Print preview Close

Showing 117 results

Collections
The Immigrant Story Oral Histories Item Audio
Print preview View:

117 results with digital objects Show results with digital objects

Interview with Eva Rickles [Sound Recording 01]

Session 1. This interview with Eva Rickles was conducted by Paul Fardig and Judith Fardig in 2018. The interview was recorded for The Immigrant Story, an organization that documents and archives the stories of immigrants and refugees in the United States. This interview was conducted informally during a photo shoot. In this interview, Rickles discusses her childhood dog, Wippi, whom she had to leave behind when her family fled Nazi Germany in 1937. She also talks about some of the items her family brought with them to the United States, particularly family photographs and a grandfather clock. She speaks about the family background of her husband, Norman H. Rickles; the Enlightenment as it applied to the European Jewish community (known as Haskalah); and several of the artworks in her home. She and the interviewers make small talk away from the recording device for several minutes. Rickles closes the interview by reading from her father's diary; discussing her early education at a synagogue in Berlin, Germany; and describing the differences in English dialects. She and the interviewers make small talk for the remainder of the audio recording.

Rickles, Eva S. (Eva Simons), 1927-

Oral history interview with Abdi Nazemian [Sound Recording 01]

Session 1. This oral history interview with Abdi Nazemian was conducted by Sankar Raman and Nancy E. Dollahite on November 8, 2019. The interview was recorded for The Immigrant Story, an organization that documents and archives the stories of immigrants and refugees in the United States.

In this interview, Nazemian discusses his family background and early life in Paris, France; Toronto, Canada; and New York City. He shares the reasons his family left Iran for France, then Canada; talks about his experience growing up multilingual and about raising his own children to also be multilingual; and about adjusting to life in the United States. He discusses his cultural and ethnic identity, and his identity as a gay man, and talks about how those identities inform his writing. He speaks about his experiences and education at a boarding school in New York, talks about coming out to his family in his twenties, and describes his early career as a screenwriter in Los Angeles, California. He speaks at length about writing books telling queer Iranian stories, and about his writing process. He closes the interview by talking about how the AIDS pandemic affected him, by describing the themes of his novels, and by discussing public reception of his novels.

Nazemian, Abdi

Oral history interview with Abdulah Polovina [Sound Recording 01]

Session 1. This oral history interview with Abdulah Polovina was conducted by Elizabeth Mehren and Sankar Raman on January 7, 2019. The interview was recorded for The Immigrant Story, an organization that documents and archives the stories of immigrants and refugees in the United States.

In this interview, Polvina discusses his experiences as a Muslim in Bosnia during the Yugoslav Wars. He talks about the history of Muslims, and of genocide against Muslims, in the region, and about politics in Yugoslavia leading up to the wars. He speaks at length about his Islamic faith, about his early life and education in Bosnia, and about changing his name to Abdulah. He talks about his marriage to his wife, Hatidza, about being separated while he served in the war, and about his reasons for leaving Bosnia for Seattle, Washington, in 2001. He talks about his experience as the first Muslim student at Seattle University's School of Theology and Ministry, and about his experience serving as imam at a mosque in Portland, Oregon. He closes the interview by talking about the Portland Muslim community, and reflecting on the experiences of Bosnian Muslims during the war.

Polovina, Abdulah, 1973-

Oral history interview with Abel F. Getachew [Sound Recording 01]

Session 1. This oral history interview with Abel F. Getachew was conducted by Sankar Raman and Gina Ruggeri on June 11, 2018. The interview was recorded for The Immigrant Story, an organization that documents and archives the stories of immigrants and refugees in the United States. In this interview, Getachew discusses his family background and early life in Ethiopia, including his education, social life, and playing soccer. He talks about his mother's disappearance in 2007; learning later that she had immigrated to the United States; and his life in Ethiopia until he was able to join her in 2012. He describes the process of immigrating to the U.S. and adjusting to life in Portland, Oregon. He talks about his education in Portland, including learning English as a second language, playing soccer, and participating in various academic extracurricular activities. He also talks about his experience at Roosevelt High School and transferring to De La Salle North Catholic High School. He discusses his plans to pursue a career in the medical field and interning at Oregon Health and Science University. He talks about applying for colleges and scholarships. He speaks at length about creating an organization, Hope for Bright Future, to support other immigrant students. He closes the interview by discussing his plan to attend Georgetown University, then medical school, and to become a cardiovascular surgeon.

Getachew, Abel F., 2000-

Oral history interview with Abood Aldabea [Sound Recording 01]

Session 1. This oral history interview with Abood Aldabea was conducted by Sankar Raman on May 18, 2018. The interview was recorded for The Immigrant Story, an organization that documents and archives the stories of immigrants and refugees in the United States. Aldabea's family was present, and they occasionally contributed in Arabic. An unidentified neighbor was also present. In this interview, Aldabea discusses his early life in Damascus, Syria, including his education, family, and neighborhood. He also describes some of his favorite Syrian foods. He shares his memories of the civil war in Syria, including being gassed by the Syrian military while heading home from his mosque and bombings in his neighborhood. He talks about fleeing to Jordan, and about life in Jordan as a Syrian refugee. He describes the process of being resettled in the United States in 2014. The unidentified neighbor talks about helping Aldabea's family get established in Portland, Oregon. Aldabea talks about adjusting to life in Portland, his education, and his involvement in sports. He closes the interview by discussing learning English as a second language, his friends, and his plans for the future.

Aldabea, Abood (Abdulelah), 2002-

Oral history interview with Alejandro Vilches [Sound Recording 01]

Session 1. This an oral history interview with Alejandro Vilches was conducted by Sankar Raman on February 3, 2018. The interview was recorded for The Immigrant Story, an organization that documents and archives the stories of immigrants and refugees in the United States. In this interview, Vilches discusses his family background and early life in Bryan, Texas, including his father's education there. He then discusses his life in Honduras from ages 4 to 28, including being bilingual, his education, and his siblings. He also talks about his father's career as a pilot and death in an airplane accident, as well as his mother raising their family as a single parent. He describes the Honduran people and culture. He discusses studying computer science at the Universidad Tecnológica Centroamericana in Tegucigalpa, Honduras, and the pressure he felt to succeed as the oldest child. He also talks about holding dual citizenship and his cultural and ethnic identity. He talks about coming to the United States to study computer science at Purdue University in West Lafayette, Indiana, including the differences in American and Honduran cultural norms, the diverse student body, and his social life. He discusses interning for Intel during the summers while at Purdue, and then beginning work as a software engineer for the company in Hillsboro, Oregon, shortly after he graduated. He also talks about his robotics-related volunteer work. He closes the interview by discussing how his views have changed regarding immigration and the value of diversity.

Vilches, Alejandro, 1980-

Oral history interview with Anisha Ginshing [Sound Recording 01]

Session 1. This oral history interview with Anisha Ginshing was conducted by Sankar Raman on April 4, 2017. The interview was recorded for The Immigrant Story, an organization that documents and archives the stories of immigrants and refugees in the United States. In this interview, Ginshing discusses her early life in a camp for Bhutanese refugees in Nepal. She then talks about immigrating to the United States with her family at the age of 9, and settling in Idaho. She talks about her elementary school education in Idaho and about learning English as a second language; the reasons for her family's move to Portland, Oregon; and her high school education in Portland, including taking Advanced Placement classes and her extracurricular activities. She talks about her interest in Nepali culture; applying for college; and her plans to become a nurse. She closes the interview by discussing her cultural and ethnic identity; the dangerous conditions for women and girls in Nepal; and her most challenging high school classes.

Ginshing, Anisha, 1999-

Oral history interview with Anna Giurgiev [Sound Recording 01]

Session 1. This oral history interview with Anna Giurgiev was conducted by Caitlyn Malik and Sankar Raman on June 7, 2019. The interview was recorded for The Immigrant Story, an organization that documents and archives the stories of immigrants and refugees in the United States. One of Giurgiev's daughters, Vesna Giurgiev, was also present.

In this interview, Giurgiev discusses her family background and early life in communist Romania, including working on a farm, her education, and the national athletics program. She speaks about her marriage to Sava Giurgiev and describes their wedding. She talks about rationing and traveling to Yugoslavia to buy food. She describes Sava Giurgiev's flight from Romania and talks about reuniting with him in Chicago, Illinois. She describes the process of getting a visa to the United States. She also looks at photographs and talks about them. She talks about adjusting to life in the U.S., about earning her nursing degree, and about working in Chicago and in Florida. She then talks about the reasons the family moved to the Portland, Oregon, area. She closes the interview by reflecting on her experiences as a Romanian immigrant and talking about her hopes for her children.

Giurgiev, Anna, 1958-

Oral history interview with Anne Johnson [Sound Recording 01]

Session 1. This oral history interview with Anne Johnson was conducted by Julianna Robidoux and Monica Salazar on November 29, 2019. The interview was recorded for The Immigrant Story, an organization that documents and archives the stories of immigrants and refugees in the United States. Sankar Raman was also present.

In this interview, Johnson discusses her family background and early life in Nairobi, Kenya, including her education. She talks about turning her love of creative pursuits into a tea and chocolate business in Oregon. She discusses her reasons for relocating to Portland, Oregon, for college. She describes the tea sommelier course she took, talks about starting her business, and discusses ethically sourcing her products. She talks about her partnership with her husband, Mark Johnson, about the importance of tea in her family life, and about her reasons for including chocolate in her business. She talks about her future plans for Mamancy Tea Co. She closes the interview by discussing discrimination that she experienced as a Black woman and an immigrant.

Johnson, Anne, 1978-

Oral history interview with Ayan Salat [Sound Recording 01]

Session 1. This oral history interview with Ayan Salat was conducted by Sankar Raman and Jessica Pollard on March 22, 2019. The interview was recorded for The Immigrant Story, an organization that documents and archives the stories of immigrants and refugees in the United States.

In this interview, Salat discusses her family background and early life in Somalia. She also shares the reasons that her father fled to Kenya in the 1990s. She shares her experiences living in refugee camps in Kenya from 2005 to 2015, including her education, her home and family life, and living conditions in the camps. She talks about the markets that her parents ran in the camps, about her social life, and about the process of immigrating to the United States. She talks about adjusting to life in the U.S., describes racism she experienced, and discusses her education in Portland, Oregon. She talks about writing poetry and reads one of her poems. She closes the interview by talking about her plans for the future and by sharing advice for young immigrants.

Salat, Ayan

Oral history interview with Baher Butti [Session 01]

Session 1. This oral history interview with Baher Butti was conducted by Sankar Raman on January 10, 2019. The interview was recorded for The Immigrant Story, an organization that documents and archives the stories of immigrants and refugees in the United States. In this interview, Butti discusses his early life in Baghdad, Iraq, talks about his family's history of political activism, and describes his experiences during the 1980 Iran-Iraq War. He speaks about life under the authoritarian governments in Iraq, particularly the Saddam Hussein regime. He also talks about practicing as a psychiatrist in Iraq. He describes his experiences during the U.S. invasion of Iraq in 2003, and talks about the series of events that led to an assassination threat against him. He discusses the process of leaving Iraq and immigrating to the United States with his family. He talks about his life in Oregon, including his career, organizations he founded, and his work with refugees. He discusses the historical religious diversity of Iraqis. He closes the interview by talking about the process of applying for asylum in the United States and sharing his hopes for the future.

Butti, Baher, 1961-

Oral history interview with Belise Nishimwe [Sound Recording 01]

Session 1. This oral history interview with Belise Nishimwe was conducted by Elanya Yussen on June 10, 2019. The interview was recorded for The Immigrant Story, an organization that documents and archives the stories of immigrants and refugees in the United States. Erin Weisensee was also present and occasionally contributed to the interview. In this interview, Nishimwe discusses her early life in Portland, Oregon, including her education, her love of reading, and making friends. She also talks about how her parents have adjusted to life in the United States, particularly their experience with the language barrier. She speaks about her cultural and ethnic identity, including her family background in Burundi, foods she grew up with, and languages she speaks. She talks about racism she experienced and how she internalized it at a young age. She revisits the topic of her education; talks about how her sister inspires her; and describes the cultural significance of her family's names. She speaks at length about her love of poetry, publicly performing her poems, and her participation in the Oregon Poetry Out Loud competition. She then describes her trip to Washington, D.C., in 2019, to participate in the national Poetry Out Loud competition. She closes the interview by talking about her accomplishments and her plans for the future, and by sharing advice for other young people and immigrants.

Nishimwe, Belise

Oral history interview with Bernal Cruz [Sound Recording 01]

Session 1, Part 1. This oral history interview with Bernal Cruz was conducted by Sankar Raman on February 25, 2019. The interview was recorded for The Immigrant Story, an organization that documents and archives the stories of immigrants and refugees in the United States. Julianna Robidoux was also present.

In this interview, Cruz discusses his family background and early life in Guatemala City, Guatemala, including his father's career in the Guatemalan army; his Mayan heritage and culture; and his education. He shares the history of the civil war in Guatemala and talks about his family's experiences during the war. He describes the reasons his family sought asylum in the United States, and talks about the asylum process. He discusses his experiences in Portland, Oregon, as a Guatemalan immigrant, including his education, his social life, and adjusting to cultural differences. He talks about working as a mediator during high school, about his education in neuropsychology at the University of Massachusetts, and about working as a therapist for Providence in Portland. He then talks about his career change in 2014, after earning a master's degree in community-based social work from Portland State University; about his marriage to Karey B. Lakey; and about his work with unaccompanied minors and immigrant youth for Morrison Child and Family Services. He speaks at length about his volunteer work with organizations assisting refugees, and closes the interview by discussing his experience in Italy as part of Harvard's online refugee trauma and recovery program.

Cruz-Munoz, R. Bernal (Renso Bernal), 1977-

Oral history interview with Bernal Cruz [Sound Recording 02]

Session 1, Part 2. This oral history interview with Bernal Cruz was conducted by Sankar Raman on February 25, 2019. The interview was recorded for The Immigrant Story, an organization that documents and archives the stories of immigrants and refugees in the United States. Julianna Robidoux was also present.

In this interview, Cruz discusses his family background and early life in Guatemala City, Guatemala, including his father's career in the Guatemalan army; his Mayan heritage and culture; and his education. He shares the history of the civil war in Guatemala and talks about his family's experiences during the war. He describes the reasons his family sought asylum in the United States, and talks about the asylum process. He discusses his experiences in Portland, Oregon, as a Guatemalan immigrant, including his education, his social life, and adjusting to cultural differences. He talks about working as a mediator during high school, about his education in neuropsychology at the University of Massachusetts, and about working as a therapist for Providence in Portland. He then talks about his career change in 2014, after earning a master's degree in community-based social work from Portland State University; about his marriage to Karey B. Lakey; and about his work with unaccompanied minors and immigrant youth for Morrison Child and Family Services. He speaks at length about his volunteer work with organizations assisting refugees, and closes the interview by discussing his experience in Italy as part of Harvard's online refugee trauma and recovery program.

Cruz-Munoz, R. Bernal (Renso Bernal), 1977-

Oral history interview with Brenda Neri-Wong [Sound Recording 01]

Session 1, Part 1. This oral history interview with Brenda Neri-Wong was conducted by Sankar Raman and Briana Ybanez on August 22, 2018. The interview was recorded for The Immigrant Story, an organization that documents and archives the stories of immigrants and refugees in the United States. In this part of the interview, Neri-Wong discusses her family background and the blood disorder that spurred her parents to bring her to the United States in 1995.

Neri-Wong, Brenda J., 1993-

Oral history interview with Brenda Neri-Wong [Sound Recording 02]

Session 1, Part 2. This oral history interview with Brenda Neri-Wong was conducted by Sankar Raman and Briana Ybanez on August 22, 2018. The interview was recorded for The Immigrant Story, an organization that documents and archives the stories of immigrants and refugees in the United States. In this part of the interview, Neri-Wong continues discussing her family background, particularly her connection to her Chinese heritage, the family’s financial situation in Mexico, and her family’s journey to the United States. She talks about moving to Oregon, her education, and learning English as a second language. She also speaks about trying to fit in and make friends, and about her plans to become a teacher. She shares her experience as an undocumented immigrant, the constant anxiety it has caused, and the barriers it placed before her. She discusses attending Portland Community College and transferring to Portland State University, including paying for college and learning to navigate the higher education system as an undocumented person. She then talks about her current job as a graduation coach in the Hillsboro School District. She discusses her status as a recipient of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, which provides legal protections for some undocumented immigrants brought to the U.S. as children. She talks about her hopes for the future. She closes the interview by talking about the political climate at the time of the interview in 2018, her experience with white privilege, and working toward systemic change.

Neri-Wong, Brenda J., 1993-

Oral history interview with Brianda Alcazar [Sound Recording 01]

Session 1. This oral history interview with Brianda Alcazar was conducted by Keven Salazar on July 22, 2018. The interview was recorded for The Immigrant Story, an organization that documents and archives the stories of immigrants and refugees in the United States. In this interview, Alcazar discusses her family background and early life in Michoacán, Mexico. She then describes coming to the United States with her family at age 6 and settling in the Portland, Oregon, area. She talks about her education and learning English as a second language. She discusses balancing her schoolwork with the expectation that she would fulfill traditional gender roles at home; leaving home at age 15; and continuing her education as a teenage mother. She describes her living conditions during the first years after the birth of her oldest child. She talks about studying at Portland Community College, her involvement with the Women's Resource Center, and balancing her education while raising children. She discusses the importance of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program in her daily life. She talks about dealing with racial discrimination, including explaining racism to her children; and describes her ethnic and cultural identity. She closes the interview by talking about her current activities and plans for the future.

Alcazar, Brianda, 1993-

Oral history interview with Chang-Shee Chang [Session 01]

Session 1. This oral history interview with Chang-Shee Chang was conducted by Dora Totoian on October 18, 2019. Sankar Raman was also present and occasionally contributed to the interview questions. The interview was recorded for The Immigrant Story, an organization that documents and archives the stories of immigrants and refugees in the United States. In this interview, Chang discusses his family background and early life in Taiwan during the Sino-Japanese War; speaks about his ethnic and cultural identity; and talks about life during the White Terror period. He discusses his education and social life in Taipei, including his experience studying medicine at National Taiwan University, and speaks about how his feelings about China changed after coming to the United States. He talks about his marriage to Hwei Chang, discusses completing his medical residency in Baltimore, Maryland, and speaks about adjusting to life in the U.S., particularly the food. He talks about the process of becoming a naturalized citizen in 1973, and about his career as a vascular surgeon in Portland, Oregon, beginning in 1974. He speaks about raising a family in the Pacific Northwest. He talks about the origins of his nickname, "George," about incidences of racial discrimination his family experienced in the United States, and about his children and their careers. He closes the interview by discussing his experience with lung cancer and his retirement activities.

Chang, Chang-Shee, 1937-

Oral history interview with Cindy Muñoz [Sound Recording 01]

Session 1. This oral history interview with Cindy Muñoz was conducted by Ricardo Nagaoka and Sankar Raman on June 3, 2017. The interview was recorded for The Immigrant Story, an organization that documents and archives the stories of immigrants and refugees in the United States. In this interview, Muñoz discusses her early life in Oregon. She talks about dealing with racial discrimination, and describes several incidences of racism at her high school. She closes the interview by sharing her thoughts about "The American Dream."

Muñoz, Cindy

Oral history interview with Cindy Muñoz [Sound Recording 02]

Session 2. This oral history interview with Cindy Muñoz was conducted by Ricardo Nagaoka and Sankar Raman on June 3, 2017. The interview was recorded for The Immigrant Story, an organization that documents and archives the stories of immigrants and refugees in the United States. In this interview, Muñoz discusses her early life in Oregon. She talks about dealing with racial discrimination, and describes several incidences of racism at her high school. She closes the interview by sharing her thoughts about "The American Dream."

Muñoz, Cindy

Oral history interview with Dilshad Karim Saatchi [Sound Recording 01]

Session 1. This oral history interview with Dilshad Karim Saatchi was conducted by Sankar Raman and Shea Seery on September 27, 2019. The interview was recorded for The Immigrant Story, an organization that documents and archives the stories of immigrants and refugees in the United States.

In this interview, Saatchi discusses his family background and early life as a Kurd in Iraq, including his experiences during the Iran-Iraq war, and during the Iraqi genocide of Kurds that began in 1991. He describes his family fleeing their home for the Kurdish countryside and talks about living in hiding from the Iraqi army in a makeshift refugee camp. He briefly talks about his education after returning home. He discusses working as an English translator for the U.S. military at a prison during the Iraq War, describes some of the interrogations that he was part of, and talks about the dangers of the job. He shares his reasons for immigrating to the United States. He talks about joining the U.S. Army, and shares his experiences during his 2012 deployment to Kandahar, Afghanistan. He discusses his reasons for settling in Portland, Oregon, and briefly talks about his marriage and his education at Portland State University. He closes the interview by reflecting on the fact that the majority of his life was spent in the midst of war, by sharing his experience with post-traumatic stress disorder, and by discussing his plans for the future.

Saatchi, Dilshad Karim, 1981-

Oral history interview with Divine Irambona [Sound Recording 01]

Session 1. This oral history interview with Divine Irambona was conducted by Sankar Raman on May 18, 2019. The interview was recorded for The Immigrant Story, an organization that documents and archives the stories of immigrants and refugees in the United States. Shea Seery was also present and occasionally contributed interview questions. In this interview, Irambona discusses her family background in Burundi and the reasons her parents fled to Tanzania. She talks about her early life in the Kanembwa refugee camp in Tanzania, including an attack on her home just before the family was resettled in the United States; living conditions in the camp; and her education. She also discusses the significance of her name. She then talks about being resettled in the United States and adjusting to life in Beaverton, Oregon, including jobs her father and stepmother worked. She speaks at length about her education, including racist bullying she experienced, learning English, and making friends. She talks about her experience studying sociology at Western Oregon University, and discusses continued racist bullying she endured, founding the African Students and Friends Association, and health problems that affected her education. She closes the interview by describing her work with Northwest Human Services at the time of the interview in 2019, her volunteer work with refugees in Salem, and her plans for the future.

Irambona, Divine, 1995-

Oral history interview with Dominic Vu Nguyen [Sound Recording 01]

Session 1. This oral history interview with Dominic Vu Nguyen was conducted by Rachel Ramirez on July 9, 2017. The interview was recorded for The Immigrant Story, an organization that documents and archives the stories of immigrants and refugees in the United States. In this interview, Nguyen discusses fleeing Vietnam near the end of the Vietnam War, relocating to the Philippines, and finally settling in upstate New York. He talks about his early life in New York, including adjusting to life in the United States and his education. He also talks about overcoming stereotypes. Nguyen discusses getting into fitness after the birth of his son in 2011, and about competing to appear on the television show American Ninja Warrior in 2017. He closes the interview by describing his 1990 reunion with his father, who had been unable to leave Vietnam with the family, as well as his father's death in 2016.

Nguyen, Dominic Vu, 1973-

Oral history interview with Elijah Russell [Sound Recording 01]

Session 1. This oral history interview with Elijah Russell was conducted by Sankar Raman and Allison Merkel on June 26, 2019. The interview was recorded for The Immigrant Story, an organization that documents and archives the stories of immigrants and refugees in the United States.

In this interview, Russell discusses his family background and early life in Hamburg, Germany, including the music careers of his parents, and the reasons he and his mother moved to Portland, Oregon, in 2005. He talks about growing up with a famous father, about writing music, and about his education in Germany and Beaverton. He shares his experiences as a Black person in both Germany and Portland, and speaks at length about starting a school club called Kids of Color. He talks about writing songs, plays some of his music, and discusses his musical ambitions. He talks about his plans for college, about sharing music with his father, and about his identity. He closes the interview by discussing plans for the future.

Russell, Elijah, 2001-

Oral history interview with Eva Aigner and Les Aigner [Sound Recording 01]

Session 1. This oral history interview with Eva Aigner and Les Aigner was conducted in two sessions in 2018. The interview was recorded for The Immigrant Story, an organization that documents and archives the stories of immigrants and refugees in the United States. The first session was conducted by Jim Lommasson and Sankar Raman. In the first session of this interview, Lommasson describes a recent exhibit he worked on called “What We Carried,” and gives a copy of a related book to the Aigners. The Aigners discuss their work with the Holocaust Memorial Coalition and the Holocaust Memorial in Portland, Oregon. They also talk about the few personal possessions and photographs they still have from their lives before and during the Holocaust; Les Aigner’s experience being sent to Dachau on the “death train”; and Eva Aigner’s experience being rescued by her mother while awaiting execution along the Danube with her sister. Les Aigner also talks about his few months in Auschwitz, and they both discuss a trip they took to all the death camp sites, Auschwitz included. They then talk about scheduling for the next interview session and make small talk.

Aigner, Les (Leslie Gabor), 1929-

Oral history interview with Eva Aigner and Les Aigner [Sound Recording 02]

Session 2. This oral history interview with Eva Aigner and Les Aigner was conducted in two sessions in 2018. The interview was recorded for The Immigrant Story, an organization that documents and archives the stories of immigrants and refugees in the United States. The second session was conducted by Elizabeth Mehren and Sankar Raman. In the second session, the Aigners discuss their work educating the public about the Holocaust. They talk about the circumstances that led to the Holocaust, including the increasing antisemitism they experienced. They also talk about life in post-war Communist Hungary. Les Aigner describes his experience in Auschwitz, including the death of his mother and sister in the gas chambers; describes returning to Auschwitz on a recent trip; and his liberation from Dachau in 1945. Eva Aigner talks about living in the Jewish ghetto in Budapest, Hungary, her mother’s escape from the freight train taking her to a death camp; and the liberation of the ghetto in 1945. Eva Aigner also talks about another unnamed Holocaust survivor’s story. The Aigners describe life in post-war Communist Hungary, including food shortages during the 1956 revolution and their decision to flee. They describe escaping to Austria on Christmas Eve of 1956, immigrating to the United States, and settling in Portland, Oregon. They warn that the Holocaust could happen again, and discuss current political issues that alarm them. They talk about the jobs they worked in Portland, and Eva speaks at length about working as a cosmetologist. They close the interview by discussing the importance of sharing stories like theirs.

Aigner, Les (Leslie Gabor), 1929-

Oral history interview with Farhia Ibrahim [Sound Recording 01]

Session 1. This oral history interview with Farhia Ibrahim was conducted by Shea Seery and Sankar Raman on February 2, 2019. The interview was recorded for The Immigrant Story, an organization that documents and archives the stories of immigrants and refugees in the United States.

In this interview, Ibrahim discusses her early life in Somalia and in Egypt and speaks about her family's reasons for relocating to Egypt. She talks about life in Cairo, Egypt, and discusses her education, including learning Arabic, bullying she experienced, and transferring to a madrassa. She also talks about experiencing street harassment in Cairo. She shares her memories of the Arab Spring, talks about the process of applying for refugee status in the United States, and describes her living conditions in Egypt. She then discusses adjusting to life in the U.S., her experiences at an American high school, and learning English. She speaks about harassment she experienced for wearing a hijab. She then talks about studying at Portland Community College, about her experiences studying at Portland State University, and about the ethnic diversity of the student body. She closes the interview by sharing her plans for the future, by further describing instances of harassment she experienced for wearing a hijab, and by talking about her interest in photography.

Ibrahim, Farhia, 1995-

Oral history interview with Farooq Hassan [Sound Recording 01]

This oral history interview with Farooq Hassan was conducted by Sankar Raman on August 10, 2018. The interview was recorded for The Immigrant Story, an organization that documents and archives the stories of immigrants and refugees in the United States. In the first session of this interview, Hassan discusses his early life in Basra, Iraq, including the history and culture of Iraq before 1958, and his early art education. He then talks about studying art at universities in Baghdad, Iraq, and Rome, Italy. He discusses returning to Iraq in 1980 and his experience during the Iran-Iraq War. He describes some of the atrocities of Saddam Hussein and how he managed to evade the militias. He also talks about his marriage to fellow artist Haifa Al Habeeb. Hassan discusses his artwork, including his influences and methods, and his career after the end of the Iran-Iraq War. He also talks about designing stamps for the Iraqi government and giving some of his works to the Iraq Museum. He describes his life after the U.S. invasion of Iraq in 2003. Hassan and Sankar discuss an exhibition of Hassan’s artwork planned for later in 2018. Hassan talks about his reasons for immigrating to the United States in 2010, and discusses his daughter and her family.

Hassan, Farooq, 1939-

Results 1 to 28 of 117