AIISF Newsletter / December 2021
A Message From AIISF’s Executive Director
As we all celebrate the holidays of the season and get ready to wave goodbye to 2021, I look back with deep appreciation and gratitude for all the ways that you and our entire circle of supporters have helped to ensure that Angel Island's histories, stories, and legacies are not forgotten. Whether you tuned in to one of our virtual programs, visited the immigration station in person, made a contribution to AIISF, or simply took a few moments to talk with a friend, colleague, or family member about the importance of remembering Angel Island -- THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT! Click on the "AIISF's 2021 Year-In-Review button" below to see some of the highlights of the programs and efforts that your support made possible.
We hope that you will continue to Remember Angel Island as you think about your end-of-year contributions. Our end of year campaign and our gala have been our two primary fundraisers for many years, and we need your continued support -- especially at this moment in our nation's history -- to ensure that more people learn from the lessons of racist detention and exclusion that our communities endured at Angel Island.
I hope that you will join us in person or virtually for the ribbon-cutting ceremony for the Angel Island Immigration Museum on January 22, 2022. We're planning a VIP reception for that morning. Following the ribbon-cutting ceremony, the building will open to the public. Stay tuned for more details, and we still hope to do a much larger, grand-opening/family-day celebration later in 2022 (pending COVID-19 rate decreases).
Whether you celebrate Hanukkah, Solstice, Christmas, or Kwanzaa, all of us at AIISF wish you and yours a happy, healthy, and safe holiday season!
Edward Tepporn
AIISF Executive Director
Support AIISF's End of Year Campaign and Make Someone's Year with a Tribute Gift
This year, consider making a gift in memory of a loved one or in honor of someone who helped make 2021 memorable. Your donation will go to support the preservation of the U.S. Immigration Station site, and stories of immigrants, while providing an enduring tribute to someone special.
Each tribute we receive will be shared online at www.aiisf.org/tributes.
Give by 12/31 and you could win free airline tickets from Southwest!
If you give $100 or more to our annual campaign, you will be entered in a drawing for TWO domestic roundtrip tickets with Southwest Airlines. Click here to make a gift.
It's not too late to start an end-of-year Facebook fundraiser!
The person whose fundraiser raises the most for AIISF through 11:59 PM Pacific on December 31, 2021, will win FOUR domestic roundtrip tickets with Southwest Airlines. Click here to start your fundraiser.
Volunteers Needed!
In preparation for the opening of the new Angel Island Immigration Museum on January 22, 2022, we are looking for 10-20 volunteers to help us with some dusting, sweeping, and other light tasks. We'll be hosting a volunteer day on Saturday, January 15. In addition to a free ferry ride, you'll also have a chance to get a sneak peek of the museum before it opens!
Reach out to Russell at rnauman@aiisf.org or (415) 658-7691 if you would like to help.
AIISF's Favorite Things for the Holidays
Deaconess Katharine Maurer, the "Angel of Angel Island" was responsible for bringing Christmas to the men, women, and children of the U.S. Immigration Station. For most, this was their first Christmas away from home. So, in the spirit of the season, we wanted to share several items we love. We hope they will help make your holidays merry and bright!
Lily's Winter Melon Soup
This delicious holiday recipe can be found in our Tastes of Home exhibition on our website.
Jeanie Low describes her winter melon soup as "a full-bodied soup with hints of mushroom, oyster, and ginger root." Click here for the recipe.
And save the date for March 7 when Jeanie will be sharing her tips for how to conduct family research on immigration and naturalization case files at the National Archives and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service.
Christmas Cards by Tyrus Wong
Former Angel Island immigrant, Tyrus Wong was only 10 years old when he was detained at the U.S. Immigration Station.
He grew up to have a successful life as an artist before passing away at the age of 106 in 2016. You can watch a short documentary about Tyrus's life here.
You can now purchase Christmas cards featuring images from his collection as well as other gifts inspired by his art. Visit Tyrus's Etsy store to see what's available.
Books featured in AIISF's Author Spotlight Series in 2021
We are proud to recommend the following titles from this year's public programs. If you make a purchase through AmazonSmile, select AIISF as your favorite organization, and a portion of your purchase will go to support our work. Start shopping now!
May Author Spotlight
Enough About Me: The Unexpected Power of Selflessness by Richard Lui
June Author Spotlight
Voices of Angel Island: Inscriptions and Immigrant Poetry by Charles Egan
August Author Spotlight
Ching Ling Foo: America's First Chinese Superstar by Samuel D. Porteous
September Author Spotlight
The Magical Imperfect by Chris Baron
October Author Spotlight
The Good Asian by Pornsak Pichetshote
Remembering the 80th Anniversary of Pearl Harbor
On December 7, 1941, Japan attacked Pearl Harbor. In the months following, over 600 Japanese Hawaiians were arrested and sent to Angel Island. On this anniversary, we remember the 2,403 American lives lost in the attack and the 120,000 people of Japanese ancestry incarcerated during World War II.