The collection is arranged alphabetically by topic and personal names. It dates from 1979 to 1995, however, the interviews took place from March to June 1990. The collection consists primarily of a single Tape Information Sheet completed by Vida Sister Prince following each interview. There are transcripts for four of the 23 interviews conducted for the project. There are five additional items in the collection: exhibition labels, a brief biography of Sherwin Liou (March 1979), Paul Maruyama's obituary (1995), Joseph Tanaks' obituary (1991), and a letter to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch editor written by Takuri Tei (1990).

The four transcripts in the collection reveal details of interviews with Japanese Americans, three of whom were relocated from the west coast and interred during World War II (John Hara, Paul Maruyama, and Sam M. Nakano). They explained their war time experiences and how they came to St. Louis after the war. Joseph Tanaka was the only Japanese American interviewed who was born in St. Louis. He served with the 442nd Combat Team, a unit comprised entirely of Japanese Americans.

Interview Synopses (from Tape Information Sheets):

1. Alison, Andrew, and Jennifer Choi (Korea): Interview and release signed April 15, 1990 (2 tapes). Children of owners of Choi's Restaurant, the three came to St. Louis as small children circa 1976. They discussed childhood as Koreans in St. Louis, educational expectations, and cultural influences. Tape Information Sheet only

2. Hye Suk (Kim) Foster (Korea): Interviews on April 8, 1990 and April 11, 1990 with released signed April 11, 1990 (2 tapes). Kim Foster married an American in Korea and came to St. Louis, where she became a U.S. citizen. She discusses cultural misunderstandings, the right to vote, values, Americanization, her daughter, and widowhood. Tape Information Sheet only.

3. John and Nikki Hara (Japan): Interview by Sister Prince and Kathy Corbett, and release signed March 14, 1990 (4 tapes). Unedited transcript by Nikki Hara, 91pp, May 1991. Dr. John Hara described the conflicts of being an American with a Japanese face; internment camps during World War II; redress by Congress; the fear of prejudice caused by economic endeavors of the Japanese in the U.S.; and other issues pertaining to the Japanese immigration and relocation, nationally and locally. Tape Information Sheet, Transcript (14 March 1990)

4. Nikki Hara (Japan): Interviews in June 1990 (2 interviews), release signed November 12, 1990 (2 tapes). Nikki Hara's brother, parents, and husband were in internment camps in World War II. Nikki Hara came to St. Louis after World War II, a "Sansei" 3rd generation. She discussed childhood, married life, and children. Tape Information Sheet only.

5. Gill Hong and Yong Sook (Korea): Interview on April 9, 1990 and release signed by Gill Hong (1 tape). Gill Hong and Yong Sook came to St. Louis in July 1970 for a better life and freedom with their three sons, who were educated and reared here. Two are doctors and one is an accountant, all of them married. Tape Information Sheet only.

6. Lillie Hong (China): Interview and release signed March 28, 1990 (1 tape). Lillie Hong came to St. Louis in 1924 from Canton when she was five years old. She talked about growing up, school, Chinatown marriage, children, the laundries, restaurant, St. Louis Chinese Gospel Church, and personal feelings. Tape Information Sheet only.

7. Annie Leong (China): Interviews on April 15 and 16, 1990, released signed, April 16, 1990 (2 tapes). Leong was born in St. Louis’s Chinatown, lived there until 1966, when it was demolished to build Busch stadium. She describes youth, school, The Asia Restaurant owned by her family, growth of Chinese community, church, customs, religion, American and Chinese holidays and the blending of cultures. Tape Information Sheet only.

8. Sherwin Liou (China): Interview and release signed, May 10, 1990 (2 tapes). Liou came to the U.S. St. Louis May 1974. He was a chef by profession and opened two Mandarin House Restaurants. Tape Information Sheet, Biography (March 1979)

9. Paul Maruyama (1907-1995, Japan): Interview and release signed March 20, 1990 (2 tapes). Transcript by Nikki Hara, April 1991, 21pp unedited. Maruyama was born in Japan in 1907 and came to the U.S. in the 1930's, attended Columbia University, and taught Japanese in Sacramento in 1939. He stayed in the U.S. when Pearl Harbor was bombed, was interned in Tule Lake Camp in 1942, and was a camp leader. He came to St. Louis after the war, was active in Japanese American Citizens and other civic activities. Tape Information Sheet, Transcript (20 March 1990), Obituary (1995)

10. Sam M. Nakano (Japan): Interview and release signed March 20, 1990 (1 tape). Unedited transcription (26pp) by Nikki Hara, July 24, 1991. Nakano lived in Fresno, California when Pearl Harbor was bombed. He recalls internment order and internment at Camp Rohwer. From Cleveland he went to work and came to St. Louis in 1944 and settled here with his family. He talks about his loyalty to America, Japanese values, Buddhist. Tape Information Sheet, Transcript (20 March 1990)

11. T. C. Peng (China): Interview and release signed April 2, 1990 (2 tapes). Peng came to the U.S. at age 23 in 1952, as a student through Anchorage, Alaska. He described adjustment problems, his wish to do a serious and detailed history of the Chinese in St. Louis, and old and new Chinese communities in St. Louis. Tape Information Sheet only.

12. Sue and Suchin Prapaisilp (Thailand): Interview and release signed March 17, 1990 (2 tapes). The Prapaisilps talked about the melding of Thai culture with American life, American holidays, the Buddhist religion, and Rana grocery store. They own The King and I restaurant. At the time of the interview they had a son who was two years old. Sue came to this country in 1978 at the age of 18; Suchin came in 1975 at age 23. Suchin is one of the 5% of Thai immigrant who are not professionals. Both came to this country as students. Tape Information Sheet only.

13. Ann Rynearson (Laos): Interview and release signed April 17, 1990 (1 tape). Rynearson’s conversation was mostly about photos for the exhibit but also about cultural blending. She worked at International Institute and with the Laotian Community. Tape Information Sheet only.

14. Mone Saenphimmachak (Laos): Interview and release signed May 22, 1990 (1 tape). Mone Saenphimmachak left Laos with her husband and sons in 1981, arrived at a refugee camp in Thailand, and then went to the Philippines before coming to St. Louis in 1984. International Institute sponsored them. She is a weaver and needle worker, skills that give status in Laotian society, and works as a seamstress. She discussed being Buddhist and blending in cultures. Tape Information Sheet only.

15. Khampiene Sayarong (Laos): Interview and release signed, April 4, 1990 (2 tapes). Georgia Philips of South Side Baptist Church was present to help with language difficulties. With his wife and eight children, Khampiene escaped Laos in 1979 to Nong Khai camp in Thailand, sponsored in St. Louis by Southside Baptist Church. He was a policeman in Laos, in St. Louis he was a janitor in Afton schools. Tape Information Sheet only.

16. Mark Shu (China): Interview and release signed May 23, 1990 (1 tape). Shu was chairman of the Chinese Cultural Committee of the Organization of Chinese Americans, whose goal was to educate themselves about their cultural heritage (geography, philosophy, language and history). They wanted to educate Americans about Chinese culture to preserve cultural identity while reducing discrimination. Tape Information Sheet only.

17. Joseph (1916-1991) and Nikki Tanaka (Japan): Interview and release signed March 19, 1990 (2 tapes). Unedited transcription (54pp.) by Nikki Hara, April 19, 1991. Joseph Tanaka was born in St. Louis in 1916 and discusses his schooling, Pearl Harbor, and his tenure as part of the Japanese 442 Combat Team in Italy. He also describes growing up as a minority in St. Louis. His wife, Nikki, is also part of the conversation. Tape Information Sheet, Transcript (19 March 1990), Obituary (1991)

18. Kongsak Tanphaichitr, M.D. (Thailand): Interview and release signed only by K. Tanphaichitr on March 15, 1990 (1 tape). The tape includes the voices of Kongsak Tanphaichitr and his wife, Sirirat; Suchin Prapaisilp; and Chalony Pfeifauf. They discuss Thai life in St. Louis, the impact of Buddhism, the relationship between generations. They are proud of Thai heritage and of being Americans. Tape Information Sheet only

19. Austin Tao (1945- , China): Interview and release signed on March 28, 1990 (1 tape). Tao was born in Shanghai in 1945 and came to St. Louis in 1970. He discussed the Chinese community in St. Louis, their New Year’s celebration, the old and new communities, and when and why they came to St. Louis. Tape Information Sheet only

20. Takuri Tei (1924-2009, Korea): Interview and release signed on April 16, 1990. Tei was born in North Korea in 1924, he moved to Japan in 1939, and came to the United States in 1952. He graduated from the University of Missouri and became a tax consultant. Tape Information Sheet / Clipping (letter to the editor), 1990

21. Lee Tran (Vietnam): Interview and release signed on April 5, 1990 (1 tape). In 1979, Tran escaped from Vietnam with her husband, a Vietnamese Army officer, and son in a wooden boat with 107 people. They went to a refugee camp in Malaysia and another in Indonesia. In 1980, the Unitarian Church helped them come to St. Louis. By 1990, Tran owned a restaurant. Tape Information Sheet only

22. Minh Tran (1949- , Vietnam): Interview and release signed on April 4, 1990 (1 tape). Minh Tran, born in 1949, was a naval officer who left Vietnam in 1975 with his wife and other officers and their families. He was in St. Louis by September 1975. At the time of the interview, he was a printer at night and a teacher’s aide in the public schools to help Vietnamese students. Tape Information Sheet only

23. Ben Wang (China): Interview and release signed on April 17, 1990 (1 tape). Ben Wang came to St. Louis in 1980. He discussed a little of his background and the Yen Ching restaurant, which his uncle owns. (very brief tape) Tape Information Sheet only