Call for Photos and Stories: “Home Is…”

The Museum of Chinese in America is collecting images and stories for our new core exhibition honoring the adventurous and creative spirit of Chinese in America. The exhibit will open in our new facilities designed by artist/designer Maya Lin at 215 Centre Street, New York City, and will highlight our ongoing mission to document, preserve and dynamically portray Chinese America and its historical transformations.

 

We want YOU and many others who share Chinese ancestry to be a part of it!

 

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We are seeking the following types of stories to supplement our current collections:
 
1. Post-1965 Immigration Stories

- Were you part of the diverse post-1965 wave of immigrants coming to the United States from different parts of Asia?

- Are you a transnational Chinese American? Living both in the United States and China?

- Were you reunited with your family after decades of Cold War separation? 

2. World War II Era Student Stories
- Did you come to the United States as a student?
- Were you “stranded” here after the Cold War?
3. World War II Era Suburban Family Stories:
- Did your family move to the suburbs after World War II?
- Was an American suburb or rural area your first home in the United States?
4. Multi-generational Stories:

- Has your family been in America for more than two generations? 

Download the guideline and voluntary donation form in both English and Chinese. Please note the submission deadline is September 22, 2008 (see details in guideline).

 

5. Are you a Chinese American adoptee family?

 

We are seeking the following types of objects, documents and stories to supplement our current collections:

 

  • As an adoptive parent, how do you help to create a sense of cultural heritage and history for your children: What are the objects and stories that get passed on? What do these objects/ icons mean to you and your child?
  • As an adoptee, what is “home” to you? Where do you feel most “at home?” And how would you describe your unique history to other people?
  • The clothing that you wore coming home to the United States.
  • The official paperwork from the Chinese government that finalizes the adoption. 
  • Chinese passports with baby pictures, inked footprints on official adoption papers
  • Visa document with the picture of the entire family.

 

Download the guideline and voluntary donation form now. Please note the first submission deadline is September 29, 2008.  Deadline extended until October 15, 2008 (submissions received after 10-15-08 may not be included for the opening of the new core exhibition, but may be considered for inclusion at a later date.)

 

With each individual story, our history as Chinese Americans becomes more visible and extraordinary. We look forward to hearing from you!