Lauren

In February 2014, Lauren, a junior from Cypress, Texas, joined the Vietnam Center and Archive in scanning the FVPPA/VAHF Collection’s ODP Application Files. Her friend Alexia, an ODP Scanning Student since October 2013, got her interested in working at the archive. Lauren finds working with the ODP files interesting. She especially enjoys learning the personal points of view from hand written letters, photographs, and other documents within the files.  The personal point of view is a perspective she feels you don’t get from reading about the Vietnamese Diaspora in school.
Lauren came to TTU because her mom and uncle attended, and there is a lot of school spirit and pride at TTU. She is majoring in Nutrition Pre-Dental. She enjoys reading, watching scary movies, running, being at the beach, and outdoor activities.

This October two new students joined the archive in scanning the FVPPA/VAHF Collection’s ODP Application files.

Alexia

Alexia

A Junior majoring in Biology, a Pre-PA (Physicians Assistant), Alexia is originally from Denver, Colorado. She moved to Cypress, TX eleven years ago. She enjoys outdoor activities, especially running and camping. Alexia started working at the archive in February of 2013 as an oral history transcriptionist. Having transcribed Khuc Minh Tho’s oral history interview has given her valuable insight into and understanding of the ODP files. What she enjoys most about scanning the ODP files is the detective aspect of finding the applicants information and making it available online. Alexia finds working at the archive interesting, especially learning history through the people/participants themselves.

Ashley

Ashley

Ashley is a Junior from Premont, TX, majoring in Community, Family and Addiction Studies. Inspired by “To Write Love on Her Arms,” Ashley’s goal is to have her own nonprofit organization that focuses on helping teenagers struggling with addictions, self harm, depression, and suicide by helping them get rehab and support services, as well as educating parents on how to assist their children through the process. Ashley loves to play sports, especially basketball, volley ball, and weight lifting. Ashley started working at the archive in September of 2013. What she enjoys most about working with the ODP files is reading about individual people, their stories, how much they care about their families, and how hard they tried to bring their families with them.

Vietnam Center Collection. Unicorn paper mache mask.

Thursday, September 19th marks the Mid-Autumn Festival, also known as the Moon or Full Moon Festival. Traditionally celebrated on the fifteenth day of the eighth month of the lunar calendar, when the moon appears larger than it does on any other night of the year, the Mid Autumn Moon Festival (Tet Trung Thu) is the second biggest holiday in Vietnam and is widely celebrated throughout Asia.

Kathryn Campbell Collection. 8 year old Thi Thi Bich Nhi blends Vietnamese and Chinese legend in her drawing titled, Chi Hang (The Moon Goddess). She depicts both the Vietnamese man in the moon, Chu Cuoi, and the Chinese woman in the moon associated with the Mid-Autumn Moon Festival.

It is a time for family and to celebrate life, prosperity, and the harvest. During the Mid-Autumn festival, parents prepare their children’s favorite dishes and buy them new toys. Children hear the story of Chu Cuoi (the man in the moon) and other fairytales.

Douglas Pike Photograph Collection
Mid-Autumn Festival Celebration – “Moon Men” – Enterprising merchant in Saigon uses display of Lunar Astronauts to call attention to “Moon Cakes,” a traditional delicacy sold during the Mid-Autumn Festival.

Hanging and floating lanterns are set out to decorate and people dance the lion and dragon dances. Mooncakes (made from lotus seed, ground beans, and containing a bright salted egg yolk in the center) are given to family and friends.

Ogden Williams Collection USOM/Office of Rural Affairs

Pomelo fruit and watermelon seeds are a special treat. At night children parade through the streets to the beat of drums wearing Paper Mache masks and carrying lanterns in the shapes of stars, rabbit heads, fish (carpe), butterflies, or lanterns with a lit candle inside that makes shapes spin representing the seasonal spinning of the earth.

Vietnam Center Collection. Paper mache mask.

Bac Thi Pham Eaton and Sam Eaton Christmas 1970

Bac Thi Pham Eaton was born on June 18, 1953 in Bai Cham, An Long, Vietnam. Her family suffered heavy losses and was politically divided during the Vietnam (American) war. As a young woman working in a sick bay for the U.S Navy, she met and learned English from her husband, Sam Eaton. In 1975 Bac and Sam, along with their two small children fled to the U.S. and settled in Los Angeles, CA. Bac became a U.S. citizen in 1980. In 1981 the Eatons moved their family to Krum, Texas, where Bac grew and sold produce while caring for their growing family. Bac and Sam eventually went into the diamond business. The Eatons now split their time between Denton, TX and Lien Houng, Vietnam. In Lien Houng Bac enjoys her fish farm and raising fruit trees, and spending time with and employing family members whom she had been separated from for nearly twenty years. Sam and Bac both suffer effects from exposure to agent orange. Bac’s interview is now available online.

Bac & Sam Eaton. 7F-116 Gamewardens Reunion, 2006

The Vietnam Center and Archive employs five student assistants to scan the Families of Vietnamese Political Prisoners Association/Vietnamese American Heritage Foundation Collection’s Orderly Departure Program Application files. Two new students joined us in September: Corey and Emily.

Corey

A marketing major, with a Global Supply Chain Management Certificate in Energy, Corey is from Meridian, MS. He loves to travel and explore different cultures. Corey enjoys the energy, community, and traditions of Tech, and says Tech “…feels like family.”

Emily

An anthropology major from Laguna Beach, CA, where she worked with and studied Marine life, Emily enjoys video games and sci-fi films and shows, especially Star Trek. Emily came to TTU partly due to a family connection: her grandparents are Tech graduates who met here.

Frances

A history major with a women’s studies minor, Frances is from Bulverde, TX and will graduate in May 2013. She studied abroad in France and enjoys traveling. She is a talented writer and fencer, and a huge Avengers fan. Frances plans future graduate work on Khuc Minh Tho and U.S. Diplomacy.

Quynh

Quynh is from Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, and will graduate with an MBA in May 2013. She enjoys traveling, movies, surfing the the internet, and going out with friends. Quynh has traveled to Oregon and California, visiting friends and family and historic and beautiful parks like Yosemite.

Trang

Double majoring in finance and accounting, Trang is from Hue, Vietnam’s old imperial city. She is a fantastic cook and enjoys music, movies, and traveling. In 2005 Trang studied English in Singapore. Trang has traveled to several major cities throughout Texas and she spent Winter Break 2011 in Florida.

Children with Lanterns. Ogden Williams Collection.

Today marks the Mid-Autumn Festival, also known as the Moon or Full Moon Festival. Traditionally celebrated on the fifteenth day of the eighth month of the lunar calendar, when the moon appears larger than it does on any other night of the year, the Mid Autumn Moon Festival (Tet Trung Thu) is the second biggest holiday in Vietnam and is widely celebrated throughout Asia.

Kathryn Campbell Collection. Drawing by eight year old Thi Thi Bich Nhi, titled Chi Hang, or “The Moon Goddess.” Depicts both the Vietnamese Man in the Moon, Chu Cuoi, and the Chinese Woman in the Moon associated with the Mid-Autumn Moon Festival.

It is a time for family and to celebrate life, prosperity, and the harvest. During the Mid-Autumn festival, parents prepare their children’s favorite dishes and buy them new toys. Children hear the story of Chu Cuoi (the man in the moon) and other fairytales. Hanging and floating lanterns are set out to decorate and people dance the lion and dragon dances. Mooncakes (made from lotus seed, ground beans, and containing a bright salted egg yolk in the center) are given to family and friends. Pomelo fruit and watermelon seeds are a special treat. At night children parade through the streets to the beat of drums wearing Paper Mache masks and carrying lanterns in the shapes of stars, rabbit heads, fish (carpe), butterflies, or lanterns with a lit candle inside that makes shapes spin representing the seasonal spinning of the earth.

Photo courtesy of wikicommons. Author:Viethavvh

On February 1st, 2012, five student assistants began scanning the Families of Vietnamese Political Prisoners Association/Vietnamese American Heritage Foundation Collection’s Orderly Departure Program Application files.

Quynh

Quynh

A business (MBA) major from Ho Chi Minh City (former Saigon), Quynh enjoys surfing the internet, music, movies, news, going out with friends, and traveling. She has traveled to Oregon and will travel to California this summer. Quynh wants to go to Japan and Korea someday.

Maggie

Maggie

A Vietnamese American from Dallas majoring in nursing, Maggie enjoys working out, playing with her niece, and shopping.

Dai

Dai

A finance major from beautiful Da Lat, Vietnam’s California, Dai loves soccer, and plays intramural soccer at Tech, center and mid positions. He enjoys music, playing the guitar, and drinking coffee.

Trang

Trang

A finance major from Hue, Vietnam’s old imperial city, Trang enjoys music, movies, and traveling. She has studied in Singapore, has traveled to Florida, and hopes to go to Europe someday.

Frances

Frances

A history major, with a Women’s Studies minor, from Bulverde, Frances enjoys reading, writing, traveling, fencing, sailing, scuba diving, and water skiing. She will be studying in France this summer and looks forward to writing a Ph.D. dissertation on Khuc Minh Tho.

Douglas Pike Collection. Mid Autumn Festival Celebration "Moon Men" Enterprising Merchant in Saigon uses Display of Lunar Astronauts to call Attention to "Moon Cakes"

Monday, September 12th, 2011 marks the Mid Autumn Festival, also known as the Moon or Full Moon Festival. Traditionally celebrated on the fifteenth day of the eighth month of the lunar calendar, when the moon appears larger than it does on any other night of the year, the Mid Autumn Moon Festival (Tet Trung Thu) is the second biggest holiday in Vietnam and is widely celebrated throughout Asia.

Vietnamese Mooncakes. Photo courtesy of morning_rumtea (Lê Hoàn Nhã) (the photographer) and http://www.flickr.com/photos/vietnamfriendly/ (morning_rumtea's Flickr page)

   It is a time for family and to celebrate life, prosperity, and the harvest. During the Mid Autumn festival, parents prepare their children’s favorite dishes and buy them new toys. Children hear the story of Chu Cuoi (the man in the moon) and other fairytales. Hanging and floating lanterns are set out to decorate and people dance the lion and dragon dances. Mooncakes (made from lotus seed, ground beans, and containing a bright salted egg yolk in the center) are given to family and friends. Pomelo fruit and watermelon seeds are a special treat. At night children parade through the streets to the beat of drums wearing Paper Mache masks and carrying lanterns in the shapes of stars, rabbit heads, fish (carpe), butterflies, or lanterns with a lit candle inside that makes shapes spin representing the seasonal spinning of the earth.

 

Pomelo. Photo courtesy of wikicommons.

Photo from FVPPA Collection's ODP Application Files

May is Asian Pacific American Heritage Month (APAHM), a nationally recognized time to celebrate the many achievements and contributions of Asian Americans and Pacific Islander Americans to the United States’ history, culture, and society. According to the U.S. Census Bureau 2005-09 American Community Survey there are 13,201,056 Americans of Asian descent and 447,591 Americans of Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander descent residing in the U.S.

May was chosen as APAHM due to two important historical dates and events relating to the contributions of Asian and Pacific Americans to the U.S. taking place in May. First, May 7, 1843 is the date the first Japanese immigrants to the U.S. arrived. Second, May 10, 1869 is when the transcontinental railroad was completed; many Chinese immigrants labored laying the tracks.

To find out more view our APAHM online exhibit.

From Left to Right: Ambassador Sichan Siv, Anna Mallett, Martha Pattillo-Siv

The Vietnam Archive is pleased to announce that on September 14, 2010 Mrs. Martha Pattillo-Siv participated in its Oral History Project and was interviewed by Ann Mallett, Vietnamese American Heritage Archivist.

Martha Lee Pattillo was born and raised in Pampa, TX. Her parents, both educators, helped instill in her a lifelong love of languages, reading, education, libraries, and helping others. These lifelong loves have been a constant and binding thread throughout her life.

During her career she worked at the Atlantic Institute in Paris, France (1972-74), UNESCO in Bangkok, Thailand (1974-76), various agencies of the U.N. (1977-89), and the World Bank (1989-2006). While working for UNESCO in Bangkok she visited Thai refugee camps. Upon seeing the conditions of the camps, she helped provide the refugee women with an income by buying their handmade goods and then selling them outside the camps at no profit for herself. In 1988 she formed the South China Seas Company to help impoverished, displaced women sell their textiles. In 2000 Mrs. Pattillo-Siv became the Vice-President of Friends of Khmer Culture. In 2005 she became a member of the Board of Directors of Teachers Across Borders, Inc.

Martha Pattillo-Siv resides in San Antonio with her husband, Ambassador Sichan Siv, former U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. They met when Siv was a new immigrant from Cambodia, where his entire family had been killed by the Khmer Rouge, and have been married since 1983.

Listen to the Complete interview here