Vietnamese American Oral History Project launches website
A reception is being held Wednesday, Oct. 24, in Westminster to formally announce the online resource and celebrate the efforts of volunteers, narrators, UCI students and community supporters.
The Vietnamese American Oral History Project at UCI is hosting a community reception Wednesday, Oct. 24, to announce the formal launch of its website, which features audio files, transcripts and photos from interviews conducted with members of Southern California’s Vietnamese American community. The project, headed by UCI postdoctoral fellow Thuy Vo Dang (pictured), assembles, preserves and digitally presents life stories of the region’s first-generation refugees and immigrants. “These oral histories provide an incredible opportunity for Vietnamese Americans to speak directly to future generations and ensure that their achievements, struggles, fears and hopes are remembered and respected,” said Michelle Light, head of the UCI Libraries’ special collections, archives & digital scholarship programs. “The Southeast Asian Archive is committed to preserving the life stories online for all to access and appreciate.” In addition to presenting the website, the reception celebrates the efforts of volunteers, narrators, students and community supporters. The event, which will include entertainment and refreshments, runs from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. in Westminster’s Van Lang Community Hall, at 14861 Moran St.