Oral history interview with Tacoma resident Sulja Warnick conducted by dindria barrow on April 6, 2023. In this interview, Sulja shares some of her life’s work as a public school teacher in the Tacoma Public Schools and with the Korean Women’s Association (KWA). Her journey is one of many places and many connections. The success she co-created has spanned countries and served thousands of people. For example, KWA started as a small social club for Korean women and has expanded to a non-profit organization that provides education, affordable housing, in-home care for seniors, and social services, including domestic violence counseling. KWA has offices in 14 Western Washington counties, serving up to 150,000 people of 40 nationalities and 35 language groups. The organization is now 51 years old. Please enjoy Sulja’s oral history interview as well as her collection of images and documents covering her life and the life of KWA.
A child sleeps at Sea-Tac Airport after an 11-hour flight from Hong Kong. They were among 300 refugees who had arrived in early June 1979 at Sea-Tac Airport.
Back of Photo: --New Life-- A plastic bathtub is something new to Vietnamese refugees Long Vo and his wife, Lahn, both 21, who arrived in Wenatchee last month. They are starting a new life with their 2-year-old daughter, Tien, and infant son.
Back of Photo: --Statue of Love and Gratitude-- Sai Dinh Nguyen works on a statue of love and gratitude that he and Khuyen Van Hoang molded from 1,200 pounds of concrete. It isn't known yet where the statue will be placed, though some consideration has been given to moving it to a community center at Bayview, WA.
Son Deth, a Cambodian refugee, with two of her nine children. Son Deth moved with her family to Pierce County in 1975 and was sponsored by the Christ Lutheran Church of Lakewood.
Back of Photo: Peter Kim drinks his Sake while talking with James Jee (L) and his sister Joanne Jee (R). The three are from Vancouver B.C. and think the Torch Light is one of the best Korean nightclubs in the northwest. Story by Dorian Smith Photo by Bill Hunter
Back of Photo: The Chang family watches some of the Olympics in their Puyallup home. They are from Korea, now American residents (citizens). L to R: Chase, Carol, Oak (mother) and Soo Nam. Story by Voelpel Photo by Peter Haley
Back of Photo: Miss Nan Yung Chung sings Top 40 hits in English and Korean at the Torch Light, a Korean nightclub on South Tacoma Way. Story by Dorian Smith Photo by Bill Hunter
Back of Photo: Yon H. Hecker fed lunch to her sister's children in the tent outside the plant of Path Enterprises during the continued labor problems Tuesday. Both Mrs. Hecker and her sister work at the plant. The boys are 8-year-old Joseph Campbell (in center) and 5-year-old Jim Campbell, (on right). Kellman Photo
Back of Photo: News Southeast Asians on the Radio --- These three people are counselors at the Indochinese Cultural and Service Center in Tacoma. They each take a turn hosting the Sunday morning radio program on KPTS -- each in the native language. From left: Phet Vongvanith, Phan Pham, and Sopheap Keo. Martin - Story Bruce Kellman - Photo
Back of Photo: --BJ's Bingo, new Indian gambling rules. Lazara Gallardo, 90, of Tacoma plays bingo at BJ's Bingo Hall Friday. Her granddaughter, Lamar Abalahin, 22, of Tacoma is sitting behind her. They were playing in hopes of winning one of the six Yugos given away at BJ's. The winner of the car was Lazara's daughter! (Juanita A. Pastor, winner) Photo by Susie Post
Back of Photo: From: Executive Order 9066: 50 Years Before-50 Years After Chiyoko Shiromura and Family Courtesy of the Wing Luke Asian Museum Seattle, WA
Back of Photo: Trang Nguyen (16), Thuy Le (14) who both attend Stadium H.S. and have been in the US for only 3 months and Betty Thach (16) who attends Clover Park H.S. and has been here for 2 and a half years, are all Amerasian children, they watch the city skyline pass by as the Sea Explorer boat Charles Curtis, a 80 foot wooden hull boat built in 1931 slips out of city waterway. Tacoma has been designated as one of about 50 cluster sites across the US. A program has been scheduled to welcome the Amerasian youth and their families, after lunch a boat cruise of Commencement Bay, courtesy of the Sea Explorers, a branch of the Boy Scouts of America.
Back of Photo: Cultural Fair sponsored by South Puget Sound Adoptive Parents. As part of a cultural fair to educate children and adults about different cultures Jennifer Yoon, 24, left and Angela Synn, 13, right performed some traditional Korean dances including fan and basket dancing.
Back of Photo: --Learning to Wok-- Merinda Chiu, 7 months, watches her mother, Nancy Chiu, prepare a meal at her restaurant, C&C Chinese Garden, in Spokane on Monday. Chiu says her daughter loves to watch her cook.
Back of Photo: Tuyet Mazziotta feeds her 14-month-old daughter during a visit to the Luner New Year Festival celebration in the Kingdome Saturday. This is the beginning of the year of the horse. It's two days of food, music, booths, and combines many groups of differing Asian backgrounds including Vietnamese, Cambodian, Chinese, Thai et cetera. The traditional dragon dance can still be seen tomorrow afternoon after 4 pm in Chinatown in S. Seattle.
