Family of Voices Oral History Collection
name: label: Interviewer
content: Allison, David Kite
label: Interviewer
content: Velasquez, Steve
label: Interviewer
content: Yeingst, William
label: Creator
content: National Museum of American History (U.S.)
label: Narrator
content: Abji, Minaz
label: Narrator
content: Balkanski, Alexander "Alex", 1960-
label: Narrator
content: Banikarim, Maryam, 1968-
label: Narrator
content: Bezos, Miguel "Mike", 1945-
label: Narrator
content: Boyle, Gert, 1924-
label: Narrator
content: Boyle, Timothy "Tim", 1949-
label: Narrator
content: Cappello, Juan P.
label: Narrator
content: Cecchi, Giuseppe "Joseph", 1930-2024
label: Narrator
content: Chu, Tao-Zeun "T.Z.", 1934-2016
label: Narrator
content: Claro, Galdino Jose, 1959-
label: Narrator
content: Duggal, Manmohan "Mac" Singh, 1960-
label: Narrator
content: Fellahi, Khalid, 1964-
label: Narrator
content: Hsieh, Ming, 1956-
label: Narrator
content: Kim, Bill, 1946-
label: Narrator
content: Kim, Myung Soon "Mary", 1944-2021
label: Narrator
content: Li, Lu, 1966-
label: Narrator
content: Mahmood, Rafat "Ray"
label: Narrator
content: Mahmood, Shaista
label: Narrator
content: Marcus, George, 1941-
label: Narrator
content: Nammour, Bechara, 1946-
label: Narrator
content: Ochoa-Brillembourg, Hilda
label: Narrator
content: Ratner, Ann
label: Narrator
content: Sarlo, George, 1938-2024
label: Narrator
content: Shrem, Jan Isaac, 1930-2024
label: Narrator
content: Shrem, Maria Manetti, 1940-
label: Narrator
content: Sie, John, 1936-
label: Narrator
content: Valles, Jean-Paul
label: Narrator
content: Van, Dennis
label: Narrator
content: Van, Sue
label: Narrator
content: Van, Tu
label: Narrator
content: Vattikuti, Padma
label: Narrator
content: Vattikuti, Raj B.
label: Narrator
content: Wu, Dennis, 1942-
label: Narrator
content: van Paasschen, Frits Dirk, 1961-
topic: label: Topic
content: Oral history
label: Topic
content: Transcripts
label: Topic
content: Entrepreneurship
label: Topic
content: Emigration and immigration
label: Topic
content: Immigrants
label: Topic
content: Immigrants -- United States
label: Topic
content: Hispanic Americans
label: Topic
content: Latinos in American society and culture
label: Topic
content: Asian Americans
acqinfo: label: Provenance
content: Made by the National Museum of American History's Division of Home and Community Life between 2014 and 2016.
creator: label: Interviewer
content: Allison, David Kite
label: Interviewer
content: Velasquez, Steve
label: Interviewer
content: Yeingst, William
label: Creator
content: National Museum of American History (U.S.)
culture: label: Culture
content: Arab Americans
label: Culture
content: Iranian Americans
setName: label: See more items in
content: Family of Voices Oral History Collection
abstract: label: Summary
content: Collection of born-digital interviews with contemporary American immigrants whose global origins and connections influence how they made their lives, careers and communities in the United States.
bioghist: label: Historical
content: In the early 1960s, the United States reformed immigration policy when Americans were debating the ideals of civil equality and equal opportunity. These efforts resulted in the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965, or Hart-Celler Act. It gave visa preferences to reunite families and attract skilled labor, opening immigration from Asia, Africa, the Middle East and Latin America. Some Family of Voices members arrived as political refugees; others sought education and economic opportunity. While these newcomers often struggled to achieve a place in American society, many took risks and overcame failure with a tenacious entrepreneurial spirit. Their work led to significant advances in technology, medicine and business.
physdesc: label: Extent
content: 13.66 Gigabytes (11 .mp3 files, 18 .wav files, 27 .pdf files)
unitdate: label: Date
content: 2014-2016
dataSource: label: Archival Repository
content: Archives Center, National Museum of American History
identifier: label: Identifier
content: NMAH.AC.1365
objectType: label: Type
content: Collection descriptions
label: Type
content: Archival materials
label: Type
content: Gigabytes
label: Type
content: Born digital
arrangement: label: Arrangement
content: The collection is arranged into two series, alphabetical by last name of the narrators. The first series contains two subseries to separate audio and written interviews.

Series 1: Born-Digital Interviews, 2014-2016

Subseries 1.1: Audio Interviews, 2014-2016

Subseries 1.2: Written Interviews, 2016-01-04

Series 2: Transcripts, 2014-2016
processinfo: label: Processing Information
content: Collection processed by Shom Tiwari, Archives Center Intern, 2025.
genre_format: label: Genre/Form
content: Born digital
scopecontent: label: History of the Collecting Process
content: In the late 2000s, the National Museum of American History's Division of Home and Community Life began an initiative on American cultural identity through the lens of immigration and migration. As part of this project, the curatorial team sought to conduct oral histories and collect treasured objects, documents and photographs to chronicle the rich cultural heritage and careers of immigrants. To that end, the curators created the Family of Voices, a group of individuals whose stories contribute to the growing contemporary record of the American immigrant experience.

Starting in 2014, Bill Yeingst (Chair and Curator of the Division of Home and Community Life) led a team to connect with and interview dozens of people who became part of the Family of Voices. Yeingst was joined at times by colleagues including Steve Velasquez (Curator of the Division of Home and Community Life), Nancy Davis  (Curator Emeritus of the Division of Home and Community Life), and David Allison (Curator Emeritus). These curators also collaborated with Rachel Wood of the museum's Advancement team.  

In addition to the interviews held within this collection, many narrators shared personal objects that have been represented in the museum's exhibits including Many Voices, One Nation; Tracing American Journeys; and FOOD: Transforming the American Table.
label: Scope and Contents
content: This collection contains oral history interviews, transcripts, and a written interview with contemporary Americans whose global origins and connections influence how they made their lives, careers and communities in the United States. While each person's point of departure and moment of arrival is distinctive, they all share similar experiences from their entrepreneurial careers and search for identity within their new American surroundings. The interviews recount how the narrators earned educations, created new ventures, and cultivated relationships across multiple communities.

Many interviews in this collection were conducted in person at the National Museum of American History. Some interviews were conducted in person at other locations, such as the narrators' homes or offices. One interview was not conducted in person but rather through written exchange. Some interview locations remain unknown due to information not always being immediately captured in the recording or transcript.

In certain oral histories, family members attended the interview and contributed to the conversation. If these individuals were not identified in the transcript and did not complete a release form, then they are not considered a narrator. Researchers may not use or quote contributions from interview participants other than the narrators.
label: Content Description
content: 29 oral history interview files (11 .mp3, 18 .wav), 1 written interview (.pdf), 26 transcripts (.pdf)
relatedmaterial: label: Related Materials
content: Materials at the National Museum of American History

The Division of Home and Community Life holds the following objects relating to this collection:

2017.0039 – Mortar and pestle from Minaz Abji

2017.0040 – Framed photograph and Mother's Day gift sign from Mike Bezos

2016.0009 – Cheerleading costume from Maryam Banikarim

2016.0243 – Fishing vest, two shirts and two jackets from Columbia Sportswear Company through Timothy Boyle

2015.0160; 2015.0161 – Tasa, kassa, tagine, kesskass, wood box, prayer rug, Timouma stone, khmissa amulet, Koran sourate sculpture, tea pot, two tea glasses, tasbih (string of beads), three robes, trousers and scarf from Khalid Fellahi

2017.0041 – Chinese college examination entrance pass from Ming Hsieh

2015.0286; 2017.0012 – English-Korean dictionary book, English grammar book, soban, platter, plate, four bowls, rice bowl, cup, chopsticks, spoon, utensil rest, napkin, black pot, lid, slip, underpants, socks, gwijumeoni (pouch), Sek Dong Jumuni (purse), Mokdori (scarf), Jeogori (jacket), Chima (dress), scarf, jokgi (vest), jeogori (jacket), baji (trousers), mokdori (scarf), magoja (jacket), durumagi (coat), hair barrette, rice spoon and trousers from Bill and Mary Kim

2016.0338 – Saint George slaying the dragon icon from George Marcus

2015.0237 – Waist coat, two salwars (trousers), achkan (jacket), hookah, hose, clay vessel, three clay disks, koran, koran bag, fish shaped serving platter and cover, metal box, tray, two spoons, four storage containers with lid covers, eye makeup container, necklace, two earrings, jewelry case, two kurti (shirts), dupatta (scarf), four shoes, two bags, saucer, cup with cover, miniature Koran with cover, chain and wedding photograph from Rafat and Shaista Mahmood

2016.0164– backgammon set, case, six spoons, six forks, cake server, six knives, teapot and drink dispenser from Bechara Nammour

2016.0167 - Diarium für Küchenrezepte (cookbook) from Hilda Ochoa-Brillembourg

2016.0294 – Passport from Ann Ratner

2016.0244 – Scarf and backpack from George Sarlo

2017.0186 – Trunk from Jean-Paul and Carol Ann Valles

2016.0013 – Menorah, Dutch Great Biblie, Walt Disney's The Lion King VHS in Dutch, Jip en Janneke book and magazine article from Frits van Paasschen

2016.0227 – Two sets of bracelets, blouse, petticoat, sari, CBSI award, AIF philanthropy award, coin, box, rattle, spatula, spice holder, Ganesha figure, pressure cooker and four passports from Padmaja Vattikuti and Rajendra B. Vattikuti

2016.0386 – Kirpan (knife with sheath), kara (bracelet), kanga (comb), red dastaar (turban), white turban, trousers, off-white jacket, black jacket, dress, red trousers, shawl and pair of shoes from Manmohan Singh Duggal

Materials at the Archives Center, National Museum of American History, Smithsonian Institution

Exiles in America: Cuban Pedro Pans and Balseros Collection (NMAH.AC.1377)

Faris and Yamna Naff Arab American Collection (NMAH.AC.0078)

Materials at the Anacostia Community Museum Archives, Smithsonian Institution

Gateway/Portales Exhibition Records (ACMA Acc. 03-102)

Black Mosaic: Community, Race, and Ethnicity among Black Immigrants in Washington, D. C. Exhibition Records (ACMA Acc. 03-027)