IMMIGRANT VOICES |
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Frank, Lotte Loebl : From Vienna to Angel Island by Reese Erlich Year of Arrival 1940 |
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For many years Lotte Loebl Frank didn’t want to talk about her ordeal. The memories were too painful. She and her family had escaped occupied Europe in 1940 along with a few hundred other Jews who crossed the USSR, China and Japan - ultimately arriving at Angel Island. |
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Friesen, Nick : Remembering Nick Friesen (1913-2011) by Judy Yung Year of Arrival 1929 |
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Nick Friesen, a former Angel Island detainee who I had the good fortune to interview in 2008, died of a massive stroke on January 4, 2011. I was told that he had purchased a three-wheel bike at a thrift store in Reedley, California, and was riding it home when he had the stroke. He was 97 years old. I thought to myself, that’s so like Nick—active and on the move to the very end. |
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Futagawa, Masako and Misako : A Story of Two Japanese-American Sisters, Masako and Misako by Yulia B. Bartow Year of Arrival Born in U.S. |
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Gee, Stanley and Amy : The American Dream by Judge Delbert Gee Year of Arrival 1938 |
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Taken from a speech given by the Honorable Delbert C. Gee during the ceremonial administration of his oath of office as Judge of the Superior Court of California, County of Alameda, in January 2003 at the Oakland Asian Cultural Center. |
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Gee, Wong Quock : Life in America by his grandson David Gee Year of Arrival 1915 |
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After immigrating to the U.S. in 1915 at age 11, Wong Quock Gee settled in Montgomery, Alabama where he owned a laundry and restaurant. His grandson describes the hardships of Mr. Gee’s life. |
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Gin, Soo Dung : Alice Gin’s Father: The Story of Two Brothers Who Shared the Same Name by Lincoln Chin Year of Arrival 1907 |
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My wife Alice and her siblings have always addressed Gin Shue as Him Goh (Cousin Him), but she could not tell how he was related to her family. One day when we were visiting Gin Shue at his restaurant, the Shanghai Café on the corner of Stone Avenue and 17th Street in Tucson, Arizona, we asked him exactly how he was related to Alice’s family. His first comment was that he and Alice were first cousins. Alice had no idea that she had such a close relative in Tucson. Then he continued to explain in detail information concerning his father and Alice’s father that had never been revealed to us before. |
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Ginn, Roy Gway : Roy Gway Ginn's Adventurous and Fulfilling Life by Karen Ginn Year of Arrival 1930 |
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Roy Gway Ginn was born on November 12, 1912, Toisan (Taishan) region of Kwong Tung (Guangdong) Province, China. He lived in Loong Kai Li, a small village consisting of twelve homes. Life in China had many hardships. As a boy, Roy had big dreams and ambitions. Everyone heard about a better life in America! San Francisco was known as Gold Mountain after gold was first discovered in the state in 1848, and Chinese traveled to California in search of wealth and fortune. |
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Ginsberg (Guensberg), Rosa Sara : Looking for Love…or Just a Better Life by Anne Hawkins Year of Arrival 1940 |
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On March 7, 1940, 18-year-old, Rosa Sara Ginsberg, arrived in San Francisco, California aboard the Asama Maru. An Austrian Jew, carrying a German passport, Rosa traveled alone to the United States via Shanghai, China where she left behind her parents, Bernhard and Erna Guensberg, as well as her sister and brother-in-law. |
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Gluckman, Harry : Harry Gluckman by Reese Erlich Year of Arrival 1940 |
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Harry Gluckman's family followed the same path as Eva Schott Berek and Lotte Loebl Frank (see their stories in Immigrant Voices) as they fled Nazi Germany in 1940 and made their way across Russia to China and finally to the United States. Reese Erlich's account of Harry's journey as an 11-year old boy paints a picture of hardship, perseverance, and survival. Harry recently translated his father's diary, which offers a detailed look at their perilous journey. |
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Gong, Edna Ow : From Picture Bride to American Housewife – A daughter’s remembrance by Linda Gong Year of Arrival 1940 |
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After arriving at Angel Island in 1940 from China, Edna Ow married Tom Gong and settled in California’s Central Valley and worked with her husband in the chicken ranching and grocery business. Linda Gong, the youngest of four children, paints a loving portrait of a generous and hardworking woman, her mother. |
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Gong., Tom L : Life in America by Linda Gong Year of Arrival 1936 |
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Like many Chinese immigrants, Tom L. Gong arrived at Angel Island in 1936 as a “paper son.” He came as Kong Leung Quong, a 14 year old boy, but he was actually 16 years old. After a long life of work, he settled in Watsonville with his wife Edna, raised a family, and became a community leader actively involved in the Fah Yuen Association and the Sam Yick Association. |
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Haskin, Henry and Miriam : Profile of Henry and Miriam Haskin by Kimberly Jew and edited by Eddie Wong Year of Arrival 1916 |
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AIISF is very pleased to present the story of Henry and Miriam Haskin, Russian Jewish immigrants, who came to San Francisco in the early part of the 20th century. We wish to thank Gretchen Haskin and Ernie Haskin for sharing their remembrances of the family and the wonderful photographs that accompany this story. |
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Hernandez de Policarpo, Reyna : A Journey to Los Angeles for a Better Future by Victoria Gurrola Year of Arrival 1989 |
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The United States has served as a beacon of hope for immigrants for centuries. Immigrant populations vary by state and city location. Current political debate has brought attention to high immigration rates to the United States from Mexico, backed by Conservative attacks on illegal immigration specifically. Like many immigrants to America, Mexican immigrant hopefuls saw, and still see, America as a land of opportunity. |
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