Oral History Project

Welcome to the Asian American Studies Program Oral History Project (OHP) at Cornell University. This project aims to gather, preserve, and share the stories of Asian and Asian American alums, faculty, and staff at Cornell. 

The Asian American Studies Program Oral History Project (OHP) at Cornell University aims to preserve the stories and history of Asian and Asian American alums, creating a valuable archive that connects past, present, and future generations. This project is significant because Cornell’s Asian American Studies Program (AASP) is the first in the Ivy League, yet much of its history remains unknown. By collecting these stories, the OHP ensures a more complete institutional record of the Asian American experience at Cornell. The stories matter because they offer current and future students a chance to learn from past experiences, helping the AASP grow and evolve.

 The OHP fosters connections between students and alums, highlighting the contributions of past generations and providing insights into the evolving student body and campus life. Led by Professor Derek Chang and supported by AASP students, alums, and community members, the project faces challenges like funding and participation but offers numerous benefits. These include fostering collaboration, making history accessible through digital technologies, and preserving essential perspectives on diversity at Cornell. Ultimately, the OHP helps create a deeper understanding of the Asian American experience in higher education, which can inform future practices and policies.

The stories featured here have been edited and curated from actual OHP interviews. They are presented here to highlight the kinds of narratives the OHP has been gathering. As new stories are developed, they will be added, stay tuned for more!

More stories to come, check back soon.

We invite Cornell alums, Cornell students, or anyone affiliated with Cornell University interested in participating in the Oral History Project (OHP) to contact us. If you are interested in sharing your story, conducting interviews, or assisting with research work, please get in touch with the OHP team to learn how to participate.

Contact: oralhistoryproject@cornell.edu

Please consider making a generous gift to the Oral History Project by donating to the Asian American Studies Program at Cornell University. Please mention “Oral History Project” in the “Other designation or special instructions” field when submitting your gift.