don't care about.
But they say Vietnam come, and we are free from communist on that time. But I'm not sure
about that politics. You know? The politics changed somewhere else. But I don't know. But I still
heard on the news and on the tape, I saw on the movie last time, tourist say when Vietnamese
came and Khmer Rouge are gone, those two seem like together. Khmer Rouge come,
Vietnamese out, Vietnamese come, Khmer Rouge out. Seem like politics to each other.
VT (15:28):
That's why my husband and me, keep thinking about it. How we get free too. You know? When
this come, the other out, when the other come, the other out. So that's why free never come to
Cambodia. Poor Cambodians in the middle. You know? The play around, it seems likeWT (15:47):
A game.
VT (15:48):
Like a game. That's what I saw. You know?
WT (15:50):
And I feel bad for the UN. When they are to help Cambodia out. But I heard on the news, some
UN was killed by...
SK (16:10):
Mm-hmm (affirmative).
Page 12 of 36
�UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSETTS LOWELL
SOUTHEAST ASIAN DIGITAL ARCHIVE
TITH, VERA T. AND WILLIAM A. ORAL HISTORY INTERVIEW, 1993
UML 16 (Oral History #93.7)
NOTE: This is the transcript for oral history tape 1 of 1, side 1 of 2.
WT (16:10):
They don't find out. They didn't find out who kill them. But I just feel so sorry. You know?
What's crazy, they don't put UN, they don't respect UN, they just kill. I couldn't believe it.
Because UN just come and help every country. They should understand like a Red Cross. When I
study in the war, when they saw the Red Cross truck, they cannot shoot, but they shoot. They
don't care.
VT (16:48):
That's hard to believe, Sheila. That's my opinion. That's hard to believe. Who do what, and who
killing. And sometimes, when we saw the news, seem like I don't blame. Like, all news is
perfect. Right? Sometimes, sometimes wrong too. You know? Seem like the killing. We don't
know, Khmer Rouge kill, or who kill, or Vietnamese kill. Like, United Nation go to help. We
don't know. Sometime, in mind for instance, like two people, A and B. A want to kill C, but A
don't dot it by himself, because A want to be like that. A give money to B. "B, you kill C." So the
point is, C is to get money. But the main idea come from A. Did you agree that?
WT (17:44):
Mm-hmm (affirmative).
VT (17:45):
That's what I keep in mind. That's hard to see who kill who. That's why the wars still around and
no peaceful.
SK (17:55):
Feel like you can't trust anybody.
VT (17:57):
That's hard. You know? Hard to be trust. That's why I look at Cambodia, and it's very, very sad.
Look at all the pictures. I went there, and very sad.
WT (18:08):
To me I believe they don't even like it, how it was [inaudible]. They don't want to know. And
see, we are outside here and [inaudible] when the Vietnamese out, because we chase them to the
[inaudible]. They took everything they saw [inaudible]. They took every single thing from my
country to their country. But first, they took the gold within the [inaudible], and when are ask
them to change, they said no. That's a soldier died [inaudible]. But we know they took it.
Everything. Machine, rice, gold.
SK (19:01):
Page 13 of 36
�UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSETTS LOWELL
SOUTHEAST ASIAN DIGITAL ARCHIVE
TITH, VERA T. AND WILLIAM A. ORAL HISTORY INTERVIEW, 1993
UML 16 (Oral History #93.7)
NOTE: This is the transcript for oral history tape 1 of 1, side 1 of 2.
Did you have a job where you did check vehicles then?
WT (19:04):
Yeah. We had it, but they don't make, because they more power than us.
SK (19:05):
Right, right.
WT (19:05):
Yeah.
SK (19:12):
So, what was your job at that time, in Cambodia? What were you doing for a job?
WT (19:27):
Oh, me? Electrician.
SK (19:27):
Electrician?
WT (19:27):
Yeah.
SK (19:27):
Uh-huh (affirmative).
WT (19:27):
On the...
VT (19:27):
That's '79.
SK (19:27):
Pardon me?
VT (19:27):
In '79. 1979.
Page 14 of 36
�UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSETTS LOWELL
SOUTHEAST ASIAN DIGITAL ARCHIVE
TITH, VERA T. AND WILLIAM A. ORAL HISTORY INTERVIEW, 1993
UML 16 (Oral History #93.7)
NOTE: This is the transcript for oral history tape 1 of 1, side 1 of 2.
SK (19:27):
'79.
WT (19:27):
Yeah.
VT (19:27):
When the Vietnamese come, that's '79 that they come. That is why I saw on news they invade
Cambodia. But they take a lot of things from Cambodia. That the point, that's what we see.
WT (19:42):
And one more thing I would like to tell you too. When I was there in last summer, with my
family, and I just heard [inaudible], they say that they wanted the Vietnamese soldier out of
Cambodia. They say, yes. And then they change the clothes from soldier to regular. They still
more Vietnamese in there. And the Cambodia soldier said, all these soldier. But just they change
the clothes.
VT (20:22):
Change the clothes. No soldier, now regular people.
WT (20:25):
Yeah. See? And right now, if you not Cambodian, Cambodian still know which one is
Vietnamese. If you went there, you don't know which one, because they...
VT (20:36):
The same skin.
WT (20:36):
... they are the same color right now. Before they put the hat, we can ID. Now they don't wear the
hat. They make similar to Cambodia until listen to them and listen the action. They speak
similar. Especially, they talk to Vietnamese and to Vietnamese, usually they spoke their
language. Now they don't speak. They speak Cambodian to themselves.
SK (21:06):
Oh.
WT (21:06):
Yeah.
Page 15 of 36
�UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSETTS LOWELL
SOUTHEAST ASIAN DIGITAL ARCHIVE
TITH, VERA T. AND WILLIAM A. ORAL HISTORY INTERVIEW, 1993
UML 16 (Oral History #93.7)
NOTE: This is the transcript for oral history tape 1 of 1, side 1 of 2.
SK (21:15):
They want to stay.
WT (21:15):
Yeah. They going to stay there.
VT (21:18):
The bottom line, we have to understand each other. No matter what Vietnamese, no matter what
Cambodian. Every country understand to each other. You know? Don't want to be more
powerful, more money, more rich. That's why I keep still in my mind. I say, "What they want to
do?" But all those, they want to be more powerful, more money, take all things. That's why the
war start. What they need for? I don't believe in those things. Like everybody, I don't believe that
way. Why they need war. And look there. It's not peace. I went there, and my tear cry all the
time. I cry, say, "What should I do now?" You know? Because I think that way. If all the people
think that way too, maybe no war, and we all together. That's why I love Demonstration School
very much. That's why I [inaudible] the children grow more and more. A lot of people like the
Demonstration School. I think it's no war at all, because they seem like they love, they joy, they
understand each other.
VT (22:33):
Look at this. Hard to [inaudible] to someone, but like we came in United State. Very good
country. You know? They seem like control, very good. But over there, we want to share too.
We don't want only Cambodian in Cambodia. Not only Cambodian people. Any country can join
together. But don't make the problem. Right? You know? Maybe we do together, loving
together. That's why the way that we are joined together. Like in here a lot. Look at in here.
Seems like a lot of things going up on the news. You know? Killing, shooting, that's why other
guys, they say, "What should we do for people?" That's the main point.
WT (23:22):
Vietnamese people, when they going to do in their country and, when the government
[inaudible], I see in Cambodia too. But after that is gone now, they said like a flower, it bloom.
They come in, get the citizen. But they get the politics from their country. When the war, they
just fight from outside and inside, like a flower. See? That's why. Not like in here, a lot of
different people, they get the citizen, they love the name. They love the United States. They,
"This is my country." Everyone said that. But Vietnamese, they just want my country. Because
they follow the leader, namedVT (24:16):
Pu Ching [spelling?].
Page 16 of 36
�UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSETTS LOWELL
SOUTHEAST ASIAN DIGITAL ARCHIVE
TITH, VERA T. AND WILLIAM A. ORAL HISTORY INTERVIEW, 1993
UML 16 (Oral History #93.7)
NOTE: This is the transcript for oral history tape 1 of 1, side 1 of 2.
WT (24:18):
Pu Ching [spelling?]. Wrote the book.
VT (24:19):
We know the story.
WT (24:21):
After he die, he wrote a book. "You have to take Cambodia, control Cambodia." He want to
[inaudible] the power.
SK (24:39):
So he still has that influence? He influences people through his writings still?
VT (24:41):
Because they have on the writing, from the [inaudible], we should be [inaudible]. But seem like
that from we they know that. This summer, I went. You know?
WT (24:52):
Didn't you see Kerry?
VT (24:53):
Yeah. John Kerry?
WT (24:55):
Yeah. You see that they went to Vietnam?
SK (24:58):
Mm-hmm (affirmative).
WT (25:00):
They so smart and they do it quick, that they... They do like this. Vietnamese politics like this.
Dirty. They so twist, very fast. In the United States, [inaudible] I trust them maybe, I don't know
for future. Because they change so fast so fast. You know? When they go there, John Kerry went
there, they smart, they show the government, they show the American guy, the soviet guy, they
show the [inaudible]. Just drinking. Yeah.
VT (25:38):
That's why I give example for you like A, B, and C.
Page 17 of 36
�UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSETTS LOWELL
SOUTHEAST ASIAN DIGITAL ARCHIVE
TITH, VERA T. AND WILLIAM A. ORAL HISTORY INTERVIEW, 1993
UML 16 (Oral History #93.7)
NOTE: This is the transcript for oral history tape 1 of 1, side 1 of 2.
WT (25:42):
[Inaudible] just looking at the last time, how many hundreds that American soldiers die in
Vietnam. Right now, I still look at cartoon or movie. You know? I still miss a little bit, people.
Vietnamese play game so much.
SK (26:03):
Would you ever go back to Cambodia to live?
WT (26:04):
I don't know.
VT (26:07):
For my dream, yes I do.
WT (26:12):
[inaudible].
VT (26:12):
Because I really in peace, that's why we waiting. That's why last summer, I brought my son, my
daughter. All, we went there. We want to show how Cambodia is. Seem like, look really small.
It's not like just before 1975. Before that, very peaceful, and very, very good. You know? That's
very wonderful place. But after 1975, up to '79, everything destroy. From '79, it seems like now I
went there, still not peace also. It's not the same before. But my dream, I say because we hope
that the more we try, sometime, it might be good. We don't know. But my dream, I want to go
back to.
SK (27:07):
Was it dangerous for you to be there when you went last summer? Or is it safe for you to travel
there?
VT (27:13):
I saw by my eye, very scary. Was lucky, that's why we came back here. We keep say we are
lucky. How many people went there? almost 60, yeah? Some got accident, some got stole.
Different kinds. You know? But for me, we went from capital... Because my hometown is far
from capital. How long we drive? How many hours? 12? Or eight hours? We drive...
WT (27:49):
Page 18 of 36
�UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSETTS LOWELL
SOUTHEAST ASIAN DIGITAL ARCHIVE
TITH, VERA T. AND WILLIAM A. ORAL HISTORY INTERVIEW, 1993
UML 16 (Oral History #93.7)
NOTE: This is the transcript for oral history tape 1 of 1, side 1 of 2.
No, that depends. Before, we drove about six hours, because the roads is good, the highways are
good. But now, it's very bad.
VT (27:54):
You know? It seemed like a [inaudible].
WT (27:54):
A lot of hole. You know? Because the...
VT (28:04):
Broken road, or broken [inaudible].
WT (28:05):
Because Khmer Rouge broke the bridge. And the roads broken. They don't build. And took so
long to go there. But it's not too good. Not safe at all. When see a [inaudible], my family come
back. She said, "Oh, you guys so lucky."
VT (28:29):
Mm-hmm (affirmative). It's very hard.
WT (28:31):
Because she went there before me. Not safe at all.
VT (28:33):
It's scary.
SK (28:36):
How did you get out of Cambodia?
WT (28:40):
When? Before...
SK (28:40):
When you first left. Yeah.
WT (28:42):
There's a path turn through. Vietnamese control the border. Many lane. Inside border, and plus,
they live in the forest close to the Thailand border. We had to [inaudible].
Page 19 of 36
�UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSETTS LOWELL
SOUTHEAST ASIAN DIGITAL ARCHIVE
TITH, VERA T. AND WILLIAM A. ORAL HISTORY INTERVIEW, 1993
UML 16 (Oral History #93.7)
NOTE: This is the transcript for oral history tape 1 of 1, side 1 of 2.
VT (29:02):
Crawl. Mine. They put mine. They don't want Cambodia cross to Thailand. Vietnamese put
mine.
SK (29:09):
Vietnamese didn't want?
WT (29:09):
Of course not.
VT (29:11):
Yep. Oh, look at my mother. My mother-in-law cross the mud like this, Sheila. Mud. And very,
very sad. You know? That's why I have one niece, they have two children, now three children
still there. We have five people to come United States. We have name. But my mother, she says
she misses... You know? She don't want to leave. She wants to go back to Cambodia. That's why
she came after me in 1983. '83, that my daughter born. Three months, then she came. And my
niece still there.
SK (29:47):
That'sVT (29:49):
That's my mother-in-law.
SK (29:51):
Your mother-in-law? Uh-huh (affirmative).
VT (29:51):
Yeah. She died by the time that I go work at the Demonstration School.
SK (29:56):
Oh.
VT (29:56):
Yeah.
SK (29:56):
She was here?
Page 20 of 36
�UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSETTS LOWELL
SOUTHEAST ASIAN DIGITAL ARCHIVE
TITH, VERA T. AND WILLIAM A. ORAL HISTORY INTERVIEW, 1993
UML 16 (Oral History #93.7)
NOTE: This is the transcript for oral history tape 1 of 1, side 1 of 2.
WT (29:58):
Yeah.
VT (29:59):
She's here.
WT (29:59):
She came in '83.
VT (30:00):
But she came after me. I came '81.
WT (30:04):
[inaudible].
VT (30:09):
Yeah.
SK (30:10):
So, you and you, and and your son...
VT (30:14):
And my son.
SK (30:14):
... came in '81?
WT (30:15):
Yeah.
VT (30:17):
Yes, '81.
SK (30:17):
Together?
VT (30:17):
Page 21 of 36
�UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSETTS LOWELL
SOUTHEAST ASIAN DIGITAL ARCHIVE
TITH, VERA T. AND WILLIAM A. ORAL HISTORY INTERVIEW, 1993
UML 16 (Oral History #93.7)
NOTE: This is the transcript for oral history tape 1 of 1, side 1 of 2.
Yeah.
SK (30:17):
And then your mother came in '83?
VT (30:18):
Came after.
WT (30:20):
When we was at the camp, we have [inaudible]. That's why [inaudible]. And when we have
name, she don't want to come. She wake me up. She want to go back to country.
VT (30:44):
[inaudible].
WT (30:45):
She said she want to die in Cambodia.
SK (30:46):
Your mother did?
WT (30:46):
Yeah.
VT (30:46):
Yeah.
SK (30:50):
But she changed her mind, and sheWT (30:51):
Yeah. When I come here two years, and then they have a lot of problem in the camp, [inaudible].
You know? The people for [inaudible].
VT (30:56):
[inaudible]. That's hard to leave. With my niece we decide very hard...
Page 22 of 36
�UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSETTS LOWELL
SOUTHEAST ASIAN DIGITAL ARCHIVE
TITH, VERA T. AND WILLIAM A. ORAL HISTORY INTERVIEW, 1993
UML 16 (Oral History #93.7)
NOTE: This is the transcript for oral history tape 1 of 1, side 1 of 2.
WT (31:15):
And when my mother come, [inaudible] to come to the United Sates, two men took my niece
away from her. Seemed like that they steal her, but over here they call...
SK (31:29):
Kidnapping?
WT (31:36):
No, not that. [inaudible].
VT (31:36):
Take away. They took it out. Because my niece... how old she is? It's 11 or 12. Yeah?
WT (31:46):
[inaudible] they come down here, 16.
VT (31:53):
Yeah, they took it out. So that's why she came alone. She came United States.
SK (31:57):
Who? Your niece?
VT (31:59):
No. Now my niece still in the camp now.
WT (32:03):
My niece [inaudible]. Because the two guys took from my mother. They don't want my niece
come.
SK (32:10):
In Thailand? So she [inaudible].
WT (32:12):
Yeah, they took from the Thailand camp to the Cambodian camp.
SK (32:17):
They took her back to Cambodia?
Page 23 of 36
�UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSETTS LOWELL
SOUTHEAST ASIAN DIGITAL ARCHIVE
TITH, VERA T. AND WILLIAM A. ORAL HISTORY INTERVIEW, 1993
UML 16 (Oral History #93.7)
NOTE: This is the transcript for oral history tape 1 of 1, side 1 of 2.
VT (32:20):
Because, seems like they want money. Something like that. But they took it out, and my mom
still alone. So that's hard. You know? That's not easy get there, and we went to pick her at the
airport.
WT (32:34):
But when I was there last summer. I asked one person to go from Cambodia to get my niece to
me. They spend $100 go there, and $100 go back to [inaudible].
VT (32:53):
That too far. You know? Too far from the Thailand camp and from my house that I live. That's
why they go to [inaudible], they want to see.
SK (33:04):
So, you didn't see her when you were in Cambodia?
WT (33:06):
Yeah.
SK (33:08):
Oh, you did see her?
VT (33:08):
Yes, that's right. WeSK (33:09):
But you had to pay $200.
WT (33:09):
Yes.
VT (33:09):
Yes. $200.
WT (33:10):
[inaudible] had a long [inaudible]. Plus, people that [inaudible]. They had to sleep one night from
[inaudible] to for my niece to see me.
Page 24 of 36
�UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSETTS LOWELL
SOUTHEAST ASIAN DIGITAL ARCHIVE
TITH, VERA T. AND WILLIAM A. ORAL HISTORY INTERVIEW, 1993
UML 16 (Oral History #93.7)
NOTE: This is the transcript for oral history tape 1 of 1, side 1 of 2.
SK (33:29):
So she's not free to leave the country there? They're still holding her?
VT (33:33):
Yeah. NowWT (33:34):
See, I went to a international before my mother dead. Before my mother pass away. And Captain
Flynn. Yeah. Captain Flynn.
VT (33:51):
Yeah, Captain Flynn.
WT (33:54):
She work for the [inaudible]. She said I cannot leave my [inaudible], because [inaudible].
SK (33:54):
Oh.
WT (33:55):
They just want mother...
VT (33:57):
The rule change.
WT (33:57):
... or father, or brother, or sister.
SK (33:57):
Immediate family.
WT (33:57):
Yeah.
VT (33:57):
Mm-hmm (affirmative). That's why we wait, and wait, and wait. So we cannot get [inaudible].
WT (34:06):
Page 25 of 36
�UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSETTS LOWELL
SOUTHEAST ASIAN DIGITAL ARCHIVE
TITH, VERA T. AND WILLIAM A. ORAL HISTORY INTERVIEW, 1993
UML 16 (Oral History #93.7)
NOTE: This is the transcript for oral history tape 1 of 1, side 1 of 2.
But right now, I heard we can sponsor from Cambodia to United States. I just talked to my wife
this morning, and she's still have one brother, two sister, and two....
VT (34:29):
One niece, one nephew.
WT (34:34):
Yeah. To her [inaudible].
VT (34:35):
That you already [inaudible].
WT (34:36):
We have picture. We have picture [inaudible].
VT (34:49):
Sad story, Sheila.
SK (34:50):
Yeah. Yeah.
VT (34:50):
That's whySK (34:50):
It's hard to imagine.
VT (34:56):
Now we leave all [inaudible]. This all that we can show.
WT (35:04):
Let’s see.
VT (35:04):
We [inaudible] a lot together. This is my sister, here.
WT (35:11):
Page 26 of 36
�UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSETTS LOWELL
SOUTHEAST ASIAN DIGITAL ARCHIVE
TITH, VERA T. AND WILLIAM A. ORAL HISTORY INTERVIEW, 1993
UML 16 (Oral History #93.7)
NOTE: This is the transcript for oral history tape 1 of 1, side 1 of 2.
Yes. [inaudible].
VT (35:12):
Now she's teacher too, over in Cambodia.
WT (35:13):
[inaudible] when I went there. And she told me her [inaudible] is in college.
VT (35:13):
In Cambodia.
WT (35:13):
[inaudible].
VT (35:13):
Yeah. In Cambodia.
WT (35:23):
[inaudible].
VT (35:26):
Oh. My uncle. He is very tall. [inaudible].
WT (35:31):
This the college.
VT (35:35):
[inaudible].
WT (35:40):
[inaudible].
VT (35:41):
[inaudible].
SK (35:47):
It must have been hard to say goodbye to her, to come back here.
Page 27 of 36
�UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSETTS LOWELL
SOUTHEAST ASIAN DIGITAL ARCHIVE
TITH, VERA T. AND WILLIAM A. ORAL HISTORY INTERVIEW, 1993
UML 16 (Oral History #93.7)
NOTE: This is the transcript for oral history tape 1 of 1, side 1 of 2.
WT (35:49):
[inaudible].
VT (35:49):
Oh, Sheila. All day cry. Especially my daughter, my son.
WT (35:53):
See this? All these people, uh when I went there we uh make celebration. Yeah. With all theVT (36:01):
They so happy...
SK (36:02):
Why?
VT (36:02):
... to see us [inaudible].
SK (36:03):
[inaudible].
WT (36:03):
Yeah.
VT (36:03):
One month very quick. Very quick one month.
SK (36:07):
Yeah. They [inaudible].
WT (36:09):
[inaudible] cook, chef.
SK (36:09):
Wow.
WT (36:20):
Page 28 of 36
�UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSETTS LOWELL
SOUTHEAST ASIAN DIGITAL ARCHIVE
TITH, VERA T. AND WILLIAM A. ORAL HISTORY INTERVIEW, 1993
UML 16 (Oral History #93.7)
NOTE: This is the transcript for oral history tape 1 of 1, side 1 of 2.
They so happy to see us, and we come close. "Oh, they are people from United States. Oh. Look
[inaudible]." They used to say that. These are people in front of the airport. When I went to come
back to the United States, and I took a picture. See.
SK (36:42):
Mm-hmm (affirmative). All friends and relatives of yours?
WT (36:45):
Yeah.
VT (36:45):
No.
WT (36:46):
No, it's justVT (36:47):
It's not all mine. Different people. You know? They come to wait, to see. They have their
brother, sister, [inaudible]. You know? Sometime go to ask "Did you heard this name, that
name?" Because they miss to... very, veryWT (37:01):
See? These are my wife’s sisters too.
VT (37:03):
Just married.
WT (37:07):
Just married after we come back. We cannot wait, because we just have one month vacation.
VT (37:14):
[inaudible].
SK (37:35):
Wow.
WT (37:36):
And then we cannot wait.
Page 29 of 36
�UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSETTS LOWELL
SOUTHEAST ASIAN DIGITAL ARCHIVE
TITH, VERA T. AND WILLIAM A. ORAL HISTORY INTERVIEW, 1993
UML 16 (Oral History #93.7)
NOTE: This is the transcript for oral history tape 1 of 1, side 1 of 2.
SK (37:36):
Oh. But she sent a picture?
VT (37:36):
Yeah.
WT (37:36):
Yeah. She sent these two pictures.
VT (37:36):
This my uncle, this my aunt.
SK (37:36):
[inaudible].
VT (37:36):
There is my brother. [inaudible].
SK (37:36):
Oh.
VT (37:36):
Where? [inaudible]
SK (37:43):
Are you still an electrician here in the United States?
WT (37:46):
No.
SK (37:46):
Doing something else now?
WT (37:47):
Yeah.
SK (37:50):
Page 30 of 36
�UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSETTS LOWELL
SOUTHEAST ASIAN DIGITAL ARCHIVE
TITH, VERA T. AND WILLIAM A. ORAL HISTORY INTERVIEW, 1993
UML 16 (Oral History #93.7)
NOTE: This is the transcript for oral history tape 1 of 1, side 1 of 2.
I think you might have told me [inaudible], but I forget. Are you starting your own business?
VT (37:50):
Yeah.
SK (37:57):
Or, were you trying to start your own business?
WT (37:57):
Yeah.
VT (37:57):
Because now, Sheila, my husband will get... almost 12 years, right?
WT (38:03):
No, 10.
VT (38:03):
10 year. And got laid off, now we know. I keep telling him. "Go to school." You know? No one
can steal education. [inaudible] you know keep like a trick on us. And he got laid off. See? That's
very...
WT (38:18):
The one that I'm talking about. That's [inaudible] with my mother and sister to come.
SK (38:18):
Yeah.
WT (38:18):
And then...
SK (38:40):
So did you have to start from the beginning with your education?
VT (38:44):
Yes. I became the first Cambodian teacher in Lowell, in 1985. So I study courses you know
every semester. So now, it seem like 120 credit a lot too. But I keep take every semester. One,
two, or three. But last year, the year before, I took a lot. Like, complete 10 courses, eight courses.
Page 31 of 36
�UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSETTS LOWELL
SOUTHEAST ASIAN DIGITAL ARCHIVE
TITH, VERA T. AND WILLIAM A. ORAL HISTORY INTERVIEW, 1993
UML 16 (Oral History #93.7)
NOTE: This is the transcript for oral history tape 1 of 1, side 1 of 2.
But now, Dr. Pearson told me, just two more. That's it. So when I have a degree, I can go to get
certified too. Because before you get certified, you have degree first. But they cannot give,
because I don't have any proof. And they invite other experts, come. You know?
WT (39:35):
Most of the camp...
SK (39:35):
Hold old were you?
VT (39:39):
Very skinny.
WT (39:41):
Skinny. [inaudible].
SK (39:42):
That's still in Thailand?
WT (39:47):
Yeah.
VT (39:47):
Yeah.
SK (39:48):
While working here?
WT (39:48):
That's one teacher.
VT (39:51):
My husband. Yeah. And I teach young children that come. You know? We have ฿10. For one
day. Right? ฿10. Thailand money. ฿10. They call it, ฿10. So my husband get ฿10, I get ฿10
every day. You know? That's why. To survive, at that camp.
SK (40:11):
What year did you leave Cambodia and get into the camp?
Page 32 of 36
�UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSETTS LOWELL
SOUTHEAST ASIAN DIGITAL ARCHIVE
TITH, VERA T. AND WILLIAM A. ORAL HISTORY INTERVIEW, 1993
UML 16 (Oral History #93.7)
NOTE: This is the transcript for oral history tape 1 of 1, side 1 of 2.
VT (40:16):
'79. '79.
SK (40:19):
So you spent two yearsVT (40:20):
Spent two years, yeah. So I start teach over there almost two year until the name call, that's why I
left to United States.
SK (40:30):
And some groups sponsored your coming here?
VT (40:34):
We pick, from I heard, I fill out the form, because a lot of American people went to the camp.
They ask more information. They ask me to want to be like one more they understand French a
lot. Or English, some. So I work with a agency, Like, a hospital, a lot over there, they need me
too. But lucky when I go to interview with the school, they say they want to take me to teacher,
and the other one want me to be a nurse over there, because I know I was a midwife in Cambodia
also. So seems like one want me, they want me but... finally I teach, because my husband sport
teacher, and say, "Oh, teach." And I had my son too on that time. So we both went the same. You
know? Teaching. And we get money from that.
SK (41:25):
So your husband taught sports?
VT (41:25):
Yes.
SK (41:26):
And he was an electrician, too?
VT (41:34):
No, in Thailand no electrician. He electrician in Cambodia.
SK (41:38):
Cambodia. Yeah.
Page 33 of 36
�UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSETTS LOWELL
SOUTHEAST ASIAN DIGITAL ARCHIVE
TITH, VERA T. AND WILLIAM A. ORAL HISTORY INTERVIEW, 1993
UML 16 (Oral History #93.7)
NOTE: This is the transcript for oral history tape 1 of 1, side 1 of 2.
VT (41:40):
Yeah. He get a good job. Like, in here too. Everything, he can do it. That's very good.
SK (41:45):
That's good..
VT (41:45):
Yeah. Have a lot too. You know? If you car really expensive. Seem like little thing he can by
himself. So that's very good.
SK (41:56):
Now, did you have any choice about coming to Lowell or...?
VT (42:00):
Oh. The point is, I came the first time, I came to New York.
SK (42:06):
Oh.
VT (42:06):
Yes. The first arrive at New York, February 18th. I remember. I never forget. '81. And I came
New York almost one year before. Very hard at New York. I live at Brooklyn. My son often
sick, sick, sick. And I took subway. My husband came early. Two weeks he had go to work,
because they don't provide welfare or food stamp. So he go to work, because say, "I have only
one son." So that's why he go to work very far. You know? Take subway, and 15 day in United
States. $3, something he work there.
VT (42:50):
And after that, friend in mine live in Lowell. He call and say... because he know my background.
Because usually, I learn in Cambodia. Have a lot education. And he say, "Come here." Because
hear everything I told, because I have a hard time. Take subway, bring my son, go to the clinic
that's very far, change different train. You know? Almost very, very hard. And he call, and I told
about life in New York. And he say, "Come here, because in here, they have education, easy to
go to hospital, easy you know to go everywhere."
VT (43:28):
So we decide. Say, "Oh, maybe we can." And after that, is why we came in Lowell in 1982.
January fifth. Yeah? January fifth, I came in Lowell. So, came in Lowell, that's why I say, "We
Page 34 of 36
�UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSETTS LOWELL
SOUTHEAST ASIAN DIGITAL ARCHIVE
TITH, VERA T. AND WILLIAM A. ORAL HISTORY INTERVIEW, 1993
UML 16 (Oral History #93.7)
NOTE: This is the transcript for oral history tape 1 of 1, side 1 of 2.
cannot survive, because we don't have any welfare and food stamp." I decide to go to work, too.
And on that time, '81, '82. It's very, very hard to get a job. So they took me, interview me
[inaudible] they choose only me to work at company product for glasses. Because I can
understand. Hard to find a job on that time.
VT (44:11):
So after that, I worked at the Prince, because I have Deanna. And my son go to school, and he
missed school. He missed school one day, because the bus didn't pick up. So I make a phone call
at Greenhalge School. So I make a phone call to say... Because the bus didn't pick up, I drop my
son to school. And that time, that's really that I start to be a teacher. And Miss [inaudible], my
son teacher, had problem with the Cambodian kid. They cannot understand what parents say. On
that time I brought my son in there, he said, "But you have to speak Cambodian with the other
parents, because they cannot communicate." So I talk, and I tell English that she say, "Oh, you..."
She asked me about my background, "What do you do?", and say, "Oh, you should apply,
because they have job opening. They want to looking for Cambodian teacher."
VT (45:08):
So she call right away. Because Mr. Gallagher... She spoke with Mr. Gallagher, principal at
Greenhalge. And she called to [inaudible]. And one day I worked over there. I have good salary
too, at Prince. And they call me, interview on Friday, and they let me work on Monday. I get job,
that's why I became a first teacher. And after that, I teach Vietnamese, Laos, Cambodian. At one
class. You know? So they don't understand. I cannot speak much. I know how to count in
Chinese, in Vietnamese, or in Laos. But not much word. You know? My husband know a lot.
Like, different languages. He know a lot. You know? The word to find. You know? That's very
good for him too. That's why I start teacher in 1985.
SK (46:02):
That's great.
VT (46:03):
That's right. Look at that story. I still do my resume on that, because I never forget. So I write
down, because... You know? Who knows? That is for my children to see what happened. You
know? The sequence of life. So I already write down, that's why I took classes. Sometimes they
ask about writing on our lives. Very, very share. And when you see the sequence look at, that's
sometime I have free time, I lay down, and with my husband, and we thought about it. How we
all now. You know? Seem like it's amaze. We don't think we have everything, and we do.
VT (46:51):
Look at our life. We supposed to be killed on that generation. We so skinny. My husband work
very hard. You know? Now he's very hurt, still hurt. A lot of things he hold. Because you cannot
Page 35 of 36
�UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSETTS LOWELL
SOUTHEAST ASIAN DIGITAL ARCHIVE
TITH, VERA T. AND WILLIAM A. ORAL HISTORY INTERVIEW, 1993
UML 16 (Oral History #93.7)
NOTE: This is the transcript for oral history tape 1 of 1, side 1 of 2.
say no. If they say you have to do, you have to do. But me, lucky. I'm lucky on my generation.
I'm so lucky too. And that's working so hard. Because, seem like I don't know. That's why I say
my life very, very lucky. When I work with my parents, I'm very lucky too. Because I have my
sister do all the work. And very good, because only one for me is study. I really love study.
That's why I say, I still remember my parents. Especially my father. Because he say, "No one can
steal your education." He worked very hard for me. You know?
VT (47:48):
Because, in Cambodia, because my family is not rich, but it's not very poor. In the middle class.
But Cambodian people, if you a girl, you cannot get high education. Most have to be stay home.
Some that have high education, very rich. You know? Seems like. Or lucky. For me, very lucky.
You know? Seem like I finish school in my country, and I go to capital, I finish study. And I
have name. Some people support me to go to more education. That's why I finish my education
very high in Cambodia. And lucky, and all the communist generation very lucky too. And I
never lie on that time. I always tell the truth, because he say...
End of tape 1 of 1, side 1 of 2.
Page 36 of 36
�
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UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSETTS LOWELL
SOUTHEAST ASIAN DIGITAL ARCHIVE
TITH, VERA T. AND WILLIAM A. ORAL HISTORY INTERVIEW, 1993
UML 16 (Oral History #93.7)
NOTE: This is the transcript for oral history tape 1 of 1, side 2 of 2.
CONTENT WARNING:
Mentions of war, death, and other situations readers and
listeners may find distressing.
INFORMANTS/
NARRATORS:
VERA T. TITH (VT)
WILLIAM A. TITH (WT)
INTERVIEWER:
DATE:
SHEILA L. KIRSCHBAUM (SK)
FEBRUARY 13, 1993
SPEAKER (TIME)
DETAILS
SK (00:03):
In the camp you mean..
VT (00:03):
No, in the communist generation, people are starvation. When I call, I say because maybe why,
maybe why people like no generation because people 17 the old people they divide separately.
They eat differently because what is called crime open borders or Khmer Rouge right, what's
called... And our people because people 17. So you cannot eat really well.
WT (00:44):
When the revolution on the March 18 that their people, they were in the town because 17th of
March and they put because my people in the town become the new 17 March. And there are
people that they work together to control the town because they hold people 18 March.
VT (01:32):
Yeah 18, 17, 19 maybe, why? But they wear black too, black clothesWT (01:39):
Some they do...
VT (01:40):
But they control no people. That's why, you cannot move.
WT (01:47):
That's why they killed 17 people. This [inaudible] my people.
Page 1 of 28
�UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSETTS LOWELL
SOUTHEAST ASIAN DIGITAL ARCHIVE
TITH, VERA T. AND WILLIAM A. ORAL HISTORY INTERVIEW, 1993
UML 16 (Oral History #93.7)
NOTE: This is the transcript for oral history tape 1 of 1, side 2 of 2.
VT (01:50):
If you not work like they say, "They say you not very good." So itWT (01:54):
17 March come in to control the whole country. That's why we call the people in the town
because 17 March they control [inaudible].
SK (02:12):
And the all 18 March were the communist?
WT (02:13):
Yeah.
VT (02:14):
Yeah, they all... They say they are all. So they control.
WT(02:19):
They mean they are live outside of the town. That means the group, the Khmer Rouge
themselves, they put their name 18.
VT (02:31):
18.
WT(02:32):
All 18 people. That means the all 18, that mean the all person just that every people like eight,
and you and me they work together in outside the forest. When they get in they control the all
people.
SK (02:50):
And so you were the new people?
VT (02:53):
Yeah. New 17 and you have to work what they say. If they say like “do this,” you had to do this.
If you not do...
WT (03:03):
Like the 18 the boss, the leader. The 17 [inaudible].
Page 2 of 28
�UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSETTS LOWELL
SOUTHEAST ASIAN DIGITAL ARCHIVE
TITH, VERA T. AND WILLIAM A. ORAL HISTORY INTERVIEW, 1993
UML 16 (Oral History #93.7)
NOTE: This is the transcript for oral history tape 1 of 1, side 2 of 2.
VT (03:11):
Employee.
SK (03:13):
Now you said you've lived far away from the capital, your hometown was far away from the
capital?
VT (03:18):
Yeah.
SK (03:19):
Is that right?
WT (03:20):
But close to the program. Close to the...
VT (03:25):
The stadium, the state.
WT(03:27):
See lived close to the state. The name of the state is called Battambang, B-A-T-T-A-M-B-A-NG. Battambang.
VT (03:41):
Capital in Phnom Penh. When you have higher education you have go to Phnom Penh. Like in
here like you want to continue around college here but if you pass college, you hold like a
Harvard something like that. You go over there and live. But this lies in my near mine is very far
away, fly to the...
WT(04:03):
Over there, the college if he needs so that we have primary school. We finished primary school,
we had to go to the high school. Still have in the state and then they have the college in the state
too. After we finish college we had to go to the university in Phnom Penh, the capital. On the
university we have the communist.
SK (04:37):
Did you meet at college then, or?
Page 3 of 28
�UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSETTS LOWELL
SOUTHEAST ASIAN DIGITAL ARCHIVE
TITH, VERA T. AND WILLIAM A. ORAL HISTORY INTERVIEW, 1993
UML 16 (Oral History #93.7)
NOTE: This is the transcript for oral history tape 1 of 1, side 2 of 2.
WT(04:38):
Yeah. We meet at the college and we marry before the communist [inaudible]
VT (04:45):
At the time that’s lucky you know.
SK (04:45):
One year before the communist came in?
VT (04:45):
Mm-hmm (affirmative)
SK (04:54):
Is there a special story to the time that you met each other? Were you were in class together?
WT(05:01):
No.
VT (05:02):
We just see to each other by that time. I didn't see him very much, but we know that he told his
mother because Cambodia it's different. It's not just, he seemed like he had the other school and
the school and when they arrange that his parent go to my parent, that's why we marry that way.
It's not like we met in the same school or never talk. I never see him too before, but he saw me.
But I never see him that Cambodian culture arrange.
SK (05:36):
And arrange?
VT (05:37):
Yeah, arranged marriage.
SK (05:40):
And the way that works, did you have any choice in the matter or did your parents pick?
WT (05:45):
No we had to... Like me I had to tell my parents and my parents has to talk to her parent.
SK (05:53):
Page 4 of 28
�UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSETTS LOWELL
SOUTHEAST ASIAN DIGITAL ARCHIVE
TITH, VERA T. AND WILLIAM A. ORAL HISTORY INTERVIEW, 1993
UML 16 (Oral History #93.7)
NOTE: This is the transcript for oral history tape 1 of 1, side 2 of 2.
You did notice her first?
VT (05:53):
Yeah.
WT(05:55):
But we don't talk to each other.
SK (05:56):
You didn't talk to her. But you saw her? And you told your parents...
WT(05:57):
Yeah.
SK (05:58):
And then you talked...
VT (05:58):
Yeah, but I never see because usually Cambodian girl not much, you know, not talk in private,
no. Or in public also because when you a girl it's different from here that very different. When I
go to school seem like we have... When I have the elementary school they are Cambodia girls
school, boys school from my stand.
VT (06:25):
When we go to college we mix not much talking in here, share, no. If you are a girl you sit with
girl. But always seem like separate, not much...
WT(06:36):
One classroom.
VT (06:37):
Yeah, one side girl, one side boy. Not much discussing, no. If you want discuss I always discuss
with girl and boy discuss with the boy. So sometime they never see it's not sure. That's why I
sing in here. When I go to psychology courses I see now a lot pregnancy, a lot problem with that.
VT (07:02):
But we have that too over in Cambodia. Not might happen like that. Why? Because girl and boy
not talking so much to each other. Even I learned at university too. We don't have chance too
Page 5 of 28
�UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSETTS LOWELL
SOUTHEAST ASIAN DIGITAL ARCHIVE
TITH, VERA T. AND WILLIAM A. ORAL HISTORY INTERVIEW, 1993
UML 16 (Oral History #93.7)
NOTE: This is the transcript for oral history tape 1 of 1, side 2 of 2.
much to talk with the boy because that is the culture. When I want the way that the boy or
whatever and I want, you seem like a shaking. We shy with the boy, but that is hard that is the
culture too.
VT (07:33):
Now when the kid born in here, seem like very close. You see you don't the boy, they never
married and here that from I know most Cambodian girl, Cambodian boy, they know before not
like me. I never know where but when married, one year I never look at his face very... But that's
very hard to look his face very in front. He keep talking, he saw me. The motorcycle, he saw me
that way.
VT (08:04):
But I never see and married because we follow parents. Parents say marry and that time we
married and we tried. And from now on and at the communist generation too it seem like
husband and wife not work together. Husband work far away and I cooking you know in the big
building they want me to... They have like 10 or 15 girl cook to survive. Maybe thousand people.
When they come from work food had to be ready for them.
VT (08:43):
So that way sometime one week or two week, my husband you know come to see me. Yes, they
let to come to see me. [inaudible] not very much but lucky with me and my husband seemed like
we meet each other often time. But some family, no. Sometimes they kill husband, why still
[inaudible]. That's very strange unless when some time we have spare time we go back sit on by
seem like scary.
VT (09:17):
So that's why I told my husband he got laid off it seem like we sit down, you know we do how
much we can save. Now we take care of my children bring them go to school, we care them first
because seem like very scary. Maybe I mentioned to you or I mentioned to our team teaching
over there too.
VT (09:37):
We sit down and say usually when we work together my husband will usually go Friday for
lunch, but now we cut it down we save money that way and seemed like he knows a lot like car
fixing or fixed somehow in here and electrician he excellent. He can fix everything. So we save
that money too.
VT (09:58):
So now, seem like if I have job, seem like support that's my one and only [inaudible]. I want to
be rich. That is my middle way. Now I seem like I have survived as good pay my mortgage
Page 6 of 28
�UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSETTS LOWELL
SOUTHEAST ASIAN DIGITAL ARCHIVE
TITH, VERA T. AND WILLIAM A. ORAL HISTORY INTERVIEW, 1993
UML 16 (Oral History #93.7)
NOTE: This is the transcript for oral history tape 1 of 1, side 2 of 2.
before I didn't rent. Now I rent one family to save because my husband got laid off. I get to share
with me because my mortgage is very high too. That's why I’m stay. So my family all before my
mother passed [inaudible]. So my husband keep [inaudible]. So now he goes to school, get more.
SK (10:45):
He goes to school now?
VT (10:47):
He go to school too and takes some college course about business. He want to do something a
little bit because seem like no work is a very tight, have a single to school and we do a lot of
work too now. So maybe sometimes we can do a little bit now.
SK (11:09):
Are you going to [inaudible] next year?
VT (11:09):
Now we discuss... You miss on advisory meeting. See advisory meeting on Thursday, last
Thursday, yes we do that and a lot on that day uh early childhood. They have a lot of push and
and it’s [inaudible]. You a lot of push and we know a lot and a lot of school asking when you
there.
VT (11:32):
And Greenhalge school, Mr. Gallagher, why he married his wife was there. He married with
Helen and Helen know me and Greenhalge School. We have to go back and after that everyone
when we go back and I say, because we don't know. We say we had to work it out and
[inaudible]. And then on that day he mentioned don’t be apply anywhere else because maybe he
want me to try to have one more year. But not very sure yet.
VT (12:02):
But for me, they're asking me, they test me, ask question, how will you feel on working and then
I say I love very much, Sheila. I think that program is excellent. It's not even looking at they
together. And you see it, look it, we have some time problem. But you know what because
people like that there even when I say thinking of this program is excellent as far as I know.
They shared it.
VT (12:32):
They didn't know you are when I worked at Greenhalge. Somehow [inaudible] with this
Cambodian kid like that. I heard, but in here seem like they don't know Cambodian or Spanish.
Page 7 of 28
�UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSETTS LOWELL
SOUTHEAST ASIAN DIGITAL ARCHIVE
TITH, VERA T. AND WILLIAM A. ORAL HISTORY INTERVIEW, 1993
UML 16 (Oral History #93.7)
NOTE: This is the transcript for oral history tape 1 of 1, side 2 of 2.
They really enjoyed together, the three year over there. That's why I like that way. They keep
asking me like that and a lot of same, I try. They learn very good too.
VT (12:57):
Even understand or repeat but they try very hard. Even when you know that's why I saying, the
more language you have, that's easy to live on that I have my experience. I know friend, and I
have vacation and I went to [inaudible] last few years but my mom was alive. Even then my
husband's friend, we go two car and he got big accident, they get hit from the other car because
[inaudible] drive very fast. Did you went there? Very fast drive and hit him really badly. And he
cannot speak French.
VT (13:37):
And over then they taught you English too and ask for help with English and they asked, "Can
you speak French?" I said yes. I asked called report police ambulance come right away and car
got hit on one spot. We had to go to hospital, hospital speak French too. So if my husband and
me cannot speak what should we do?
VT (13:59):
That's why I still write in [inaudible] for my children. That's why my children enjoy learning
language. So my husband keep my son, my daughter learn Khmer everyday one hour, because it
or now when they know more they put them in the regular class before my children belong
bilingual. They know you know.
VT (14:22):
So now they say you understand we have mainstream, they go regular. So we don't want to miss
our culture because now he write the letter to his aunt, he write in Khmer too. So that's why he
wanted. So I say that school time. He has time teach them and he learned more French from me
if I have time. If I have time in Spanish too.
SK (14:49):
Yes.
VT (14:50):
My son love it because now they cut off at [Bailey/Daley?] school. Before, they have Spanish
lesson, now they cut off. But he knows some, I say don't worry maybe go to high school. Maybe
some more but I want him to get a Spanish because this area you know more Spanish because
French, I will have more later on. Because now look at our society a lot of Spanish everywhere.
So when you get a job, you know English and you know more Spanish and you know about
Khmer. That's easy to find, to understand to each other.
Page 8 of 28
�UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSETTS LOWELL
SOUTHEAST ASIAN DIGITAL ARCHIVE
TITH, VERA T. AND WILLIAM A. ORAL HISTORY INTERVIEW, 1993
UML 16 (Oral History #93.7)
NOTE: This is the transcript for oral history tape 1 of 1, side 2 of 2.
VT (15:28):
If you don't understand when Spanish say ah we don't know. That's hard, that’s why I know.
That's what I heard one time I will get Greenhalge School they say English only. I say I went to
public hearing at Smith Baker. Unbelievable. English only seemed like I still remember in your
[unknown]. That's good. When you go outside I went to [unknown] something happened. You
cannot do English might be you have hard time. How hard you all imagine it if you cannot speak
the other language.
VT (16:02):
And you just stay in own pond that's good, very well. That's from I understand that's why I really
love the [unknown]. I really give example like that. I think you noticed it's very good. If children
enjoy and look at, few children fluent Spanish, understand, I play card, play song, they remember
you know body part. They go to Cambodian store they say in English, in Khmer [unknown
Khmer]. In there. That's really good.
SK (16:39):
And you're great too you. Everybody will be sad if you leave Demonstration School.
VT (16:43):
I don't know but I like because for me, it's okay, Sheila. I can go find job. Every school now, a
principal and by [inaudible] school want me to go to her class to... And a new school and get
school year they want me there. For me it's okay but feeling that's really impressed me with the
children.
VT (17:07):
We will cry. Professionally I cried because last week Julie left, and we went to see the show at
South Campus. Children cry really hard because Julie left, we saw Julie. So seem like hard to.
That's why we had Cambodian proverb say, "People come in very happy, when get out very,
very sad to get." That the way it is. That's now at school advisory last Thursday they discussed
about that, but we don’t know yet because the plan is to be changed, have to be rotated. That the
point. But we don't know yet, maybe sometime we can change and we can use the two year and I
had to go to the other school this year too, that’s why [inaudible].
VT (18:08):
When you gave Vera too much school. But now I don't know but just he said on that day, not yet
don’t go apply everywhere. He will work it out for me but we don’t know yet. I love very good,
Sheila. I try very hard. Sometimes children not ready to learn or different, but when they ready,
it's very good and then it's excellent. That's why I said this program is really excellent.
VT (18:38):
Page 9 of 28
�UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSETTS LOWELL
SOUTHEAST ASIAN DIGITAL ARCHIVE
TITH, VERA T. AND WILLIAM A. ORAL HISTORY INTERVIEW, 1993
UML 16 (Oral History #93.7)
NOTE: This is the transcript for oral history tape 1 of 1, side 2 of 2.
If all the world understand each other like a singer song. First we know vocabulary like came
here. I pull out, I recite the vocabulary to be able... My body go to understand. If you don't have
word, how do you understand? First, you had to learn the word. That's why I had to pull out, play
games made something different for them to learn.
VT (19:04):
If you have word in your mind, you combine word together and you can speak out. So you can
get food to eat easily. When you go somewhere you can speak. That's why I said this group is
excellent. This program, did they repeat...
SK (19:22):
Now this question doesn't have to do with the school, but I'm curious to know. The Cambodian
celebrations that you do here now that you're in the United States, but especially in your family. I
know that Cambodian New Year's celebrated.
VT (19:33):
Yeah, we do. The other one and the [unknown Khmer] is very, very important and [unknown
Khmer] is called soul day.
WT (19:40):
Soul day.
VT (19:40):
Soul day. That celebration is very big one. Because in life, we believe that parent or family pass
away. We believe because the lifecycle has to be resize. The had to become by. So when the
people was that from the believe, they still hang around somewhere. We don't know to get the
new life and they are starvation, looking for food to eat and we are alive.
VT (20:10):
So that's right that we believe we make your food, we bring to the temple and the monk pray for
them to come get out even some people with something bad and their life, they cannot find the
place to reborn. So that's why they hang around. We believe that it's why the big celebration.
Everyone never miss.
WT (20:35):
Like my mother passed away and the place that buried her and when we love her so much and
we would like to do something for them. We understand that she have a hard time to carry like a
problem [inaudible] until to the board, and we have to understand how heart she is carry after the
baby born take her to give the food, provide this provide that. Even go somewhere she had to
Page 10 of 28
�UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSETTS LOWELL
SOUTHEAST ASIAN DIGITAL ARCHIVE
TITH, VERA T. AND WILLIAM A. ORAL HISTORY INTERVIEW, 1993
UML 16 (Oral History #93.7)
NOTE: This is the transcript for oral history tape 1 of 1, side 2 of 2.
carry us. That's why when she passed away we had to do something special for her. This not the
time that passes away. This is a year and a year after I had to invite the monk and some people
some nun to go over there to pray for her and on the place. Use the picture, here. This my
mother’s picture put on the stone on... How do you call this?
SK (22:02):
A tombstone in the cemetery?
WT (22:04):
Yeah.
SK:
This was, where was this?
VT (22:05):
In here. Lowell.
WT (22:08):
I think just first one, right, that we bury. The Cambodian usually do uh burn.
SK (22:12):
Cremation.
VT (22:12):
Cremation.
WT (22:14):
Cremation. But I miss her so much. I cannot cremate her. I had to leave her one place and I
bought a big land and I bought four place for her and it's a big, I don't want to step on somebody
else. I just do around the map and put a flower the summer or I want to do like this just go there
and put [unknown].
VT (22:44):
And now in monk they pray.
WT (22:46):
Pray.
VT (22:46):
Page 11 of 28
�UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSETTS LOWELL
SOUTHEAST ASIAN DIGITAL ARCHIVE
TITH, VERA T. AND WILLIAM A. ORAL HISTORY INTERVIEW, 1993
UML 16 (Oral History #93.7)
NOTE: This is the transcript for oral history tape 1 of 1, side 2 of 2.
That's we believeWT(22:47):
Do we believe just only the monk? And they have candles and they have incense. That mean
when the incense burn that mean that we can go to... We told the monk pray my mom and then a
time a lot of people.
SK (23:15):
Is there a certain day that is Soul Day?
WT (23:18):
Oh, yeah. Once a year.
VT (23:20):
Yes, once a year in October.
SK (23:22):
October?
VT (23:24):
Yeah.
WT (23:24):
It's close to the Easter.
VT (23:27):
No close to theSK (23:28):
Memorial Day?
VT (23:29):
... Halloween. Halloween, October. Because that's why I still say because they were like different
and know, Halloween seemed like a fun for children. And this really every Cambodian had to be
do that because if you not do that, we have like the thing that say the people that was that, that
relate to our family, they looking for seven temple. That they didn't see you make anything and
pray to them, they will you know...
Page 12 of 28
�UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSETTS LOWELL
SOUTHEAST ASIAN DIGITAL ARCHIVE
TITH, VERA T. AND WILLIAM A. ORAL HISTORY INTERVIEW, 1993
UML 16 (Oral History #93.7)
NOTE: This is the transcript for oral history tape 1 of 1, side 2 of 2.
WT (24:04):
Cry.
VT (24:05):
They will what it's called cry very hard.
WT (24:08):
Because on that time theVT (24:11):
And it's not blessing for you. They don't want to blessing for you to see the very bad new for
you. They say like you have something bad that we believe that it's a very big celebration. Every
temple and here we have two temple, now because too many people at one. So we just have one
more temple near here and the other one near our school. I think the [inaudible] school very big
place. Very, very big over there.
SK (24:52):
At [inaudible] street?
VT (24:53):
Quinley? What’s it called? Quinley? Quinley Street? Yes, yes. Very big and beautiful.
WT (24:53):
The time we went to Cambodia to her house, my wife’s house. Her father bone buried and we go
there. We ask the monk to take him out and put special thing where we have buildVT (25:12):
Cemetery.
WT (25:12):
... cemetery.
VT (25:12):
Monument. We have monument over there. Put them. Seem like make you luck, that we believe.
But I believe that's very true come out too, Sheila. We do good things, we receive good thing.
That's my believe, that's why we do reallyWT (25:28):
Page 13 of 28
�UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSETTS LOWELL
SOUTHEAST ASIAN DIGITAL ARCHIVE
TITH, VERA T. AND WILLIAM A. ORAL HISTORY INTERVIEW, 1993
UML 16 (Oral History #93.7)
NOTE: This is the transcript for oral history tape 1 of 1, side 2 of 2.
What's... He pass away in 1979. ‘79, burry.
VT (25:40):
And this all the bone.
WT (25:40):
... very bone. ‘91.
VT (25:40):
‘92.
WT (25:47):
‘92. And the bone still good. We said it's a good bone.
SK (25:51):
But he was killed by the communists?
VT (25:52):
Yeah.
WT (25:54):
Not killed by the communist.
VT (25:59):
In the communist generation.
WT (25:59):
The time that the communist out and he pass away.
VT (26:07):
Yeah, the communist generation. I didn't see him on that time when we go. My husband and me
go there let's see while he was there. We didn't see him while there.
SK (26:15):
So he died natural causes during...
VT (26:16):
Page 14 of 28
�UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSETTS LOWELL
SOUTHEAST ASIAN DIGITAL ARCHIVE
TITH, VERA T. AND WILLIAM A. ORAL HISTORY INTERVIEW, 1993
UML 16 (Oral History #93.7)
NOTE: This is the transcript for oral history tape 1 of 1, side 2 of 2.
Yeah, natural. No seemed like he really starvation or food. Very skinny. That my brother, sister
told me, which mean seemed like killing by communists also because very sad, very sickness.
That's why he told me.
WT (26:32):
They celebrate for my father-in-law. This is my wife's brother, that the sister come back and
married is the school teacher and this my niece. Nephews.
VT (26:57):
The parent. No parent when they were young, that's very sad. My niece and nephew.
WT (27:08):
These five, these fiveVT (27:10):
They're single.
WT (27:11):
... no parent, single. We just have the old sister over here. And when I went there I couldn't
believe they have taken care by themselves. No old people take care. We saw surprise.
VT (27:29):
They're very, very strong.
WT (27:31):
When we went there we're so proud that they don't have no parents and how they grow like this.
VT (27:38):
They grow themselves.
SK (27:46):
Did your mother die before your father or after your father?
VT (27:49):
Yes. My mother died before.
SK (27:49):
Of natural causes too but during the communist generation?
Page 15 of 28
�UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSETTS LOWELL
SOUTHEAST ASIAN DIGITAL ARCHIVE
TITH, VERA T. AND WILLIAM A. ORAL HISTORY INTERVIEW, 1993
UML 16 (Oral History #93.7)
NOTE: This is the transcript for oral history tape 1 of 1, side 2 of 2.
VT (27:50):
Yeah. Then from point is very starvation, Sheila. No food to eat, not enough. That's why
sometime they're working hard. But some that my parent die from that way but the other people
die from killing, shooting and very hurt with the stick like here by [inaudible]. Very, very sad.
WT (28:18):
Long knife like very sharp.
VT (28:19):
And like this. And that's why I collect what is called magazine and it's called? No, it's not
magazine. Geography? I have that picture that's why I bring to show that I do on Cambodian
hero, this team and I bring different picture, different story, different book to show them. They
really enjoy to ask this question about. So sometimes they say mine is hero too because I have
lived, stay alive because suppose we tell them about how Cambodian map is that those like
history first.
VT (29:00):
And we learn about Cambodian hero. What is hero mean? So it's come out beautiful even Julie
too do draw beautiful; she want to gain money. To be hero in Cambodia. Some say want to be
building hospital. Look at the idea. I have a lot of things, keep it over there.
WT (29:24):
These the people they kill they took a picture. This is Pol Pot, the leader of the Khmer Rouge.
VT (29:33):
Black.
SK (29:33):
That's one.
VT (29:41):
A lot of bone look at this is.
SK (29:41):
Which is notVT (29:46):
This is the [inaudible]. It's not like my father was that was sickness.
Page 16 of 28
�UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSETTS LOWELL
SOUTHEAST ASIAN DIGITAL ARCHIVE
TITH, VERA T. AND WILLIAM A. ORAL HISTORY INTERVIEW, 1993
UML 16 (Oral History #93.7)
NOTE: This is the transcript for oral history tape 1 of 1, side 2 of 2.
WT (29:49):
He kill like I kill animal.
VT (29:50):
This one like animal, Sheila. I shake like this. They go get in line. Get in line and bang, bang,
bang, with a stick like a bat.
SK (30:03):
I heard they killed maybe 3 million people?
VT(30:08):
Yeah. Look at these unbelievable, they had this. How they get all this? That's right. I collect you
know. When I see something I already pull on together.
SK (30:20):
You teach your children about the history?
VT (30:23):
Yeah.
SK (30:23):
To make sure that they know?
VT (30:23):
Yeah. Because first I told them where I born. The place that I born. Introduce them [inaudible]
they know how I escaped. First I live in here, continue education. So everything they know so I
point to them about me.
WT (30:40):
Vietnamese soldier. Vietnamese.
VT(30:47):
Look at... So that's my prayer every day. I want peaceful coming soon.
WT (30:52):
My believing: if the Vietnamese don't want it, just my understand, if they don't want it, they just
take care their country and leave my country alone. I think no problem plus China's too. China
Page 17 of 28
�UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSETTS LOWELL
SOUTHEAST ASIAN DIGITAL ARCHIVE
TITH, VERA T. AND WILLIAM A. ORAL HISTORY INTERVIEW, 1993
UML 16 (Oral History #93.7)
NOTE: This is the transcript for oral history tape 1 of 1, side 2 of 2.
they want my country too, you see. I don't know. You see in the communist time, all the time
they just took the time to turn for the [inaudible].
VT (31:22):
To make a show to sometimes.
WT (31:22):
And they took the [unknown]. They took the [unknown] to make spoon. You see that?
VT (31:22):
You know what that’s why no education. No son, and [inaudible].
WT (31:22):
No, the leader they have education.
VT (31:22):
My different.
WT (31:31):
The people see that this is the capital before communists.
VT (32:02):
My son-in-law this very much.
WT (2:06):
[inaudible].
VT (32:08):
He loved it. He went to work Cambodia, he want to go to see uncle one. His uncle one, but we
cannot go because not safe at all. You cannot say I miss it.
WT (32:22):
On a high way.
VT (32:23):
I went there one time when I was young.
SK (32:27):
Page 18 of 28
�UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSETTS LOWELL
SOUTHEAST ASIAN DIGITAL ARCHIVE
TITH, VERA T. AND WILLIAM A. ORAL HISTORY INTERVIEW, 1993
UML 16 (Oral History #93.7)
NOTE: This is the transcript for oral history tape 1 of 1, side 2 of 2.
What time?
VT (32:27):
Only one time and over there they have let me say people that came to see uncle what that means
lucky people even people live around in this place around they cannot go in there. They say thatSK (32:46):
Who is controlling it?
WT (32:47):
This place?
SK (32:47):
Mm-hmm (affirmative).
VT (32:49):
Now they say Thai want it and we don't know, Thai that place. And that's hard.
SK (32:57):
Thai? Thailand?
VT (32:58):
Yeah, Thailand. My son want to go. He do research on his paper, on this too. He went to library
and we have somebody's friend research that he say he want to see it. But when I got there I
asked let's cannot say, we cannot go unless there isSK (33:15):
Well I have that beautiful picture that you brought back when we had the interviews. You
handed everyone one that I put it out up on my dining room. Very pretty.
VT (33:28):
That one look at I want to from there. Before we don't have it I bought over there to show my
children $5 when long time.
WT (33:46):
This was very hard to I carry it from the [inaudible].
VT (33:47):
Page 19 of 28
�UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSETTS LOWELL
SOUTHEAST ASIAN DIGITAL ARCHIVE
TITH, VERA T. AND WILLIAM A. ORAL HISTORY INTERVIEW, 1993
UML 16 (Oral History #93.7)
NOTE: This is the transcript for oral history tape 1 of 1, side 2 of 2.
Oh, my goodness.
WT (33:47):
They don't let you carry it. They take care for me and when I got to Boston, which is [inaudible].
VT (33:51):
That's the one to see, you know. Even my grandchildren later on lucky if they have this thing to
show them. Very simple thing and look like my mother made that. That's really show how
working hard and so my children never forget. So we save a lot of things. She sew very hard.
SK (34:16):
She sewed that with all the beads?
VT (34:17):
Yep. And spend a lot of time. A lot of time, Sheila. She sit down and do that's very, very you
know for culture. That is fun. Usually we do when we go to the temple. That's very important
point and she complete just notWT (34:29):
They cannot be done for regular.
VT (34:29):
Not regular celebration and specialWT (34:35):
When they have child. Not a daughter, just a boy become a monk.
VT (34:45):
We had that really [inaudible].
WT (34:48):
Become on Monk and thenVT (34:49):
That's my son became a monk.
WT (34:51):
Page 20 of 28
�UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSETTS LOWELL
SOUTHEAST ASIAN DIGITAL ARCHIVE
TITH, VERA T. AND WILLIAM A. ORAL HISTORY INTERVIEW, 1993
UML 16 (Oral History #93.7)
NOTE: This is the transcript for oral history tape 1 of 1, side 2 of 2.
... They put that on the clothe before they get the clothe for the monk. Yellow cloth, clothe. The
parent have to uh... that’s my son.
VT (35:04):
That's special and she completed.
WT (35:08):
My son become a monk when uh... three months' vacation.
VT (35:10):
He was nine years old. Two month and half.
WT (35:19):
My mom want him to be a monk. To pray something for us. And after that the head monk...
VT (35:25):
Unbelievable. 10 week. Nine years old.
WT (35:30):
We can put it on.
VT (35:31):
And eat only two times a day, nothing else. One morning and one afternoon.
WT (35:36):
Morning and lunch.
VT (35:39):
That's all.
WT (35:40):
You know this... [inaudible] He’s the president of the CMAA, too. After him, and then Narin
[unknown] after theVT (35:52):
You know Narin [unknown] because I saw his name.
SK (35:57):
Page 21 of 28
�UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSETTS LOWELL
SOUTHEAST ASIAN DIGITAL ARCHIVE
TITH, VERA T. AND WILLIAM A. ORAL HISTORY INTERVIEW, 1993
UML 16 (Oral History #93.7)
NOTE: This is the transcript for oral history tape 1 of 1, side 2 of 2.
Yeah, I know him just through the [inaudible].
VT (36:02):
And after Narin, my husband tried to happen the president to help in 1987.
SK (36:29):
Wow.
WT (36:29):
[inaudible].
SK (36:33):
So this is all in Lowell?
VT (36:34):
Yes.
WT (36:35):
And we look so small just [inaudible]. All I think can [inaudible] made this here how to look for
us. That has been very [inaudible].
VT (36:35):
That's right classify look. It's amazing and...
WT (36:38):
And he not hungry in evening and nighttime at all. I don't know that we believe and we put that
on and we have Buddha put inside here.
VT (36:54):
Because my son always if he opened the... [inaudible]. That's why I still wonder my son hungry.
But finally, he said no. 10 weekSK (37:06):
10 week?
VT (37:08):
Yes, vacation. All vacation is spent there and come back, go to school with no hair.
Page 22 of 28
�UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSETTS LOWELL
SOUTHEAST ASIAN DIGITAL ARCHIVE
TITH, VERA T. AND WILLIAM A. ORAL HISTORY INTERVIEW, 1993
UML 16 (Oral History #93.7)
NOTE: This is the transcript for oral history tape 1 of 1, side 2 of 2.
SK (37:17):
Now, do many boys do that? Many Cambodians? It's a very special.
VT (37:21):
Very special. And seem like if you have son like that which mean we are lucky parent because
he seem like he do the job like my husband was a monk too. He took his vacation and he paid
because we believeWT (37:37):
I do that for my mom.
VT (37:39):
He do for his mother. But it's very, he do that very religiouslyWT (37:43):
Like, like we...
VT (37:44):
Look at that my husband over there.
WT (37:55):
We know her for almost [inaudible] way, right? And we are the son, we kno, we try to open way
for her [inaudible]. We had the son before the parent passed away to become a monk for her,
open the way for her and then see she really enjoy, she really happy. She really peaceful when
she passed away.
VT (38:24):
Peaceful, my mother passed away, that true. I believe that's why I see by my eyes.
WT (38:37):
I prepare my mom and another person that I saw by my eyes in the Lowell. Even Cambodians
[inaudible]. Maybe not only one son like me, have many children.
VT (38:41):
Many son.
WT (38:47):
But he have a [inaudible].
Page 23 of 28
�UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSETTS LOWELL
SOUTHEAST ASIAN DIGITAL ARCHIVE
TITH, VERA T. AND WILLIAM A. ORAL HISTORY INTERVIEW, 1993
UML 16 (Oral History #93.7)
NOTE: This is the transcript for oral history tape 1 of 1, side 2 of 2.
VT (38:52):
Oh my God. [inaudible] I go to see it when [inaudible]] he passed away. Unbelievable people
pass away.
WT (38:54):
Had the monk come to pray for him. They still not [inaudible].
VT (38:55):
Did you ever see people pass by your eyes? I have two. My mother, no that very carefully is two,
he one that my husband just say the man in Lowell. Oh, Sheila. Had to pass away. But my mom
at Saint Joseph Hospital. My mother in law, it's a very peacefully. Peacefully.
WT (39:27):
You know what? After that I tried to find out what's going on then I know this when people like
young like me are very peaceful for the you know the...
VT (39:27):
God [unknown].
WT (39:27):
[inaudible] then in this let's come to you when the [inaudible]VT (39:27):
I believe.
WT (39:27):
[inaudible] before she died. You will see what happened. And my mom passed away go like a
sleep. Easy and then [inaudible].
VT (40:07):
Unbelievable at Saint Joseph.
WT (40:07):
And one another day I believe [inaudible]. Maybe with time. Talking of [inaudible] with time.
Go the temple or go to the church [inaudible],
VT (40:23):
Page 24 of 28
�UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSETTS LOWELL
SOUTHEAST ASIAN DIGITAL ARCHIVE
TITH, VERA T. AND WILLIAM A. ORAL HISTORY INTERVIEW, 1993
UML 16 (Oral History #93.7)
NOTE: This is the transcript for oral history tape 1 of 1, side 2 of 2.
So you calm yourself down that the point I think you seem like everywhere want this, want that.
You still want it so your mind is not very put together when you seem like go down. You've seen
the way you go. That's right peaceful maybe. But my mother very peaceful. I keep going and sit
down with my husband, my children was sleep and very peaceful. We sit and sit until she passed
away. Very nicely.
SK (40:58):
One more question I wanted to ask you about when you first arrived in the United States. You
said you went to New York first. What was your first impression of the United States?
VT (41:11):
Oh myWT (41:13):
When I sit like this like people at the moon. Because my country when we live a big country like
[inaudible].
VT (41:18):
Oh my gosh, Sheila.
Speaker 3 (41:20):
When I go to the market I saw everything new in the refrigerator, everything fresh. I so
impressioned.
VT (41:40):
For me, I’m scary.
WT (41:41):
Coming out of my heart and every word that I want to say I wrote a letter to my country, to my
niece, my brother, sister [inaudible].
VT (41:54):
First time I came I still remember on February 18 that the snow coming down. That's my first
time, I never see a snow. I will send the sandal from Cambodian and the guy go pick me up very
tall man. I say what happened. We scare, I scare. My husband not scared but me very scary. I
think because no lie. What should I do? They gave me $45 and that time $45 for three people.
Yes 45, 15 for each. $45 and he goes looking for my husband needs over and finally decide we
come with him. And they brought us to go to the hotel and leave me right there. And that is the
Page 25 of 28
�UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSETTS LOWELL
SOUTHEAST ASIAN DIGITAL ARCHIVE
TITH, VERA T. AND WILLIAM A. ORAL HISTORY INTERVIEW, 1993
UML 16 (Oral History #93.7)
NOTE: This is the transcript for oral history tape 1 of 1, side 2 of 2.
first time I never meant. I'm so hungry. What we do my husband come down because at hospital
they have a grocery downstairs.
VT (42:54):
My husband come and buy bread and little food over there. I cannot sleep that night. My
husband sleep, my son sleep, but I could not sleep. I made a wonderful job to write down to let
my son. Because I look at the snow is coming down and I was wondering what should I do? This
is the new country for me. What should I do? I keep asking myself. I said what should I do
because usually I don't know. They don't they have rice to eat or I'm not because I came in the
Thailand camp, no raining about United States because usually I heard when they go after the
call to the United States they have training like a six week, six months, six months sometime at
Philippine or somewhere else but me, no. When my name was called boom in one day, United
States right away. Never stopWT (43:53):
Because direct.
VT (43:56):
Direct.
WT (43:56):
We come direct. We not go to the another country like Philippine or Malaysia. Somewhere...
VT (44:06):
Directly to United States.
WT (44:07):
Some friend had to stay. But I don’t know why I come direct. They look at my education
[inaudible] the communist looking for me to kill more or something like that. Maybe [inaudible].
SK (44:50):
Was there a thing you decided that you didn’t like about the United States? Or have you decided
that there are things that you don't like?
VT (44:53):
In United States?
SK (44:54):
Yeah. What would you like [inaudible]Page 26 of 28
�UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSETTS LOWELL
SOUTHEAST ASIAN DIGITAL ARCHIVE
TITH, VERA T. AND WILLIAM A. ORAL HISTORY INTERVIEW, 1993
UML 16 (Oral History #93.7)
NOTE: This is the transcript for oral history tape 1 of 1, side 2 of 2.
WT (44:56):
And then they have many country. They have applications like France, Belgium, Australia, andVT (45:04):
Japanese too.
WT (45:04):
And thenVT (45:07):
A lot of countries.
SK (45:09):
You could pick from?
WT (45:10):
And then I pick United States because on that time when I was at the college and university. I'm
studying English then I decided oh maybe I come to the United States because I know some
English already and French I already study. And we decided to come to the United States.
VT (45:36):
We put application and [inaudible].
WT (45:38):
Before the United States called, the French call first and then we decide we don't want to go
there.
SK (45:42):
The French call first?
WT (45:45):
Yeah. And just we didn't decide to go to France. We wait to the United States. And especially
my wife have friend in the Switzerland.
VT (46:02):
Usually they want before communist, they want me to go to Swiss too, but on that time seem like
balancing. Which way I go? Which way I go? When I go I miss my family. So that's why I stuck
with the communist.
Page 27 of 28
�UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSETTS LOWELL
SOUTHEAST ASIAN DIGITAL ARCHIVE
TITH, VERA T. AND WILLIAM A. ORAL HISTORY INTERVIEW, 1993
UML 16 (Oral History #93.7)
NOTE: This is the transcript for oral history tape 1 of 1, side 2 of 2.
WT (46:16):
You remember thenVT (46:18):
Then they gave me the [inaudible]. Yes.
WT (46:20):
Khao I Dang.
VT (46:22):
Khao I Dang. They want me to take the Swiss.
WT (46:30):
They remember when the Swiss lady she work at the hospital. SheVT (46:35):
They already gave everything, buy airline, air tickets for me. But I cannot go. That's why we
lucky, we came to the United States. Very lucky.
Unknown (46:47): End of tape.
End of tape 1 of 1, side 2 of 2.
Interview ends
Page 28 of 28
�
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Tith, Vera T. and William A. Oral History Interview, 1993
Description
An account of the resource
The Vera T. and William A. Tith oral history interview collection consists of one audiocassette tape, 1 audio CD, a complete transcript, and a partial transcript of an oral history interview conducted by Sheila L. Kirschbaum with Vera Thong Tith and William An Tith on February 13, 1993. Topics covered include but are not limited to Vera and William’s children, their lives in Cambodia before they left, living and working in a Thailand refugee camp, resettling in the United States, and their lives now in Lowell, Massachusetts. <br /><br />The collection is accessible on this site.<br /><br /><strong><span class="TextRun SCXW158174635 BCX0" xml:lang="en-us" lang="en-us"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW158174635 BCX0">Content warning:</span></span></strong><span class="TextRun SCXW158174635 BCX0" xml:lang="en-us" lang="en-us"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW158174635 BCX0"><strong> </strong>Mentions of war, death, and other situations read</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW158174635 BCX0" xml:lang="en-us" lang="en-us"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW158174635 BCX0">ers and listeners may find<span> </span></span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW158174635 BCX0" xml:lang="en-us" lang="en-us"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW158174635 BCX0">distressing.</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW158174635 BCX0"> </span><br /><br />View the collection finding aid for more information, <a href="https://libguides.uml.edu/uml16" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://libguides.uml.edu/uml16</a>.
Source
A related resource from which the described resource is derived
Tith, Vera T. and William A. Oral History Interview, 1993. UML 16. Center for Lowell History, University of Massachusetts Lowell, Lowell, MA.
Relation
A related resource
The collection finding aid, <a href="https://libguides.uml.edu/uml16" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://libguides.uml.edu/uml16</a>.
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Vera Thong Tith and William An Tith oral history interview transcript, 1993
Subject
The topic of the resource
Cambodian Americans
Electricians
Elementary school teachers
Genocide--Cambodia
Lowell (Mass.)
Oral history
Refugees--Cambodia
Description
An account of the resource
The complete transcript of an oral history interview conducted by Sheila L. Kirschbaum with Vera Thong Tith and William An Tith. Topics covered include but are not limited to Vera and William's children, their lives in Cambodia before they left, living and working in a Thailand refugee camp, resettling in the United States, and their lives now in Lowell, Massachusetts. <br /><br />The transcript is in two parts. <br /><br /><strong>Content warning:</strong> Mentions of war, death, and other situations readers and listeners may find distressing.
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
Tith, Vera T.
Tith, William A.
Kirschbaum, Sheila L.
Source
A related resource from which the described resource is derived
Tith, Vera T. and William A. Oral History Interview, 1993
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
University of Massachusetts Lowell
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1993-02-13
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
UMass Lowell Library makes this material available for private, educational, and research use. It is the responsibility of the user to secure any needed permissions from rightsholders, for uses such as commercial reproductions of copyrighted works. Contact host institution for more information.
Format
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application/pdf; 36 p.
application/pdf; 28 p.
Language
A language of the resource
English
Khmer
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
text
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
uml16_93.7_i003
Coverage
The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant
Lowell, Massachusetts
1990-1999
Cambodians
Demonstration School
Documents
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c73324ee84fa6e7c26c32e373a8bec0e
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Tith, Vera T. and William A. Oral History Interview, 1993
Description
An account of the resource
The Vera T. and William A. Tith oral history interview collection consists of one audiocassette tape, 1 audio CD, a complete transcript, and a partial transcript of an oral history interview conducted by Sheila L. Kirschbaum with Vera Thong Tith and William An Tith on February 13, 1993. Topics covered include but are not limited to Vera and William’s children, their lives in Cambodia before they left, living and working in a Thailand refugee camp, resettling in the United States, and their lives now in Lowell, Massachusetts. <br /><br />The collection is accessible on this site.<br /><br /><strong><span class="TextRun SCXW158174635 BCX0" xml:lang="en-us" lang="en-us"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW158174635 BCX0">Content warning:</span></span></strong><span class="TextRun SCXW158174635 BCX0" xml:lang="en-us" lang="en-us"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW158174635 BCX0"><strong> </strong>Mentions of war, death, and other situations read</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW158174635 BCX0" xml:lang="en-us" lang="en-us"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW158174635 BCX0">ers and listeners may find<span> </span></span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW158174635 BCX0" xml:lang="en-us" lang="en-us"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW158174635 BCX0">distressing.</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW158174635 BCX0"> </span><br /><br />View the collection finding aid for more information, <a href="https://libguides.uml.edu/uml16" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://libguides.uml.edu/uml16</a>.
Source
A related resource from which the described resource is derived
Tith, Vera T. and William A. Oral History Interview, 1993. UML 16. Center for Lowell History, University of Massachusetts Lowell, Lowell, MA.
Relation
A related resource
The collection finding aid, <a href="https://libguides.uml.edu/uml16" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://libguides.uml.edu/uml16</a>.
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Vera Thong Tith and William An Tith oral history audio recording, 1993
Subject
The topic of the resource
Cambodian Americans
Electricians
Elementary school teachers
Genocide--Cambodia
Lowell (Mass.)
Oral history
Refugees--Cambodia
Description
An account of the resource
The audio recording of an oral history interview conducted by Sheila L. Kirschbaum with Vera Thong Tith and William An Tith. Topics covered include but are not limited to Vera and William's children, their lives in Cambodia before they left, living and working in a Thailand refugee camp, resettling in the United States, and their lives now in Lowell, Massachusetts. <br /><br />The recording is in two parts.<br /><br /><strong>Content warning:</strong> Mentions of war, death, and other situations readers and listeners may find distressing.
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
Tith, Vera T.
Tith, William A.
Kirschbaum, Sheila L.
Source
A related resource from which the described resource is derived
Tith, Vera T. and William A. Oral History Interview, 1993
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
University of Massachusetts Lowell
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1993-02-13
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
UMass Lowell Library makes this material available for private, educational, and research use. It is the responsibility of the user to secure any needed permissions from rightsholders, for uses such as commercial reproductions of copyrighted works. Contact host institution for more information.
Format
The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource
2 audio recordings; 00:48:43 and 00:46:48
Language
A language of the resource
English
Khmer
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
Sound
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
uml16_93.7_i002
Coverage
The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant
Lowell, Massachusetts
1990-1999
Cambodians
Demonstration School
Sound recordings
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a308bebb54c5186c31266a403768d8bc
PDF Text
Text
UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSETTS LOWELL
SOUTHEAST ASIAN DIGITAL ARCHIVE
ORAL HISTORY PROJECT, 2019-ONGOING
UML 17
Maryellen Cuthbert, Oral History #19.01
CONTENT WARNING:
Mentions of weapons, abuse, assaults, and
violent situations
INFORMANT/NARRATOR:
INTERVIEWER:
DATE:
MARYELLEN CUTHBERT (MC)
SUE J. KIM (SK)
APRIL 15, 2019
SPEAKER
DETAILS
SK
So, Okay. All right. Hmm. It sits up pretty well, but I'll put this
here.
MC
Do you think it would be better to put it in here? In the middle.
SK
Okay. Great. Wonderful. Okay. I am Sue J. Kim, and I am the
project director for the Southeast Asian Digital Archive, and the
co-director for the Center for Asian American Studies. Today is
Monday, April 15th, about 12:30 and I am with Maryellen
Cuthbert. Am I saying that right? Cuth-
MC
Yes.
SK
In Chelmsford, Massachusetts at Maryellen's home office. Thank
you so much for agreeing to talk to us today.
MC
I'm looking forward to it.
SK
Let's start a little bit about information about yourself. Sort of
where were you born? Where did you grow up? How did you find
your way to law school? I know that you went to Boston
University. Things of that sort.
MC
I was born in California. Dad was part of defense industry, so we
actually moved around a lot growing up, and we ended up in
Bedford, Massachusetts, but I went to college in New York,
Manhattanville College, undergrad. I then, as an international
affairs, international law, and French major. Then, I decided to
apply to law school. I took a year off and worked, and I actually
started at Franklin Pierce Law Center, and I finished at Boston
University School of Law in 1981. I had been working for an
attorney out in Acton who had a small practice, but was involved
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in a special ed case, special education case out of Burlington. I did
a lot of work and research for him. Then, I also worked for a firm
downtown in Boston that did a lot of medical malpractice and civil
work. I didn't like sitting in the closet answering interrogatories,
but at BU I had done the student prosecutor program. The criminal
law bug bit. I started while I was with the attorney in Acton doing
some court appointed work in Concord District Court. Gradually
moved over to where I was taking cases out of Lowell. Since the
mid to late '80s.
SK:
Okay, so that was about the mid to late '80s when you started
working with cases in Lowell.
MC:
Mm-hmm [affirmative].
SK:
Do you remember what those first cases, sort of what they were
about?
MC:
It was mostly at the district court level, and they were a variety of
cases from drunk driving cases to possession of guns and things.
But I was also at that time taking superior court cases, both in
Lowell Superior and at that time Cambridge Superior Court. I
remember at that time, we did do a lot of cases that involved gang
involvement, both the Hispanic and the Asian gangs. I remember
when I first started in that, we had Laotian. We had Vietnamese
people, as well as Cambodians. There were a lot of Dominicans,
and we also dealt with some of the Hispanic gangs. There were
drug cases also.
SK:
That was about the mid '80s when that started.
MC:
Mid to late '80s.
SK:
Mid to late '80s.
MC:
And then went through the '90s.
SK:
Do you remember some of your first, without getting too specific,
some of the first cases where you were working with Asian and
Asian American youth and gangs?
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MC:
I do, because there were the TRG, and the Grey Rags, and the
Asian Boys.
SK:
The Tiny Rascal Gang.
MC: [00:04:20]
The Tiny Rascal Gang, and all of that. One of the things that was
complicated, particularly because I was also doing juvenile work is
that at that time a lot of the weapons that were used, they were not
guns. They were machetes, and sticks, and things like that. The
cases really involved a lot of kids who I felt had to join up in order
to be safe in the schools. I remember feeling or trying to educate
myself on the gang situation. I hadn't been involved in that. Then,
finding out that there were a lot of wannabes, and people who they
had to be associated in order to be safe, just to travel around
Lowell, or even to be in the high school and some cases middle
school.
SK:
I see. At this point, you were working as a private defense
attorney?
MC:
I've always been a private defense attorney, but I've done a lot of
court appointed work.
SK:
I see.
MC:
I also, I remember at that time, tipped into what is now UTEC,
which was the street worker program, and became involved there. I
remember, and why my connection with UTEC started was I had a
young Asian male who was charged with armed robbery who told
me, "No, I wasn't there. I was at the street worker program." That's
how I became aware of that, because I went and checked it out,
and he was absolutely in that, at that place when this supposedly
robbery took place. But I remember I also at that time did care and
protection cases, which are child welfare cases. Some of the cases
that I remember being really upset about. They were upsetting to
me. Were at that time it was DSS. It's now DCF. Had a lot of very
young quote unquote social workers who were just out of college,
and didn't have a lot of life experience.
MC:
I remember one case in particular where there was a gunshot that
came through an apartment floor, and so the police investigated,
and it had happened downstairs, but the shot came through the
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floor, and so the police went upstairs and investigated what was up
there. There was a family with several children, actually probably a
single woman, and they were sleeping on mats. DCF removed the
children because they were sleeping on mats and not mattresses. I
remember being very angry, because I felt this was cultural, and it
was wrong. I remember I explained, "We need to go get
mattresses." We went to a place where we could then get used
mattresses. I said, "You don't have to use them. We'll just put them
in." We put them in, took pictures, and got the kids back, but it was
really traumatic.
SK:
In those kinds of cases, would you be appointed by the court?
MC:
I was appointed by the court to represent, in that case, the mother
of the children.
SK:
And how many… I know it's difficult to kind of quantify, but out
of your caseload, can you give us a sense of what the scale was, or
like the percentage? In the late '80s, would you say-
MC:
Probably I was working probably at least 30 to 40% of my
caseload involved Asians.
SK:
Right. You were saying at the time in the mid to late '80s, Lowell
is still, it was and still is largely Cambodian, but there were still
Laotian and Vietnamese groups, and things like that.
MC:
Right, that were there. But one of the striking things that I
remembered, when I worked with some of the young people who
are now in trouble, because there was a retaliation, or there was
this or that that was going on between gangs was that when I
represented them and they would come to my office, or I would
meet with them, at that time, the parents, or even older brothers
and sisters, had come via Thailand through Cali, and here. So I was
hearing stories of parents and what they had done as teenagers
escaping Cambodia to get to Thailand.
MC:
I remember one family that was here, they were teachers. The
father was a teacher, and other stories where they had watched a
parent being shot, and then a group of as 14-year-olds making their
way, hiding, to get to Thailand. It was just horrific. I would say, so
then I would see that and juxtapose that against they came here for
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safety, and then realized that they weren't safe with what they'd
done to protect their children, and then have cases like that. It
made me angry.
SK: [00:10:21]
Yeah. Can you remember sort of, tell us more about sort of the
cases that you met? We can talk about, focus maybe on the
juvenile cases first, and then we can talk more about some of the
cases in the care and protection?
MC:
I remember another care and protection case that I had, where I
represented a parent who had a young Asian teenage boy. What
had happened is, of course, during the gang years the parents were
struggling to keep their child off the streets, away from the gangs,
and one of the things I had learned was that particularly women
were not educated, and they tried very hard to communicate with
you.
MC:
I remember getting phone calls, and I just could not understand
what they were saying, but they were desperately trying to
communicate with me over what was going on with the child. In
this particular case, their child had been removed, because they
were trying to keep them inside and make them do homework, that
they because it was so precious to them because they could not
read or write.
SK:
Right.
MC:
So they sometimes resorted to corporal punishment, which was a
problem for DSS at that time, and if a kid reported that, the kid
went out. I remember in that circumstances the child was removed
to a foster home, where there was really no restrictions, and the
child was not under any care, and the mother was seeing her child
on the streets.
SK:
Oh my goodness.
MC:
And really upset, because now there wasn't any supervision going
on, even though their child had been taken away because of the
issue of some corporal punishment that had been used.
SK:
Do you remember the ethnicity of that family?
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MC:
That was Cambodian.
SK:
How did DSS find out about the corporal punishment?
MC:
I think the young man or the child had complained to someone, or
if there was a mark on them or something they'd say, "How did
you get that?" I had two cases like that. One, I remember there was
like a ruler or something that was used, and I remember the other
thing was a lamp cord. I had two cases like that, and I was really
angry about that, because I felt that it was wrong to do that. I had
been brought up with corporal punishment myself.
SK:
I know, me too.
MC:
And I turned out fine, I think. But it was… I also think that
sometimes if it was done by a different culture family, a white
family, the child might not have been removed.
SK:
Right. So you felt like there was bias, intentional or not, on the part
of DSS officers. Especially, like you were saying, if they're young
and inexperienced. I know from teaching contemporary literature
that sometimes the younger students would be more judgmental
than older students who understand that things happen in
complicated ways later in life.
MC:
Right.
SK:
What about communication? You were saying that the parents of
families would be trying to communicate with you sometimes. Did
you-
MC:
That's why very often you saw the family group come. When we're
talking family, we're not talking mom, and dad, and kid. Very
often, we're seeing aunts and uncles, because somebody spoke
better English. So they would come for the purposes of doing that.
It was difficult to get an interpreter to do meetings and things like
that, where you're trying to explain what was going on, and what
the rights were, and that sort of thing. But I learned in the course of
my stuff that there really wasn't a parallel system in Asia, and in
fact in some of the Asian countries there's no jury trial, so trying to
explain that in English, never mind have it interpreted or
translated, was difficult for them to understand. But also, that in
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some Asian countries I learned that some people took their child to
the government to be straightened out, and so on occasion the
expectation was different.
SK: [00:15:09]
I see.
MC:
Versus what happened here.
SK:
I see, so the expectation that the authorities would help straighten
the child out, and then be returned easily, as opposed to having
custody taken away completely.
MC:
Right.
SK:
Wow. When there were these family groups, and you were trying
to explain, I'm just trying to imagine. Was the person who spoke
English, did it tend to be like the second generation, younger
people, or just all over the place?
MC:
It was all over the place. What I find, like many cultures, that they
would say, "I speak English," and they didn't speak English well.
But, very often, also, I would find sometimes they didn't read or
write, and they won't tell you that. I always had to kind of assume
and maneuver around that.
SK:
I'm trying to imagine how you would explain a person's rights, and
the jury trial, and the whole process was so complicated.
MC:
Right.
SK:
What was that like?
MC:
Well, trying to make it so that people understood what that right
was, and very often sometimes you were using a young person
because they spoke better English, but they weren't really that
interested in making sure that all the intricacies were conveyed to a
parent. I saw sometimes that was maybe a little bit of a problem,
because you had a juvenile, or a young person who was maybe
more in charge of the family, because they spoke English, and they
went to all the appointments and places with the parent or the other
people. I had those situations too, where it was a child literally you
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know taking the parent to appointments, and trying to interpret,
and they may not have gotten it themselves.
SK:
You took great pains to try to communicate with your clients. Did
you get much support from the court systems in helping you
managing-
MC:
We had interpreters that were in the court system, and there were
some very good interpreters, but there were other interpreters. I
didn't know what they were saying, but I know that we were
talking constantly, and the interpreter was saying a few words,
stopping. You didn't know what really to do. I will say one time, I
have always, like with my clients who speak Spanish, I speak a
little Spanish. I could go down to the lockup. I could go there and
say, "I am an attorney. I am here for you. I'm going to get an
interpreter. I will be back with an interpreter," or the parents were
there.
MC:
At one point, I will say I contacted, and I set up a lunchtime
training at the Lowell District Court with the Cambodian Mutual
Assistance League, and I asked them to come and teach us some
phrases. They were reticent to do so. In fact, they kind of kept
telling us, "We are not to interpret or anything." I think I might not
have even communicated that. Because it was like, "No, I'm not
asking you to interpret in the court. We're asking you to give us
some phrases," so we could go down and assure somebody that
there was an attorney going to look out for them.
MC:
We did learn a few phrases we forgot, but it was hard. I think it
was really up to us to learn and ask about customs. Cato, who is an
interpreter, I know once came and would explain some customs.
Going into the houses. Because I, especially working with
juveniles, you want to see the home and things. Taking off your
shoes, and doing things like that.
SK:
Did things change at all? Like sort of moving into the early, mid
'90s?
MC:
When it got later, I didn't have defendants or people who were
born outside of the states. Some of them had been here for a long
time. Many of them had come through not… Stockyard,
California.
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SK: [00:20:04]
Stockton?
MC:
Stockton, California. There were others that had come through, and
I had learned came through into the Midwest, and had worked for
Blue Bunny Ice Cream. I heard those stories too, that they worked,
and then they would end up coming to Lowell, because they had
relatives, or friends, and there was a community here.
SK:
Right.
MC:
Now I started seeing people who had been here longer, and then
some that had even been born here.
SK:
Did it change? I mean, so when you were describing sort of like
the mid late '90s, the gangs, and then also the care and protection,
did the nature of your work with community-
MC:
I think it did, and I always thought, one of the things that I thought
about was in the gangs and stuff, being Irish, and I had learned
about Irish gangs, which were horrific, which nobody talks about
anymore. But I realized, when you learn the stories of them
coming through Thailand. Many of them had been born either in
Thailand, or they come through the Philippines, or whatever, that
the gang thing was not just gangs to go out and do bad stuff. It's
the way your family got fed in the camps. I learned that, and so I
began to see kids who were older, but had remembered that kind of
lifestyle.
SK:
You were hearing this from, I mean was it the younger kids telling
you, or the parents telling you? It's interesting. How did the I guess
genealogy of gangs-
MC:
The parents would be the ones who would tell you more of the
stories. I think the younger people became like, the term we use
was lace curtain Irish. We didn't want to say we were from the sod.
We were there. They really wanted to appear more Americanized.
One of the things that was interesting is we went from kind of the
gang clashing to times where I remember lots of baby showers, and
barbecues in the backyard, and the police were just showing up and
hassling people, and we would end up with arrests.
SK:
Right, in Lowell.
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MC:
In Lowell.
SK:
Are you talking specifically about Lowell, but also in other places
in Massachusetts?
MC:
No. Mostly Lowell. Mostly Lowell.
SK:
Was it, I guess, in terms of showing up at baby showers and
hassling people, was it people who might have associated with
gangs in the past. You know what I mean? Like wear the clothing,
or have the tattoos and things like that, but be living sort of normal
lives.
MC:
Right.
SK:
But that association was still there with the police.
MC:
Right. The association. Even two years ago, I had a case that
involved, actually it was not an Asian gang, but there were some
Asian members. A group called Young Gunners, in Lowell, and
they were really kids who had grown up together. The police came
in and did a hearing in juvenile court where they said, "These are
gang members." There were a few people in the gang. They had a
portfolio, and a file folder, and were deceased. I recognized kids
that were no longer involved. It was when they were young. So it
was like once a gang member, always a gang member. I still see
that today.
SK:
Do you think that that is racialized at all? That there is a tendency
more to see that particularly with ethnic minority groups?
MC:
Only because my experience in Lowell. The Young Gunners is not
necessarily an Asian gang. It's more of a group of kids, and it was
described on the witness stand as kids who had grown up together.
And so with regards to the Hispanic gangs, which there isn't a lot
in Lowell. We're not really seeing gangs in Lowell. But, the police
will still say. I still see it in the police that they're a self-admitted
gang member, way back when, when they were in school, when
they were a young person. We don't see the gang activity. We don't
see the arrests for that kind of thing now.
SK: [00:25:00]
Right.
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MC:
But, we still see that language and stuff put in a police report.
SK:
Right. What are some of the other stories that sort of stick out in
your mind, particularly say working with the gang members, the
youth, juvenile offenders?
MC:
I remember there were stories where the gangs would go after one
another, and you don't understand why. They were just their
territory, or that territory. Why? That always was like, why?
People really hurt and stuff. But as things progressed, we had more
guns involved. I do remember going and looking at bullet holes at
a house next to the Pailin Palace.
SK:
There were just a couple shootings in 2018. You know.
MC:
Right. And that sort of thing. I had a juvenile who, it wasn't a
juvenile. He was barely an adult. Who, they got a gun, and they
went, and the gun went off, and somebody died, and it was a young
Asian male. I remember dealing with someone who had shot
someone, and it was almost unreal, surreal to them that that
actually happened.
[00:26:32]
[phone begins ringing in background]
SK:
Right.
MC:
But, I think there was a lot of protection that needed to be ... Let
me just shut that off.
[00:26:49]
[answering machine message comes on in background: Hello. This
is Maryellen Cuthbert. I'm unable to take your call at the moment.]
MC: [00:26:55]
Sorry. So we didn't see the machetes and the sticks anymore. We
were seeing guns.
SK:
Would you say that transition happened in the-
MC:
In the '90s.
SK:
'90s.
MC:
The late '90s. Yeah, mid to late '90s. All of a sudden it was guns.
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SK:
What was it like? Did you have kind of more kind of like personal
level? When you were talking to a defender, or meeting with a
defendant for the first time, what was your, I don't know how to
put it, philosophy, or approach, especially given your experience
working with the community members?
MC:
I first always tried to establish a relationship, and made sure they
understood my role was to advocate for them or to defend them, no
matter what. I always thought, and I understood that there really
was a mistrust. They saw us as part of the system, and I could see
that. So initially, you tried to listen, and understand, and that's
where I got a lot of the stories, because I would ask for
background, and how you got here, and things like that. Because
there is a mistrust, and to really make them understand my role
was to defend, no matter what, and they could tell me anything. I
did go to homes to see, and particularly when I'm dealing with a
juvenile, to see what they're dealing with.
MC:
Also my office is here in Chelmsford. They can't find Chelmsford.
In many cases they don't drive. They work. Lowell, I think the
Cambodian community has spread out in Lowell, but it was in the
downtown area, where it was very compact. So, you went there.
And so it's very different now, I think, in terms of being able to
find Chelmsford. They're a little bit more worldly.
SK:
Right. People are moving out into the suburbs in the second to
third generation.
MC:
Right.
SK:
Where your office is, where were you based? Were you always
based here but then you moved around?
MC:
I've always been in Chelmsford. I had another office in
Chelmsford, but I'm in court so much doing criminal defense work,
this allows me to work early morning and late at night.
SK:
Did you work very much with adults in the early years, in the '80s
and the '90s?
MC:
I did. I worked with adults also, and we've changed so that 17 yearolds who were considered adults are no longer adults.
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SK:
I see.
MC:
But, yes. There were young adults who were in the age group, too.
I'd say it was probably 50-50 that were young adults, 17, 18, 19,
20, and then juveniles that were involved in the gangs, and things
like that. For a long time, I hate to say it, when you thought
Cambodian in Lowell or Asian, they must be in a gang.
SK: [00:30:23]
Right.
MC:
I remember learning about tattoos and things that would appear on
the face. The tears and stuff.
SK:
Right.
MC:
The assumption was tattoos, they must have a gang. Until
somebody explained to me when you ask what they are. They're
for somebody who's deceased, or symbols for this or that. That was
another way that sometimes it would be a response. At first I'd ask,
"What does that mean? What does that ..."
SK:
So it was by talking to the clients and their families about what
things mean, learning about their background. As opposed to,
where were you hearing the other? Was it in the courts, or just
social?
MC:
About?
SK:
About the perception of Cambodians, particularly, in Lowell.
MC:
Yeah, just around. I think that's the way it was. It was assumed
they must be in a gang. The other thing that we saw in the '90s
were the girls in the gangs that we did not see very early on, but
then we saw the girls in the gangs.
SK:
What did you see? How did you come across them? How were
they different? How were they similar?
MC:
The girls were generally associated with a gang member, but I
learned about the gang rapes, and the jump-ins and the jump-outs. I
actually was at a jump out once. Somebody alerted me to one. I
went with a group to try to stop it.
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SK:
This is for the record. Can you explain what a jump-out is?
MC:
If you want to leave a gang, and also that was one of the things that
was interesting, particularly in the courts. Judge Blitzman made it a
point to educate himself about things also. So, he began to spread
the word. Where we learned that they'd say no gang involvement.
People didn't understand that to just leave a gang and say, "I'm not
involved with you," was a dangerous proposition for them. That
the seniors had to mediate their way out, and that's a lot of times
where UTEC has come in, the street workers and stuff, and we
begin to explain to judges, because we learned that, so they'd say,
"No gang activity" versus "no gang association."
SK:
Right.
MC:
I still think that's an issue.
SK:
Right.
MC:
I still think that's an issue.
SK:
Actually that brings up a good, interesting ... With the judges, you
mentioned Judge Blitzman. What was his--
MC:
Jay Blitzman is a juvenile judge. He's the chief juvenile judge in
Middlesex County. He sits primarily in Lowell. He became very
aware, and made all kinds of attempts to be involved. He goes into
the schools and stuff, and learn about the culture.
SK:
I would imagine a lot, but how influential was this position, or the
understanding of judges in cases like this? How big of an impact
do you think-
MC:
I'm going to be very blunt. I think he was the only judge that I'm
aware of that made any attempt to understand the cultural and the
norms of that. I know when I became aware of it, I started to
explain to the judges, "Your Honor, we cannot say no gang
association. That would be really dangerous for them to do, to just
say, 'I can't talk to you,' or whatever anymore." So we began to try
to adjust the language and the verbiage that got used in the court in
order to do that. Then, also we did refer to UTEC. When we had a
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kid that wanted to get out, or we said can't get them to mediate
their way.
SK:
How receptive were judges and others in the court system to your
attempts to kind of explain these things to them?
MC: [00:34:51]
I will tell you that Judge Blitzman I thought was very receptive. A
couple years ago, I had a case. It did not involve an Asian gang
member, but it was a Caucasian kid. There was another judge
involved, and he had grown up with a gang. They really weren't
doing anything but hanging out together, but he had gotten caught
doing something, and he was on probation. The term the judge had
used was "no gang activity." He had done some time at DYS, and
he had come out, but this was still his friends, and he was on house
arrest. He was associated with UTEC and doing everything. I had
to say, "You can't say no gang association, because he's doing very
well at UTEC, and there are gang members there."
SK:
Right.
MC:
So you're trying to educate judges, and probation officers and
things that you can't just do this. But in any case, what happened is
there was another member of that gang that was on trial that I had,
and there was some Facebook stuff that went back and forth, and
gang sign that was shown on Facebook. The probation officer
brought them in, and that juvenile was surrendered on a probation
surrender. I appealed it, because I said, "This is not gang activity.
This is association." I went to the appeals court. I don't know
whether they laughed me out or not. I said, "You know what? I
walk into my courthouse every day and I have to show a Bar card,
that I'm associated with the Mass Bar Association, but I do not
subscribe to everything that they do and say. It is the same way.
This is the culture." I lost that one. The argument obviously didn't
fly well, but people don't see it that way, that it was a matter of
survival, and that it became a matter of association.
SK:
And then leaving is not as simple as just turning around and
walking away.
MC:
Right.
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SK:
Right. Other than sort of, you know, we focus a lot on the gang
related activity, and we've talked a little bit about the sort of care
and protection, custody. Were there other sort of areas in which
you had a lot of experience, you had experience with the Southeast
Asian community?
MC:
Well, I used to go to the Cambodian Light of the Children, it was
the reading cover-
SK:
Light of Cambodian Children. Right. Right.
MC:
I missed the, they used to have a big dinner. I enjoyed that. That
was one of the ways where I think some of the population in
Lowell that didn't know where we learned a lot about the dances,
the stories, and food, and things like that.
SK:
You know Sayon Soeun, then? Who was the I think director of
Light of Cambodian Children.
MC:
I don't know personally, but I think Cato was the interpreter made
us aware of that. I went a few times to that. They don't have them
anymore.
SK:
I know. Light of Cambodian Children unfortunately shut down a
few years ago, but they did a lot of work in the '90s and the 2000s,
helping bridge like the youth and the community.
MC:
The dances, and the other thing is the publicity about the Angkor
Dance Troupe, which helped I think show that there is not this
mindset of gang. That there's a whole 'nother group, and that there
are customs to be preserved. There are memories, probably some
bad memories, but there are also some customs that kind of did
what they could to bring that out.
SK:
Did you have very much experience with ... From the academic
perspective, when we talk about health disparities, or educational
disparities, or even oral histories in the Southeast Asian
community, you always have to deal with trauma, because there's
no way to get around sort of like the trauma of the killing fields, or
war, being a refugee, and things like that. I'm sure it was sort of
imbued a lot of what your work with the community members, but
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did you ever come face-to-face with it in specific instances? Like,
you know, from family members, or from your clients?
MC: [00:39:53]
You know, what's really interesting, and I just printed off an article
on trauma, because it is the in thing right now with juveniles, and I
was reading an evaluation for a juvenile, and there were some
articles and stuff, and I was just printing them off so I could read
them and stuff. But, in the '80s and the '90s, we weren't talking
about trauma, but we had to know that's there.
SK:
Right.
MC:
I remember there's a story that I heard, and it was a man who had
come through such trauma. He had been in Cambodia, and this was
an adult superior court client, and he had I believe his family was
shot, and he left with some cousins, and he described to me hiding
in the woods, traveling at night to get to Thailand, and they made it
there. But in that timeframe, so the trauma I knew had to be really
bad for him, but he was just kind of very accepting of things. So he
got to Thailand, and he was there, and he had worked in
construction in Thailand, and then gotten himself ... I think they
joined, and as I understand, sometimes groups would join up and
say, "We're a family," and that they could get here as a family, but
it got people here.
MC:
So he got here with someone who they called a family, and when
they got here, the woman died. But there were some children there,
but he connected with another woman that he had known in
Thailand. Unfortunately, she had a terrible alcohol problem, so he
was kind of raising her now teenage kids. So, the girl, and the girl,
his would have been a step daughter was, as he put it, running the
streets in Lowell, and she was connected with someone who was
an older gang member, and he was trying to keep her home. He
actually went out with her brother, and went to the home, and tried
to pull her back and stuff, and then got her home.
MC:
He put a trash bag over her, because she was acting like trash. I
think he used a broom handle. He was trying to discipline her. This
was a case that I had done. The police became aware of it or
something. She complained. Then, she claimed rape on his part. I
thought about, "How much more trauma can this person take?" She
claimed rape, but she miscarried, or the baby died. She had said
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that all along, that it was his baby. It must have happened because
of that. He was, "No, no, no." We insisted on DNA. Sure enough,
was not his. It was not his.
MC:
He just was like calm. I thought, "How does he deal with this?"
Then, so we went to trial. In fact, the DA's office fought me on
trying to get this information in, that she had made this false claim,
etc, etc. The problem is she had had some bruises, and he had also
spoken with the police, with a Cambodian speaking interpreter
police officer, and made some statements about hitting her, and
why. We went to trial in Lowell Superior Court.
SK:
Was that for assault?
MC:
Initially it was on the rape, and all that stuff, and everything. The
jury found him not guilty of everything, with the exception of
assault and battery.
SK:
Right.
MC:
And I was appalled. They gave him six months. I thought that six
months committed for doing that. He was taking care of someone
else's kids. I was appalled, and I remember we went to the jail. At
this point, he had connected with another young woman wanting a
family. Who wouldn't? He took care of her, because she was
pregnant. She had come through the Midwest somewhere, and she
was pregnant. It wasn't his. She was much younger than he was,
but he was taking care of her.
MC:
I went to the home, and it was neat as a pin, and stuff, and he had
brought a TV that the picture was half gone. He was proudly
showing me how he fixed the vacuum cleaner and stuff. He was
taking care of a family again. I said, "How do you do this and just
keep going?" I did see an obituary a few years ago for him. He
probably died in his 50s, or whatever. Those things, you just, you
think about the trauma and everything, but I think we don't think
about that or attach that label to adults as much as we are with the
children.
SK: [00:46:02]
I think, especially in Southeast Asian American studies, with
adults, it's usually associated with not communicating. So the
second generation or the younger kids might act out in a variety of
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ways, whereas the first generation, a lot of it is very repressed, or
manifests as health problems, and things like that.
MC:
Right.
SK:
There were two things that came up. Did you see or did you have
much experience with domestic violence, or domestic abuse within
the community?
MC:
I'll say that we heard situations, but I would suggest in my
experience across the board, no more than ...
SK:
Right.
MC:
And I didn't hear about it in any other extraordinary way.
SK:
Right. You didn't come across many cases related to that, or
probably for a variety of reasons.
MC:
No. And when you talk about domestic abuse, it may be like mom
hitting the kid to get him to do the homework. But very often, I
will say despite the fact that we did see Cambodian males hookup
and make these families, I will say very often it was a woman
alone raising the family, without being able to speak or read
English.
SK:
Where were the fathers, or the men?
MC:
I think many times they were widowed, or they may have
connected with someone to come through. I heard those stories.
But then, they would leave the family, or the man wasn't, you
know... And so they were on their own raising the kids.
[00:47:44]
[phone begins ringing in background]
SK:
What about substance abuse? How common was that as an issue?
Sorry.
[00:47:49]
[button pressing in background]
MC:
Sorry. I'm trying to turn this just off.
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SK:
I don't think I even know how to use regular phones anymore.
MC:
I know. So anyways, I think that alcohol did play a part. But again,
in every culture we saw that. The thing we might have seen
different a little bit, and I remember I handled a case once, was
gambling, which was, there were the corner stores and the
gambling, which was more prevalent for the Southeast Asian
community.
SK:
What kind of gambling?
MC:
I'm not sure, but there was some kind of number games, or it was
gambling. In fact, I had home invasion cases where they knew that
there would be money, because people were gambling. I don't
know if they were dice games or whatever. I know I had two or
three of those cases where they went in with masks, because they
knew it was an Asian. They were gambling, and there would be
money.
SK:
Right. The perpetrators, the defenders were also Cambodian. They
knew in the community who was-
MC:
Right.
SK:
You mentioned several times working with UTEC, and I'm a huge
fan. When did you start working with them? What was the nature
of your collaborations with them?
MC: [00:49:36]
Well, I started back when it was a street worker program, and that's
because I had a client who said, "I couldn't have been there. I was
here." So then I began working with United Teen Equities Center,
as I found out that they had resources. They would sometimes go
find a kid, that I needed in court, who I couldn't locate. They
weren't showing up for court dates, or they would enable me to
meet with them and the family. Actually sometimes their street
workers would bring a parent and a child, and they would help
interpret for me at the UTEC building. First when it was over
behind the high school there, and then once it became where it is
now. Then there were times when we had a client who had done
something who was on the run and needed to turn themselves in,
and I would assist with that. Sometimes I couldn't do much, but I
could walk through the process with them.
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SK:
Right. That was starting in the '90s, late '90s, early 2000s?
MC:
I'm trying to think. Probably in the '90s, when I knew it as the
street worker program, and when they were over at the church. It
was at St Anne's there. St Anne's.
SK:
Yes.
MC:
I was going over there to ... They could frequently meet a kid, or
because the high school was there I could meet a kid there. I could
get them to go there after high school. Either that, or when Burger
King was downtown, particularly with the boys. I'd have my
coupons, and we would eat. Sometimes it would be them and their
friends. We were sitting at another table. But I knew as long as we
could have food on the table, I could get them to work with me a
little bit.
SK:
You also mentioned the Boys & Girls Club, and the YMCA. I
mean what was-
MC:
And Girls Inc. There are other. Those are organizations that also,
that helped like if we needed community service, or try to get a
program and stuff.
SK:
I see. Right.
MC:
One of the things that I think was very different, and was a struggle
was out here in the suburbs and stuff, the parents signed their kid
up for soccer. There's a sign. Soccer sign ups, T-ball sign up, and
that sort of stuff.
SK:
Yeah. My cousin has my niece's summer all planned out.
MC:
Yeah. They know to do that. As much as I sometimes felt that the
Asian population, they wanted to become, they weren't those
athletes, that kind of stuff. So sometimes, I hate to say this, but
with the Hispanic kids, or for the Brazilian kids, or whatever, I
could go get a soccer sign-up sheet, and fill it out, and say, "Sign
here" and stuff, and get that. Versus I wasn't able to do that so
much. There wasn't an interest.
SK:
Right.
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MC:
On the part of the Asian students in doing that. They weren't aware
of that.
SK:
Right.
MC:
I know that I asked my ... My long-term partner is from Taiwan.
We've traveled back there and stuff, and I'd say, "So, what did you
do for sports? You don't have that." Because I said, "Well, they're
always at the World Series of baseball, so it must be a big sport. Is
it organized?" He said in the Asian countries, and he spent some
time in China and stuff, is that they're just not as organized. He
said like track and field, running. That they did that, but there
wasn't that kind of organized sports. That was another way for kids
to become involved. So we could try to do that, and they would
involve them in other activities, because they weren't so involved
in the sports.
SK:
Right. But what were some of those other activities?
MC:
I know Girls Inc. had the activities for girls. I know they did
different things.
SK:
You mean like crafts and things?
MC:
Crafts. They did some of the swimming lessons at the Y, but they
had just kind of hangout kind of stuff, programs.
SK:
This was even for youth, because this is for a lot of nonprofits.
They do these kinds of things, because in the grant applications
they say this is to sort of prevent, to give you something to do to
prevent sort of like getting into crime and things like that. But
these were also things that you could find for clients like after, like
for community service.
MC: [00:54:57]
You were looking for that, and for after school, because parents
were working, and they're working third shift. That was another
thing that I saw. I don't hear it so much anymore, but was it
MACOM that was up there. One parent was working one shift, and
another parent was working the other shift, and that wasn't
uncommon.
SK:
Right.
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MC:
That wasn't uncommon.
SK:
I think the second and third generations are transitioning more into
normal nine to five jobs, and professions, and things like that.
MC:
Right.
SK:
Yeah.
MC:
Right. So, it was, so you were looking for ways to keep kids
occupied, but I also knew they were kind of, as I spoke, distrustful,
and I don't blame them. But also, within their community.
SK:
Right.
MC:
Taking care of each other within the family oriented.
SK:
Did you have very much experience with or interaction with
immigration? Just because I know that the whole issue of
Southeast Asian deportees now depends on two things, like the
repatriation agreements between the U.S. and like Cambodia and
Vietnam, but then also usually the record of felony or
misdemeanor convictions, and things like that.
MC:
I don't do that kind of work, but at first it really wasn't much of an
issue, and Cambodia didn't take, so it wasn't an issue so much, so
we weren't working that out. So, I became aware in the last year or
so, and I'm not going to say too much of somebody who's working,
or a couple people who have had convictions for serious crimes,
but are now working in the community, raising families, and stuff
like that. They are available to be deported.
SK:
Right.
MC:
I have a brother who's with the Jesuit Volunteer Program, and my
sister-in-law was with the Maryknolls, and they met at BC. They
did that together, and then they went to Bolivia, and were there.
So, when I became aware of this, and that they're kind of living on
the edge, wondering if they're going to get picked up, I contacted
my brother and I found out that there is these Maryknolls who have
in Cambodia a group there, and the Jesuits were there, but I'm not
sure, but they're there. Because, my understanding is that for these
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people who have never been there, or lived there, or whatever, and
they go back, that they're just dropped off with nothing, and they
don't know the language.
SK:
Right. They don't know anything about the country.
MC:
Don't know nothing about the country. Don't have any contacts
there. They end up being like street people and everything. So we
handed the name out to a couple and say, "You need to make sure
you keep this name on you if something happens, and you get
yourself to ..." Because, they do use some of the people that they
can to help with others that are coming back. They start work
projects, and things like that. When somebody came to me and told
me that, I was like horrified, because it's a friend.
SK:
Right. So it's only recently that this has come to your attention?
Because I know before 2002, when Cambodia and U.S. signed a
repatriation, it just they didn't accept deportees at all. Then even
after 2002, they did, but it wasn't ... It wasn't really on your radar
until recently, right?
MC:
Yeah. It wasn't. Not for Cambodia. No.
SK:
Right. I see.
MC:
And it just, that just like horrifies me to think about that.
SK:
Especially people, like you were saying, people who have been
through so much in their early years, and it could be 20 years ago
that they were convicted.
MC:
One of the things that I think is really modern, and I've also
become a little bit aware of, and concerns me a little bit. It's a hot
issue right now. Is trafficking. I know that the legal community is a
little bit concerned because of all of the nail salons.
SK: [01:00:00]
Right. I see.
MC:
And young women that are here. Many of them don't speak
English, and they're here for a short amount of time, and they're
working long hours and stuff. That, people are wondering about
that issue for the Asians. Then of course with the whole Kraft
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thing, like all of a sudden people questioning what's going on in
our nail salons, and our salons here.
SK:
Right.
MC:
If trafficking has become an issue with Asian women.
SK:
I see. Yeah, there's a couple people. Actually, Sheldon Zhang at
UMass Lowell. He's the chair of the School of Criminology and
Justice Studies. He works in trafficking in Asia. There's I think a
couple other faculty there.
MC:
I've had a couple over adult female from China that they said,
women who were I think being trafficked.
SK:
I see. It was an issue of concern, or like ...
MC:
I think it's something, now there's a little bit of issue of concern
about the young women that are here, and clearly recently here,
and whether they're protected.
SK:
I see. Sort of moving towards the end, I want to definitely give you
a chance to talk about any other stories that you want to talk about.
MC:
I hope I'm giving you the information.
SK:
This is great. But I'm wondering, since you started working
particularly with the Southeast Asian community since the '80s,
what would you say are some of the biggest changes? The other
question is what are some of the things that surprisingly have not
changed? In terms of working with, your experiences with the
Southeast Asian community. What's changed?
MC:
Have not changed, I'm going to say dealing with the police
community is like ... They're a self-admitted gang member. When
we really don't have ... I'm not seeing it in stuff, a huge gang issue.
SK:
I see.
MC:
In Lowell, like we were. But, just being able to grow up and move
away from that, and also not seeing it, looking back with some
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perspective and saying, "This is what happened, and why that was
there. That was happening."
SK:
That's what has? Sorry.
MC:
That has not changed. I think law enforcement's perspective.
SK:
I see.
MC:
On-
SK:
Has not changed.
MC:
"You're a gang member-"
SK:
That perspective of, "Once a gang member, always a gang
member."
MC:
Right.
SK:
That perspective has not changed.
MC:
Right.
SK:
I see.
MC:
From that standpoint. I still do think that there is, for the minorities
in Lowell, still a different treatment by law enforcement than
someone who is Caucasian. I still think that in the schools, that
rather than see that there's a kid who was brought up by a mother
who did not speak English, or read or write in any language, so
they didn't get a start, and also dealing with the trauma issues in
terms of helping to catch up kind of thing. The other issue is
because so many people have records, that they're hung around the
neck. We're trying to get to them, and see what we can do to undo
CORIs, and things like that. From that standpoint, growing in
terms of certain aspects of the population.
SK:
What do you mean undoing CORIs.
MC:
Undoing CORI. In other words, trying to seal records, and things
like that, for job opportunities.
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SK:
I see.
MC:
And that sort of thing. And, when you look at it from the
standpoint, also, from ICE standpoint. When you have someone
that 20 years ago, because they were part of a gang, and got
involved in some melee or something, and is now married, and has
children, and working, and stuff, that they cannot get away from
that. That there's kind of the law enforcement government pegging
them, and not being able to move away from that. From the
standpoint of change that we're seeing Asians in the DA's office.
There are a few Asian police officers. We're seeing among our
ranks and attorneys, as well as in other professions that they are
moving beyond Queen Street, and those areas.
SK: [01:05:40]
Right.
MC:
In Lowell. Moving out, and doing those things.
SK:
Are you seeing very many probation officers of Asian descent, or
other corrections officers?
MC:
We have a few within the Lowell community that are Asian and
stuff. But, I still think that there's more diversity. They're aiming
for diversity in the ranks of law enforcement, which I clump as the
police, as well as DAs, probation, courts, things like that.
SK:
So it's gotten better, but it could be more better.
MC:
Right. One of the things, and I'm really happy about this, and I
hope that is there could be really more education put out there for
us. As I said, I try to do that too, communicate to us what the
culture of differences are, how to handle cases and deal with
people so that we are doing it effectively, and being able to work,
and also just being seen as trusted, as part of their team.
SK:
In addition to sort of more people, more cultural diversity, have
you seen any improvements? Like the kinds of work that you were
trying to do by yourself, explaining cultural differences to a judge
or to a probation officer, have there been any kind of efforts to do
that maybe more systemically, or more broadly?
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MC:
Well, a little bit. I'll never forget, we had a kid at the Angkor
Dance Troupe come in, brought a few of his friends. He's doing a
dance on the New Year, with an ankle bracelet, a GPS bracelet
because he was on probation.
SK:
Oh my goodness.
MC:
And stuff. So, I know in our juvenile court, we try to. That there's
been some attempts to make people aware that there's a couple
festivals, and things like that. But, there's always arrests at those
and sometimes people go, "I'm not going in there for that."
SK:
Right. I see. I see.
MC:
It isn't as widely spread as the folk festival, for instance, as
publicized and stuff. I saw this year, like for instance, that is the
Cambodian New Year the same as Chinese New Year?
SK:
The Cambodian New Year is in April.
MC:
That's what I was thinking, that it's different. Versus, there's some
functions and different things that go on for Chinese New Year. In
fact, we go down to Boston.
SK:
Right, in February.
MC:
There's the dragon, the lion dance and stuff down at one of the
restaurants down here. And Westford Academy, for instance, has a
large number of Chinese students, or Taiwanese-Chinese, and so
they had a whole thing in the school. I had never seen that at the
Cambodian New Years celebration. Maybe, but I'm not aware of it
up there, which would make us ... Those kinds of cultural events,
really publicizing them, and making us aware that there's those
holidays too.
SK:
Right.
MC:
Which I would really like to become more aware of.
SK:
But it's not sort of saying the training for police officers, or for
district attorneys. I don't know. Things like, I mean the broad term
Page 28 of 35
�UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSETTS LOWELL
SOUTHEAST ASIAN DIGITAL ARCHIVE
ORAL HISTORY PROJECT, 2019-ONGOING
UML 17
Maryellen Cuthbert, Oral History #19.01
is cultural sensitivity training, or those kinds of things. That hasn't
maybe increased since the '80s.
MC:
I don't think that it has. I don't think that it has. I think Vanna
Howard. Do you know Vanna?
SK: [01:10:01]
Yes. She's fantastic.
MC:
Well, I know her through her husband, Greg. In fact, I was at her
wedding. Has done quite a bit to try to do, but she can't do
everything.
SK:
Right.
MC:
I think she's on the same list with you, isn't she? For being
honored.
SK:
I think that the same things, that there's a lot of parallels between
sort of like the law enforcement, and education, and healthcare.
That there have been improvements since the '80s and the '90s, but
we could still have further to go.
MC:
One of the things that I also became aware of, if you go into
healthcare, into one of the big Boston hospitals, our interpreters
that we use in the courts are also medical interpreters, and they're
being called in there to interpret, and the insurance has to pay for
that and everything. Versus you go to Lowell Community Health
Center, there's no official interpreter there for people who are
going. It's really interesting to me that there's such a disparity in
healthcare making sure that people understand. We now have a
language line that we can use, so that when I'm with someone I can
do that. But I'm also, I'll ask, "Is this your dialect?" They'll say,
"Yes," and sometimes I wonder whether they are understanding
everything.
SK:
Right. The way to check is to ask. But then if you're not
understanding the language, then-
MC:
Yeah, if the interpreter's saying, "Do you understand everything
I'm saying," and everything, and then I try to get them to repeat it
back.
Page 29 of 35
�UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSETTS LOWELL
SOUTHEAST ASIAN DIGITAL ARCHIVE
ORAL HISTORY PROJECT, 2019-ONGOING
UML 17
Maryellen Cuthbert, Oral History #19.01
SK:
Yeah.
MC:
But it's this kind of thing that I'm really excited about, because I
think that will help them more. Like that event that was held by the
Cambodian Children of the Light.
SK:
Yeah, Light of Cambodian Children.
MC:
Yeah, because a lot of attorneys and stuff went, and there were
politicos, and things like that. It was an event to show up at in
Lowell.
SK:
I see.
MC:
And so there became an awareness.
SK:
It was an annual, it was a dinner?
MC:
It was an annual dinner. Yeah.
SK:
I see. They invited like the city council, and just some attorneys,
and then like-
MC:
Yeah, there was a lot of local politicos there, and stuff.
SK:
I see.
MC:
That's one of the things that I think that we had a little more
trouble getting that, versus Spanish, there was always a Spanish
interpreter in the court. For the Asians, it was sort of classified.
The Hispanics did the drugs, the Dominicans, and we had the
gangs and stuff.
SK:
Right. I see.
MC:
But it was somewhat of an issue, because one day they were a
victim, particularly in the young kids, and one day they were a
defendant. I remember sitting at a table once with a group of
attorneys, trying to figure out who didn't have a conflict with this
one, because we had represented this one before because they were
a victim this time because of the clashes.
Page 30 of 35
�UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSETTS LOWELL
SOUTHEAST ASIAN DIGITAL ARCHIVE
ORAL HISTORY PROJECT, 2019-ONGOING
UML 17
Maryellen Cuthbert, Oral History #19.01
SK:
I see. Because of the interconnectedness of the community.
MC:
Mm-hmm [affirmative]. But we see a lot more businesses. Not just
the smaller... Like there was one small grocery store, and that was
it.
SK:
Right.
MC:
Now there's-
SK:
There's Cambodia Town, and restaurants everywhere. Right.
MC:
Right, so that's really nice.
SK:
Yeah.
MC:
Was this the kind of stuff you were looking for?
SK:
Yeah. This was fantastic. This was great. We wanted to get the
perspective of someone who had worked with the community,
particularly with the youth.
MC:
It was a struggle, because of the language, and the cultural
differences, and the mistrust, and you're dealing with the trauma
that they all went through in terms of government authorities,
whereas other groups didn't go through that trauma to get there.
Then being pegged.
SK:
For those issues, like the mistrust, and the kind of dealing with the
second generation trauma, do you see... Or, let me put it this way.
Would you say that your Southeast Asian clients now are about the
same number, or fewer?
MC: [01:15:04]
Fewer.
SK:
Fewer.
MC:
Fewer.
SK:
The kinds of issues that you're seeing versus particularly the '80s
and '90sPage 31 of 35
�UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSETTS LOWELL
SOUTHEAST ASIAN DIGITAL ARCHIVE
ORAL HISTORY PROJECT, 2019-ONGOING
UML 17
Maryellen Cuthbert, Oral History #19.01
MC:
The kind of issues we're seeing now are the same kind of issues
we're seeing across the board with depressed teenagers not feeling
like they fit in their school, or not going to school, disrespecting
parents, that kind of stuff. Being on the run, not coming home,
getting into fights.
SK:
Right. In some ways, there are those issues of sort of being a
second generation refugee, and being an ethnic minority. But in
some ways maybe seeing them more becoming like normal
American juveniles of various ethnic backgrounds.
MC:
They are, but then I still think they're ... What's interesting is these
kids, I don't ask so much, "Where were you born?" Because that's
my nice question not to say to an immigrant, "Where were you
born?" I say, "I want to start from the beginning." They're, "Okay.
I don't have an immigration issue." But I'm not sure they know the
stories.
SK:
Right.
MC:
That they really know all the stories.
SK:
Yes, actually when we met, first found this archive, it was the
older generation saying that they were worried that the younger
generations didn't know about the culture, but also didn't know
about the stories of being a refugee, the refugee camps, but then
also early resettlement, and the struggles of those times, because
people don't want to talk about it.
MC:
Right. That's why we call it Irish lace curtain. It's like, okay I'm
done with that.
SK:
Yes.
MC:
To some degree, I get that. But, also, to not forget, somebody did a
film that was on PBS. I saw it. Who had gone back, that was just,
brought it home. Brought it home.
SK:
Was it Lost Child?
MC:
Was it? The name of it. It was... I'm trying to think. I think UMass
Lowell was part of the project. I can't remember what the name of
Page 32 of 35
�UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSETTS LOWELL
SOUTHEAST ASIAN DIGITAL ARCHIVE
ORAL HISTORY PROJECT, 2019-ONGOING
UML 17
Maryellen Cuthbert, Oral History #19.01
it, but it went through kind of history of Pol Pot, the history of
Cambodia, and went to numbers of the temples. Are you familiar
with that film?
SK:
There's a couple of films it could be, so I'm not sure. It could be
Monkey Dance or Lost Child.
MC:
Monkey Dance maybe sounds like ... Sounds either that or because
I've seen the Monkey Dance and that is so fascinating. Fascinating.
SK:
Is there anything else that we haven't had a chance to talk about or
cover? Anything that sticks out in your mind?
MC:
One of the things, this is really kind of funny. But when I went to
the home, as much as I thought there was some distress. But when
I got to the end of a family or working with a family, very often I
was invited for a meal.
SK:
Yeah.
MC:
"I want to cook for you," whatever. So I had curry. I remember
sitting on the floor in one apartment, and it was like a plastic
tablecloth, and she was like macheteing the chicken, and we did
the curry. I was like, "I'm going to be here all night doing curry
from start to finish."
SK:
Wow.
MC:
But she wanted to teach me how to make curry. But it wasn't
unusual that when I went, versus most other places I'll say, "Okay,
I'll bring a pizza." You know, when I'm going to see with a kid I
told you food with teenage boys. I try to do that, "Okay, I'll bring a
pizza," or something. That's kind of a modernization now that they
do that, but they're like, "Oh, I want to cook for you. That was
always something that was very interesting to me.
SK:
Right.
MC:
Just as a comparison, I grew up Catholic and I often though,
"Okay, stand up. Sit down. Say this prayer," whatever, and
everything. That was it. I didn't agree with everything they did.
But, in going to Taiwan with my boyfriend and the temples, and
Page 33 of 35
�UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSETTS LOWELL
SOUTHEAST ASIAN DIGITAL ARCHIVE
ORAL HISTORY PROJECT, 2019-ONGOING
UML 17
Maryellen Cuthbert, Oral History #19.01
seeing how they were much part of the life. You stopped in, and
you could be blessed by it. Then you had an issue, you went to this
temple. You prayed to that. You just threw it down. You brought
fruit. It wasn't money. Things like that. Then, his family even had a
temple. There are sayings about how to live your life. Not, "You've
got to honor God. You've got to honor God." It's, "This is how a
good man or woman lives."
SK: [01:20:06]
Right.
MC:
So, I was looking for that. I started looking for that in Cambodian
religion and stuff, and I didn't trip into it until I recently had a
client that had a lot of tattoos. They were prayer, and they were
sayings on him, because I bring makeup, because people still don't
understand to cover tattoos when I'm trying cases.
SK:
Right.
MC:
But, they don't talk about religion.
SK:
Right.
MC:
At all.
SK:
Right. The temples are such a big part of life for most Cambodians
and Southeast Asians. I was raised Presbyterian. If you don't know
about the Buddhist temples, and how much of a part of everyday
life they are, you don't, until someone starts telling you.
MC:
I understood they were a big part of their life, but I wasn't seeing
them like you've seen some of the other Asian homes will have
something, and I didn't know whether sometimes when you're
oppressed, and you've fallen away, or whatever. That was one
aspect that I hadn't tripped into versus other Asian homes.
SK:
Yes. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Having the kind of like shrines and things
like that. It was less visible in the houses you visited.
MC:
Very often in the Cambodian homes, you see the big colorful
picture of I think the matriarch or whatever dressed, and they look
so regal or whatever. You'd see those on the wall.
Page 34 of 35
�UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSETTS LOWELL
SOUTHEAST ASIAN DIGITAL ARCHIVE
ORAL HISTORY PROJECT, 2019-ONGOING
UML 17
Maryellen Cuthbert, Oral History #19.01
SK:
Right.
MC:
That was interesting to me.
SK:
Even though that there was an initial mistrust, or maybe it was
difficult to communicate, but that there was a sense, especially for
people wanting to cook for you, that there was a sense that people
were very welcoming, and they wanted to sort of show gratitude
for your attempts to help them.
MC:
And then more so then any other. I'm telling, you had mothers who
couldn't speak English, who would get on that phone, and try to
make an appointment, and you're like, "Oh my God."
SK:
Right.
MC:
That was the group that did that, despite the fact there was that
initial mistrust.
SK:
Right.
MC:
Anyways, I can't wait to see this, because it is fascinating. It starts
horrific, but it's moving towards a different.
SK:
Great. Thank you so much.
MC:
All right.
SK:
Let me see. I want to make sure I do this right.
Interview ends
Page 35 of 35
�
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Southeast Asian Digital Archive Oral History Project, 2019-Ongoing
Relation
A related resource
<span>The collection draft finding aid, </span><a href="https://libguides.uml.edu/uml17" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://libguides.uml.edu/uml17</a><span>.</span>
The oral history project page, <a href="https://www.uml.edu/Research/SEA-digital-archive/oral-histories.aspx" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://www.uml.edu/Research/SEA-digital-archive/oral-histories.aspx</a>.
Description
An account of the resource
This collection is currently in progress and information will be updated as it becomes available. <br /><br />Read more about the project: <a href="https://www.uml.edu/Research/SEA-digital-archive/oral-histories.aspx" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://www.uml.edu/Research/SEA-digital-archive/oral-histories.aspx</a><br /><br />Part of the collection is accessible on this site. <br /><br />Oral history interviews include: <br /><br /><strong>Maryellen Cuthbert, April 2019, Oral History #19.01</strong> <br />An oral history interview with Maryellen Cuthbert and interviewer Sue J. Kim. Since the mid-1980s, Cuthbert has been a private defense attorney working in the Lowell, Massachusetts, area. In this oral history, Cuthbert shares information about her training as a lawyer and reflects on various cases she’s worked with related to Southeast Asian communities. <strong>Content warning: Mentions of weapons, abuse, assaults, and violent situations.</strong> <br /><br /><strong>Thel Sar, April 2019, Oral History #19.02</strong> <br />An oral history interview with Thel Sar and interviewer Sue J. Kim. In this oral history, Sar talks about his early life: living through the Khmer Rouge, resettling in the United States, and his education; his career trajectory: working at the Cambodian Mutual Assistance Association, working at the Massachusetts Department of Youth Services, and becoming one of the earliest probation officers of Cambodian descent at Lowell District Court; his other community activities; and his family. <br /><br /><strong>Sivaing Suos, August 2019, Oral History #19.05</strong><br />An oral history <span>interview with Sivaing Suos and interviewer Tyler Sar. In this oral history, Suos talks about her early life in Cambodia and immigrating to the U.S., her experiences pursuing education and holding various jobs, including working in the mental health field and with families experiencing domestic violence, and her family.<br /><br /><strong>Niem Nay-kret, September 2019, Oral History #19.06</strong><br />An oral history interview with Niem Nay-kret and interviewer Sue J. Kim. In this oral history, Nay-kret talks about her early life in Cambodia and during the Khmer Rouge and her experiences holding various jobs in the U.S. related to healthcare, including prenatal care, mental health, and more.</span><br /><br />-------------------------- <br />SEADA would like to thank the following individuals for their work in making this collection available online: Chornai Pech and Monita Chea.
Source
A related resource from which the described resource is derived
Southeast Asian Digital Archive Oral History Project, 2019-Ongoing. UML 17. Center for Lowell History, University of Massachusetts Lowell, Lowell, MA.
Subject
The topic of the resource
Oral history
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Maryellen Cuthbert oral history transcript, 2019
Subject
The topic of the resource
Crime
Lawyers
Lowell (Mass.)
Oral history
Description
An account of the resource
The transcript of an oral history interview with Maryellen Cuthbert and interviewer Sue J. Kim. Since the mid-1980s, Cuthbert has been a private defense attorney working in the Lowell, Massachusetts, area. In this oral history, Cuthbert shares information about her training as a lawyer and reflects on various cases she’s worked with related to Southeast Asian communities. <br /><br /><strong>Content warning:</strong> Mentions of weapons, abuse, assaults, and violent situations.
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
Cuthbert, Maryellen
Kim, Sue J.
Source
A related resource from which the described resource is derived
Southeast Asian Digital Archive Oral History Project
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
University of Massachusetts Lowell
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
2019-04-15
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
UMass Lowell Library makes this material available for private, educational, and research use. It is the responsibility of the user to secure any needed permissions from rightsholders, for uses such as commercial reproductions of copyrighted works. Contact host institution for more information.
Format
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application/pdf; 35 p.
Language
A language of the resource
English
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
Text
Coverage
The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant
Chelmsford, Massachusetts
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
uml17_19.01_002
2010-2019
Angkor Dance Troupe
Cambodians
Documents
Laotians
Light of Cambodian Children
Lowell District Court
Lowell Superior Court
UTEC
Vietnamese
-
https://d1y502jg6fpugt.cloudfront.net/37070/archive/files/1bbf7fced73c7eea3a0b0f7f6ac09a6c.mp3?Expires=1712793600&Signature=ZxdGAszmER1ALWUz1pH8Tl9ugSC9aVmCKn3WZ8dM1SV42xrta3wpT2fkm%7EyuwCDUQhgag4dfogKPTGQv6Ko%7EeQqPZMdnWblNH0pK9WyTh7%7ERM5YuV6M4U5syIZ96qHW7J5Amc6mKFL3DgG-AXjeBnATwBeIcY8UegUtQb6qGeN39NUuEwx4NMagQ3gHXRo0ZMg-aN9v0tYjSYb5gAO1a8VnZZxpAuUOKs3D8FxtkuhBLC60GNn9-PAI%7Ey2K0vVFBJAI7WC8iwFmz7gnSW5QpxlWlDSCpoQEe8OPP1MAnosLTkVu9DoUTDte1xD8OUXSLwhdqFJwFRn8WlRTEgLWQlg__&Key-Pair-Id=K6UGZS9ZTDSZM
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Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Southeast Asian Digital Archive Oral History Project, 2019-Ongoing
Relation
A related resource
<span>The collection draft finding aid, </span><a href="https://libguides.uml.edu/uml17" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://libguides.uml.edu/uml17</a><span>.</span>
The oral history project page, <a href="https://www.uml.edu/Research/SEA-digital-archive/oral-histories.aspx" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://www.uml.edu/Research/SEA-digital-archive/oral-histories.aspx</a>.
Description
An account of the resource
This collection is currently in progress and information will be updated as it becomes available. <br /><br />Read more about the project: <a href="https://www.uml.edu/Research/SEA-digital-archive/oral-histories.aspx" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://www.uml.edu/Research/SEA-digital-archive/oral-histories.aspx</a><br /><br />Part of the collection is accessible on this site. <br /><br />Oral history interviews include: <br /><br /><strong>Maryellen Cuthbert, April 2019, Oral History #19.01</strong> <br />An oral history interview with Maryellen Cuthbert and interviewer Sue J. Kim. Since the mid-1980s, Cuthbert has been a private defense attorney working in the Lowell, Massachusetts, area. In this oral history, Cuthbert shares information about her training as a lawyer and reflects on various cases she’s worked with related to Southeast Asian communities. <strong>Content warning: Mentions of weapons, abuse, assaults, and violent situations.</strong> <br /><br /><strong>Thel Sar, April 2019, Oral History #19.02</strong> <br />An oral history interview with Thel Sar and interviewer Sue J. Kim. In this oral history, Sar talks about his early life: living through the Khmer Rouge, resettling in the United States, and his education; his career trajectory: working at the Cambodian Mutual Assistance Association, working at the Massachusetts Department of Youth Services, and becoming one of the earliest probation officers of Cambodian descent at Lowell District Court; his other community activities; and his family. <br /><br /><strong>Sivaing Suos, August 2019, Oral History #19.05</strong><br />An oral history <span>interview with Sivaing Suos and interviewer Tyler Sar. In this oral history, Suos talks about her early life in Cambodia and immigrating to the U.S., her experiences pursuing education and holding various jobs, including working in the mental health field and with families experiencing domestic violence, and her family.<br /><br /><strong>Niem Nay-kret, September 2019, Oral History #19.06</strong><br />An oral history interview with Niem Nay-kret and interviewer Sue J. Kim. In this oral history, Nay-kret talks about her early life in Cambodia and during the Khmer Rouge and her experiences holding various jobs in the U.S. related to healthcare, including prenatal care, mental health, and more.</span><br /><br />-------------------------- <br />SEADA would like to thank the following individuals for their work in making this collection available online: Chornai Pech and Monita Chea.
Source
A related resource from which the described resource is derived
Southeast Asian Digital Archive Oral History Project, 2019-Ongoing. UML 17. Center for Lowell History, University of Massachusetts Lowell, Lowell, MA.
Subject
The topic of the resource
Oral history
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Maryellen Cuthbert oral history audio recording, 2019
Subject
The topic of the resource
Crime
Lawyers
Lowell (Mass.)
Oral history
Description
An account of the resource
The audio recording of an oral history interview with <span class="TextRun SCXW2982357 BCX0" xml:lang="en-us" lang="en-us"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW2982357 BCX0">Maryellen Cuthbert and interviewer Sue J. Kim. Since the mid-1980s, Cuthbert has been a private defense attorney working in the Lowell, Massachusetts, area. <span class="TextRun SCXW111511619 BCX0" xml:lang="en-us" lang="en-us"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW111511619 BCX0">In this oral history, Cuthbert shares information about her training as a lawyer and reflects on various cases she’s worked with<span> </span></span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW111511619 BCX0" xml:lang="en-us" lang="en-us"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW111511619 BCX0">related to</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW111511619 BCX0" xml:lang="en-us" lang="en-us"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW111511619 BCX0"> Southeast Asian communities.</span></span></span></span><br /><br /><strong>Content warning:</strong> Mentions of weapons, abuse, assaults, and violent situations.
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
Cuthbert, Maryellen
Kim, Sue J.
Source
A related resource from which the described resource is derived
Southeast Asian Digital Archive Oral History Project
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
University of Massachusetts Lowell
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
2019-04-15
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
UMass Lowell Library makes this material available for private, educational, and research use. It is the responsibility of the user to secure any needed permissions from rightsholders, for uses such as commercial reproductions of copyrighted works. Contact host institution for more information.
Format
The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource
1 audio recording; 01:22:47
Language
A language of the resource
English
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
Sound
Coverage
The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant
Chelmsford, Massachusetts
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
uml17_19.01_001
2010-2019
Angkor Dance Troupe
Cambodians
Laotians
Light of Cambodian Children
Lowell District Court
Lowell Superior Court
Sound recordings
UTEC
Vietnamese
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PDF Text
Text
UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSETTS LOWELL
CENTER FOR ASIAN AMERICAN STUDIES
ORAL HISTORY PROJECT
INFORMANT: ELISE MARTIN
INTERVIEWER: KALE CONNERTY
MEHMED ALI
DATE: JUNE 24, 2016
E=ELISE
K=KALE
A=ALI
Mehmed Ali begins interview with introduction:
A: Okay, so this is interview with Elise Martin on June 24, 2016. Thanks, and Kale is going to
take over.
K: So Elise when did you start working at the IRF [Indochinese Refugee Foundation]?
E: I was looking through my memorabilia trying to remember exactly when. I believe it was in
April of 1981. It was 1981.
K: Where had you previously been working?
E: Lowell Public Schools.
K: Okay, so how did you come to start working for the IRF?
E: It was I’m pretty sure that, remembering that this was a really long time ago, but I’m pretty
sure that there was an ad in the Lowell Sun. I hadn’t known Jackie until that job if I’m not
mistaken, and I think that’s how we became friendly and Carol Keirstead as well. So I wouldn’t
have gotten the information about the potential position from a personal relationship with
Jackie. I think that happened afterwards. So it must have been in the paper. An ESL teacher, I
was, you know, I was in education. So an ESL teacher, that’s the role that I was hired for.
K: Did you then become the coordinator, or was your position title teacher?
1
�E: No, Jackie was the Project Manager, or Project Director and I was the ESL teacher and kind
of, I guess we’d now call it Workforce Development Person. We all and the roles were
intermingled. I wouldn’t say that anybody did just one thing, but I, our curriculum (--) You’re
going to take pictures of my water? [Mehmed Ali is taking photos] Do you want me to take
that off the table? Do you care? You don’t care? I don’t care.
K: [Sounds like: Oh, let me slide, let me slide over]
E: Okay.
M: We’re candid.
E: Where was I?
K: [Sounds like: We’ll cut it out]
E: Okay. Where was I? So the intent was to provide skills to enable the new immigrant
population to both survive and thrive here. And so that meant like essential English and we
started with really like essential English skills. But then it also evolved into more contextually
relevant language development for people who had mastered the basics of you know, help me
I’m lost, or how do you get to, to job, job application. And some kind of like industrial
manufacturing was still pretty big here. We were helping to place people in jobs. I wasn’t
doing job placement services. I was doing language development and interview techniques for,
but we were placing people in companies like Raytheon, and so contextually relevant skills as
well as language. It was fun.
K: So there were different types of classes that were offered we found in the archives and stuff
for survival, (E: Right, that was our) prevocational life skills, literacy training, pre-employment
orientation. (E: Umhm) So you just offered all of these different (--)
E: Yeah, we developed the, you know, we evolved as the population evolved in terms of their
language competency and their like needs at the time.
K: Where were the classes held?
E: At the International Institute.
K: And was that still on, in 79 High Street?
E: On High Street, yah, umhm.
K: Okay. How long did you work for the IRF?
2
�E: Probably two years. I can’t remember an exact ending date. And I also can’t remember why
that would have been. So it’s possible that the funding for that grant could have terminated at
that point, or the funding for the position. Or it’s possible, because that period of my life I
remember around when I had babies. I was in the middle of having babies at that time.
K: Yes, Jackie mentioned that, that you two were pregnant at the same time.
E: So I was very pregnant. And I had thought about it this morning, I didn’t have time to go
through my attic, but I have some old photos. I don’t know if you’d have any interest in them,
[K: Definitely] but I have some old photos of some of the events we had there. So I don’t (--) I
may have been pregnant with my third child and that might have been what caused me to
leave. In any case it would have been at least two years that I was there.
K: So what was a typical class like? Like how long, or like how many students were in each
class? Things like that.
E: Maybe, first of all it would depend. We offered the classes every day. We (--) I worked
thirty hours a week. I was hired to work thirty hours a week. And I think that for all of us
whatever the minimum requirement was turned into something more than that because you
were, you became very committed to the people you were working with, but. And so within
that time frame we developed as the need arose and it hadn’t been written into the grant
necessarily. So we might have started off by every class was offered every day to begin with,
and that was the survival skills. And then, and then we might offer, and then as the need arose
and or like the different immigrant populations out of this, from the three primary countries
from which the immigrants came, the Vietnamese, the Cambodian and the Laotian, they were
different, slightly different needs based on the country of origin. So we offered, we never
offered classes for a particular, for people of a particular country of origin, but we offered
classes based on those kind of conglomerate needs. So then we started offering, we’d be up to
maybe three or four classes a day.
And then the classes were (--) There was a curriculum (--) If I’m not mistaken, when I took the
job there was kind of a curriculum for basic survival skills, but quickly it became, I made it more
current. So you know, what are the things? What are the (--) Bringing in the Lowell Sun and
the job wanted ads and the language there. And asking people to bring in a rental, looking for
apartments, you know, what are the kinds of words you need to be able to read, and what are
the speaking skills involved. And it was emphasis on conversational English. And so you had to
build trust with a group of people in order for them to feel comfortable trying to speak in a new
language that was not even phonetically familiar. You know, like the whole conversion from
their language to our language in order to be able to read was a huge (--) And many of the
people that came from in particular the Vietnamese immigrants that we serviced during this
two years that I was there in general may have had a higher educational level coming out of
their country. The Cambodian and Laotian people had been the farmers. And because Pol Pot
had gone through and massacred anyone that wore eye glasses for example, that was like
they’d go through your house, or your hut and if you had glasses it was a sign that you needed
3
�them to be able to read. So you were gone. So there was a different level of education coming
from their own country and therefore different levels of job interest. So we tried to tailor it and
build a level of security, and comfort and trust, and mutual support within the groups
particularly for the conversational English. Imagine what it’s like to try to like start to speak.
I’m so monolingual. I mean I took four or five years of French and I’m still pretty monolingual,
and that was a fairly familiar you know, comparable language, so. So that was really important
establishing trust in a sense of confidence that we were there to help them, and that we were
all in this together, and that they could help each other and themselves.
There’s some great stories. I don’t know if you’re interested in any of the stories, but
K: Absolutely, yup.
E: As I speak I remember. So, and so I really would like to read the transcription of this,
because I want to make sure that my words don’t come out (--) You’ll be able to understand
the meaning, but I may speak in forked tongues to get there. So at the same time that this first
wave of Southeast Asian immigrants were coming into Lowell, and I think that this first wave of
immigration started somewhere like in the late 70s, maybe 1980, with church groups being the
predominant sponsoring organizations that brought the first wave in. As that, actually I do
remember because then my children were in school and the impact was clear in the public
school system. But as the numbers of Southeast Asian people grew in the city so grew a sense
of, I would like to say that it’s like fear of the other or the unknown kind of thing. It wasn’t a
negative or a prejudicial sense. It was just, who are all these people, and what are they doing
here in our city, and what’s going on, and the resources? And so then out of that, not a whole
lot different from, we’re actually much more, much more civilized than some of what is
happening in our country today. But out of that came a lot of urban myths and people
wouldn’t, I would be at like you know, parties or someone’s house, or whatever, and here I am
like white middle class girl in Lowell right, woman. And so people make assumptions
sometimes about what they can say in front of certain groups of people based on how you look.
So I would hear things like, “Do they really eat, you know, all kinds of animals?” And “Do they
really keep this in their apartment?” “Do they really have twenty people living in one, you
know, one-room apartment,” and dadadadadada. And the code violations, and the this and the
that, and the other thing. And it was really, actually it was a lot of fun. It was like I went to a
costume party and I was, and so no one would knew who I was, or you know, what I knew and
what my experience was and then I would get to like break the urban myth. Because what I
discovered, or what I learned about, first of all people would say to me, “Oh, and they get,” you
know, “Each person gets $2,000 when they come here to Lowell,” and you know, “We’re giving
them all this money for free and they’re,” you know, “eating our dogs” and all kinds of like
really weird far out things. It would have been very easy to verify had anybody bothered to like
take the time to get to know someone, but people sometimes prefer to spin the tail. So what I
discovered was at the time that people, that the refugees were getting a $200.00 stipend, or
whatever, resettlement, which doesn’t take one too far, right, in terms of coming here with
absolutely nothing. Like no clothes, except what the sponsoring agency was able to offer you.
No housing except if the church was able. Sometimes the church members would be able to
4
�provide people housing. And then what they were doing, and this was, I don’t know if this was
actually a particular, I was going to say this was particularly towards the Cambodian and Laotian
men, but that may not be true. It may have been true of all three groups. Was that the men
were, as quickly as they were able to, buying a car and a relatively new car. And that would be
another thing I’d here. “Whoah, we’re giving them $2000.00 and they’re going and buying new
cars and they’re driving around the city, and I’m driving this old crappy car,” you know, dadada.
And then what they would do is buy this new car and get (--) They would wait until they knew
they had a job where they were all applying to the same company, and then they would buy
this new car together, like four or five or six men. And they would live, they would squeeze
themselves into the most affordable housing they could find and spend the money for the car,
because their rationale was, if we can’t get to work, if we buy six, or three or four junks and
rent a bigger apartment we may not be able to count on getting to work if it’s a place you
know, we’re not walking to work, they were traveling to Andover, whatever, and then we’ll lose
our jobs and we can’t let that happen. So they did that. And that was like, so smart. And you
know, no one I know ever like thought that intelligently about how to get by kind of collectively
instead of the individualistic society that we have. Like each person gets their money and they
buy the best thing they can with their money. And their society, or at least as a result of their
experience, but probably their culture prior to coming here was more collectivist, and you
know, we come together as a village to support each other. And so they mirrored that in their
strategy for insuring that they had employment so that they were not looking for federal, or
state, or city subsidies to get by.
K: That’s great. So what was the most challenging part of your job, like difficulties? Were their
difficulties getting like books or teaching materials, or anything like that?
E: No, there wasn’t, because it was, it was easy enough to supply my own materials once I
figured out what I was doing, and improvised to be relevant to the moment. And there was no,
it wasn’t like you know you’re teaching in a high school, or a college program and you’re
teaching Bio I, and the students have to take Bio 2 next so you have a certain set. (K: Right) So
it was what do we need for today? And as I became more comfortable, like anyone, as you
become more comfortable in your role, less insecure in whether or not you’re going to be able
to do it I was able to ask them to help me to develop the curriculum going forward. You know,
what do we (--) So what should be on the agenda for next month and how do we build these
classes? What do you want to learn? What are some of your problems? How can we use
language to help you adjust those problems? So I don’t know. I can’t imagine what the worst
part of my job was. Every day was different and every day I felt like I was doing something that
mattered and that means a lot. So I would say probably the struggle to (--) There were (--) As I
mentioned, the levels of prior education where the discrepancies were significant. And so
there are, and then there are also individual learning styles and speeds. And so there were (--)
And then their age range, that was also fairly significant. The age range was relatively
significant. We had, we had young, maybe late teenage young men coming here having lost
their families in many cases. And then we had a lot of older people, well older, younger than I
am now, but like probably people in their 40s coming, and 30s who had babies and somehow
had escaped you know, with some part of their family, or not. And so the younger people
5
�regardless of their level of education previously were, I don’t know, is it that you’re more
flexible to learning new things when you’re younger? And then there were some people, some
men in particular, you know, some women who’d never even, it was enough that their
husbands would learn the language. But there were many more men in my classes than
women even though, and I don’t think that that gender ratio was representative of the
population that was here. I think that’s also very cultural, you know, going to school, but there
were men that were in their 40s who had, you know, who hadn’t been able to read in their
native language, or were necessarily particularly articulate in their (--) You know, they were
farmers and they may never have even bumped into anybody else, and so for them, to try to
help them to develop the communication skills to be successful. Sometimes you knew that this
person was, was going to have a really hard time if at all able to be successful in communicating
enough to get a job, which was what they all wanted to do. So that was, but that’s the case no
matter who you’re teaching, where you’re teaching.
K: Right.
A: So with the women learning was there family kind of, was family holding women back from
coming to the IRF?
E: No, I would not say that, because the women were usually there with their husbands. I
mean they stuck together. The husband/wife unit was pretty tight because you’re strangers in
a new place, right. So the women didn’t speak. Most of the women, most of the Cambodian
Laotian women did not speak any English. So to be left home while your husband is at the
International Institute meant that you were like totally unable to communicate with anybody
unless you happened to be in a building with people who spoke your language. So, but they,
they didn’t engage in the class to the same degree that the men did. Often they were taking
care of the babies. Not taking care of, because seriously the babies went in the infancy that
was usually like supplied by the church. And when I think about like I know how the daughter
has a baby, and you know, the baby cries and everybody jumps. And this was like (--) It’s like
okay baby, lie there because we have something really important to do. So you’re going to
adapt to the family’s needs right now. It’s really good parenting. But I don’t think they had a
confidence in themselves. I think culturally that they weren’t you know, called upon. They
weren’t like village elders that had been female. So I think it was really primarily cultural. And I
think the Vietnamese (--) We had more female Vietnamese people in our classes than we had
female Cambodian or Laotian. And again that’s, that has to be a direct correlation with the
level of education in their country, and even the infrastructure in Vietnam prior to the war. You
know, there were cities and universities, and there was far less formal education available in
Laos and Cambodia at the time.
K: How big were the classes? There were like how many people do you think?
E: Twenty. As I’m thinking back on this I’m thinking that like for the intro, the survival skills,
there were always, it was a pretty consistent number. Because as some people became
relatively, not fluent, but fluent enough to move on to another level, or gain employment, then
6
�the ages of people attending got older. So some of the elders that came thought, well all right,
now I’ll go in and see, try my hand at it. There weren’t many school aged children obviously,
because once they were school aged they were in school.
Another thing that I really remember clearly from both my role in the public schools and my
role at the International Institute and they kind of went back and forth and blurred, is that the
Southeast Asian (--) This is a generalization, but as with every other ethnic, or language
linguistically diverse group that comes to this city, students and their families are offered the
opportunity for whatever it happens to be called at the time ELL, ESL, bilingual education, you
know, it had different names. And most of the Southeast Asian people who talked to me about
that in class, the parents, because they were, because I was the teacher and they were
navigating the public school system at the same time, when they spoke about it said they didn’t
want their children in ELL bilingual education. They wanted them mainstreamed from the start
to be, and they didn’t use the word immersed in the language, but that’s what they (--) Because
(--) And I was reminded back to my undergraduate years at UMass, I went to UMass Boston for
a year and studied urban sociology while I was there. And there was theory about immigrants
resettling in an urban area and the idea of the political refugee as opposed to the non-political
refugee, and the idea that if you can’t go back to where you came from then your motivation to
adopt the new, the cultural identity of the place that you’ve landed as quickly as possible, and
master, you know, become whatever that place is, become one of them, is stronger than if you
have the options of going back home should it not work out. So I think that the parents were,
wanted their kids to learn English fast and there was not going to be any like you know.
K: In the archives we’ve seen lots of papers trying to distinguish between political refugees and
economic migrants was the other term that they used for the opposite difficulty.
E: Oh nice, nice.
K: Were you the only ESL teacher while you were there, because we have some records like of
other people teaching classes. I have names. Maybe you’ll know.
E: Okay, try the names.
K: Gea Pho?
E: So that must be, is that (--) That’s got to be Hai’s relative right, Gea Pho?
K: I would think, yah.
M: Maybe that’s (--) Didn’t Jackie or Carol tell us about one of the Pho’s, like the wife’s father
worked there?
K: Oh yah.
7
�M: Maybe that’s who it is?
E: Oh okay, maybe.
K: Yah, that could be, umhm.
M: You don’t recognize that name right Elise?
E: No.
Mehmed: Okay.
E: No, not the first name at all. So my (--) So I’m thinking back to timing. This isn’t about the
question you just asked me, but when you asked me how long I was there I know I came in like
the spring of ’81. Jackie left sometime maybe in ’82. And Carol came in to replace her as
Project Director, and I was there for probably a year with Carol. So that’s about what my time
frame looked like.
K: And I think what ended up happening was that ESL got transferred over to other
associations. Like there was the Cambodian Mutual Assistance Association.
E: Yes, yah, yup, but I don’t know if that happened. I can’t remember the reason I left. I can’t
remember whether, you know, there are certain jobs that you remember it was time to get out.
This wasn’t one of them. The thirty hours a week worked beautifully with my schedule of three
little kids, you know. So it was ideal. So I don’t know whether that the funding for that piece of
the program ran out, or if other, you know, they’re probably, the funding probably came in in a
block, and then Jackie as the Project Manager, or Carol had to redistribute it according to
needs. And maybe as other community services became available for language development
we had less need to put the hours into the ESL teaching or whatever it was, bilingual.
M: The CMAA (Cambodian Mutual Assistance Association) started in 1984. (E: Okay) So it
would have been after you, a year or so after.
E: Yah, yah, because I don’t remember. If they were, although some of the, I do remember
that some of the Cambodian men in particular, because it seemed that the Laotian, much of our
Laotian population, many of the people that first were there when I was first there, seemed to
have moved on to California within like a year. There was, and they probably went to, well I
don’t know if they went to Long Beach or not actually, because that’s the first largest
Cambodian, but they went to another place where there were more Laotian people. And that
might have been because there were more Cambodian people coming into this city and there
was this tension between the three groups. And Vietnamese people in many cases started to
move out into the suburbs and/or into the suburban Lowell neighborhoods more quickly
because they were employed at a higher level probably because of their educational
experience.
8
�K: Right.
M: Did you experience, was there any kind of minor conflicts between the groups?
E: So with the, you know, so you have a group of young guys in there. There were, there was a
little bit of, there was no over conflict, there was no physical conflict that ever like happened, or
that we were even aware of. And we got like the stories of what was going on in the
community, but there was a little bit of the snipping behind the back, you know, people’s back
about, you know, this group or that group from another group, from the men. The woman
couldn’t speak enough English to be able to say that necessarily.
M: And when you were doing ESL classes were all three groups in at the same classroom?
E: Umhm, yeah.
M: You didn’t have a Lao class and a Cambodian.
E: No, no, no. No, no, no.
M: Okay.
E: But then as we offered different levels of language development services, self-selection
would cause the groups to be a little bit more dominated by one ethnic, one ethnicity or
another.
M: Were there any problems getting enough like money for getting books or anything like that
over the budget?
E: You know I don’t, it didn’t, I don’t remember it being a problem. It may have been that we
didn’t have money for books, but it wasn’t anything I was looking for anyway. I felt like the best
teaching materials were the materials that were (--) I wasn’t teaching like a, I wasn’t teaching
the equivalent of like French I, or English I, (K: Right) or anything like that. I was teaching how
to get yourself going here in this community. So there are probably some text books, but they
would not have been contextualized to Lowell, or the Merrimack Valley in the same way that I
could do it with the resources I had.
M: So did you create your own handouts?
E: Yeah, yeah, umhm.
M: Do you remember specific stuff that you might have created for the curriculum?
9
�E: I just, I remember using want ads, job ads, and rental ads, having to read the language of
those ads in order. And then we would role play like what’s the response to this? What’s the
written response? What’s the interviewing with the perspective landlord? Because, because I
think that people came in with (--) Many of the refugees came in with their rent, their rental
situation or the living situation already established, whether it was through the support of the
church group, or whatever the resettlement agency was. But they were not, I don’t recall, they
were looking to become quickly independent, which meant having to navigate like the market
rental, the market rate rental market. So it was that kind. It was just in time language skills.
K: Yah. Did people have to repeat classes ever if they were (--)
E: You got to (--) You just stayed in a level. A lot of the times people would go to like multiple
levels. They would just, I think they felt like if I just, even if I can’t. So like the levels were the
survival, and they were the like there was the general readiness for job application process, and
then there was the more specific language development for people that were going to work.
And so let’s say there were three levels of language class, three different topics as oppose to
levels. It was never called that, but. Then somebody who really was at the survival language
level might still sit in the other classes figuring I’m bound to pick up something, you know. The
people that came to class were hungry to learn.
K: What was the most enjoyable part of your job?
E: The getting to, getting beyond the (--) They put (--) Teachers were on a pedestal. In at least,
perhaps in all three of those countries, but definitely in Cambodia and Laos, because there was
so little education available, the teacher, whether it was back in their village, or their town, or
their city, or and then here was the, like up there with the Monk. So you know, clearly coming
out of having taught at the Lowell Public, in the Lowell Public Schools, or you know, here at
Middlesex that’s not the same. We don’t elevate our teachers to such worship status. And so
having to (--) So at first it was kind of like, whoah, but you can’t, you can’t really help people
until you can help them to become self-sufficient and engage with them to the level that they’ll
share what they need. So that you can help them until there’s this trust, and there can’t be
trust between like a God and a person. So once we got passed that, to like I would have people
to my house. I brought my kids to the, to the International Institute as did Jackie. So we kind of
(--) And we had like little social events and stuff, and we would bring our families. And so that
kind of put everybody on the same footing you know. And then, and then the people that we
were working with would share with us like what was going on in their life, what their life had
been like. Very, I heard very few people got into (--) First of all they may not have had the
English language capability, but second of all they may not have wanted to go too deep into the
horrors that they had lived through. They would talk about being (--) Many, actually the filter,
or the funnel through which at least the Cambodian and the Laotian people came was Thailand.
So they had spent time in the camps in Thailand waiting to be resettled in another country.
And so they would talk about that. And they would talk a little bit about like getting to Thailand
and having to escape, but they didn’t get into the deep pain that they had experienced in their
lives too much. So, but as they talked about their lives and what they hoped for, and who they
10
�were and stuff, and how they felt about this new place, that was the most fun. And it was also
really fun when somebody came back and said, “I got a job,” you know, and you think I had
something to do with you getting that job. So.
K: Do you have any more stories that you want to share, or were there any interesting people
that you can remember that really stuck out?
E: Well I remember, I was thinking about this working earlier today. I can remember the,
whether they were informal or formal, community leaders for the Cambodian and Laotian
community at the time. I can picture the woman, and so right there is a difference. There was
a Vietnamese woman, young woman, well I don’t know. So I was, you know, twenty-eight. So,
but she was not forty-five, who was the, with Hai [Ba] Pho and Lan Pho as the like penultimate
leaders of that community, there was a woman there and actually that could have been their
daughter. I’m wondering if (--)
M: Oh they have a daughter. Yah, I don’t know.
E: I think they had a daughter. Well it could have been (--) It wasn’t a man. There was a
woman. It could have been their like somebody they just was close, they were close to,
whatever, but she was kind of the representative of the community for us there. But I can’t
remember her name and I racked my brain this morning. I’ll see if she’s in any of my pictures
and I’ll email you the pictures. I’ll snap them in. But (--)
M: Elise, if we could borrow the photos we can scan at a high resolution.
E: The actual one? Okay, sure.
M: And we’ll get them right back to you in two weeks or something?
E: Happy to. Umhm. They’ll all be (--) I have everything in photograph albums chronologically
from those years. And so I just, I’ll only need to pull out like three albums and I can go through
those and I’ll find those pictures.
M: Okay, wonderful.
E: But Khamsone Silavong was the Laotian community representative leader. Like everything
went through him. And he lived not too far from me in the Highlands. He had two sons and
one of them developed leukemia while he was here, but he was treated and survived it then.
And because we lived in the highlands I would bump into him on an ongoing basis. And then
the Cambodian leader was Socheat Uch, and he also lived here. He was, well he might have
been older, or he might have just lived a harder life and looked older, you know, but he, I still
would see him. And I probably haven’t seen, I haven’t seen Khamsone in fifteen years anyway,
and I probably haven’t seen Socheat in that long, but I would bump into them all the time
downtown at like Folk Festival or whatever. And they, like they were the leaders in their
11
�community. And both of those men had been farmers in their country. So they were, but they
had like survived and gotten jobs and had families. And their children went to school and were
thriving. And so it was all real good.
K: Could you spell those names or [unclear]?
E: Yah, I think I can. So Khamsone was K H A M S O N E, Silavong S I L A V O N G.
K: What was it? S I L V.
E: S I L , Sila.
M: A
E: A
M: V O N G
K: A V O N G, okay.
E: And Socheat was S O C H, so I’m pronouncing it phonectically. It probably sounded nothing
like that. S O C H E A T, and then his last name was U C H if I’m not mistaken. And I was really
pleased with myself when I pulled those names out of my head today. So those two men were
a part of my life. I have pictures of I think both of them in my albums, but (M: Okay) definitely I
have a picture of Socheat. So you’ll get those.
M: Great.
K: So is there anyone that you’ve kept in touch with from working there?
E: Um, no, not (--) I mean from the student population no, but again living in the Highlands my
kids went to school at the Daley. A significant (--) My kids’ friends, like so my kids new their
kids kind of thing. So I would like bump into the parents at school functions and stuff like that.
And then like all other associations after a while they kind of fade away. Well not all other, but
except for your closest people. So no, I haven’t stayed in touch with them.
K: Did you see the services that the IRF offered change at all while you were there?
E: No, not during. You know, we adapted to the needs of the population, but I don’t recall
being impacted by, but again I could have left that job because the funds were, you know, cut
back so that my hours were going to be too small, and I can’t remember that. But while we
were there, I mean I’m sure that, and I didn’t worry about the budgets first of all. Okay, I got
the fun job of working with the people. I think we had a job counselor too. I think we had
somebody who was like directly involved in making the connections between the companies
12
�and the, our students. And I don’t remember who that was, but I’m pretty sure that, I’m
positive that position existed because I didn’t do that, but that person and I communicated.
And it’s too bad that they’re not even coming to mind. It wasn’t Maria Cunha either. Jackie or
Carol didn’t mention anybody in a position like that?
K: I’m trying to think.
M: I’m not sure. We might have it in the archives, you know, so.
E: Okay, yah.
K: Yah, [unclear].
E: I forget why I went down that road of that question about the job counselor. You had asked
me something that made me (--)
K: Oh, different services that were offered?
E: Yeah, so those, so those were the basic services that we (--) Oh, and so Jackie and Carol as
the Project Directors, or Project Managers, whatever their titles were had to worry about the
funding and like how to balance the funding among the services that needed to be offered. We
also did like language around the hospital, like medical situations, and also around, we did kind
of informal child rearing. How to translate your child bearing practices to this new. So they
just, you know, they said to me you have this much time to, we can pay you for this much. And
then I kind of got to go with what I felt like the community needed in that. You know, what a
great job!
K: [Unclear]
M: Did the community suffer and racism that they brought to your attention when they first
showed up?
E: They were not able (--) I’m sure Hai and Lan would have been able to articulate that and
there’s probably some of the, some, many of the Vietnamese people, but they stopped coming
to the English language classes when they didn’t need those services. So the people I was
working with, and for the most part the people who are using the services of the refugees, the
International Institute were people who were in need still, hadn’t made the launch into
employment and stable housing. So that would have precluded them from, now that doesn’t
mean they wouldn’t have articulated if it had been rampant. I never mentioned to them what I
would hear from white people in the city, but they never said anything about that to me. And I
don’t think there would have been, there wouldn’t have been in a conversation where that
would have been you know, spoken, allowed. And I don’t think they would have necessarily
been familiar enough with our, with our cultural cues to read people’s expressions or, and plus
13
�they were coming out of such difficult circumstances that probably as long as you weren’t like
being overtly aggressive towards them it was fine.
M: Yah.
K: Did working for the IRF change your perspective on anything, such as working with [word
unclear]?
E: Oh yeah! Yeah, yeah, yeah, are you kidding? It has contributed to why I went back to
teaching in Lowell. In ’88 I went back to teaching in Lowell. So I did some like other stuff that
had nothing to do with anything except making a little part-time money, real estate and stuff
like that for a few years when my, when I had three kids in daycare that was just very difficult to
afford on the salaries of those kinds of jobs that I’m talking about right now, but then I went
back to teaching and I stayed in Lowell. And then when I left the Lowell Public Schools I did
some consulting for a year, but I wanted to come back to the urban environment where the
work that you do empowers the next, you know, the people who need the empowerment and
they’re most often the most recent refugees here, the cultures, the incoming countries have
changed, but the need hasn’t changed. So that’s why I came back here. So I guess, yah, it did.
K: So what did you teach when you were teaching at the schools?
E: I was, actually I was a computer teacher.
K: Oh! Is that what you do now?
E: No, now I’m an administrator, but I (--) Then I started teaching psychology here, but I
actually (--) It was a very fun time to be a computer teacher as the beginning of the like the
infusion of computers into schools in the late 80s. And so I got a job and (--) I got a job, my first
job at St. Margaret’s and they were paying six thousand dollars a year. So that was 1988. And
so someone said to me, “You should apply for that.” And I said, “I don’t know anything about
computers. I’ve never used a computer.” They said, “Yah, but they’re paying six thousand
dollars. Who are they going to get that knows anything about a computer for six thousand
dollars?” So I went in and I got the job, and I like self-taught, you know, figured it out. So then
the Lowell Public Schools got a lot of money to build, to outfit their schools with technology.
And I applied there and got a job there because I had this experience. And what I remember
doing with that, that I think is directly related to my work at the International Institute, I was at
the Wang School for a while and my computer classroom lab was right next to one of the
bilingual, it was the seventh grade bilingual classroom. And the Wang was a Hispanic Magnet
School. So you were either a Cambodian or a Hispanic Magnet School at that time. And so if
you needed bilingual services you went to the schools that provided those kinds of services in
your language.
M: And where was the Cambodian Magnet School?
14
�E: The Daley. So this was a Middle School. So the Daley, and the Sullivan, and the Wang were,
and I believe the Robinson were Hispanic Magnets. The Daley, and the Butler, and the Bartlett
maybe were the Cambodian. So anyway, so there’s this classroom of seventh grade Hispanic
bilingual, needing bilingual services students, and they were predominantly male students at
that point. And seventh grade is a very like ugly time in a kid’s life and they were, many of
them were a lot older than like the typical, or the traditional U.S. seventh grader. They had
either left school, or come in from another country late. So this was like a group of fifteen year
old testosterone ridden young men who were not turned on to school at all, or they wouldn’t
necessarily be in bilingual like not mainstreamed. (K: Right) So my computer lab was right next
door to them. And so, so the bilingual classes came in separately one at a time for computer
classes. And there were some of these young men who like really took to the technology. Well
back in the 80s it seemed like the boys took to the technology. I don’t know why that is,
because I’m like a wicked feminist, but it seemed like I don’t know, girls didn’t have the
confidence to approach it and troubleshoot, and be willing to risk making a mistake and the
boys did. Anyway, so these young men, a lot of them got really engaged in it, and like even
though they didn’t have mastery of the language they could master the technology, then
networking and that kind of stuff. And I would get all these calls all day long from the teachers
who would be like, you know, people like me, middle aged at the time, or whatever,
somewhere, white women, and they would say, “Oh, I can’t, I need help with my computer.”
And my job was to teach students, not to teach them. And so I developed a technology what
do you call them? It was like my tech team, and they were the seventh grade bilingual students
who were always in trouble right. So they were always in the principal’s office. But then all of a
sudden they (--) So when a teacher call and needed help I would ask the teacher of this bilingual
class next door if I could have a student to serve as a tech team person to go out and help the
instructor, the teacher. And so he loved the idea. I mean he and I kind of collaborated on this
idea. And all of a sudden (--) So he started keeping attendance records for the rest of the year,
and he said, “My students had perfect attendance for the rest of the year”, because they were
always hoping that they were going to be the ones that were going down. Because like what a
difference in the power shift of being the person who’s showing your teacher who usually
thinks you’re an idiot, like you know, “What’s the matter with you, you’re always goofing off,”
and you’re showing them how to use a computer is like so cool. So I would say that that like
whole idea of empowering people to, that the language limitation isn’t like, you have
something to offer. That came out of my work at the International Institute, or maybe it was
there and the International Institute fed it, and then.
K: That’s great.
M: Great story.
K: Do you have any more questions?
M: No.
K: I think I’m all set.
15
�E: Okay.
M: Oh I got one more question. So was there a sense of community at the Indochinese
Refugee Foundation.
E: Yeah.
M: How? Describe it for us.
E: Amongst the staff and the people that we served there was a sense of (--) We were friends,
like the people who worked. You can’t work in environments like that, and you’re not sitting
behind a desk and being autocratic, bureaucratic. You’re like all pitching in. And so we all like, I
don’t mean we were friends like we didn’t necessarily, well sometimes we did actually hang out
together, but we were just like all collaborative and collegial, and bringing families in. And so
then the, the refugee population, the immigrant population were like got really (--) They loved
when we would bring our kids in, and our kids and their kids would like hang out together and
stuff. And so you ended up caring about each other in ways beyond any kind of like a service
provider organization. Like in ways beyond what happens in a classroom, in a school. Not that
the teacher doesn’t care about the people, but this was much more holistic. Like you’re
working with the whole person, you’re not just teaching them some subject for six hours a day.
This is their family. This is what’s going on in their life. And our services allowed them to talk
about that and then address all the things that were their issues. So yah, so community evolves
out of that I think.
M: Um. Elise, any finals thoughts about your time with IRF?
E: No, but if I think of any when I send you the pictures I’ll jot down anything else I can think of.
M: Yah, if you can connect with Kale and maybe bring the photos?
E: Yah, I have her email. I’ll do that.
M: She can pick them up, we’ll scan them.
K: Sure!
E: Okay. Okay, I can do, yah, okay. Sure.
M: We’ll give them back to you. That will be great.
E: Looking at the pictures might remind me of some stories.
K: Yah.
16
�M: Okay. Good. Well thanks very much for your time.
K: Well thank you.
E: Okay, my pleasure. It was fun. It was fun to relive that.
Interview ends
jw
17
�
Dublin Core
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Title
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Indochinese Refugees Foundation, Inc. Oral Histories, 2016
Source
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Indochinese Refugees Foundation, Inc. Oral Histories, 2016. UML 4. Center for Lowell History, University of Massachusetts Lowell, Lowell, MA.
Description
An account of the resource
Four oral history interviews with former staff and board members of the Indochinese Refugees Foundation, Inc., an organization that helped resettle Southeast Asian refugees in the greater Lowell, Massachusetts area during the 1980s. Oral histories were conducted with Jacqueline (Fidler) Moloney, Carol Keirstead, Elise Martin, Hai Pho, and Lan Pho. <br /><br />View the collection finding aid for more information, <a href="https://libguides.uml.edu/uml4">https://libguides.uml.edu/uml4</a>.<br /><br />The entire collection is accessible on this site.
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Elise Martin oral history interview transcript, 2016
Subject
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Community organization
English language--Study and teaching
Lowell (Mass.)
Nonprofit organizations
Occupational training
Oral history
Political refugees
Refugee families
Refugee issues
Refugees--United States
Social service
Unemployed--Services for
Description
An account of the resource
The transcript of an oral history with Elise Martin on her experiences working with Southeast Asian refugees and as an Indochinese Refugees Foundation, Inc. staff member. Other topics discussed include her work after she left the organization.
Creator
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Martin, Elise
Connerty, Kale
Ali, Mehmed
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Indochinese Refugees Foundation, Inc. Oral Histories, 2016
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University of Massachusetts Lowell
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2016-06-24
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17 p.; 21.5 x 28
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English
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Text
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uml4_16.09_i002
Coverage
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Lowell, Massachusetts
2010-2019
Cambodians
Documents
International Institute of New England Lowell
Lowell Public Schools
-
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Title
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Indochinese Refugees Foundation, Inc. Oral Histories, 2016
Source
A related resource from which the described resource is derived
Indochinese Refugees Foundation, Inc. Oral Histories, 2016. UML 4. Center for Lowell History, University of Massachusetts Lowell, Lowell, MA.
Description
An account of the resource
Four oral history interviews with former staff and board members of the Indochinese Refugees Foundation, Inc., an organization that helped resettle Southeast Asian refugees in the greater Lowell, Massachusetts area during the 1980s. Oral histories were conducted with Jacqueline (Fidler) Moloney, Carol Keirstead, Elise Martin, Hai Pho, and Lan Pho. <br /><br />View the collection finding aid for more information, <a href="https://libguides.uml.edu/uml4">https://libguides.uml.edu/uml4</a>.<br /><br />The entire collection is accessible on this site.
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University of Massachusetts Lowell
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The collection finding aid, <a href="https://libguides.uml.edu/uml4" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://libguides.uml.edu/uml4</a>.
Dublin Core
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Title
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Elise Martin oral history interview audio recording, 2016
Subject
The topic of the resource
Community organization
English language--Study and teaching
Lowell (Mass.)
Nonprofit organizations
Occupational training
Oral history
Political refugees
Refugee families
Refugee issues
Refugees--United States
Social service
Unemployed--Services for
Description
An account of the resource
The audio recording of an oral history with Elise Martin on her experiences working with Southeast Asian refugees and as an Indochinese Refugees Foundation, Inc. staff member. Other topics discussed include her work after she left the organization.
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
Martin, Elise
Connerty, Kale
Ali, Mehmed
Source
A related resource from which the described resource is derived
Indochinese Refugees Foundation, Inc. Oral Histories, 2016
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
University of Massachusetts Lowell
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
2016-06-24
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UMass Lowell Library makes this material available for private, educational, and research use. It is the responsibility of the user to secure any needed permissions from rightsholders, for uses such as commercial reproductions of copyrighted works. Contact host institution for more information.
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1 audio recording; 00:50:30
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English
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Sound
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uml4_16.09_i001
Coverage
The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant
Lowell, Massachusetts
2010-2019
Cambodians
International Institute of New England Lowell
Lowell Public Schools
Sound recordings
-
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4665af2db515c48aabe2f1573bac5fac
PDF Text
Text
Oral History
Partial transcript of interview with Vera Thong Tith and her husband
William An Tith of Lowell, MA. Interview was chiefly with Vera, and
unless noted otherwise, all quoted words are hers.
Conducted by Sheila Kirschbaum, TIHC, February 13, 1993
Both born in Cambodia (Win 1950, Vin 1952)
1979: Son born in Cambodia after Khmer Rouge left, after Communists left
Were married [8/25/74] before Communist rule
Held off from having children during "hard" Communist-ruled
"generation."
Named son born after Communist rule "Samnang," meaning "lucky"--they
mean this as "very lucky."
"Not enough food to eat, work very hard," during Communist era.
People in camp waited long for agency "call them to the United States."
Daughter born 1983 at Lowell General Hospital. Nurses gave Vera a book to
choose name from. Husband suggested Dy (pron. "Dee," Vera's given
Cambodian name); they named her Deanna.
When V. and W. became citizens, they changed names from Dy to Vera,
from Savoeun to William ("Savoeun" was "hard to call"; Dy would be
pronounced "Die"). William explains that "somebody [at work] tried to
ignore [his Cambodian] name." No bad feelings about changing names.
Vera wants names to be "easy" for others. Says," My eyes still the same;
my skin still the same .... It's no matter. "
Taught in Cambodia 2 years. After escape to Thailand, taught there almost
2 years (taught young children). In Cambodia, taught math, French in
secondary school--"like a private school."
Some language difficulty once in US, but not much, because Cambodians
studied English in school for one hour a week in secondary school; every
other subject was taught in French. Did less and less in Cambodian and
more and more in French as they went on in school. French knowledge
helped with English learning.
Vera completed college*, but had "no proof." Left Cambodia with "empty
hand." "They destroy everything when Communists come through,"
explains William. People were moved from in town to outside the town, to
fields.
*[William completed college, too--technology, Phnom Penh.]
Q: Were you considered dangerous (due to education)?
A. They (V. & W.) knew they had to "keep eye on ... what was going on.
We were quiet."
�2
Wore only black, could only dye clothes black. Boiled bark of tree to make
black dye to dye clothes. Wore black like a uniform, to suggest conformity
(compliance) with Communist rulers. Vera: "Your mind not follow them"
if you don't change to one color. One color, "one spoon of rice every day."
(For this interview Vera happens to be wearing a bright gold sweater,
William a bright red one.)
·
The rule still Communist. Vietnamese invade, "have something in their
mind, too." Not just there to free people from the Khmer Rouge. Vera says,
"I don't like politic[s] at all." One comes, the other leaves; one leaves, the
other comes. "Poor Cambodian in the middle" (V.). "Like a game," adds
William.
No respect there now for UN. They will kill anyone. Would even fire on a
Red Cross truck.
Hard to tell who ~ vs. who orders killing. Khmer Rouge? Vietnamese?
(Vera uses A, B, C to show who kills whom--A may hire B to kill C, for ex.)
"War still around ... very, very sad."
William: "Vietnamese don't want to get out of my country. I saw by my
eyes, they took every single thing from my country to their country."
Machines, gold, rice concealed in a military truck by a Vietnamese who
claimed the truck contained only the body of a dead soldier.
William was an electrician in 1979 when the Vietnamese invaded
Cambodia. Vera saw on the news that Vietnam had invaded.
Vietnamese soldiers changed clothes to look "regular," not like soldiers,
instead of leaving as they were supposed to have done. They took pains to
look like Cambodians. Only their speech gave them away as Vietnamese.
They would even speak Cambodian to each other. Real Cambodians weren't
fooled.
Vera: "The bottom line: We have to understand each other," all people of
all countries. Have to avoid urge to be "more powerful," to have "more
money." Vera and her family visited Cambodia during the summer of
1992. Vera says: "My tear cry all the time," explaining how she felt while
there. She kept asking herself, "What should I do now?"
Vera then says if there were more Demonstration Schools and no war,
people would understand each other (The Demo is a trilingual, tricultural
Lowell elementary school where she teaches preschool children).
"United States very good country, seem like control very good.... We want
- to share, too. We don't say we want only Cambodian people in Cambodia.
�3
Any country can join together, but don't make problem." Vera wonders
"what should we do" to promote understanding, togetherness.
William: People who get citizenship love the land (US). Cambodian people
are like a closed flower (hiding patriotism inside). Ho Chi Minh's book
influenced people to take over Cambodia. When John Kerry went to
Vietnam, he was shown, by Vietnamese, an unreal scene. ("They so
smart," Wm. says of the Vietnamese.)
Q.: Would you ever go back to Cambodia to live?
A.: (Vera) It is "my dream" to go back to Cambodia to live.
(William) "I don't know" if I would. I would go, "in peace."
Vera explains that before 1975, Cambodia was a wonderful, peaceful place.
From 1975 to 1979 "everything [was] destroyed" and there is "still not
peace."
"Very, very scary" now: accidents, thefts. Hometown is far from capital.
Six-hour drive before, eight-to-twelve-hour drive now: holes, road is
"broken," bridges unrepaired.
THE TRIP OUT
William: "tough time." Vietnamese inside border, in forests near Thailand
border. Had to crawl, watch for mines. Lots of mud. Vietnamese didn't
want Cambodians to cross to Thailand.
IN THAILAND CAMP
In 1981, five people (in Vera's family) "have name" to come to US: William,
Vera, son, mother-in-law, niece. Mother-in-law, when name called,
decided to stay. Wanted to die in Cambodia. But two years later (1983),
conditions in camp (theft, little food) caused her to change mind. Two men
took sixteen-year-old niece away from her, perhaps "for money." Took her
to Cambodian camp. Mother-in-law came to US in 1983 (when
granddaughter Deanna was three months old).
William: asked someone to help them see niece last summer--had to pay
$100.00 each way--long, overnight trip. Cannot get niece to US now; she's
not a close relative (according to Kathy Flynn, who works with refugees).
They just learned they may now be able to sponsor. Vera has one brother,
two sisters, one niece, and one nephew still in Cambodia.
•
[At this point Vera brings out photographs of her uncle, niece, and other
relatives they saw in Cambodia last summer. Says, "Sad story, Sheila."]
Had celebration. "Very quick one month"--hard to leave and time passed
quickly. Relatives touched them, said, "Oh, people from United States," felt
their skin. Vera's sister got married shortly after they left. People at
airport in Cambodia asked V. and Wm. if they'd seen any of their relatives
�in US. "Did you hear this name, that name?" they would ask.
4
William is no longer employed as an electrician--was laid off from Wang
after ten years. "Company, you know, keep like a trick on us, and we get
laid off," Vera explains. Vera advised William to go to -=tchool in the
intirim, saying, "No one can steal education."
·
Vera became the first Cambodian teacher in Lowell when she started
teaching in 1985. At first she took eight to ten college courses a year; now
takes one to three courses a semester (aim=120 credits for a Bachelor's
degree). Needs two more courses for degree, then certification.
William shows picture of himself teaching sports at Thai camp. "Skinny"
at camp (lack of food). V. and Wm. were paid ten "baht" (sp?) a day in
Thailand currency (both were teaching).
Were in Thailand from 1979-1981 before "name called" to come to US (other
countries offered as choices as well). They'd filled out forms. American
agency came to camp, interviewed them. Hospital wanted to hire Vera as a
nurse; she'd been a midwife in Cambodia. William, an electrician, does
electrical work around the house now, and Vera values his skills.
Q.: Why come to Lowell?
Vera: First, came to NY, arriving in Brooklyn on Feb. 18, 1981. Lived there
nearly one year. Son often sick, had to take subway to clinic. No welfare;
food stamps provided, though. Husband got job in fifteen days. Worked for
about $3.00 an hour, traveled by subway a long distance to work. One day, a
male friend living in Lowell called. Knew of Vera's background and
education; said, "Come here!" In Lowell, he pointed out, are educational
institutions, hospitals, an easier life.
January 5, 1982: Tiths came to Lowell--no welfare, no food stamps. Hard to
find jobs at that time. Vera decided to go to work at Comet Products
[makers of plastic utensils], then worked at Prince pasta factory in Lowell.
1985: Son late for school, bus didn't pick him up for some reason.
Vera called school (Greenhalge), brought son to school. She was
asked that day to translate :for another Khmer-speaking parent. Teacher
talked to Mr. Gallagher (principal) and Ann O'Donnell (director of
Bilingual Department) on Friday. Gave up well-paying job to start teaching
at Greenhalge the following Monday. She has written down (in resume
form) these facts, so her children can see the sequence of events.
•
Vera explains that now, when they have free time, she and her husband lie
down and "think about how we are now"; they feel amazed: "We supposed
to be killed, that generation.... We [were] so skinny.... He [William] is
still hurt--a lot of things he hold [inside] .... You cannot say no; if they say
�5
you have to do, you have to do .... But we so lucky! Working so hard ....
Very, very lucky."
Vera loves studying. Says her father "worked hard" for her, telling her,
"No one can steal your education." Family was middle-class. In
Cambodia, generally, "if you [are] a girl, you cannot get high education.
Most [women] have to ... stay home." Vera was lucky to finish school,
then finish university at capital (Phnom Penh).
END OF SIDE A
SIDEB:
The Communists divided people. They gave different groups different food
to eat. "New 17 March People" and "Old People, 18 March" were the two
groups. The Old 18 People controlled the town. They wore black, too, but
controlled, and might kill, the "17 people." Came in on Mar. 17 to control
whole country. The 18 were like "the boss," and the 17 "the employees."
[The Tiths mean APRIL. The Communists invaded on 4/17/75.]
Hometown far from capital, close to "state": Battambang. William
explains that primary school, high school, college were in "state," then
university in Phnom Penh, capital.
William and Vera met at college one year before Communists came in.
Not in class together. V. never saw him; he saw her. He told his mother
he had noticed Vera. His parents went to Vera's home. Cambodian girls
don't talk "in public or in private" to µoys. The elementary schools are
either all-boy or all-girl. There was some mixing in college. In classroom:
one side girls, one side boys. Each "discusses" with own gender.
(In US, Vera says, there are many problems with pregnancy [among
teens]. Boys and girls in Cambodia don't have much chance to talk. Girls
"shy" with boys. "That is the culture." In US, boys and girls "close.")
--above story, cont.: Vera avoided looking at Wm's face (as was the custom).
He'd seen her riding a motorcycle. Parents said for them to marry. In the
work camp they, like most husbands and wives, were separated up for one,
sometimes two weeks. Vera cooked for a thousand people. Some families
did not get together at all. Some people's loved ones were killed.
Now the Tiths are thankful to be together, despite hard times. They try to
save money, have no desire to be rich, are happy to survive. They rent out
their upstairs to meet the costs of a high mortgage. At first all five in the
family lived together (William's mother and the four Tiths). Vera stresses
the importance of William's going to school (He's currently taking business
courses.).
�6
Lots of schools want Vera to work there next year. She loves Demo., Demo.
program--children are together [integrated]. At Greenhalge, she heard an
American child say, "Don't play with this Cambodian kid." Demo. kids,
she says, disregard differences.
On culture and language:
Vera notes the value of language study. Knows French, used it in Montreal
after car accident they were in. Writes in journal. William tells how they
teach their kids Khmer for one hour a day. Kids are mainstreamed, but
Vera says she doesn't want kids to "miss our [Cambodian] culture." Her
son writes in Khmer to his aunt, and learns French and Spanish from
Vera. AIM: to understand each other. English-only movement is like
being "in your own pond." In Montreal, knowledge of other language
proved very helpful.
Demonstration School: Demo kids use Khmer words naturally. Teaching
opportunities could exist for Vera at the Greenhalge, Demonstration,
Washington, and Lincoln Schools. Tells of when one Demo. faculty
member left and kids cried. Cambodian proverb: People come in very
happy--very, very sad to get out. Demo. plan is to rotate teachers out after
two years. Vera has stayed extra year already and will stay at least one
more year (by request). Notes importance of child readiness, importance of
mutual understanding. Tries various ways to help kids learn vocabulary.
Celebrations: Soul Day--big celebration. Parents or family members pass
away; life cycle is to come back, to be reborn. Soul "hang[s] around
somewhere, looking to get a new life,_" may be hungry. 'We are alive"--we
make food, bring to temple. Monks pray for the deceased. William tells of
how his mother's difficulties in life (childbearing and childrearing) mean
"we have to do something special for her." Had monk pray for her during
celebration. Cambodian custom is to cremate, but, he explains, "I miss[ed]
her so much I cannot cremate her," and therefore buried her. He says he
wanted "to leave her in one place," bought her a bi1' plot (didn't want to step
on any surrounding graves in placing flowers).
Monks use candles, incense in praying for deceased. Soul Day is on October
30th, near Halloween, Vera points out. Every Cambodian has to "do that."
All souls looking for seventh temple, and if relatives don't "see you make
anything and pray to them, ... they cry. You won't be blessed. Two
temples now, in Greater Lowell. He then shows a picture of a tray on
which are Vera's father's leg bones, dug up and reburied in US in 1992.
(He died in 1979.) William points out that the bones were "still good." Vera
explains, "We do good things, we receive good things."
Vera's father died during "Communist generation." Not killed outright,
but suffered due to lack of food during hard times (probably starved to
- death). Shows picture of family members, including five children with no
parents, no "old people" to take care of them. [Two are Vera's sister's
�7
children; three are Vera's siblings. Vera's sister died of starvation.]
Vera's mother also may have died from starvation (indirect killing).
Others killed by sticks or long knives; some were shot.
The Tiths collect pictures, stories, share accounts of Cambodian heroes.
Vera considers herself a hero for surviving. Vera and Demo teachers
talked with preschool and kindergarden students about heroes; Vera tells
me my daughter Julie told of what she would do if she were a hero.
Vera and Wm. show picture in National Geographic of Cambodian mass
grave, skulls. People were lined up and killed "like animals," hit with
something like a bat. Maybe three million people killed. V. and Wm. teach
their children about personal and national (Cambodian) history. Vera: "I
pray every day that peace will [come] soon."
William: "If the Vietnamese don't want my country, ... leave my country
alone." He says China wants Cambodia too.
Picture of cars in a heap--they (Vietnamese) took tires to make sandals.
Picture of a stripped Mercedes. Took ?(some car part) to make a spoon.
("No education.")
Vera says their son Samnang wanted to go to Angkor Wat, but couldn't go-not safe. Vera went there once as a child. Belief that people who go are
lucky. Thais, some think, want Angkor Wat. (Displayed in the Tiths'
living room are 2 large pictures--one of wood?--of Angkor Wat.)
They show me a special beaded piece made by Vera's mother over long
period of time. Desire to familiarize their kids with Camb. culture, through
collected, displayed objects.
Show picture of son Samnang, who, at age nine, became a Buddhist monk.
As a monk, he'd use a beaded piece, and eat only twice a day (morning and
afternoon). Head shaved, beautiful white lace shawl over one shoulder.
1987: William was a CMAA leader, after Narin Sao.
Son was monk for 10 weeks; Few Cambodian boys do this. Having a son
like that means luck for parents. William had become a monk for his
mother, to "open way for her," in accordance with "Buddha Bible." Wm's
mom passed away peacefully at St. Joseph's Hospital in Lowell. Wm. tells
story of guy with many children, many sons, but none who "opened way."
Vera adds that man found it "hard to pass away." William says he tried to
determine why the man suffered so, and learned he'd been a jail guard and
pehraps had beaten people and was now getting his payback.
�8
FIRST IMPRESSION OF US (New York):
William: "My feet were like the people [walking on] the moon." Big
country. At market, "everything new in the refrigerator! Everything
fresh!"
Vera: "For me, it was scary."
William: Wrote home about NY ("Words coming out from my heart") to
mother, brother, sister-in-law in Cambodia.
Vera tells of first time seeing snow, Feb. 18, day of arrival. She was
wearing sandals. "What happened?" she asked a tall man who was
picking them up. Said to herself, "New life. What should I do?"
The Tiths were given $45.00 ($15 for each of the three of them). The man
transporting them went to look for William's name, found it, brought them
to hotel. William bought some food at grocery store. Vera couldn't sleep;
snow coming down. "This is the new country. What should I do? They
have rice to eat or not?" No training at Thailand camp. Others were
trained in Philippines and Malaysia; they weren't. Went directly to US.
William tells that his application was, he thought, worded such that he'd
indicated his life was in danger due to Communists. Lots of countries
listed for them to pick from. They'd picked US, because he had studied
English. Said no to French option. (French called first.)
Vera explains she had friends in Switzerland who had purchased tickets
for her to go there. Chose US instead; feels "lucky" to be here.
IMPORTANT NOTE:
Interview ended as tape ran out. Missed answer to question: Is
there anything you don't like about the United States?
ANS.: an unequivocal "Nothing!" The Tiths consider themselves very
lucky to be in the US. They are effusive in their gratitude. They wanted
very much for their parting remarks to be recorded, and I promised to
record them on paper. They would not complain about anything about life
in the US. In closing they reiterated their gratitude.
SEE "FULL TRANSCRIPT"
�9
Full Transcript
of that part of the conversation with Vera and William Tith that
appears on the Master Tape but not on copies of that tape:
Q: Were there things you decided you didn't like about the United States?
(Silence) Or have you decided that there are things that you don't like ...
Vera: In the United States?
William: They have many countries, they have application, like France,
Belzig [Belgium?], Australia, and etc.
V.: Japanese, too. A lot of country, you know.
Q: You could pick a country?
Wm.: And then I pick United States because at that time when I was at the
college and university I study English, and I decided, "Oh, maybe I come to
United States, because I already know some English, and then I already
study," and we decide to come to United States, and I found ...
V.: We put application in ...
Wm.: ... United States call. The French call first and we decide we don't
want to go there.
Q.: The French called first?
Wm.: Yes. We just, we didn't decide to go France. We decided wait to the
United States only. And special my wife have friend in Switzerland.
V.: Usually they want, before Communists, they wanted me to go to Swiss,
too, but on that time, you know, seem like a balancing: Which way I go?
Which way I go? When I go, I miss my family, you know, so that's why I
stuck with the Communist ...
Wm.: You remember when they give you cowida [words unclear]* ... (See
page 10.)
V.: They wanted me to take to the Swiss ...
Wm.: They remember, one Swiss lady, she [Vera] work at the hospital ...
V.: They already gave everything, you know, buy airline, air ticket, for me,
- but I cannot go. That's why we lucky we came to the United States. We
very lucky . . .
END OF TAPE
�10
*When I inquired about this word, Vera told me that the "Swiss lady gave
[her] clothes already cut for {her] size and a necklace timer."
�
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Tith, Vera T. and William A. Oral History Interview, 1993
Description
An account of the resource
The Vera T. and William A. Tith oral history interview collection consists of one audiocassette tape, 1 audio CD, a complete transcript, and a partial transcript of an oral history interview conducted by Sheila L. Kirschbaum with Vera Thong Tith and William An Tith on February 13, 1993. Topics covered include but are not limited to Vera and William’s children, their lives in Cambodia before they left, living and working in a Thailand refugee camp, resettling in the United States, and their lives now in Lowell, Massachusetts. <br /><br />The collection is accessible on this site.<br /><br /><strong><span class="TextRun SCXW158174635 BCX0" xml:lang="en-us" lang="en-us"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW158174635 BCX0">Content warning:</span></span></strong><span class="TextRun SCXW158174635 BCX0" xml:lang="en-us" lang="en-us"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW158174635 BCX0"><strong> </strong>Mentions of war, death, and other situations read</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW158174635 BCX0" xml:lang="en-us" lang="en-us"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW158174635 BCX0">ers and listeners may find<span> </span></span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW158174635 BCX0" xml:lang="en-us" lang="en-us"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW158174635 BCX0">distressing.</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW158174635 BCX0"> </span><br /><br />View the collection finding aid for more information, <a href="https://libguides.uml.edu/uml16" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://libguides.uml.edu/uml16</a>.
Source
A related resource from which the described resource is derived
Tith, Vera T. and William A. Oral History Interview, 1993. UML 16. Center for Lowell History, University of Massachusetts Lowell, Lowell, MA.
Relation
A related resource
The collection finding aid, <a href="https://libguides.uml.edu/uml16" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://libguides.uml.edu/uml16</a>.
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Vera Thong Tith and William An Tith oral history interview (partial) transcript, 1993
Subject
The topic of the resource
Cambodian Americans
Electricians
Elementary school teachers
Genocide--Cambodia
Lowell (Mass.)
Oral history
Refugees--Cambodia
Description
An account of the resource
The partial transcript of an oral history interview conducted by Sheila L. Kirschbaum with Vera Thong Tith and William An Tith. Topics covered include but are not limited to Vera and William's children, their lives in Cambodia before they left, living and working in a Thailand refugee camp, resettling in the United States, and their lives now in Lowell, Massachusetts.
A full and complete transcript is also available.
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
Tith, Vera T.
Tith, William A.
Kirschbaum, Sheila L.
Source
A related resource from which the described resource is derived
Tith, Vera T. and Tith, William A. Oral History Interview, 1993
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
University of Massachusetts Lowell
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1993-02-13
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
UMass Lowell Library makes this material available for private, educational, and research use. It is the responsibility of the user to secure any needed permissions from rightsholders, for uses such as commercial reproductions of copyrighted works. Contact host institution for more information.
Format
The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource
10 p.; 21.6 x 28
Language
A language of the resource
English
Khmer
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
Text
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
uml16_93.7_i001
Coverage
The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant
Lowell, Massachusetts
1990-1999
Cambodians
Demonstration School
Documents
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Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Chigas, George. Southeast Asians in Lowell Collection, 1987-1989
Description
An account of the resource
This collection includes two series, the Cambodian Traditional Crafts and Religious Ceremonies, 1987, and the Southeast Asian Exhibit Photographs, 1988-1989. The first series includes Chigas’ 84-page paper on Cambodian Traditional Crafts and Religious Ceremonies created in 1987 along with corresponding photographs. The project, funded in part by the Historic Preservation Commission of Lowell, Massachusetts, explores the traditional crafts and religious ceremonies of the Cambodian refugees who settled in the Greater Lowell area in the aftermath of the Cambodian genocide. The second series includes 20 photographs from a Lowell exhibit on Southeast Asians that was coordinated by George Chigas. <br /><br />Part of the collection is accessible on this site.<br /><br />Part of the collection is also accessible on <a href="https://archive.org/details/seadauml?and%5B%5D=george+chigas&sin=" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">the Internet Archive</a>.<br /><br />View the collection finding aid for more information, <a href="https://libguides.uml.edu/uml2" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://libguides.uml.edu/uml2</a><br /><br /><span>--------------------</span><br /><span>SEADA would like to thank the following individuals for their work in making this collection available online: Etsuko Benton, Monita Chea, and Anthony Sampas.</span>
Source
A related resource from which the described resource is derived
Chigas, George. Southeast Asians in Lowell Collection, 1987-1989. UML 2. Center for Lowell History, University of Massachusetts Lowell, Lowell, MA.
Relation
A related resource
The collection finding aid, <a href="https://libguides.uml.edu/uml2" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://libguides.uml.edu/uml2</a>.
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Cambodian Traditional Crafts and Religious Ceremonies, 1987
Description
An account of the resource
This 84-page paper, part of a project funded by the Historic Preservation Commission of Lowell, Massachusetts, explores the traditional crafts and religious ceremonies of the Cambodian refugees who settled in Lowell in the aftermath of the Cambodian Genocide. <br /><br />Includes nine chapters: Kite Making, Basket Making, Woodworking, Needlework, Folklore, Ordination of the Novice Monk, Ceremony of the Consecration of the Buddha Statue, Ceremony of the Rain Retreat (Vossa), and Money Tree Fund Raising Celebration.<br /><br />This paper may also be viewed on the Internet Archive,<a href="https://archive.org/details/ChigasCambodiaDissertation" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://archive.org/details/ChigasCambodiaDissertation</a>.
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
Chigas, George
Source
A related resource from which the described resource is derived
Chigas, George. Southeast Asians in Lowell Collection
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
University of Massachusetts Lowell
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1987
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
UMass Lowell Library makes this material available for private, educational, and research use. It is the responsibility of the user to secure any needed permissions from rightsholders, for uses such as commercial reproductions of copyrighted works. Contact host institution for more information.
Format
The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource
84 p.; 20.32 x 27.94
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
text
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
cambodiantraditionalcraftsandreligiousceremonies
Coverage
The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant
Lowell, Massachusetts
Subject
The topic of the resource
Basket making--United States
Buddhism
Buddhism and art
Color photography
Consecration
Kites
Lowell (Mass.)
Needlework
North Chelmsford (Mass.)
Ordination (Buddhism)
Woodwork
1980-1989
Bai Si
Books
Cambodians
Documents
Komrope Trie
Rain Retreat
Srom Kinae
Trairatanaram Buddhist Temple
Vossa
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Text
�
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Tsapatsaris, George N. and Dorothea. A City of Refugees, the Memories of Cambodia Collection, circa 1987-1991
Description
An account of the resource
<p><span>The George N. and Dorothea Tsapatsaris “A City of Refugees, the Memories of Cambodia” collection contains artwork, stories, letters, and other documents created by Dorothea Tsapatsaris’ young Cambodian students from the years of 1987-1991. Topics range from Cambodian clothing, ceremonies, and every day activities to food recipes, leaving Cambodia, and living in Lowell, Massachusetts. Also included are several photographs of Dorothea Tsapatsaris’ students, classroom, and student work; a couple of newspaper clippings; and material related to the 1990 “Memories of Cambodia” exhibit. <br /><br />Part of the collection is accessible on this site.<br /><br />Part of the collection is accessible on the Digital Commonwealth under the collection title "<a href="https://www.digitalcommonwealth.org/collections/commonwealth:1n79h429p" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">A City of Refugees, the Memories of Cambodia</a>."<br /><br />View the collection finding aid for more information, <a href="https://libguides.uml.edu/uml9" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://libguides.uml.edu/uml9</a>.<br /><br /><br />--------------------<br />SEADA would like to thank the following individuals for their work in making this collection available online: Etsuko Benton and Monita Chea.<br /></span></p>
Source
A related resource from which the described resource is derived
Tsapatsaris, George N. and Dorothea. A City of Refugees, the Memories of Cambodia Collection, circa 1987-1991. UML 9. Center for Lowell History, University of Massachusetts Lowell, Lowell, MA.
Relation
A related resource
The collection finding aid, <a href="https://libguides.uml.edu/uml9" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://libguides.uml.edu/uml9</a>.
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
WHY MY FAMILY CAME TO LOWELL
Subject
The topic of the resource
Children’s drawings
Children's writings
Lowell (Mass.)
Description
An account of the resource
WHY MY FAMILY CAME TO LOWELL
Source
A related resource from which the described resource is derived
Tsapatsaris, George N. and Dorothea. A City of Refugees, the Memories of Cambodia Collection
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
University of Massachusetts Lowell
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1988-1989
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
UMass Lowell Library makes this material available for private, educational, and research use. It is the responsibility of the user to secure any needed permissions from rightsholders, for uses such as commercial reproductions of copyrighted works. Contact host institution for more information.
Format
The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource
1 p.; 55.88 x 71.12
Language
A language of the resource
English
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
Image
Text
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
mc_0091
Coverage
The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant
Lowell, Massachusetts
Relation
A related resource
<span>The collection finding aid, <a href="https://libguides.uml.edu/uml9" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://libguides.uml.edu/uml9</a></span><span>.</span>
1980-1989
Cambodians
Drawings
Joseph G. Pyne Arts Elementary School
Manuscripts
Posters
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5653e6b9352f5bdb0a272aadfb650bab
PDF Text
Text
�
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Tsapatsaris, George N. and Dorothea. A City of Refugees, the Memories of Cambodia Collection, circa 1987-1991
Description
An account of the resource
<p><span>The George N. and Dorothea Tsapatsaris “A City of Refugees, the Memories of Cambodia” collection contains artwork, stories, letters, and other documents created by Dorothea Tsapatsaris’ young Cambodian students from the years of 1987-1991. Topics range from Cambodian clothing, ceremonies, and every day activities to food recipes, leaving Cambodia, and living in Lowell, Massachusetts. Also included are several photographs of Dorothea Tsapatsaris’ students, classroom, and student work; a couple of newspaper clippings; and material related to the 1990 “Memories of Cambodia” exhibit. <br /><br />Part of the collection is accessible on this site.<br /><br />Part of the collection is accessible on the Digital Commonwealth under the collection title "<a href="https://www.digitalcommonwealth.org/collections/commonwealth:1n79h429p" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">A City of Refugees, the Memories of Cambodia</a>."<br /><br />View the collection finding aid for more information, <a href="https://libguides.uml.edu/uml9" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://libguides.uml.edu/uml9</a>.<br /><br /><br />--------------------<br />SEADA would like to thank the following individuals for their work in making this collection available online: Etsuko Benton and Monita Chea.<br /></span></p>
Source
A related resource from which the described resource is derived
Tsapatsaris, George N. and Dorothea. A City of Refugees, the Memories of Cambodia Collection, circa 1987-1991. UML 9. Center for Lowell History, University of Massachusetts Lowell, Lowell, MA.
Relation
A related resource
The collection finding aid, <a href="https://libguides.uml.edu/uml9" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://libguides.uml.edu/uml9</a>.
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
United States of America, THE WORLD
Subject
The topic of the resource
Children’s drawings
Children's writings
Lowell (Mass.)
United States
History
Emigration and immigration
Description
An account of the resource
United States of America, THE WORLD
Source
A related resource from which the described resource is derived
Tsapatsaris, George N. and Dorothea. A City of Refugees, the Memories of Cambodia Collection
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
University of Massachusetts Lowell
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1988-1989
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
UMass Lowell Library makes this material available for private, educational, and research use. It is the responsibility of the user to secure any needed permissions from rightsholders, for uses such as commercial reproductions of copyrighted works. Contact host institution for more information.
Format
The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource
1 p.; 55.88 x 71.12
Language
A language of the resource
English
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
Image
Text
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
mc_0090
Coverage
The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant
Lowell, Massachusetts
Relation
A related resource
<span>The collection finding aid, <a href="https://libguides.uml.edu/uml9" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://libguides.uml.edu/uml9</a></span><span>.</span>
1980-1989
Drawings
Joseph G. Pyne Arts Elementary School
Manuscripts
Posters
-
https://d1y502jg6fpugt.cloudfront.net/37070/archive/files/41a7d1b9ebded19d835a628db9d7df12.pdf?Expires=1712793600&Signature=t7qih12fM%7ENbkPz8RLqwdh06GPh5RjXj-Mt7Vmua3aEeUmtyOs3G8oxarzTu0UlN5C-vAIvMAK6dEp0qdATeaCaHwZ480dZVJ5HgR8LsJyW7o%7EqvoPS8%7EPEwWfseRfV3mwieimOpZO2Xract0utc06mBreVjjmwVeBmt47bqQT9gYS4CNz6a-juZVWYbXuKOgjaM4CkItFw2oef6lToLDxv%7EDDmFa2kE0bXtOFvydMkfhoodnAYC70UCguZf0asGtXxhUU-k%7EZA8usNYDet--blKwAXBBEO97kC8Jc5PWSWr5iGDVFNwMzmWiI92ZQvjW4Q9taGOknmu04IHFoB8PA__&Key-Pair-Id=K6UGZS9ZTDSZM
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Text
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Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Tsapatsaris, George N. and Dorothea. A City of Refugees, the Memories of Cambodia Collection, circa 1987-1991
Description
An account of the resource
<p><span>The George N. and Dorothea Tsapatsaris “A City of Refugees, the Memories of Cambodia” collection contains artwork, stories, letters, and other documents created by Dorothea Tsapatsaris’ young Cambodian students from the years of 1987-1991. Topics range from Cambodian clothing, ceremonies, and every day activities to food recipes, leaving Cambodia, and living in Lowell, Massachusetts. Also included are several photographs of Dorothea Tsapatsaris’ students, classroom, and student work; a couple of newspaper clippings; and material related to the 1990 “Memories of Cambodia” exhibit. <br /><br />Part of the collection is accessible on this site.<br /><br />Part of the collection is accessible on the Digital Commonwealth under the collection title "<a href="https://www.digitalcommonwealth.org/collections/commonwealth:1n79h429p" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">A City of Refugees, the Memories of Cambodia</a>."<br /><br />View the collection finding aid for more information, <a href="https://libguides.uml.edu/uml9" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://libguides.uml.edu/uml9</a>.<br /><br /><br />--------------------<br />SEADA would like to thank the following individuals for their work in making this collection available online: Etsuko Benton and Monita Chea.<br /></span></p>
Source
A related resource from which the described resource is derived
Tsapatsaris, George N. and Dorothea. A City of Refugees, the Memories of Cambodia Collection, circa 1987-1991. UML 9. Center for Lowell History, University of Massachusetts Lowell, Lowell, MA.
Relation
A related resource
The collection finding aid, <a href="https://libguides.uml.edu/uml9" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://libguides.uml.edu/uml9</a>.
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
LOWELL TODAY
Subject
The topic of the resource
Children’s drawings
Children's writings
Lowell (Mass.)
Description
An account of the resource
LOWELL TODAY
Source
A related resource from which the described resource is derived
Tsapatsaris, George N. and Dorothea. A City of Refugees, the Memories of Cambodia Collection
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
University of Massachusetts Lowell
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1988-1989
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
UMass Lowell Library makes this material available for private, educational, and research use. It is the responsibility of the user to secure any needed permissions from rightsholders, for uses such as commercial reproductions of copyrighted works. Contact host institution for more information.
Format
The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource
1 p.; 55.88 x 71.12
Language
A language of the resource
English
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
Image
Text
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
mc_0089
Coverage
The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant
Lowell, Massachusetts
Relation
A related resource
<div id="dublin-core-relation" class="element">
<div class="element-text"><span>The collection finding aid, <a href="https://libguides.uml.edu/uml9" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://libguides.uml.edu/uml9</a></span><span>.</span></div>
</div>
<div id="dublin-core-format" class="element">
<h3></h3>
</div>
1980-1989
Drawings
Joseph G. Pyne Arts Elementary School
Manuscripts
Posters
-
https://d1y502jg6fpugt.cloudfront.net/37070/archive/files/4d757bfc438fd1b56444e11efc3a79cb.pdf?Expires=1712793600&Signature=aBk8SqdF456BiyxMm6yU%7ERHaqz9kRRWSdSAdI0GBn0BfJWvC2F3lFfKRXgTj%7EPvY88Nc6SpMMxLb0WjIV4xqyYPSO1H45aOEbqLZcXopOihR-oI%7E2P65B0Dc89bRv1EMVqk8Kp7MevsqV3R7auJpxbpYpxDwaP7nG-tXPAnVEJAawsMWPD%7ElPw9onkFT%7Ez9Bo56z4gGYCbGMeEGIBNg0IX5QypGkhGN3wo4SXJt2xaqo6BxuFdX7hRhmaSwjNXxpibSNfHuibc6%7EmFQjjRnsnaFD%7EpsyRXe2FXBJeauZ86u0og8poY7tvfNP-20FriCysI9LLy-rZ0zko9Tadp4mRA__&Key-Pair-Id=K6UGZS9ZTDSZM
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PDF Text
Text
�
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Tsapatsaris, George N. and Dorothea. A City of Refugees, the Memories of Cambodia Collection, circa 1987-1991
Description
An account of the resource
<p><span>The George N. and Dorothea Tsapatsaris “A City of Refugees, the Memories of Cambodia” collection contains artwork, stories, letters, and other documents created by Dorothea Tsapatsaris’ young Cambodian students from the years of 1987-1991. Topics range from Cambodian clothing, ceremonies, and every day activities to food recipes, leaving Cambodia, and living in Lowell, Massachusetts. Also included are several photographs of Dorothea Tsapatsaris’ students, classroom, and student work; a couple of newspaper clippings; and material related to the 1990 “Memories of Cambodia” exhibit. <br /><br />Part of the collection is accessible on this site.<br /><br />Part of the collection is accessible on the Digital Commonwealth under the collection title "<a href="https://www.digitalcommonwealth.org/collections/commonwealth:1n79h429p" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">A City of Refugees, the Memories of Cambodia</a>."<br /><br />View the collection finding aid for more information, <a href="https://libguides.uml.edu/uml9" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://libguides.uml.edu/uml9</a>.<br /><br /><br />--------------------<br />SEADA would like to thank the following individuals for their work in making this collection available online: Etsuko Benton and Monita Chea.<br /></span></p>
Source
A related resource from which the described resource is derived
Tsapatsaris, George N. and Dorothea. A City of Refugees, the Memories of Cambodia Collection, circa 1987-1991. UML 9. Center for Lowell History, University of Massachusetts Lowell, Lowell, MA.
Relation
A related resource
The collection finding aid, <a href="https://libguides.uml.edu/uml9" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://libguides.uml.edu/uml9</a>.
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
LOWELL INDIANS
Subject
The topic of the resource
Children’s drawings
Children's writings
Indigenous Peoples
Lowell (Mass.)
North America
Description
An account of the resource
LOWELL INDIANS
Source
A related resource from which the described resource is derived
Tsapatsaris, George N. and Dorothea. A City of Refugees, the Memories of Cambodia Collection
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
University of Massachusetts Lowell
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1988-1989
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
UMass Lowell Library makes this material available for private, educational, and research use. It is the responsibility of the user to secure any needed permissions from rightsholders, for uses such as commercial reproductions of copyrighted works. Contact host institution for more information.
Format
The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource
1 p.; 55.88 x 71.12
Language
A language of the resource
English
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
Image
Text
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
mc_0088
Coverage
The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant
Lowell, Massachusetts
Relation
A related resource
<span>The collection finding aid, <a href="https://libguides.uml.edu/uml9" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://libguides.uml.edu/uml9</a></span><span>.</span>
1980-1989
Drawings
Joseph G. Pyne Arts Elementary School
Manuscripts
Posters
-
https://d1y502jg6fpugt.cloudfront.net/37070/archive/files/24c66bd12399ca3c4a41d75a99d80376.pdf?Expires=1712793600&Signature=e9p%7EFNZd76DgWWohmpRnz-tN8LPpNOME5lWOTFR7hbK8lCjIRySwCKklxrWuT38mtZN5pvVPBdGP-SrRwTSwFkQ2icVTU-Uz5%7ETHDogpo7O6mgKkLkHa6cvSkR3Kk2TZ-SwKDumTQbLJMAL1E4FbZa-vUJH0XlzU5fyPOzu9FtUnH5wAPgskFxkiUj1ece5uIrJUBdQyv%7EUX4tvjg-1%7E-H6vdhNA3W30NyRuMQ9ACOzOO3fieJgEf3jrTIQaV3UJrwyyCXMDemm0T6-U77zQhkB8Xvkf7pQGrq-7n38a6eh-fjLjRDmKypRzA-5btEMrShidiekefBD8BF2fWj%7E8GQ__&Key-Pair-Id=K6UGZS9ZTDSZM
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PDF Text
Text
�
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Tsapatsaris, George N. and Dorothea. A City of Refugees, the Memories of Cambodia Collection, circa 1987-1991
Description
An account of the resource
<p><span>The George N. and Dorothea Tsapatsaris “A City of Refugees, the Memories of Cambodia” collection contains artwork, stories, letters, and other documents created by Dorothea Tsapatsaris’ young Cambodian students from the years of 1987-1991. Topics range from Cambodian clothing, ceremonies, and every day activities to food recipes, leaving Cambodia, and living in Lowell, Massachusetts. Also included are several photographs of Dorothea Tsapatsaris’ students, classroom, and student work; a couple of newspaper clippings; and material related to the 1990 “Memories of Cambodia” exhibit. <br /><br />Part of the collection is accessible on this site.<br /><br />Part of the collection is accessible on the Digital Commonwealth under the collection title "<a href="https://www.digitalcommonwealth.org/collections/commonwealth:1n79h429p" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">A City of Refugees, the Memories of Cambodia</a>."<br /><br />View the collection finding aid for more information, <a href="https://libguides.uml.edu/uml9" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://libguides.uml.edu/uml9</a>.<br /><br /><br />--------------------<br />SEADA would like to thank the following individuals for their work in making this collection available online: Etsuko Benton and Monita Chea.<br /></span></p>
Source
A related resource from which the described resource is derived
Tsapatsaris, George N. and Dorothea. A City of Refugees, the Memories of Cambodia Collection, circa 1987-1991. UML 9. Center for Lowell History, University of Massachusetts Lowell, Lowell, MA.
Relation
A related resource
The collection finding aid, <a href="https://libguides.uml.edu/uml9" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://libguides.uml.edu/uml9</a>.
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
IRISH IMMIGRANTS
Subject
The topic of the resource
Children’s drawings
Irish Americans
Lowell (Mass.)
United States
Children's writings
History
Emigration and immigration
Description
An account of the resource
IRISH IMMIGRANTS
Source
A related resource from which the described resource is derived
Tsapatsaris, George N. and Dorothea. A City of Refugees, the Memories of Cambodia Collection
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
University of Massachusetts Lowell
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1988-1989
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
UMass Lowell Library makes this material available for private, educational, and research use. It is the responsibility of the user to secure any needed permissions from rightsholders, for uses such as commercial reproductions of copyrighted works. Contact host institution for more information.
Format
The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource
1 p.; 55.88 x 71.12
Language
A language of the resource
English
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
Image
Text
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
mc_0087
Coverage
The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant
Lowell, Massachusetts
1980-1989
Drawings
Joseph G. Pyne Arts Elementary School
Manuscripts
Posters
-
https://d1y502jg6fpugt.cloudfront.net/37070/archive/files/cdb59d0180ec0c34cb26a4c4e3f7a015.pdf?Expires=1712793600&Signature=ELDkDrWqwHGi3EmO-DvAiLo1sJnDNN61KX5UCU%7Ey%7EBh6Qcg4E81ocP7RTo3xM%7ENGmk7fb26UnGMvkah6GJSedX3xSrQ-937nUVHj20QsCVHb1NUdBrN5x2ZG9eNAy99PPIu4yJiTZXAXCaOeEz9WIfdwaZhHC4zf0ddyhJjhhpcWgs2whUsL7GnqsRpYpjQrXttQp41XEGrbo6ptD646Rlpic0XGhdQFWU5hQGEGq5wNAUdKOB%7EBCcPFT76cG%7E3wmp%7EO6l4KbYhTkJ9jam8aCwyIBY8R5PCqUKT2mXbr6oUAfzGUU4SNdlJO8aN0vLqCXXnYsP2FiIsDewhU93AzfA__&Key-Pair-Id=K6UGZS9ZTDSZM
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PDF Text
Text
�
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Tsapatsaris, George N. and Dorothea. A City of Refugees, the Memories of Cambodia Collection, circa 1987-1991
Description
An account of the resource
<p><span>The George N. and Dorothea Tsapatsaris “A City of Refugees, the Memories of Cambodia” collection contains artwork, stories, letters, and other documents created by Dorothea Tsapatsaris’ young Cambodian students from the years of 1987-1991. Topics range from Cambodian clothing, ceremonies, and every day activities to food recipes, leaving Cambodia, and living in Lowell, Massachusetts. Also included are several photographs of Dorothea Tsapatsaris’ students, classroom, and student work; a couple of newspaper clippings; and material related to the 1990 “Memories of Cambodia” exhibit. <br /><br />Part of the collection is accessible on this site.<br /><br />Part of the collection is accessible on the Digital Commonwealth under the collection title "<a href="https://www.digitalcommonwealth.org/collections/commonwealth:1n79h429p" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">A City of Refugees, the Memories of Cambodia</a>."<br /><br />View the collection finding aid for more information, <a href="https://libguides.uml.edu/uml9" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://libguides.uml.edu/uml9</a>.<br /><br /><br />--------------------<br />SEADA would like to thank the following individuals for their work in making this collection available online: Etsuko Benton and Monita Chea.<br /></span></p>
Source
A related resource from which the described resource is derived
Tsapatsaris, George N. and Dorothea. A City of Refugees, the Memories of Cambodia Collection, circa 1987-1991. UML 9. Center for Lowell History, University of Massachusetts Lowell, Lowell, MA.
Relation
A related resource
The collection finding aid, <a href="https://libguides.uml.edu/uml9" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://libguides.uml.edu/uml9</a>.
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
INDIAN CHILDREN
Subject
The topic of the resource
Children’s drawings
Children's writings
Indigenous peoples
Lowell (Mass.)
North America
Description
An account of the resource
INDIAN CHILDREN
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
Wynne, Annette
Source
A related resource from which the described resource is derived
Tsapatsaris, George N. and Dorothea. A City of Refugees, the Memories of Cambodia Collection
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
University of Massachusetts Lowell
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1988-1989
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
UMass Lowell Library makes this material available for private, educational, and research use. It is the responsibility of the user to secure any needed permissions from rightsholders, for uses such as commercial reproductions of copyrighted works. Contact host institution for more information.
Format
The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource
1 p.; 55.88 x 71.12
Language
A language of the resource
English
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
Image
Text
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
mc_0086
Coverage
The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant
Lowell, Massachusetts
1980-1989
Drawings
Joseph G. Pyne Arts Elementary School
Manuscripts
Posters
-
https://d1y502jg6fpugt.cloudfront.net/37070/archive/files/b165d982ee6c0fb5aee824021e09f40c.pdf?Expires=1712793600&Signature=T5%7EMtcKmqyIX1WtPcYvvyVYHUa9FijP0IWbSRMkHkOMbQf717YRqMbN7IMLZz%7EknEUWfoRuC2I0d5LUzMWiu75kKwTDHm2qE6ZuITH2b1byXSXRUuxVta7auqyZ77GbXCIMocAtKhUosFB3MKALL37FX0a3rQZJOhrPQAIJk7K8iRAE45FwBVJeTZENwz0mgS6KSJCetVUaxav-H9f9PO0sGNYaEEWiRKWDXAlLeefpLskhaQBD--3Nwvhm0e18Esz6MfXWLfLh53Q6CEC1nluDgihtVsnbFx-p1Dyi4Z%7EsX-r0XqeNXD77tll6-kCdpm%7ExaaqqZrSlbV-TgYgAAmg__&Key-Pair-Id=K6UGZS9ZTDSZM
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PDF Text
Text
�
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Tsapatsaris, George N. and Dorothea. A City of Refugees, the Memories of Cambodia Collection, circa 1987-1991
Description
An account of the resource
<p><span>The George N. and Dorothea Tsapatsaris “A City of Refugees, the Memories of Cambodia” collection contains artwork, stories, letters, and other documents created by Dorothea Tsapatsaris’ young Cambodian students from the years of 1987-1991. Topics range from Cambodian clothing, ceremonies, and every day activities to food recipes, leaving Cambodia, and living in Lowell, Massachusetts. Also included are several photographs of Dorothea Tsapatsaris’ students, classroom, and student work; a couple of newspaper clippings; and material related to the 1990 “Memories of Cambodia” exhibit. <br /><br />Part of the collection is accessible on this site.<br /><br />Part of the collection is accessible on the Digital Commonwealth under the collection title "<a href="https://www.digitalcommonwealth.org/collections/commonwealth:1n79h429p" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">A City of Refugees, the Memories of Cambodia</a>."<br /><br />View the collection finding aid for more information, <a href="https://libguides.uml.edu/uml9" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://libguides.uml.edu/uml9</a>.<br /><br /><br />--------------------<br />SEADA would like to thank the following individuals for their work in making this collection available online: Etsuko Benton and Monita Chea.<br /></span></p>
Source
A related resource from which the described resource is derived
Tsapatsaris, George N. and Dorothea. A City of Refugees, the Memories of Cambodia Collection, circa 1987-1991. UML 9. Center for Lowell History, University of Massachusetts Lowell, Lowell, MA.
Relation
A related resource
The collection finding aid, <a href="https://libguides.uml.edu/uml9" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://libguides.uml.edu/uml9</a>.
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
IMMIGRATION TO LOWELL
Subject
The topic of the resource
Children’s drawings
Children's writings
Lowell (Mass.)
United States
Emigration and immigration
History
Description
An account of the resource
IMMIGRATION TO LOWELL
Source
A related resource from which the described resource is derived
Tsapatsaris, George N. and Dorothea. A City of Refugees, the Memories of Cambodia Collection
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
University of Massachusetts Lowell
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1988-1989
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
UMass Lowell Library makes this material available for private, educational, and research use. It is the responsibility of the user to secure any needed permissions from rightsholders, for uses such as commercial reproductions of copyrighted works. Contact host institution for more information.
Format
The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource
1 p.; 55.88 x 71.12
Language
A language of the resource
English
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
Text
Image
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
mc_0085
Coverage
The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant
Lowell, Massachusetts
1980-1989
Drawings
Joseph G. Pyne Arts Elementary School
Manuscripts
Posters
-
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Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Tsapatsaris, George N. and Dorothea. A City of Refugees, the Memories of Cambodia Collection, circa 1987-1991
Description
An account of the resource
<p><span>The George N. and Dorothea Tsapatsaris “A City of Refugees, the Memories of Cambodia” collection contains artwork, stories, letters, and other documents created by Dorothea Tsapatsaris’ young Cambodian students from the years of 1987-1991. Topics range from Cambodian clothing, ceremonies, and every day activities to food recipes, leaving Cambodia, and living in Lowell, Massachusetts. Also included are several photographs of Dorothea Tsapatsaris’ students, classroom, and student work; a couple of newspaper clippings; and material related to the 1990 “Memories of Cambodia” exhibit. <br /><br />Part of the collection is accessible on this site.<br /><br />Part of the collection is accessible on the Digital Commonwealth under the collection title "<a href="https://www.digitalcommonwealth.org/collections/commonwealth:1n79h429p" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">A City of Refugees, the Memories of Cambodia</a>."<br /><br />View the collection finding aid for more information, <a href="https://libguides.uml.edu/uml9" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://libguides.uml.edu/uml9</a>.<br /><br /><br />--------------------<br />SEADA would like to thank the following individuals for their work in making this collection available online: Etsuko Benton and Monita Chea.<br /></span></p>
Source
A related resource from which the described resource is derived
Tsapatsaris, George N. and Dorothea. A City of Refugees, the Memories of Cambodia Collection, circa 1987-1991. UML 9. Center for Lowell History, University of Massachusetts Lowell, Lowell, MA.
Relation
A related resource
The collection finding aid, <a href="https://libguides.uml.edu/uml9" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://libguides.uml.edu/uml9</a>.
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
The History of Lowell Immigration
Subject
The topic of the resource
Children’s drawings
Children's writings
Lowell (Mass.)
United States
History
Emigration and immigration
Description
An account of the resource
The History of Lowell Immigration
Source
A related resource from which the described resource is derived
Tsapatsaris, George N. and Dorothea. A City of Refugees, the Memories of Cambodia Collection
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
University of Massachusetts Lowell
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1988-1989
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
UMass Lowell Library makes this material available for private, educational, and research use. It is the responsibility of the user to secure any needed permissions from rightsholders, for uses such as commercial reproductions of copyrighted works. Contact host institution for more information.
Format
The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource
1 p.; 55.88 x 71.12
Language
A language of the resource
English
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
Text
Image
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
mc_0084
Coverage
The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant
Lowell, Massachusetts
1980-1989
Drawings
Joseph G. Pyne Arts Elementary School
Manuscripts
Posters
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Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Tsapatsaris, George N. and Dorothea. A City of Refugees, the Memories of Cambodia Collection, circa 1987-1991
Description
An account of the resource
<p><span>The George N. and Dorothea Tsapatsaris “A City of Refugees, the Memories of Cambodia” collection contains artwork, stories, letters, and other documents created by Dorothea Tsapatsaris’ young Cambodian students from the years of 1987-1991. Topics range from Cambodian clothing, ceremonies, and every day activities to food recipes, leaving Cambodia, and living in Lowell, Massachusetts. Also included are several photographs of Dorothea Tsapatsaris’ students, classroom, and student work; a couple of newspaper clippings; and material related to the 1990 “Memories of Cambodia” exhibit. <br /><br />Part of the collection is accessible on this site.<br /><br />Part of the collection is accessible on the Digital Commonwealth under the collection title "<a href="https://www.digitalcommonwealth.org/collections/commonwealth:1n79h429p" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">A City of Refugees, the Memories of Cambodia</a>."<br /><br />View the collection finding aid for more information, <a href="https://libguides.uml.edu/uml9" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://libguides.uml.edu/uml9</a>.<br /><br /><br />--------------------<br />SEADA would like to thank the following individuals for their work in making this collection available online: Etsuko Benton and Monita Chea.<br /></span></p>
Source
A related resource from which the described resource is derived
Tsapatsaris, George N. and Dorothea. A City of Refugees, the Memories of Cambodia Collection, circa 1987-1991. UML 9. Center for Lowell History, University of Massachusetts Lowell, Lowell, MA.
Relation
A related resource
The collection finding aid, <a href="https://libguides.uml.edu/uml9" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://libguides.uml.edu/uml9</a>.
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
THE ENGLISH
Subject
The topic of the resource
British Americans
Children’s drawings
Children's writings
Lowell (Mass.)
United States--Emigration and immigration--History
Description
An account of the resource
THE ENGLISH
Source
A related resource from which the described resource is derived
Tsapatsaris, George N. and Dorothea. A City of Refugees, the Memories of Cambodia Collection
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
University of Massachusetts Lowell
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1988-1989
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
UMass Lowell Library makes this material available for private, educational, and research use. It is the responsibility of the user to secure any needed permissions from rightsholders, for uses such as commercial reproductions of copyrighted works. Contact host institution for more information.
Format
The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource
1 p.; 55.88 x 71.12
Language
A language of the resource
English
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
Text
Image
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
mc_0082
Coverage
The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant
Lowell, Massachusetts
1980-1989
Drawings
Joseph G. Pyne Arts Elementary School
Manuscripts
Posters
-
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Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Tsapatsaris, George N. and Dorothea. A City of Refugees, the Memories of Cambodia Collection, circa 1987-1991
Description
An account of the resource
<p><span>The George N. and Dorothea Tsapatsaris “A City of Refugees, the Memories of Cambodia” collection contains artwork, stories, letters, and other documents created by Dorothea Tsapatsaris’ young Cambodian students from the years of 1987-1991. Topics range from Cambodian clothing, ceremonies, and every day activities to food recipes, leaving Cambodia, and living in Lowell, Massachusetts. Also included are several photographs of Dorothea Tsapatsaris’ students, classroom, and student work; a couple of newspaper clippings; and material related to the 1990 “Memories of Cambodia” exhibit. <br /><br />Part of the collection is accessible on this site.<br /><br />Part of the collection is accessible on the Digital Commonwealth under the collection title "<a href="https://www.digitalcommonwealth.org/collections/commonwealth:1n79h429p" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">A City of Refugees, the Memories of Cambodia</a>."<br /><br />View the collection finding aid for more information, <a href="https://libguides.uml.edu/uml9" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://libguides.uml.edu/uml9</a>.<br /><br /><br />--------------------<br />SEADA would like to thank the following individuals for their work in making this collection available online: Etsuko Benton and Monita Chea.<br /></span></p>
Source
A related resource from which the described resource is derived
Tsapatsaris, George N. and Dorothea. A City of Refugees, the Memories of Cambodia Collection, circa 1987-1991. UML 9. Center for Lowell History, University of Massachusetts Lowell, Lowell, MA.
Relation
A related resource
The collection finding aid, <a href="https://libguides.uml.edu/uml9" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://libguides.uml.edu/uml9</a>.
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Cambodia, Lowell, Massachusetts
Subject
The topic of the resource
Cambodia
Children’s drawings
Children's writings
Lowell (Mass.)
Description
An account of the resource
Cambodia, Lowell, Massachusetts
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
Veth, Kim Soeun
Source
A related resource from which the described resource is derived
Tsapatsaris, George N. and Dorothea. A City of Refugees, the Memories of Cambodia Collection
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
University of Massachusetts Lowell
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1988-1989
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
UMass Lowell Library makes this material available for private, educational, and research use. It is the responsibility of the user to secure any needed permissions from rightsholders, for uses such as commercial reproductions of copyrighted works. Contact host institution for more information.
Format
The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource
1 p.; 30.48 x 45.72
Language
A language of the resource
English
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
Text
Image
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
mc_71
Coverage
The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant
Lowell, Massachusetts
1980-1989
Cambodians
Joseph G. Pyne Arts Elementary School
Manuscripts
-
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Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Chigas, George. Southeast Asians in Lowell Collection, 1987-1989
Description
An account of the resource
This collection includes two series, the Cambodian Traditional Crafts and Religious Ceremonies, 1987, and the Southeast Asian Exhibit Photographs, 1988-1989. The first series includes Chigas’ 84-page paper on Cambodian Traditional Crafts and Religious Ceremonies created in 1987 along with corresponding photographs. The project, funded in part by the Historic Preservation Commission of Lowell, Massachusetts, explores the traditional crafts and religious ceremonies of the Cambodian refugees who settled in the Greater Lowell area in the aftermath of the Cambodian genocide. The second series includes 20 photographs from a Lowell exhibit on Southeast Asians that was coordinated by George Chigas. <br /><br />Part of the collection is accessible on this site.<br /><br />Part of the collection is also accessible on <a href="https://archive.org/details/seadauml?and%5B%5D=george+chigas&sin=" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">the Internet Archive</a>.<br /><br />View the collection finding aid for more information, <a href="https://libguides.uml.edu/uml2" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://libguides.uml.edu/uml2</a><br /><br /><span>--------------------</span><br /><span>SEADA would like to thank the following individuals for their work in making this collection available online: Etsuko Benton, Monita Chea, and Anthony Sampas.</span>
Source
A related resource from which the described resource is derived
Chigas, George. Southeast Asians in Lowell Collection, 1987-1989. UML 2. Center for Lowell History, University of Massachusetts Lowell, Lowell, MA.
Relation
A related resource
The collection finding aid, <a href="https://libguides.uml.edu/uml2" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://libguides.uml.edu/uml2</a>.
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Woodworking: Woodwork by Poolsin Pat, 1987
Subject
The topic of the resource
Buddhism and art
Color photography
Lowell (Mass.)
Woodwork
Description
An account of the resource
This woodworking was done by a man named Poolsin Pat who used to be a monk at the Trairatanaram Temple. He offered to make a carving for this project. He was asked to copy one of the base reliefs in a book by Heinrich Zimmer entitled "The Art of Indian Asia." He selected a relief from one of the temples constructed during the Angkor period which depicts a battle scene. <br /><br />Woodworking, photograph 2 of 2, from Cambodian Traditional Crafts and Religious Ceremonies. <br /><br />View the Woodworking group of photographs on the Internet Archive, <a href="https://archive.org/details/CambodianWoodworking" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://archive.org/details/CambodianWoodworking</a>.
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
Chigas, George
Source
A related resource from which the described resource is derived
Chigas, George. Southeast Asians in Lowell Collection
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
University of Massachusetts Lowell
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1987
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
UMass Lowell Library makes this material available for private, educational, and research use. It is the responsibility of the user to secure any needed permissions from rightsholders, for uses such as commercial reproductions of copyrighted works. Contact host institution for more information.
Format
The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource
1 photograph; 8.8 x 12.6
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
image
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
woodworking_02
Coverage
The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant
Lowell, Massachusetts
1980-1989
Cambodians
Photographs
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Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Chigas, George. Southeast Asians in Lowell Collection, 1987-1989
Description
An account of the resource
This collection includes two series, the Cambodian Traditional Crafts and Religious Ceremonies, 1987, and the Southeast Asian Exhibit Photographs, 1988-1989. The first series includes Chigas’ 84-page paper on Cambodian Traditional Crafts and Religious Ceremonies created in 1987 along with corresponding photographs. The project, funded in part by the Historic Preservation Commission of Lowell, Massachusetts, explores the traditional crafts and religious ceremonies of the Cambodian refugees who settled in the Greater Lowell area in the aftermath of the Cambodian genocide. The second series includes 20 photographs from a Lowell exhibit on Southeast Asians that was coordinated by George Chigas. <br /><br />Part of the collection is accessible on this site.<br /><br />Part of the collection is also accessible on <a href="https://archive.org/details/seadauml?and%5B%5D=george+chigas&sin=" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">the Internet Archive</a>.<br /><br />View the collection finding aid for more information, <a href="https://libguides.uml.edu/uml2" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://libguides.uml.edu/uml2</a><br /><br /><span>--------------------</span><br /><span>SEADA would like to thank the following individuals for their work in making this collection available online: Etsuko Benton, Monita Chea, and Anthony Sampas.</span>
Source
A related resource from which the described resource is derived
Chigas, George. Southeast Asians in Lowell Collection, 1987-1989. UML 2. Center for Lowell History, University of Massachusetts Lowell, Lowell, MA.
Relation
A related resource
The collection finding aid, <a href="https://libguides.uml.edu/uml2" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://libguides.uml.edu/uml2</a>.
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Woodworking: Close up of the woodwork by Poolsin Pat, 1987
Subject
The topic of the resource
Buddhism and art
Color photography
Lowell (Mass.)
Woodwork
Description
An account of the resource
This woodworking was done by a man named Poolsin Pat who used to be a monk at the Trairatanaram Temple. He offered to make a carving for this project. He was asked to copy one of the base reliefs in a book by Heinrich Zimmer entitled "The Art of Indian Asia." He selected a relief from one of the temples constructed during the Angkor period which depicts a battle scene. <br /><br />Woodworking, photograph 1 of 2, from Cambodian Traditional Crafts and Religious Ceremonies. <br /><br />View the Woodworking group of photographs on the Internet Archive, <a href="https://archive.org/details/CambodianWoodworking" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://archive.org/details/CambodianWoodworking</a>.
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
Chigas, George
Source
A related resource from which the described resource is derived
Chigas, George. Southeast Asians in Lowell Collection
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
University of Massachusetts Lowell
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1987
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
UMass Lowell Library makes this material available for private, educational, and research use. It is the responsibility of the user to secure any needed permissions from rightsholders, for uses such as commercial reproductions of copyrighted works. Contact host institution for more information.
Format
The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource
1 photograph; 8.8 x 12.6
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
image
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
woodworking_01
Coverage
The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant
Lowell, Massachusetts
1980-1989
Cambodians
Photographs
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Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Chigas, George. Southeast Asians in Lowell Collection, 1987-1989
Description
An account of the resource
This collection includes two series, the Cambodian Traditional Crafts and Religious Ceremonies, 1987, and the Southeast Asian Exhibit Photographs, 1988-1989. The first series includes Chigas’ 84-page paper on Cambodian Traditional Crafts and Religious Ceremonies created in 1987 along with corresponding photographs. The project, funded in part by the Historic Preservation Commission of Lowell, Massachusetts, explores the traditional crafts and religious ceremonies of the Cambodian refugees who settled in the Greater Lowell area in the aftermath of the Cambodian genocide. The second series includes 20 photographs from a Lowell exhibit on Southeast Asians that was coordinated by George Chigas. <br /><br />Part of the collection is accessible on this site.<br /><br />Part of the collection is also accessible on <a href="https://archive.org/details/seadauml?and%5B%5D=george+chigas&sin=" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">the Internet Archive</a>.<br /><br />View the collection finding aid for more information, <a href="https://libguides.uml.edu/uml2" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://libguides.uml.edu/uml2</a><br /><br /><span>--------------------</span><br /><span>SEADA would like to thank the following individuals for their work in making this collection available online: Etsuko Benton, Monita Chea, and Anthony Sampas.</span>
Source
A related resource from which the described resource is derived
Chigas, George. Southeast Asians in Lowell Collection, 1987-1989. UML 2. Center for Lowell History, University of Massachusetts Lowell, Lowell, MA.
Relation
A related resource
The collection finding aid, <a href="https://libguides.uml.edu/uml2" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://libguides.uml.edu/uml2</a>.
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Needlework: Kam Phang continues to working on the Komrope Trie, 1987
Description
An account of the resource
Kam Phang working on the Komrope Trie. The Komrope Trie is used during the ceremony the ordination of the monk. During the ceremony the ordinand assembles outside the temple with the laity in order to walk of the Three Refuges of Buddhism. By his side stands a woman who balances a silver tray upon her head. Inside the tray are the robes that the candidate will wear once he is ordained. The Komrope Trie is placed as a covering over the robes. <br /><br />The Komrope Trie is placed as a covering over the robes. Needlework, photograph 7 of 7, from Cambodian Traditional Crafts and Religious Ceremonies. <br /><br />View the Needlework group of photographs in order on the Internet Archive, <a href="https://archive.org/details/CambodianNeedlework" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://archive.org/details/CambodianNeedlework</a>.
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
Chigas, George
Source
A related resource from which the described resource is derived
Chigas, George. Southeast Asians in Lowell Collection
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
University of Massachusetts Lowell
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1987
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
UMass Lowell Library makes this material available for private, educational, and research use. It is the responsibility of the user to secure any needed permissions from rightsholders, for uses such as commercial reproductions of copyrighted works. Contact host institution for more information.
Format
The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource
1 photopgraph; 12.6 x 8.9
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
image
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
needlework_07
Coverage
The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant
Lowell, Massachusetts
Subject
The topic of the resource
Color photography
Lowell (Mass.)
Needlework
1980-1989
Cambodians
Komrope Trie
Photographs
-
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Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Chigas, George. Southeast Asians in Lowell Collection, 1987-1989
Description
An account of the resource
This collection includes two series, the Cambodian Traditional Crafts and Religious Ceremonies, 1987, and the Southeast Asian Exhibit Photographs, 1988-1989. The first series includes Chigas’ 84-page paper on Cambodian Traditional Crafts and Religious Ceremonies created in 1987 along with corresponding photographs. The project, funded in part by the Historic Preservation Commission of Lowell, Massachusetts, explores the traditional crafts and religious ceremonies of the Cambodian refugees who settled in the Greater Lowell area in the aftermath of the Cambodian genocide. The second series includes 20 photographs from a Lowell exhibit on Southeast Asians that was coordinated by George Chigas. <br /><br />Part of the collection is accessible on this site.<br /><br />Part of the collection is also accessible on <a href="https://archive.org/details/seadauml?and%5B%5D=george+chigas&sin=" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">the Internet Archive</a>.<br /><br />View the collection finding aid for more information, <a href="https://libguides.uml.edu/uml2" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://libguides.uml.edu/uml2</a><br /><br /><span>--------------------</span><br /><span>SEADA would like to thank the following individuals for their work in making this collection available online: Etsuko Benton, Monita Chea, and Anthony Sampas.</span>
Source
A related resource from which the described resource is derived
Chigas, George. Southeast Asians in Lowell Collection, 1987-1989. UML 2. Center for Lowell History, University of Massachusetts Lowell, Lowell, MA.
Relation
A related resource
The collection finding aid, <a href="https://libguides.uml.edu/uml2" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://libguides.uml.edu/uml2</a>.
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Needlework: Working on the center of the Komrope Trie, 1987
Subject
The topic of the resource
Color photography
Lowell (Mass.)
Needlework
Description
An account of the resource
Kam Phang working on the Komrope Trie. The Komrope Trie is used during the ceremony the ordination of the monk. During the ceremony the ordinand assembles outside the temple with the laity in order to walk of the Three Refuges of Buddhism. By his side stands a woman who balances a silver tray upon her head. Inside the tray are the robes that the candidate will wear once he is ordained. The Komrope Trie is placed as a covering over the robes.<br /><br />Needlework, photograph 6 of 7, from Cambodian Traditional Crafts and Religious Ceremonies. <br /><br />View the Needlework group of photographs in order on the Internet Archive, <a href="https://archive.org/details/CambodianNeedlework" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://archive.org/details/CambodianNeedlework</a>.
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
Chigas, George
Source
A related resource from which the described resource is derived
Chigas, George. Southeast Asians in Lowell Collection
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
University of Massachusetts Lowell
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1987
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
UMass Lowell Library makes this material available for private, educational, and research use. It is the responsibility of the user to secure any needed permissions from rightsholders, for uses such as commercial reproductions of copyrighted works. Contact host institution for more information.
Format
The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource
1 photograph; 8.8 x 12.6
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
image
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
needlework_06
Coverage
The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant
Lowell, Massachusetts
1980-1989
Cambodians
Komrope Trie
Photographs
-
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Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Chigas, George. Southeast Asians in Lowell Collection, 1987-1989
Description
An account of the resource
This collection includes two series, the Cambodian Traditional Crafts and Religious Ceremonies, 1987, and the Southeast Asian Exhibit Photographs, 1988-1989. The first series includes Chigas’ 84-page paper on Cambodian Traditional Crafts and Religious Ceremonies created in 1987 along with corresponding photographs. The project, funded in part by the Historic Preservation Commission of Lowell, Massachusetts, explores the traditional crafts and religious ceremonies of the Cambodian refugees who settled in the Greater Lowell area in the aftermath of the Cambodian genocide. The second series includes 20 photographs from a Lowell exhibit on Southeast Asians that was coordinated by George Chigas. <br /><br />Part of the collection is accessible on this site.<br /><br />Part of the collection is also accessible on <a href="https://archive.org/details/seadauml?and%5B%5D=george+chigas&sin=" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">the Internet Archive</a>.<br /><br />View the collection finding aid for more information, <a href="https://libguides.uml.edu/uml2" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://libguides.uml.edu/uml2</a><br /><br /><span>--------------------</span><br /><span>SEADA would like to thank the following individuals for their work in making this collection available online: Etsuko Benton, Monita Chea, and Anthony Sampas.</span>
Source
A related resource from which the described resource is derived
Chigas, George. Southeast Asians in Lowell Collection, 1987-1989. UML 2. Center for Lowell History, University of Massachusetts Lowell, Lowell, MA.
Relation
A related resource
The collection finding aid, <a href="https://libguides.uml.edu/uml2" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://libguides.uml.edu/uml2</a>.
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Needlework: Kam Phang works on the Komrope Trie, 1987
Subject
The topic of the resource
Color photography
Lowell (Mass.)
Needlework
Description
An account of the resource
Kam Phang working on the Komrope Trie. The Komrope Trie is used during the ceremony the ordination of the monk. During the ceremony the ordinand assembles outside the temple with the laity in order to walk of the Three Refuges of Buddhism. By his side stands a woman who balances a silver tray upon her head. Inside the tray are the robes that the candidate will wear once he is ordained. The Komrope Trie is placed as a covering over the robes. <br /><br />Needlework, photograph 4 of 7, from Cambodian Traditional Crafts and Religious Ceremonies. <br /><br />View the Needlework group of photographs in order on the Internet Archive, <a href="https://archive.org/details/CambodianNeedlework" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://archive.org/details/CambodianNeedlework</a>.
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
Chigas, George
Source
A related resource from which the described resource is derived
Chigas, George. Southeast Asians in Lowell Collection
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
University of Massachusetts Lowell
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1987
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
UMass Lowell Library makes this material available for private, educational, and research use. It is the responsibility of the user to secure any needed permissions from rightsholders, for uses such as commercial reproductions of copyrighted works. Contact host institution for more information.
Format
The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource
1 photograph; 12.6 x 8.9
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
image
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
needlework_04
Coverage
The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant
Lowell, Massachusetts
1980-1989
Cambodians
Komrope Trie
Photographs
-
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�
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Chigas, George. Southeast Asians in Lowell Collection, 1987-1989
Description
An account of the resource
This collection includes two series, the Cambodian Traditional Crafts and Religious Ceremonies, 1987, and the Southeast Asian Exhibit Photographs, 1988-1989. The first series includes Chigas’ 84-page paper on Cambodian Traditional Crafts and Religious Ceremonies created in 1987 along with corresponding photographs. The project, funded in part by the Historic Preservation Commission of Lowell, Massachusetts, explores the traditional crafts and religious ceremonies of the Cambodian refugees who settled in the Greater Lowell area in the aftermath of the Cambodian genocide. The second series includes 20 photographs from a Lowell exhibit on Southeast Asians that was coordinated by George Chigas. <br /><br />Part of the collection is accessible on this site.<br /><br />Part of the collection is also accessible on <a href="https://archive.org/details/seadauml?and%5B%5D=george+chigas&sin=" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">the Internet Archive</a>.<br /><br />View the collection finding aid for more information, <a href="https://libguides.uml.edu/uml2" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://libguides.uml.edu/uml2</a><br /><br /><span>--------------------</span><br /><span>SEADA would like to thank the following individuals for their work in making this collection available online: Etsuko Benton, Monita Chea, and Anthony Sampas.</span>
Source
A related resource from which the described resource is derived
Chigas, George. Southeast Asians in Lowell Collection, 1987-1989. UML 2. Center for Lowell History, University of Massachusetts Lowell, Lowell, MA.
Relation
A related resource
The collection finding aid, <a href="https://libguides.uml.edu/uml2" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://libguides.uml.edu/uml2</a>.
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Needlework: Two chickens and a flower in the center of Srom Kinae, 1987
Subject
The topic of the resource
Color photography
Lowell (Mass.)
Needlework
Description
An account of the resource
A photograph of the Srom Kinae with two chickens and a flower. <br /><br />Needlework, photograph 3 of 7, from Cambodian Traditional Crafts and Religious Ceremonies. <br /><br />View the Needlework group of photographs in order on the Internet Archive, <a href="https://archive.org/details/CambodianNeedlework" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://archive.org/details/CambodianNeedlework</a>.
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
Chigas, George
Source
A related resource from which the described resource is derived
Chigas, George. Southeast Asians in Lowell Collection
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
University of Massachusetts Lowell
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1987
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
UMass Lowell Library makes this material available for private, educational, and research use. It is the responsibility of the user to secure any needed permissions from rightsholders, for uses such as commercial reproductions of copyrighted works. Contact host institution for more information.
Format
The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource
1 photograph; 8.8 x 12.6
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
image
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
needlework_03
Coverage
The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant
Lowell, Massachusetts
1980-1989
Cambodians
Photographs
Srom Kinae
-
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Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Chigas, George. Southeast Asians in Lowell Collection, 1987-1989
Description
An account of the resource
This collection includes two series, the Cambodian Traditional Crafts and Religious Ceremonies, 1987, and the Southeast Asian Exhibit Photographs, 1988-1989. The first series includes Chigas’ 84-page paper on Cambodian Traditional Crafts and Religious Ceremonies created in 1987 along with corresponding photographs. The project, funded in part by the Historic Preservation Commission of Lowell, Massachusetts, explores the traditional crafts and religious ceremonies of the Cambodian refugees who settled in the Greater Lowell area in the aftermath of the Cambodian genocide. The second series includes 20 photographs from a Lowell exhibit on Southeast Asians that was coordinated by George Chigas. <br /><br />Part of the collection is accessible on this site.<br /><br />Part of the collection is also accessible on <a href="https://archive.org/details/seadauml?and%5B%5D=george+chigas&sin=" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">the Internet Archive</a>.<br /><br />View the collection finding aid for more information, <a href="https://libguides.uml.edu/uml2" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://libguides.uml.edu/uml2</a><br /><br /><span>--------------------</span><br /><span>SEADA would like to thank the following individuals for their work in making this collection available online: Etsuko Benton, Monita Chea, and Anthony Sampas.</span>
Source
A related resource from which the described resource is derived
Chigas, George. Southeast Asians in Lowell Collection, 1987-1989. UML 2. Center for Lowell History, University of Massachusetts Lowell, Lowell, MA.
Relation
A related resource
The collection finding aid, <a href="https://libguides.uml.edu/uml2" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://libguides.uml.edu/uml2</a>.
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Needlework: The pillow case, 1987
Description
An account of the resource
This pillow case's design is Sarou Sieng's own and was drawn for her by her son-in-law who lives with her. Sarou Sieng said she learned how to do this kind of needlework as a girl in Cambodia from a Chinese women who lived in the same village. <br /><br />Needlework, photograph 2 of 7, from Cambodian Traditional Crafts and Religious Ceremonies. <br /><br />View the Needlework group of photographs in order on the Internet Archive, <a href="https://archive.org/details/CambodianNeedlework" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://archive.org/details/CambodianNeedlework</a>.
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
Chigas, George
Source
A related resource from which the described resource is derived
Chigas, George. Southeast Asians in Lowell Collection
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
University of Massachusetts Lowell
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1987
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
UMass Lowell Library makes this material available for private, educational, and research use. It is the responsibility of the user to secure any needed permissions from rightsholders, for uses such as commercial reproductions of copyrighted works. Contact host institution for more information.
Format
The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource
1 photograph; 8.9 x 12.6
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
image
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
needlework_02
Coverage
The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant
Lowell, Massachusetts
Subject
The topic of the resource
Color photography
Lowell (Mass.)
Needlework
1980-1989
Cambodians
Photographs
Srom Kinae
-
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PDF Text
Text
�
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Chigas, George. Southeast Asians in Lowell Collection, 1987-1989
Description
An account of the resource
This collection includes two series, the Cambodian Traditional Crafts and Religious Ceremonies, 1987, and the Southeast Asian Exhibit Photographs, 1988-1989. The first series includes Chigas’ 84-page paper on Cambodian Traditional Crafts and Religious Ceremonies created in 1987 along with corresponding photographs. The project, funded in part by the Historic Preservation Commission of Lowell, Massachusetts, explores the traditional crafts and religious ceremonies of the Cambodian refugees who settled in the Greater Lowell area in the aftermath of the Cambodian genocide. The second series includes 20 photographs from a Lowell exhibit on Southeast Asians that was coordinated by George Chigas. <br /><br />Part of the collection is accessible on this site.<br /><br />Part of the collection is also accessible on <a href="https://archive.org/details/seadauml?and%5B%5D=george+chigas&sin=" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">the Internet Archive</a>.<br /><br />View the collection finding aid for more information, <a href="https://libguides.uml.edu/uml2" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://libguides.uml.edu/uml2</a><br /><br /><span>--------------------</span><br /><span>SEADA would like to thank the following individuals for their work in making this collection available online: Etsuko Benton, Monita Chea, and Anthony Sampas.</span>
Source
A related resource from which the described resource is derived
Chigas, George. Southeast Asians in Lowell Collection, 1987-1989. UML 2. Center for Lowell History, University of Massachusetts Lowell, Lowell, MA.
Relation
A related resource
The collection finding aid, <a href="https://libguides.uml.edu/uml2" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://libguides.uml.edu/uml2</a>.
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Needlework: Sarou Sieng and her Srom Kinae, 1987
Subject
The topic of the resource
Color photography
Lowell (Mass.)
Needlework
Description
An account of the resource
This needlework was made by Sarou Sieng who lives on Kimball Road in Lowell, Massachusetts. Originally she intended to make a large scale representation of the famous Angkor Wat, the celebrated Buddhist temple which is located in the old capital city of Angkor. Sarou Sieng became ill a few days after she began working on the project. This piece of her needlework is called a Srom Kinae and is used as a pillow case. The design is her own and was drawn for her by her son-in-law who lives with her. The picture was taken during her recovery from the operation. <br /><br />Needlework, photograph 1 of 7, from Cambodian Traditional Crafts and Religious Ceremonies. <br /><br />View the Needlework group of photographs in order on the Internet Archive, <a href="https://archive.org/details/CambodianNeedlework" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://archive.org/details/CambodianNeedlework</a>.
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
Chigas, George
Source
A related resource from which the described resource is derived
Chigas, George. Southeast Asians in Lowell Collection
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
University of Massachusetts Lowell
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1987
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
UMass Lowell Library makes this material available for private, educational, and research use. It is the responsibility of the user to secure any needed permissions from rightsholders, for uses such as commercial reproductions of copyrighted works. Contact host institution for more information.
Format
The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource
1 photograph; 12.6 x 8.7
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
image
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
needlework_01
Coverage
The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant
Lowell, Massachusetts
1980-1989
Cambodians
Photographs
Srom Kinae
-
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Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Chigas, George. Southeast Asians in Lowell Collection, 1987-1989
Description
An account of the resource
This collection includes two series, the Cambodian Traditional Crafts and Religious Ceremonies, 1987, and the Southeast Asian Exhibit Photographs, 1988-1989. The first series includes Chigas’ 84-page paper on Cambodian Traditional Crafts and Religious Ceremonies created in 1987 along with corresponding photographs. The project, funded in part by the Historic Preservation Commission of Lowell, Massachusetts, explores the traditional crafts and religious ceremonies of the Cambodian refugees who settled in the Greater Lowell area in the aftermath of the Cambodian genocide. The second series includes 20 photographs from a Lowell exhibit on Southeast Asians that was coordinated by George Chigas. <br /><br />Part of the collection is accessible on this site.<br /><br />Part of the collection is also accessible on <a href="https://archive.org/details/seadauml?and%5B%5D=george+chigas&sin=" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">the Internet Archive</a>.<br /><br />View the collection finding aid for more information, <a href="https://libguides.uml.edu/uml2" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://libguides.uml.edu/uml2</a><br /><br /><span>--------------------</span><br /><span>SEADA would like to thank the following individuals for their work in making this collection available online: Etsuko Benton, Monita Chea, and Anthony Sampas.</span>
Source
A related resource from which the described resource is derived
Chigas, George. Southeast Asians in Lowell Collection, 1987-1989. UML 2. Center for Lowell History, University of Massachusetts Lowell, Lowell, MA.
Relation
A related resource
The collection finding aid, <a href="https://libguides.uml.edu/uml2" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://libguides.uml.edu/uml2</a>.
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Kite Making: The kite flew, 1987
Subject
The topic of the resource
Color photography
Kites
Lowell (Mass.)
Description
An account of the resource
The kite flew! <br /><br />Kate Making, photograph 19 of 19, from Cambodian Traditional Crafts and Religious Ceremonies. <br /><br />View the Kite Making group of photographs in order on the Internet Archive, <a href="https://archive.org/details/CambodianKiteMaking" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://archive.org/details/CambodianKiteMaking</a>.
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
Chigas, George
Source
A related resource from which the described resource is derived
Chigas, George. Southeast Asians in Lowell Collection
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
University of Massachusetts Lowell
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1987
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
UMass Lowell Library makes this material available for private, educational, and research use. It is the responsibility of the user to secure any needed permissions from rightsholders, for uses such as commercial reproductions of copyrighted works. Contact host institution for more information.
Format
The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource
1 photograph; 12.6 x 8.8
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
image
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
kite_making_19
Coverage
The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant
Lowell, Massachusetts
1980-1989
Cambodians
Photographs
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Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Chigas, George. Southeast Asians in Lowell Collection, 1987-1989
Description
An account of the resource
This collection includes two series, the Cambodian Traditional Crafts and Religious Ceremonies, 1987, and the Southeast Asian Exhibit Photographs, 1988-1989. The first series includes Chigas’ 84-page paper on Cambodian Traditional Crafts and Religious Ceremonies created in 1987 along with corresponding photographs. The project, funded in part by the Historic Preservation Commission of Lowell, Massachusetts, explores the traditional crafts and religious ceremonies of the Cambodian refugees who settled in the Greater Lowell area in the aftermath of the Cambodian genocide. The second series includes 20 photographs from a Lowell exhibit on Southeast Asians that was coordinated by George Chigas. <br /><br />Part of the collection is accessible on this site.<br /><br />Part of the collection is also accessible on <a href="https://archive.org/details/seadauml?and%5B%5D=george+chigas&sin=" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">the Internet Archive</a>.<br /><br />View the collection finding aid for more information, <a href="https://libguides.uml.edu/uml2" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://libguides.uml.edu/uml2</a><br /><br /><span>--------------------</span><br /><span>SEADA would like to thank the following individuals for their work in making this collection available online: Etsuko Benton, Monita Chea, and Anthony Sampas.</span>
Source
A related resource from which the described resource is derived
Chigas, George. Southeast Asians in Lowell Collection, 1987-1989. UML 2. Center for Lowell History, University of Massachusetts Lowell, Lowell, MA.
Relation
A related resource
The collection finding aid, <a href="https://libguides.uml.edu/uml2" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://libguides.uml.edu/uml2</a>.
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Kite Making: Tim Sao was continuously trying to improve the kite, 1987
Subject
The topic of the resource
Color photography
Kites
Lowell (Mass.)
Description
An account of the resource
Tim Sao adjusted the Aik and fastened it further down the spine to better balance the kite. They tried again and were more successful but again the kite veered to one side and crashed on its nose. They then tried tying branches to the tail to give it more weight so it would stand up better during take off and catch more wind. This helped but the wind died just as the Klaing Aik was in mid take off. Finally, the decided to give it one last try and.... <br /><br />Kate Making, photograph 18 of 19, from Cambodian Traditional Crafts and Religious Ceremonies. <br /><br />View the Kite Making group of photographs in order on the Internet Archive, <a href="https://archive.org/details/CambodianKiteMaking" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://archive.org/details/CambodianKiteMaking</a>.
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
Chigas, George
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
University of Massachusetts Lowell
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1987
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
UMass Lowell Library makes this material available for private, educational, and research use. It is the responsibility of the user to secure any needed permissions from rightsholders, for uses such as commercial reproductions of copyrighted works. Contact host institution for more information.
Format
The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource
1 photograph; 12.6 x 8.8
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
image
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
kite_making_18
Coverage
The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant
Lowell, Massachusetts
Source
A related resource from which the described resource is derived
Chigas, George. Southeast Asians in Lowell Collection
1980-1989
Cambodians
Photographs
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Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Chigas, George. Southeast Asians in Lowell Collection, 1987-1989
Description
An account of the resource
This collection includes two series, the Cambodian Traditional Crafts and Religious Ceremonies, 1987, and the Southeast Asian Exhibit Photographs, 1988-1989. The first series includes Chigas’ 84-page paper on Cambodian Traditional Crafts and Religious Ceremonies created in 1987 along with corresponding photographs. The project, funded in part by the Historic Preservation Commission of Lowell, Massachusetts, explores the traditional crafts and religious ceremonies of the Cambodian refugees who settled in the Greater Lowell area in the aftermath of the Cambodian genocide. The second series includes 20 photographs from a Lowell exhibit on Southeast Asians that was coordinated by George Chigas. <br /><br />Part of the collection is accessible on this site.<br /><br />Part of the collection is also accessible on <a href="https://archive.org/details/seadauml?and%5B%5D=george+chigas&sin=" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">the Internet Archive</a>.<br /><br />View the collection finding aid for more information, <a href="https://libguides.uml.edu/uml2" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://libguides.uml.edu/uml2</a><br /><br /><span>--------------------</span><br /><span>SEADA would like to thank the following individuals for their work in making this collection available online: Etsuko Benton, Monita Chea, and Anthony Sampas.</span>
Source
A related resource from which the described resource is derived
Chigas, George. Southeast Asians in Lowell Collection, 1987-1989. UML 2. Center for Lowell History, University of Massachusetts Lowell, Lowell, MA.
Relation
A related resource
The collection finding aid, <a href="https://libguides.uml.edu/uml2" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://libguides.uml.edu/uml2</a>.
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Kite Making: Soeun Tim and his father, Tim Sao, fly the kite, 1987
Subject
The topic of the resource
Color photography
Kites
Lowell (Mass.)
Description
An account of the resource
To fly the Klaing Aik we went to a nearby park located on the crest of a hill that overlooks the city of Lowell. The infamous day of the flight was August 24, 1987. It was a beautiful, cool, fall-like day with big puffy clouds scudding across the sky; a perfect day to watch and take pictures of the Klaing Aik in action. However, when Soeun Tim and his father, Tim Sao, tried to launch the kite it climbed only ten feet into the air before veering to one side and crashing to the ground. On their second attempt, despite the strong gusts of wind that bent the tree tops, they were unable to launch the kite again. The wind was not steady enough, it came on strong then quickly died before the kite was aloft. <br /><br />Kate Making, photograph 17 of 19, from Cambodian Traditional Crafts and Religious Ceremonies. <br /><br />View the Kite Making group of photographs in order on the Internet Archive, <a href="https://archive.org/details/CambodianKiteMaking" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://archive.org/details/CambodianKiteMaking</a>.
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
Chigas, George
Source
A related resource from which the described resource is derived
Chigas, George. Southeast Asians in Lowell Collection
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
University of Massachusetts Lowell
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1987
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
UMass Lowell Library makes this material available for private, educational, and research use. It is the responsibility of the user to secure any needed permissions from rightsholders, for uses such as commercial reproductions of copyrighted works. Contact host institution for more information.
Format
The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource
1 photograph; 8.8 x 12.6
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
image
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
kite_making_17
Coverage
The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant
Lowell, Massachusetts
1980-1989
Cambodians
Photographs
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Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Chigas, George. Southeast Asians in Lowell Collection, 1987-1989
Description
An account of the resource
This collection includes two series, the Cambodian Traditional Crafts and Religious Ceremonies, 1987, and the Southeast Asian Exhibit Photographs, 1988-1989. The first series includes Chigas’ 84-page paper on Cambodian Traditional Crafts and Religious Ceremonies created in 1987 along with corresponding photographs. The project, funded in part by the Historic Preservation Commission of Lowell, Massachusetts, explores the traditional crafts and religious ceremonies of the Cambodian refugees who settled in the Greater Lowell area in the aftermath of the Cambodian genocide. The second series includes 20 photographs from a Lowell exhibit on Southeast Asians that was coordinated by George Chigas. <br /><br />Part of the collection is accessible on this site.<br /><br />Part of the collection is also accessible on <a href="https://archive.org/details/seadauml?and%5B%5D=george+chigas&sin=" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">the Internet Archive</a>.<br /><br />View the collection finding aid for more information, <a href="https://libguides.uml.edu/uml2" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://libguides.uml.edu/uml2</a><br /><br /><span>--------------------</span><br /><span>SEADA would like to thank the following individuals for their work in making this collection available online: Etsuko Benton, Monita Chea, and Anthony Sampas.</span>
Source
A related resource from which the described resource is derived
Chigas, George. Southeast Asians in Lowell Collection, 1987-1989. UML 2. Center for Lowell History, University of Massachusetts Lowell, Lowell, MA.
Relation
A related resource
The collection finding aid, <a href="https://libguides.uml.edu/uml2" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://libguides.uml.edu/uml2</a>.
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Kite Making: The Klaing Aik is ready to fly, 1987
Subject
The topic of the resource
Color photography
Kites
Lowell (Mass.)
Description
An account of the resource
The strips are glued together end to end then attached to the kite's Tail Piece with wire. Finally the spine is rigged with a guide loop of string where the tether will be fastened, and the Klaing Aik is ready to fly! <br /><br />Kate Making, photograph 16 of 19, from Cambodian Traditional Crafts and Religious Ceremonies. <br /><br />View the Kite Making group of photographs in order on the Internet Archive, <a href="https://archive.org/details/CambodianKiteMaking" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://archive.org/details/CambodianKiteMaking</a>.
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
Chigas, George
Source
A related resource from which the described resource is derived
Chigas, George. Southeast Asians in Lowell Collection
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
University of Massachusetts Lowell
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1987
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
UMass Lowell Library makes this material available for private, educational, and research use. It is the responsibility of the user to secure any needed permissions from rightsholders, for uses such as commercial reproductions of copyrighted works. Contact host institution for more information.
Format
The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource
1 photograph; 12.6 x 8.7
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
image
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
kite_making_16
Coverage
The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant
Lowell, Massachusetts
1980-1989
Cambodians
Photographs
-
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PDF Text
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Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Chigas, George. Southeast Asians in Lowell Collection, 1987-1989
Description
An account of the resource
This collection includes two series, the Cambodian Traditional Crafts and Religious Ceremonies, 1987, and the Southeast Asian Exhibit Photographs, 1988-1989. The first series includes Chigas’ 84-page paper on Cambodian Traditional Crafts and Religious Ceremonies created in 1987 along with corresponding photographs. The project, funded in part by the Historic Preservation Commission of Lowell, Massachusetts, explores the traditional crafts and religious ceremonies of the Cambodian refugees who settled in the Greater Lowell area in the aftermath of the Cambodian genocide. The second series includes 20 photographs from a Lowell exhibit on Southeast Asians that was coordinated by George Chigas. <br /><br />Part of the collection is accessible on this site.<br /><br />Part of the collection is also accessible on <a href="https://archive.org/details/seadauml?and%5B%5D=george+chigas&sin=" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">the Internet Archive</a>.<br /><br />View the collection finding aid for more information, <a href="https://libguides.uml.edu/uml2" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://libguides.uml.edu/uml2</a><br /><br /><span>--------------------</span><br /><span>SEADA would like to thank the following individuals for their work in making this collection available online: Etsuko Benton, Monita Chea, and Anthony Sampas.</span>
Source
A related resource from which the described resource is derived
Chigas, George. Southeast Asians in Lowell Collection, 1987-1989. UML 2. Center for Lowell History, University of Massachusetts Lowell, Lowell, MA.
Relation
A related resource
The collection finding aid, <a href="https://libguides.uml.edu/uml2" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://libguides.uml.edu/uml2</a>.
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Kite Making: Tim Sao cuts the long tail part of the kite, 1987
Subject
The topic of the resource
Color photography
Kites
Lowell (Mass.)
Description
An account of the resource
Tim Sao cuts the strips of material that will be used to make the long tail that will serve to balance the kite as it ascends into the air. <br /><br />Kate Making, photograph 15 of 19, from Cambodian Traditional Crafts and Religious Ceremonies. <br /><br />View the Kite Making group of photographs in order on the Internet Archive, <a href="https://archive.org/details/CambodianKiteMaking" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://archive.org/details/CambodianKiteMaking</a>.
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
Chigas, George
Source
A related resource from which the described resource is derived
Chigas, George. Southeast Asians in Lowell Collection
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
University of Massachusetts Lowell
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1987
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
UMass Lowell Library makes this material available for private, educational, and research use. It is the responsibility of the user to secure any needed permissions from rightsholders, for uses such as commercial reproductions of copyrighted works. Contact host institution for more information.
Format
The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource
1 photograph; 12.6 x 8.8
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
image
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
kite_making_15
Coverage
The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant
Lowell, Massachusetts
1980-1989
Cambodians
Photographs
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Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Chigas, George. Southeast Asians in Lowell Collection, 1987-1989
Description
An account of the resource
This collection includes two series, the Cambodian Traditional Crafts and Religious Ceremonies, 1987, and the Southeast Asian Exhibit Photographs, 1988-1989. The first series includes Chigas’ 84-page paper on Cambodian Traditional Crafts and Religious Ceremonies created in 1987 along with corresponding photographs. The project, funded in part by the Historic Preservation Commission of Lowell, Massachusetts, explores the traditional crafts and religious ceremonies of the Cambodian refugees who settled in the Greater Lowell area in the aftermath of the Cambodian genocide. The second series includes 20 photographs from a Lowell exhibit on Southeast Asians that was coordinated by George Chigas. <br /><br />Part of the collection is accessible on this site.<br /><br />Part of the collection is also accessible on <a href="https://archive.org/details/seadauml?and%5B%5D=george+chigas&sin=" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">the Internet Archive</a>.<br /><br />View the collection finding aid for more information, <a href="https://libguides.uml.edu/uml2" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://libguides.uml.edu/uml2</a><br /><br /><span>--------------------</span><br /><span>SEADA would like to thank the following individuals for their work in making this collection available online: Etsuko Benton, Monita Chea, and Anthony Sampas.</span>
Source
A related resource from which the described resource is derived
Chigas, George. Southeast Asians in Lowell Collection, 1987-1989. UML 2. Center for Lowell History, University of Massachusetts Lowell, Lowell, MA.
Relation
A related resource
The collection finding aid, <a href="https://libguides.uml.edu/uml2" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://libguides.uml.edu/uml2</a>.
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Kite Making: Soeun Tim holds up the kite, 1987
Subject
The topic of the resource
Color photography
Kites
Lowell (Mass.)
Description
An account of the resource
Soeun Tim holds up the kite for everyone to admire. <br /><br />Kate Making, photograph 14 of 19, from Cambodian Traditional Crafts and Religious Ceremonies. <br /><br />View the Kite Making group of photographs in order on the Internet Archive, <a href="https://archive.org/details/CambodianKiteMaking" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://archive.org/details/CambodianKiteMaking</a>.
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
Chigas, George
Source
A related resource from which the described resource is derived
Chigas, George. Southeast Asians in Lowell Collection
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
University of Massachusetts Lowell
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1987
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
UMass Lowell Library makes this material available for private, educational, and research use. It is the responsibility of the user to secure any needed permissions from rightsholders, for uses such as commercial reproductions of copyrighted works. Contact host institution for more information.
Format
The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource
1 photograph; 12.6 x 8.7
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
image
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
kite_making_14
Coverage
The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant
Lowell, Massachusetts
1980-1989
Cambodians
Photographs
-
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Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Chigas, George. Southeast Asians in Lowell Collection, 1987-1989
Description
An account of the resource
This collection includes two series, the Cambodian Traditional Crafts and Religious Ceremonies, 1987, and the Southeast Asian Exhibit Photographs, 1988-1989. The first series includes Chigas’ 84-page paper on Cambodian Traditional Crafts and Religious Ceremonies created in 1987 along with corresponding photographs. The project, funded in part by the Historic Preservation Commission of Lowell, Massachusetts, explores the traditional crafts and religious ceremonies of the Cambodian refugees who settled in the Greater Lowell area in the aftermath of the Cambodian genocide. The second series includes 20 photographs from a Lowell exhibit on Southeast Asians that was coordinated by George Chigas. <br /><br />Part of the collection is accessible on this site.<br /><br />Part of the collection is also accessible on <a href="https://archive.org/details/seadauml?and%5B%5D=george+chigas&sin=" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">the Internet Archive</a>.<br /><br />View the collection finding aid for more information, <a href="https://libguides.uml.edu/uml2" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://libguides.uml.edu/uml2</a><br /><br /><span>--------------------</span><br /><span>SEADA would like to thank the following individuals for their work in making this collection available online: Etsuko Benton, Monita Chea, and Anthony Sampas.</span>
Source
A related resource from which the described resource is derived
Chigas, George. Southeast Asians in Lowell Collection, 1987-1989. UML 2. Center for Lowell History, University of Massachusetts Lowell, Lowell, MA.
Relation
A related resource
The collection finding aid, <a href="https://libguides.uml.edu/uml2" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://libguides.uml.edu/uml2</a>.
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Kite Making: Soeun Tim shaves down a bamboo splint, 1987
Subject
The topic of the resource
Color photography
Kites
Lowell (Mass.)
Description
An account of the resource
Soeun Tim shaves down a bamboo splint with a knife by pulling it across the knife blade while using his finger as a guide; similar to the action of a plane. This splint and another will be used to make the Top Wing of the kite. Earlier they were split from the pole with a large kitchen knife pounded with a hammer. The hacksaw to his right was used to cut the splint to the correct length. <br /><br />Kite Making, photograph 1 of 19, from Cambodian Traditional Crafts and Religious Ceremonies. <br /><br />View the Kite Making group of photographs in order on the Internet Archive, <a href="https://archive.org/details/CambodianKiteMaking" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://archive.org/details/CambodianKiteMaking</a>.
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
Chigas, George
Source
A related resource from which the described resource is derived
Chigas, George. Southeast Asians in Lowell Collection
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
University of Massachusetts Lowell
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1987
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
UMass Lowell Library makes this material available for private, educational, and research use. It is the responsibility of the user to secure any needed permissions from rightsholders, for uses such as commercial reproductions of copyrighted works. Contact host institution for more information.
Format
The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource
1 photograph; 12.6 x 8.8
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
image
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
kite_making_01
Coverage
The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant
Lowell, Massachusetts
1980-1989
Cambodians
Photographs
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�
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Chigas, George. Southeast Asians in Lowell Collection, 1987-1989
Description
An account of the resource
This collection includes two series, the Cambodian Traditional Crafts and Religious Ceremonies, 1987, and the Southeast Asian Exhibit Photographs, 1988-1989. The first series includes Chigas’ 84-page paper on Cambodian Traditional Crafts and Religious Ceremonies created in 1987 along with corresponding photographs. The project, funded in part by the Historic Preservation Commission of Lowell, Massachusetts, explores the traditional crafts and religious ceremonies of the Cambodian refugees who settled in the Greater Lowell area in the aftermath of the Cambodian genocide. The second series includes 20 photographs from a Lowell exhibit on Southeast Asians that was coordinated by George Chigas. <br /><br />Part of the collection is accessible on this site.<br /><br />Part of the collection is also accessible on <a href="https://archive.org/details/seadauml?and%5B%5D=george+chigas&sin=" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">the Internet Archive</a>.<br /><br />View the collection finding aid for more information, <a href="https://libguides.uml.edu/uml2" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://libguides.uml.edu/uml2</a><br /><br /><span>--------------------</span><br /><span>SEADA would like to thank the following individuals for their work in making this collection available online: Etsuko Benton, Monita Chea, and Anthony Sampas.</span>
Source
A related resource from which the described resource is derived
Chigas, George. Southeast Asians in Lowell Collection, 1987-1989. UML 2. Center for Lowell History, University of Massachusetts Lowell, Lowell, MA.
Relation
A related resource
The collection finding aid, <a href="https://libguides.uml.edu/uml2" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://libguides.uml.edu/uml2</a>.
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Kite Making: The kite's covering is nearly complete, 1987
Subject
The topic of the resource
Color photography
Kites
Lowell (Mass.)
Description
An account of the resource
The kite's covering is nearly complete. Excess fabric is used to make streamers to decorate the wing tips. Tim Sao also cut paper flowers to use as eyes on the Top Wing but decided not to include them in the end. <br /><br />Kate Making, photograph 10 of 19, from Cambodian Traditional Crafts and Religious Ceremonies. <br /><br />View the Kite Making group of photographs in order on the Internet Archive, <a href="https://archive.org/details/CambodianKiteMaking" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://archive.org/details/CambodianKiteMaking</a>.
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
Chigas, George
Source
A related resource from which the described resource is derived
Chigas, George. Southeast Asians in Lowell Collection
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
University of Massachusetts Lowell
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1987
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
UMass Lowell Library makes this material available for private, educational, and research use. It is the responsibility of the user to secure any needed permissions from rightsholders, for uses such as commercial reproductions of copyrighted works. Contact host institution for more information.
Format
The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource
1 photograph; 12.6 x 8.8
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
image
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
kite_making_10
Coverage
The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant
Lowell, Massachusetts
1980-1989
Cambodians
Photographs
-
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Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Chigas, George. Southeast Asians in Lowell Collection, 1987-1989
Description
An account of the resource
This collection includes two series, the Cambodian Traditional Crafts and Religious Ceremonies, 1987, and the Southeast Asian Exhibit Photographs, 1988-1989. The first series includes Chigas’ 84-page paper on Cambodian Traditional Crafts and Religious Ceremonies created in 1987 along with corresponding photographs. The project, funded in part by the Historic Preservation Commission of Lowell, Massachusetts, explores the traditional crafts and religious ceremonies of the Cambodian refugees who settled in the Greater Lowell area in the aftermath of the Cambodian genocide. The second series includes 20 photographs from a Lowell exhibit on Southeast Asians that was coordinated by George Chigas. <br /><br />Part of the collection is accessible on this site.<br /><br />Part of the collection is also accessible on <a href="https://archive.org/details/seadauml?and%5B%5D=george+chigas&sin=" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">the Internet Archive</a>.<br /><br />View the collection finding aid for more information, <a href="https://libguides.uml.edu/uml2" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://libguides.uml.edu/uml2</a><br /><br /><span>--------------------</span><br /><span>SEADA would like to thank the following individuals for their work in making this collection available online: Etsuko Benton, Monita Chea, and Anthony Sampas.</span>
Source
A related resource from which the described resource is derived
Chigas, George. Southeast Asians in Lowell Collection, 1987-1989. UML 2. Center for Lowell History, University of Massachusetts Lowell, Lowell, MA.
Relation
A related resource
The collection finding aid, <a href="https://libguides.uml.edu/uml2" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://libguides.uml.edu/uml2</a>.
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Kite Making: Tim Sao fits the Aik onto the top of the kite's spine, 1987
Subject
The topic of the resource
Color photography
Kites
Lowell (Mass.)
Description
An account of the resource
Tim Sao fits the Aik onto the top of the kite's spine. The piece is made of two bamboo slats, the first is longer and will act as the bow that will pull the thin bamboo "singing" ribbon taut; the second piece is used to add support to the longer piece to which it is bound lengthwise with wire, and also provide a means for attaching the Aik to the top of the spine. This is done by separating the two tightly bound pieces and fitting the spine between them and fastening them with wire. The ends of the longer piece are notched like a hunting bow to fasten the string that will pull the vibrating ribbon taut. <br /><br />Kate Making, photograph 11 of 19, from Cambodian Traditional Crafts and Religious Ceremonies. <br /><br />View the Kite Making group of photographs in order on the Internet Archive, <a href="https://archive.org/details/CambodianKiteMaking" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://archive.org/details/CambodianKiteMaking</a>.
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
Chigas, George
Source
A related resource from which the described resource is derived
Chigas, George. Southeast Asians in Lowell Collection
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
University of Massachusetts Lowell
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1987
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
UMass Lowell Library makes this material available for private, educational, and research use. It is the responsibility of the user to secure any needed permissions from rightsholders, for uses such as commercial reproductions of copyrighted works. Contact host institution for more information.
Format
The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource
1 photograph; 8.8 x 12.6
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
image
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
kite_making_11
Coverage
The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant
Lowell, Massachusetts
1980-1989
Cambodians
Photographs
-
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Text
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Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Chigas, George. Southeast Asians in Lowell Collection, 1987-1989
Description
An account of the resource
This collection includes two series, the Cambodian Traditional Crafts and Religious Ceremonies, 1987, and the Southeast Asian Exhibit Photographs, 1988-1989. The first series includes Chigas’ 84-page paper on Cambodian Traditional Crafts and Religious Ceremonies created in 1987 along with corresponding photographs. The project, funded in part by the Historic Preservation Commission of Lowell, Massachusetts, explores the traditional crafts and religious ceremonies of the Cambodian refugees who settled in the Greater Lowell area in the aftermath of the Cambodian genocide. The second series includes 20 photographs from a Lowell exhibit on Southeast Asians that was coordinated by George Chigas. <br /><br />Part of the collection is accessible on this site.<br /><br />Part of the collection is also accessible on <a href="https://archive.org/details/seadauml?and%5B%5D=george+chigas&sin=" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">the Internet Archive</a>.<br /><br />View the collection finding aid for more information, <a href="https://libguides.uml.edu/uml2" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://libguides.uml.edu/uml2</a><br /><br /><span>--------------------</span><br /><span>SEADA would like to thank the following individuals for their work in making this collection available online: Etsuko Benton, Monita Chea, and Anthony Sampas.</span>
Source
A related resource from which the described resource is derived
Chigas, George. Southeast Asians in Lowell Collection, 1987-1989. UML 2. Center for Lowell History, University of Massachusetts Lowell, Lowell, MA.
Relation
A related resource
The collection finding aid, <a href="https://libguides.uml.edu/uml2" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://libguides.uml.edu/uml2</a>.
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Kite Making: Soeun Tim and Tim Sao join the slats, 1987
Subject
The topic of the resource
Kites
Lowell (Mass.)
Color photography
Description
An account of the resource
Soeun Tim and Tim Sao join the slats of the kite's Bottom Wing with copper wire. As with the Top Wing, the bamboo slats for the Bottom Wing were planed down with a knife to make them flexible so they could be bent into shape. (In order to achieve the delicate curves of the design the slats are gradually bent by hand to actually reform the bamboo). <br /><br />Kite Making, photograph 5 of 19, from Cambodian Traditional Crafts and Religious Ceremonies. <br /><br />View the Kite Making group of photographs in order on the Internet Archive, <a href="https://archive.org/details/CambodianKiteMaking" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://archive.org/details/CambodianKiteMaking</a>.
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
Chigas, George
Source
A related resource from which the described resource is derived
Chigas, George. Southeast Asians in Lowell Collection
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
University of Massachusetts Lowell
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1987
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
UMass Lowell Library makes this material available for private, educational, and research use. It is the responsibility of the user to secure any needed permissions from rightsholders, for uses such as commercial reproductions of copyrighted works. Contact host institution for more information.
Format
The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource
1 photograph; 12.6 x 8.8
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
image
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
kite_making_05
Coverage
The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant
Lowell, Massachusetts
1980-1989
Cambodians
Photographs
-
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PDF Text
Text
�
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Chigas, George. Southeast Asians in Lowell Collection, 1987-1989
Description
An account of the resource
This collection includes two series, the Cambodian Traditional Crafts and Religious Ceremonies, 1987, and the Southeast Asian Exhibit Photographs, 1988-1989. The first series includes Chigas’ 84-page paper on Cambodian Traditional Crafts and Religious Ceremonies created in 1987 along with corresponding photographs. The project, funded in part by the Historic Preservation Commission of Lowell, Massachusetts, explores the traditional crafts and religious ceremonies of the Cambodian refugees who settled in the Greater Lowell area in the aftermath of the Cambodian genocide. The second series includes 20 photographs from a Lowell exhibit on Southeast Asians that was coordinated by George Chigas. <br /><br />Part of the collection is accessible on this site.<br /><br />Part of the collection is also accessible on <a href="https://archive.org/details/seadauml?and%5B%5D=george+chigas&sin=" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">the Internet Archive</a>.<br /><br />View the collection finding aid for more information, <a href="https://libguides.uml.edu/uml2" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://libguides.uml.edu/uml2</a><br /><br /><span>--------------------</span><br /><span>SEADA would like to thank the following individuals for their work in making this collection available online: Etsuko Benton, Monita Chea, and Anthony Sampas.</span>
Source
A related resource from which the described resource is derived
Chigas, George. Southeast Asians in Lowell Collection, 1987-1989. UML 2. Center for Lowell History, University of Massachusetts Lowell, Lowell, MA.
Relation
A related resource
The collection finding aid, <a href="https://libguides.uml.edu/uml2" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://libguides.uml.edu/uml2</a>.
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Kite Making: Soeun Tim attaches the two splits to the spine of the kite, 1987
Subject
The topic of the resource
Color photography
Kites
Lowell (Mass.)
Description
An account of the resource
Soeun Tim attaches the two splits to the spine of the kite with copper wire then tied again at the ends in such a way that the bottom split could be curved up and held in place with a wire tied to the Top Wing. <br /><br />Kite Making, photograph 3 of 19, from Cambodian Traditional Crafts and Religious Ceremonies. <br /><br />View the Kite Making group of photographs in order on the Internet Archive, <a href="https://archive.org/details/CambodianKiteMaking" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://archive.org/details/CambodianKiteMaking</a>.
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
Chigas, George
Source
A related resource from which the described resource is derived
Chigas, George. Southeast Asians in Lowell Collection
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
University of Massachusetts Lowell
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1987
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
UMass Lowell Library makes this material available for private, educational, and research use. It is the responsibility of the user to secure any needed permissions from rightsholders, for uses such as commercial reproductions of copyrighted works. Contact host institution for more information.
Format
The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource
1 photograph; 8.8 x 12.6
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
image
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
kite_making_03
Coverage
The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant
Lowell, Massachusetts
1980-1989
Cambodians
Photographs
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Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Chigas, George. Southeast Asians in Lowell Collection, 1987-1989
Description
An account of the resource
This collection includes two series, the Cambodian Traditional Crafts and Religious Ceremonies, 1987, and the Southeast Asian Exhibit Photographs, 1988-1989. The first series includes Chigas’ 84-page paper on Cambodian Traditional Crafts and Religious Ceremonies created in 1987 along with corresponding photographs. The project, funded in part by the Historic Preservation Commission of Lowell, Massachusetts, explores the traditional crafts and religious ceremonies of the Cambodian refugees who settled in the Greater Lowell area in the aftermath of the Cambodian genocide. The second series includes 20 photographs from a Lowell exhibit on Southeast Asians that was coordinated by George Chigas. <br /><br />Part of the collection is accessible on this site.<br /><br />Part of the collection is also accessible on <a href="https://archive.org/details/seadauml?and%5B%5D=george+chigas&sin=" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">the Internet Archive</a>.<br /><br />View the collection finding aid for more information, <a href="https://libguides.uml.edu/uml2" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://libguides.uml.edu/uml2</a><br /><br /><span>--------------------</span><br /><span>SEADA would like to thank the following individuals for their work in making this collection available online: Etsuko Benton, Monita Chea, and Anthony Sampas.</span>
Source
A related resource from which the described resource is derived
Chigas, George. Southeast Asians in Lowell Collection, 1987-1989. UML 2. Center for Lowell History, University of Massachusetts Lowell, Lowell, MA.
Relation
A related resource
The collection finding aid, <a href="https://libguides.uml.edu/uml2" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://libguides.uml.edu/uml2</a>.
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Kite Making: Tim Sao cuts the "M"-shaped Tail Piece, 1987
Subject
The topic of the resource
Color photography
Lowell (Mass.)
Kites
Description
An account of the resource
Tim Sao, working independently, begins to cut the "M"-shaped Tail Piece that he will attach to the bottom of the kite's spine and will be used to anchor the long cloth tail. <br /><br />Kite Making, photograph 2 of 19, from Cambodian Traditional Crafts and Religious Ceremonies. <br /><br />View the Kite Making group of photographs in order on the Internet Archive, <a href="https://archive.org/details/CambodianKiteMaking" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://archive.org/details/CambodianKiteMaking</a>.
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
Chigas, George
Source
A related resource from which the described resource is derived
Chigas, George. Southeast Asians in Lowell Collection
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
University of Massachusetts Lowell
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1987
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
UMass Lowell Library makes this material available for private, educational, and research use. It is the responsibility of the user to secure any needed permissions from rightsholders, for uses such as commercial reproductions of copyrighted works. Contact host institution for more information.
Format
The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource
1 photograph; 12.6 x 8.8
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
image
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
kite_making_02
Coverage
The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant
Lowell, Massachusetts
1980-1989
Cambodians
Photographs
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Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Chigas, George. Southeast Asians in Lowell Collection, 1987-1989
Description
An account of the resource
This collection includes two series, the Cambodian Traditional Crafts and Religious Ceremonies, 1987, and the Southeast Asian Exhibit Photographs, 1988-1989. The first series includes Chigas’ 84-page paper on Cambodian Traditional Crafts and Religious Ceremonies created in 1987 along with corresponding photographs. The project, funded in part by the Historic Preservation Commission of Lowell, Massachusetts, explores the traditional crafts and religious ceremonies of the Cambodian refugees who settled in the Greater Lowell area in the aftermath of the Cambodian genocide. The second series includes 20 photographs from a Lowell exhibit on Southeast Asians that was coordinated by George Chigas. <br /><br />Part of the collection is accessible on this site.<br /><br />Part of the collection is also accessible on <a href="https://archive.org/details/seadauml?and%5B%5D=george+chigas&sin=" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">the Internet Archive</a>.<br /><br />View the collection finding aid for more information, <a href="https://libguides.uml.edu/uml2" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://libguides.uml.edu/uml2</a><br /><br /><span>--------------------</span><br /><span>SEADA would like to thank the following individuals for their work in making this collection available online: Etsuko Benton, Monita Chea, and Anthony Sampas.</span>
Source
A related resource from which the described resource is derived
Chigas, George. Southeast Asians in Lowell Collection, 1987-1989. UML 2. Center for Lowell History, University of Massachusetts Lowell, Lowell, MA.
Relation
A related resource
The collection finding aid, <a href="https://libguides.uml.edu/uml2" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://libguides.uml.edu/uml2</a>.
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Kite Making: Soeun Tim makes adjustments to the kite's Bottom Wing, 1987
Subject
The topic of the resource
Color photography
Kites
Lowell (Mass.)
Description
An account of the resource
Soeun Tim makes some adjustments to the kite's Bottom Wing.<br /><br />Kate Making, photograph 13 of 19, from Cambodian Traditional Crafts and Religious Ceremonies.<br /><br />View the Kite Making group of photographs in order on the Internet Archive, <a href="https://archive.org/details/CambodianKiteMaking" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://archive.org/details/CambodianKiteMaking</a>.
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
Chigas, George
Source
A related resource from which the described resource is derived
Chigas, George. Southeast Asians in Lowell Collection
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
University of Massachusetts Lowell
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1987
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
UMass Lowell Library makes this material available for private, educational, and research use. It is the responsibility of the user to secure any needed permissions from rightsholders, for uses such as commercial reproductions of copyrighted works. Contact host institution for more information.
Format
The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource
1 photograph; 12.6 x 8.9
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
image
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
kite_making_13
Coverage
The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant
Lowell, Massachusetts
1980-1989
Cambodians
Photographs
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Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Chigas, George. Southeast Asians in Lowell Collection, 1987-1989
Description
An account of the resource
This collection includes two series, the Cambodian Traditional Crafts and Religious Ceremonies, 1987, and the Southeast Asian Exhibit Photographs, 1988-1989. The first series includes Chigas’ 84-page paper on Cambodian Traditional Crafts and Religious Ceremonies created in 1987 along with corresponding photographs. The project, funded in part by the Historic Preservation Commission of Lowell, Massachusetts, explores the traditional crafts and religious ceremonies of the Cambodian refugees who settled in the Greater Lowell area in the aftermath of the Cambodian genocide. The second series includes 20 photographs from a Lowell exhibit on Southeast Asians that was coordinated by George Chigas. <br /><br />Part of the collection is accessible on this site.<br /><br />Part of the collection is also accessible on <a href="https://archive.org/details/seadauml?and%5B%5D=george+chigas&sin=" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">the Internet Archive</a>.<br /><br />View the collection finding aid for more information, <a href="https://libguides.uml.edu/uml2" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://libguides.uml.edu/uml2</a><br /><br /><span>--------------------</span><br /><span>SEADA would like to thank the following individuals for their work in making this collection available online: Etsuko Benton, Monita Chea, and Anthony Sampas.</span>
Source
A related resource from which the described resource is derived
Chigas, George. Southeast Asians in Lowell Collection, 1987-1989. UML 2. Center for Lowell History, University of Massachusetts Lowell, Lowell, MA.
Relation
A related resource
The collection finding aid, <a href="https://libguides.uml.edu/uml2" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://libguides.uml.edu/uml2</a>.
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Kite Making: Soeun Tim readies the kite's vibrating ribbon, 1987
Subject
The topic of the resource
Kites
Lowell (Mass.)
Color photography
Description
An account of the resource
Soeun Tim readies the kite's vibrating ribbon for stringing to the bow. Like the other bamboo splits used to make the wings, the vibrating ribbon was shaved down with a knife. However, to make the strip flexible enough to vibrate it had to be honed down much more than the other pieces until it was nearly as thin as a sheet of paper. This can be difficult and painful for the craftsman since the friction generated by repeatedly pulling the bamboo ribbon between the knife and his finger can burn his skin. The thin ribbon is also notched at the ends and looped and hooked with the cord that will be strung to the bow piece which has similar notches. As was previously explained, the string can be restrung on the bow to adjust the tension. <br /><br />Kate Making, photograph 12 of 19, from Cambodian Traditional Crafts and Religious Ceremonies. <br /><br />View the Kite Making group of photographs in order on the Internet Archive, <a href="https://archive.org/details/CambodianKiteMaking" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://archive.org/details/CambodianKiteMaking</a>.
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
Chigas, George
Source
A related resource from which the described resource is derived
Chigas, George. Southeast Asians in Lowell Collection
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
University of Massachusetts Lowell
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1987
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
UMass Lowell Library makes this material available for private, educational, and research use. It is the responsibility of the user to secure any needed permissions from rightsholders, for uses such as commercial reproductions of copyrighted works. Contact host institution for more information.
Format
The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource
1 photograph; 8.8 x 12.6
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
image
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
kite_making_12
Coverage
The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant
Lowell, Massachusetts
1980-1989
Cambodians
Photographs
-
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Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Chigas, George. Southeast Asians in Lowell Collection, 1987-1989
Description
An account of the resource
This collection includes two series, the Cambodian Traditional Crafts and Religious Ceremonies, 1987, and the Southeast Asian Exhibit Photographs, 1988-1989. The first series includes Chigas’ 84-page paper on Cambodian Traditional Crafts and Religious Ceremonies created in 1987 along with corresponding photographs. The project, funded in part by the Historic Preservation Commission of Lowell, Massachusetts, explores the traditional crafts and religious ceremonies of the Cambodian refugees who settled in the Greater Lowell area in the aftermath of the Cambodian genocide. The second series includes 20 photographs from a Lowell exhibit on Southeast Asians that was coordinated by George Chigas. <br /><br />Part of the collection is accessible on this site.<br /><br />Part of the collection is also accessible on <a href="https://archive.org/details/seadauml?and%5B%5D=george+chigas&sin=" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">the Internet Archive</a>.<br /><br />View the collection finding aid for more information, <a href="https://libguides.uml.edu/uml2" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://libguides.uml.edu/uml2</a><br /><br /><span>--------------------</span><br /><span>SEADA would like to thank the following individuals for their work in making this collection available online: Etsuko Benton, Monita Chea, and Anthony Sampas.</span>
Source
A related resource from which the described resource is derived
Chigas, George. Southeast Asians in Lowell Collection, 1987-1989. UML 2. Center for Lowell History, University of Massachusetts Lowell, Lowell, MA.
Relation
A related resource
The collection finding aid, <a href="https://libguides.uml.edu/uml2" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://libguides.uml.edu/uml2</a>.
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Kite Making: The kite's covering is cut and glued section by section, 1987
Subject
The topic of the resource
Color photography
Kites
Lowell (Mass.)
Description
An account of the resource
To affix the nylon covering to the kite's frame, the covering is first spread on the floor. The frame is then placed on top of the covering which is marked for reference to keep it in place while it is being cut. The covering is cut and glued section by section not pre-cut then glued in a single place as one might expect. Soeun Tim told us that in Cambodia if glue was not available he would make homemade glue by mixing rice flour with boiling water. <br /><br />Kate Making, photograph 9 of 19, from Cambodian Traditional Crafts and Religious Ceremonies. <br /><br />View the Kite Making group of photographs in order on the Internet Archive, <a href="https://archive.org/details/CambodianKiteMaking" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://archive.org/details/CambodianKiteMaking</a>.
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
Chigas, George
Source
A related resource from which the described resource is derived
Chigas, George. Southeast Asians in Lowell Collection
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
University of Massachusetts Lowell
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1987
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
UMass Lowell Library makes this material available for private, educational, and research use. It is the responsibility of the user to secure any needed permissions from rightsholders, for uses such as commercial reproductions of copyrighted works. Contact host institution for more information.
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
image
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
kite_making_09
Coverage
The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant
Lowell, Massachusetts
Format
The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource
1 photograph; 12.6 x 8.9
1980-1989
Cambodians
Photographs
-
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�
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Chigas, George. Southeast Asians in Lowell Collection, 1987-1989
Description
An account of the resource
This collection includes two series, the Cambodian Traditional Crafts and Religious Ceremonies, 1987, and the Southeast Asian Exhibit Photographs, 1988-1989. The first series includes Chigas’ 84-page paper on Cambodian Traditional Crafts and Religious Ceremonies created in 1987 along with corresponding photographs. The project, funded in part by the Historic Preservation Commission of Lowell, Massachusetts, explores the traditional crafts and religious ceremonies of the Cambodian refugees who settled in the Greater Lowell area in the aftermath of the Cambodian genocide. The second series includes 20 photographs from a Lowell exhibit on Southeast Asians that was coordinated by George Chigas. <br /><br />Part of the collection is accessible on this site.<br /><br />Part of the collection is also accessible on <a href="https://archive.org/details/seadauml?and%5B%5D=george+chigas&sin=" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">the Internet Archive</a>.<br /><br />View the collection finding aid for more information, <a href="https://libguides.uml.edu/uml2" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://libguides.uml.edu/uml2</a><br /><br /><span>--------------------</span><br /><span>SEADA would like to thank the following individuals for their work in making this collection available online: Etsuko Benton, Monita Chea, and Anthony Sampas.</span>
Source
A related resource from which the described resource is derived
Chigas, George. Southeast Asians in Lowell Collection, 1987-1989. UML 2. Center for Lowell History, University of Massachusetts Lowell, Lowell, MA.
Relation
A related resource
The collection finding aid, <a href="https://libguides.uml.edu/uml2" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://libguides.uml.edu/uml2</a>.
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Kite Making: Tim Sao loops two bamboo dowels, 1987
Subject
The topic of the resource
Color photography
Kites
Lowell (Mass.)
Description
An account of the resource
Earlier, Tim Sao bored holes into the kite's Tail Piece with a handmade tool made of a pointed steel shaft fit into a round wooden handle which he spun between his hands to drill the holes into the Tail Piece. In this picture you can see that two thin bamboo dowels have been inserted into these holes and secured at the other end by shaving them so thin that Tim was able to loop them over the Bottom Wing then bind them with wire. Except for the Aik the basic structure of the frame is now complete.<br /><br />Kite Making, photograph 8 of 19, from Cambodian Traditional Crafts and Religious Ceremonies. <br /><br />View the Kite Making group of photographs in order on the Internet Archive, <a href="https://archive.org/details/CambodianKiteMaking" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://archive.org/details/CambodianKiteMaking</a>.
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
Chigas, George
Source
A related resource from which the described resource is derived
Chigas, George. Southeast Asians in Lowell Collection
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
University of Massachusetts Lowell
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1987
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
UMass Lowell Library makes this material available for private, educational, and research use. It is the responsibility of the user to secure any needed permissions from rightsholders, for uses such as commercial reproductions of copyrighted works. Contact host institution for more information.
Format
The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource
1 photograph; 12.6 x 8.9
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
image
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
kite_making_08
Coverage
The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant
Lowell, Massachusetts
1980-1989
Cambodians
Photographs
-
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Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Chigas, George. Southeast Asians in Lowell Collection, 1987-1989
Description
An account of the resource
This collection includes two series, the Cambodian Traditional Crafts and Religious Ceremonies, 1987, and the Southeast Asian Exhibit Photographs, 1988-1989. The first series includes Chigas’ 84-page paper on Cambodian Traditional Crafts and Religious Ceremonies created in 1987 along with corresponding photographs. The project, funded in part by the Historic Preservation Commission of Lowell, Massachusetts, explores the traditional crafts and religious ceremonies of the Cambodian refugees who settled in the Greater Lowell area in the aftermath of the Cambodian genocide. The second series includes 20 photographs from a Lowell exhibit on Southeast Asians that was coordinated by George Chigas. <br /><br />Part of the collection is accessible on this site.<br /><br />Part of the collection is also accessible on <a href="https://archive.org/details/seadauml?and%5B%5D=george+chigas&sin=" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">the Internet Archive</a>.<br /><br />View the collection finding aid for more information, <a href="https://libguides.uml.edu/uml2" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://libguides.uml.edu/uml2</a><br /><br /><span>--------------------</span><br /><span>SEADA would like to thank the following individuals for their work in making this collection available online: Etsuko Benton, Monita Chea, and Anthony Sampas.</span>
Source
A related resource from which the described resource is derived
Chigas, George. Southeast Asians in Lowell Collection, 1987-1989. UML 2. Center for Lowell History, University of Massachusetts Lowell, Lowell, MA.
Relation
A related resource
The collection finding aid, <a href="https://libguides.uml.edu/uml2" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://libguides.uml.edu/uml2</a>.
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Kite Making: Tim Sao secures the kite's notched Tail Piece, 1987
Subject
The topic of the resource
Color photography
Kites
Lowell (Mass.)
Description
An account of the resource
Tim Sao secures the kite's notched Tail Piece to the bottom of the spine with hammer and small tacks. <br /><br />Kite Making, photograph 7 of 19, from Cambodian Traditional Crafts and Religious Ceremonies. <br /><br />View the Kite Making group of photographs in order on the Internet Archive, <a href="https://archive.org/details/CambodianKiteMaking" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://archive.org/details/CambodianKiteMaking</a>.
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
Chigas, George
Source
A related resource from which the described resource is derived
Chigas, George. Southeast Asians in Lowell Collection
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
University of Massachusetts Lowell
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1987
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
UMass Lowell Library makes this material available for private, educational, and research use. It is the responsibility of the user to secure any needed permissions from rightsholders, for uses such as commercial reproductions of copyrighted works. Contact host institution for more information.
Format
The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource
1 photograph; 12.6 x 8.8
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
image
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
kite_making_07
Coverage
The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant
Lowell, Massachusetts
1980-1989
Cambodians
Photographs
-
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Text
�
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Tsapatsaris, George N. and Dorothea. A City of Refugees, the Memories of Cambodia Collection, circa 1987-1991
Description
An account of the resource
<p><span>The George N. and Dorothea Tsapatsaris “A City of Refugees, the Memories of Cambodia” collection contains artwork, stories, letters, and other documents created by Dorothea Tsapatsaris’ young Cambodian students from the years of 1987-1991. Topics range from Cambodian clothing, ceremonies, and every day activities to food recipes, leaving Cambodia, and living in Lowell, Massachusetts. Also included are several photographs of Dorothea Tsapatsaris’ students, classroom, and student work; a couple of newspaper clippings; and material related to the 1990 “Memories of Cambodia” exhibit. <br /><br />Part of the collection is accessible on this site.<br /><br />Part of the collection is accessible on the Digital Commonwealth under the collection title "<a href="https://www.digitalcommonwealth.org/collections/commonwealth:1n79h429p" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">A City of Refugees, the Memories of Cambodia</a>."<br /><br />View the collection finding aid for more information, <a href="https://libguides.uml.edu/uml9" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://libguides.uml.edu/uml9</a>.<br /><br /><br />--------------------<br />SEADA would like to thank the following individuals for their work in making this collection available online: Etsuko Benton and Monita Chea.<br /></span></p>
Source
A related resource from which the described resource is derived
Tsapatsaris, George N. and Dorothea. A City of Refugees, the Memories of Cambodia Collection, circa 1987-1991. UML 9. Center for Lowell History, University of Massachusetts Lowell, Lowell, MA.
Relation
A related resource
The collection finding aid, <a href="https://libguides.uml.edu/uml9" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://libguides.uml.edu/uml9</a>.
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Cambodia, Lowell, Massachusetts
Subject
The topic of the resource
Cambodia
Children’s drawings
Lowell (Mass.)
Description
An account of the resource
Cambodia, Lowell, Massachusetts
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
Ouer, Bunrath
Source
A related resource from which the described resource is derived
Tsapatsaris, George N. and Dorothea. A City of Refugees, the Memories of Cambodia Collection
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
University of Massachusetts Lowell
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1988-1989
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
UMass Lowell Library makes this material available for private, educational, and research use. It is the responsibility of the user to secure any needed permissions from rightsholders, for uses such as commercial reproductions of copyrighted works. Contact host institution for more information.
Format
The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource
1 p.; 30.48 x 45.72
Language
A language of the resource
English
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
Image
Text
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
mc_0047
Coverage
The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant
Lowell, Massachusetts
Relation
A related resource
The collection finding aid, <a href="https://libguides.uml.edu/uml9" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://libguides.uml.edu/uml9</a>.
1980-1989
Cambodians
Drawings
Joseph G. Pyne Arts Elementary School
Manuscripts
Maps
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PDF Text
Text
�
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Chigas, George. Southeast Asians in Lowell Collection, 1987-1989
Description
An account of the resource
This collection includes two series, the Cambodian Traditional Crafts and Religious Ceremonies, 1987, and the Southeast Asian Exhibit Photographs, 1988-1989. The first series includes Chigas’ 84-page paper on Cambodian Traditional Crafts and Religious Ceremonies created in 1987 along with corresponding photographs. The project, funded in part by the Historic Preservation Commission of Lowell, Massachusetts, explores the traditional crafts and religious ceremonies of the Cambodian refugees who settled in the Greater Lowell area in the aftermath of the Cambodian genocide. The second series includes 20 photographs from a Lowell exhibit on Southeast Asians that was coordinated by George Chigas. <br /><br />Part of the collection is accessible on this site.<br /><br />Part of the collection is also accessible on <a href="https://archive.org/details/seadauml?and%5B%5D=george+chigas&sin=" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">the Internet Archive</a>.<br /><br />View the collection finding aid for more information, <a href="https://libguides.uml.edu/uml2" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://libguides.uml.edu/uml2</a><br /><br /><span>--------------------</span><br /><span>SEADA would like to thank the following individuals for their work in making this collection available online: Etsuko Benton, Monita Chea, and Anthony Sampas.</span>
Source
A related resource from which the described resource is derived
Chigas, George. Southeast Asians in Lowell Collection, 1987-1989. UML 2. Center for Lowell History, University of Massachusetts Lowell, Lowell, MA.
Relation
A related resource
The collection finding aid, <a href="https://libguides.uml.edu/uml2" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://libguides.uml.edu/uml2</a>.
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Kite Making:Tim Sao measures the length of the kite's spine, 1987
Subject
The topic of the resource
Color photography
Kites
Lowell (Mass.)
Description
An account of the resource
Tim Sao uses his forearm to measure the length of the kite's spine. He will mark how long the spine should be with a pencil then cut it with the hacksaw to the correct length in proportion with the Top Wing. The design of the Top Wing, by the way, is a different shape from the one that Soeun made previously which had rounded ends; he considers this shape more beautiful. Once the spine is cut to length Tim will shave the end with a file to fit the Tail Piece that he has notched with a chisel, and finally secure the spine to the notched Tail Piece with two small tacks carefully driven in with a hammer. <br /><br />Kite Making, photograph 4 of 19, from Cambodian Traditional Crafts and Religious Ceremonies. <br /><br />View the Kite Making group of photographs in order on the Internet Archive, <a href="Tim%20Sao%20uses%20his%20forearm%20to%20measure%20the%20length%20of%20the%20kite's%20spine.%20He%20will%20mark%20how%20long%20the%20spine%20should%20be%20with%20a%20pencil%20then%20cut%20it%20with%20the%20hacksaw%20to%20the%20correct%20length%20in%20proportion%20with%20the%20Top%20Wing.%20The%20design%20of%20the%20Top%20Wing,%20by%20the%20way,%20is%20a%20different%20shape%20from%20the%20one%20that%20Soeun%20made%20previously%20which%20had%20rounded%20ends;%20he%20considers%20this%20shape%20more%20beautiful.%20Once%20the%20spine%20is%20cut%20to%20length%20Tim%20will%20shave%20the%20end%20with%20a%20file%20to%20fit%20the%20Tail%20Piece%20that%20he%20has%20notched%20with%20a%20chisel,%20and%20finally%20secure%20the%20spine%20to%20the%20notched%20Tail%20Piece%20with%20two%20small%20tacks%20carefully%20driven%20in%20with%20a%20hammer.%20%C2%A0Kite%20Making,%20photograph%204%20of%2019,%20from%20Cambodian%20Traditional%20Crafts%20and%20Religious%20Ceremonies.%20View%20the%20Kite%20Making%20group%20of%20photographs%20in%20order%20on%20the%20Internet%20Archive,%20https%3A//archive.org/details/CambodianKiteMaking." target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://archive.org/details/CambodianKiteMaking</a>.
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
Chigas, George
Source
A related resource from which the described resource is derived
Chigas, George. Southeast Asians in Lowell Collection
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
University of Massachusetts Lowell
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1987
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
UMass Lowell Library makes this material available for private, educational, and research use. It is the responsibility of the user to secure any needed permissions from rightsholders, for uses such as commercial reproductions of copyrighted works. Contact host institution for more information.
Format
The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource
1 photograph; 8.8 x 12.7
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
image
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
kite_making_04
Coverage
The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant
Lowell, Massachusetts
1980-1989
Cambodians
Photographs
-
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PDF Text
Text
�
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Chigas, George. Southeast Asians in Lowell Collection, 1987-1989
Description
An account of the resource
This collection includes two series, the Cambodian Traditional Crafts and Religious Ceremonies, 1987, and the Southeast Asian Exhibit Photographs, 1988-1989. The first series includes Chigas’ 84-page paper on Cambodian Traditional Crafts and Religious Ceremonies created in 1987 along with corresponding photographs. The project, funded in part by the Historic Preservation Commission of Lowell, Massachusetts, explores the traditional crafts and religious ceremonies of the Cambodian refugees who settled in the Greater Lowell area in the aftermath of the Cambodian genocide. The second series includes 20 photographs from a Lowell exhibit on Southeast Asians that was coordinated by George Chigas. <br /><br />Part of the collection is accessible on this site.<br /><br />Part of the collection is also accessible on <a href="https://archive.org/details/seadauml?and%5B%5D=george+chigas&sin=" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">the Internet Archive</a>.<br /><br />View the collection finding aid for more information, <a href="https://libguides.uml.edu/uml2" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://libguides.uml.edu/uml2</a><br /><br /><span>--------------------</span><br /><span>SEADA would like to thank the following individuals for their work in making this collection available online: Etsuko Benton, Monita Chea, and Anthony Sampas.</span>
Source
A related resource from which the described resource is derived
Chigas, George. Southeast Asians in Lowell Collection, 1987-1989. UML 2. Center for Lowell History, University of Massachusetts Lowell, Lowell, MA.
Relation
A related resource
The collection finding aid, <a href="https://libguides.uml.edu/uml2" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://libguides.uml.edu/uml2</a>.
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Basket Making: Em Yung displays his Ong Rake, 1987
Subject
The topic of the resource
Basket making--United States
Color photography
Lowell (Mass.)
Description
An account of the resource
Em Yung displays his Ong Rake. At the time of this photograph the second Ong Rake had not been made so Em Yung substituted one of the two Baunkae. <br /><br />Basket Making, photograph 21 of 21, from Cambodian Traditional Crafts and Religious Ceremonies. <br /><br />View the Basket Making group of photographs in order on the Internet Archive, <a href="https://archive.org/details/CambodianBasketMaking" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://archive.org/details/CambodianBasketMaking.</a>
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
Chigas, George
Source
A related resource from which the described resource is derived
Chigas, George. Southeast Asians in Lowell Collection
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
University of Massachusetts Lowell
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1987
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
UMass Lowell Library makes this material available for private, educational, and research use. It is the responsibility of the user to secure any needed permissions from rightsholders, for uses such as commercial reproductions of copyrighted works. Contact host institution for more information.
Format
The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource
1 photograph; 8.8 x 12.6
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
image
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
basket_making_21
Coverage
The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant
Lowell, Massachusetts
1980-1989
Cambodians
Photographs
-
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PDF Text
Text
�
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Chigas, George. Southeast Asians in Lowell Collection, 1987-1989
Description
An account of the resource
This collection includes two series, the Cambodian Traditional Crafts and Religious Ceremonies, 1987, and the Southeast Asian Exhibit Photographs, 1988-1989. The first series includes Chigas’ 84-page paper on Cambodian Traditional Crafts and Religious Ceremonies created in 1987 along with corresponding photographs. The project, funded in part by the Historic Preservation Commission of Lowell, Massachusetts, explores the traditional crafts and religious ceremonies of the Cambodian refugees who settled in the Greater Lowell area in the aftermath of the Cambodian genocide. The second series includes 20 photographs from a Lowell exhibit on Southeast Asians that was coordinated by George Chigas. <br /><br />Part of the collection is accessible on this site.<br /><br />Part of the collection is also accessible on <a href="https://archive.org/details/seadauml?and%5B%5D=george+chigas&sin=" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">the Internet Archive</a>.<br /><br />View the collection finding aid for more information, <a href="https://libguides.uml.edu/uml2" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://libguides.uml.edu/uml2</a><br /><br /><span>--------------------</span><br /><span>SEADA would like to thank the following individuals for their work in making this collection available online: Etsuko Benton, Monita Chea, and Anthony Sampas.</span>
Source
A related resource from which the described resource is derived
Chigas, George. Southeast Asians in Lowell Collection, 1987-1989. UML 2. Center for Lowell History, University of Massachusetts Lowell, Lowell, MA.
Relation
A related resource
The collection finding aid, <a href="https://libguides.uml.edu/uml2" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://libguides.uml.edu/uml2</a>.
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Basket Making: The large and small Baunkae (baskets), 1987
Subject
The topic of the resource
Basket making--United States
Color photography
Lowell (Mass.)
Description
An account of the resource
Em Yung shown sitting on his back steps displaying the large and small Baunkae (baskets). He said that the smaller sizes are typically used by the children who are expected to help in the garden. <br /><br />Basket Making, photograph 20 of 21, from Cambodian Traditional Crafts and Religious Ceremonies. <br /><br />View the Basket Making group of photographs in order on the Internet Archive, <a href="https://archive.org/details/CambodianBasketMaking" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://archive.org/details/CambodianBasketMaking.</a>
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
Chigas, George
Source
A related resource from which the described resource is derived
Chigas, George. Southeast Asians in Lowell Collection
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
University of Massachusetts Lowell
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1987
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
UMass Lowell Library makes this material available for private, educational, and research use. It is the responsibility of the user to secure any needed permissions from rightsholders, for uses such as commercial reproductions of copyrighted works. Contact host institution for more information.
Format
The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource
1 photograph; 12.6 x 8.9
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
image
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
basket_making_20
Coverage
The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant
Lowell, Massachusetts
1980-1989
Cambodians
Photographs
-
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Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Chigas, George. Southeast Asians in Lowell Collection, 1987-1989
Description
An account of the resource
This collection includes two series, the Cambodian Traditional Crafts and Religious Ceremonies, 1987, and the Southeast Asian Exhibit Photographs, 1988-1989. The first series includes Chigas’ 84-page paper on Cambodian Traditional Crafts and Religious Ceremonies created in 1987 along with corresponding photographs. The project, funded in part by the Historic Preservation Commission of Lowell, Massachusetts, explores the traditional crafts and religious ceremonies of the Cambodian refugees who settled in the Greater Lowell area in the aftermath of the Cambodian genocide. The second series includes 20 photographs from a Lowell exhibit on Southeast Asians that was coordinated by George Chigas. <br /><br />Part of the collection is accessible on this site.<br /><br />Part of the collection is also accessible on <a href="https://archive.org/details/seadauml?and%5B%5D=george+chigas&sin=" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">the Internet Archive</a>.<br /><br />View the collection finding aid for more information, <a href="https://libguides.uml.edu/uml2" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://libguides.uml.edu/uml2</a><br /><br /><span>--------------------</span><br /><span>SEADA would like to thank the following individuals for their work in making this collection available online: Etsuko Benton, Monita Chea, and Anthony Sampas.</span>
Source
A related resource from which the described resource is derived
Chigas, George. Southeast Asians in Lowell Collection, 1987-1989. UML 2. Center for Lowell History, University of Massachusetts Lowell, Lowell, MA.
Relation
A related resource
The collection finding aid, <a href="https://libguides.uml.edu/uml2" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://libguides.uml.edu/uml2</a>.
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Basket Making: Em Yung cuts notches into the ends of the pole, 1987
Subject
The topic of the resource
Basket making--United States
Color photography
Lowell (Mass.)
Description
An account of the resource
Using a hacksaw Em Yung cuts notches into the end of the pole used with the Ong Rake (See the full Basket Making chapter). The Ong Rake actually consists of three separate parts: the Dong Rake, the pole that is balanced on the shoulder; the Song Rake, the holder that hangs from the Ong Rake and carries the basket; and the Kon Chharaing, the baskets themselves. <br /><br />Basket Making, photograph 19 of 21, from Cambodian Traditional Crafts and Religious Ceremonies. <br /><br />View the Basket Making group of photographs in order on the Internet Archive, <a href="https://archive.org/details/CambodianBasketMaking" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://archive.org/details/CambodianBasketMaking.</a>
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
Chigas, George
Source
A related resource from which the described resource is derived
Chigas, George. Southeast Asians in Lowell Collection
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
University of Massachusetts Lowell
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1987
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
UMass Lowell Library makes this material available for private, educational, and research use. It is the responsibility of the user to secure any needed permissions from rightsholders, for uses such as commercial reproductions of copyrighted works. Contact host institution for more information.
Format
The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource
1 photograph; 12.6 x 8.9
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
image
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
basket_making_19
Coverage
The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant
Lowell, Massachusetts
1980-1989
Cambodians
Photographs
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https://d1y502jg6fpugt.cloudfront.net/37070/archive/files/df2f83e3921ae4c61d9c098fa3263da3.pdf?Expires=1712793600&Signature=szZK7HxnIJq1VKvQImqD3ReJ3JdGzdYmFgrvHEMeeZe3JUi%7E8lljHlr5MI2ctJ2kwWL%7EW94ZxOuJz5S9EU1-4lxcdfcVAR4d-PHqL766NY%7EOGaUjvAxE7TUWTHdQL3JYKUyJ6jNZAKScBBRXsjBDY4RN7tiD11h08G3oDAiMNq%7EjPIELOKDzSnocQz6jF0sxhlDEe-ZO-eLPnTBouyDS6wiAfZIBZzIycmkV4cRjSXCmAjeboFO5H3HFdo3rcu2iuLP4-wP%7Elk5tBRdKMRo17vK0bYBooV89Kp3umlEIasPBAlvPnCjsyERZojtXRKBdZEWCCg4q-2lmjTF0Z8XdRQ__&Key-Pair-Id=K6UGZS9ZTDSZM
a267c0f34233c325959036192d63ff73
PDF Text
Text
�
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Chigas, George. Southeast Asians in Lowell Collection, 1987-1989
Description
An account of the resource
This collection includes two series, the Cambodian Traditional Crafts and Religious Ceremonies, 1987, and the Southeast Asian Exhibit Photographs, 1988-1989. The first series includes Chigas’ 84-page paper on Cambodian Traditional Crafts and Religious Ceremonies created in 1987 along with corresponding photographs. The project, funded in part by the Historic Preservation Commission of Lowell, Massachusetts, explores the traditional crafts and religious ceremonies of the Cambodian refugees who settled in the Greater Lowell area in the aftermath of the Cambodian genocide. The second series includes 20 photographs from a Lowell exhibit on Southeast Asians that was coordinated by George Chigas. <br /><br />Part of the collection is accessible on this site.<br /><br />Part of the collection is also accessible on <a href="https://archive.org/details/seadauml?and%5B%5D=george+chigas&sin=" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">the Internet Archive</a>.<br /><br />View the collection finding aid for more information, <a href="https://libguides.uml.edu/uml2" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://libguides.uml.edu/uml2</a><br /><br /><span>--------------------</span><br /><span>SEADA would like to thank the following individuals for their work in making this collection available online: Etsuko Benton, Monita Chea, and Anthony Sampas.</span>
Source
A related resource from which the described resource is derived
Chigas, George. Southeast Asians in Lowell Collection, 1987-1989. UML 2. Center for Lowell History, University of Massachusetts Lowell, Lowell, MA.
Relation
A related resource
The collection finding aid, <a href="https://libguides.uml.edu/uml2" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://libguides.uml.edu/uml2</a>.
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Basket Making: Em Yung makes adjustments to his baskets, 1987
Subject
The topic of the resource
Basket making--United States
Color photography
Lowell (Mass.)
Description
An account of the resource
The high standards of the craftsman are hard to satisfy. Em Yung continually makes adjustments to his baskets after he completes them. <br /><br />Basket Making, photograph 18 of 21, from Cambodian Traditional Crafts and Religious Ceremonies. <br /><br />View the Basket Making group of photographs in order on the Internet Archive, <a href="https://archive.org/details/CambodianBasketMaking" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://archive.org/details/CambodianBasketMaking.</a>
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
Chigas, George
Source
A related resource from which the described resource is derived
Chigas, George. Southeast Asians in Lowell Collection
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
University of Massachusetts Lowell
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1987
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
UMass Lowell Library makes this material available for private, educational, and research use. It is the responsibility of the user to secure any needed permissions from rightsholders, for uses such as commercial reproductions of copyrighted works. Contact host institution for more information.
Format
The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource
1 photograph; 12.6 x 8.9
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
image
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
basket_making_18
Coverage
The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant
Lowell, Massachusetts
1980-1989
Cambodians
Photographs