Interviews of the Chinese American Women Oral History Project, 1991-2019 (inclusive), 1991-1999 (bulk)

Collection includes audiotapes, videotapes, transcripts, indexes, and biographical material related to the oral history interviews of the Chinese American Women Oral History Project. Interview topics include life in China, emigration and settlement in the United States, family life, education, work, ethnic identity, assimilation and acculturation, and continuing ties to China. This oral history project of Chinese American women contributes to an understanding of adaptive roles and the emergence of new ones in the expanding socio-political environment. The equalization of immigration policies for all people, the loosening of homeland ties for Chinese living abroad, and the greater acceptance of women and racial and ethnic minorities have all contributed to the increasingly diversified roles of Chinese American women.

All aspects of this oral history project were not completed, consequently many interview transcripts are not fully edited and may contain annotations from the interviewee, interviewer, or transcriber. Some of the transcripts have been edited by the interviewer and interviewee for clarity and factual accuracy. Also, the paper version and the digital version are very often not the same. Some of the transcripts were digitized during the editing process, while others were digitized while they were being transcribed. Almost all of the interview transcripts have both a digital version and a paper version; one interview transcript does not have a paper copy, and one interview has only been partially transcribed, and is only available in its audio form. The digital versions of interview transcripts and biographies can be found in #E.1-E.26. Many digital transcripts include an introduction of the project and a short biography of the interviewee; some include a short biography of the interviewer at the end. #T-302.18 was removed from the collection as a duplicate.

This collection is arranged alphabetically by interviewee, followed by videotapes; some of which are only partially identified.

The administrative records, including legal agreements and correspondence, related to the Chinese American Women Oral History Project can be found in the Records of The Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America (RG XVIII), Series 2.5 Oral History Coordinator: Ruth Hill. These records may need screening by an archivist for sensitive material before research use. Appointment may be required. Contact Research Services at https://asklib.schlesinger.radcliffe.edu/.