Tag Archives: Asian American

Grannies on the Red Carpet, 2024

It’s not every day that older women can steal the show on the red carpet.  However, that was the case recently when Chang Li Hua and Yi Yan Fuei showed up in Hollywood dressed in custom Rodarte.  Vogue even took … Continue reading

Posted in 2020s | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

Hearts on their Sleeves–The Terno in Los Angeles

In what contexts do immigrants wear their native dress?  For Filipina women, the most distinctive item of clothing is the terno—a dress or set of matching separates with a much extended, wing-like upper sleeve, as seen in the picture above. … Continue reading

Posted in 1960s, 1970s, 1980s, 2020s | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Anna May Wong, Aging

By now, everyone must have heard that Chinese American actress Anna May Wong has earned a place on American quarters.  Key elements of her famous look, including the bangs and high eyebrows, remained with her as she aged.  The photo … Continue reading

Posted in 1920s, 1930s, 1940s, 1950s, 1960s, General | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

A Studio Portrait, 1962

This portrait looks quite old fashioned, but it was made in the early 1960s by the Ninomayo Photography Studio in Los Angeles.  Located in Los Angeles’s Japan Town, this Japanese American business began in the 1920s and shut down during … Continue reading

Posted in 1960s | Tagged , , | 2 Comments

Tanaka Designing and Tailoring School, 1925

Although the banner in the background mentions ladies and gents, I see only women and children here. I suppose the students were making both women’s and men’s clothing. The photo possibly depicts some kind of open house or graduation ceremony.  … Continue reading

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Four Women, Four Styles

This photo is from a large collection collected by the Hur and Hahn families. It features Frances Hur, who I believe is second from right, and a group of friends. Unfortunately, the photos are not as well documented as one … Continue reading

Posted in 1940s | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Christmas in Minidoka, 1943

When Japanese Americans were removed from their homes by presidential order in 1942, they were sent to a number of concentration camps for the duration of World War Two.  One was Minidoka, located near the town of Hunt, Idaho.  Taken … Continue reading

Posted in 1940s | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment

The Journey to Internment

Calisphere has a large collection of photos by Dorothea Lange documenting the round up and deportation of Japanese Americans during the Second World War.  The most heart wrenching show individuals and families waiting for transport, many with confused and dazed … Continue reading

Posted in 1940s | Tagged , , , | 5 Comments

A Chinese Women’s Club Celebration, 1951

These Chinese-American women are celebrating the Dragon Boat Festival according to the Los Angeles Times. If you look carefully (or go to the original site and enlarge the photo) you can see a dragon boat center piece on the table. … Continue reading

Posted in 1950s | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

International Women’s Day in Stockton, California

When I searched for International Women’s Day on the Digital Public Library site, I found mainly images from abroad.  Even though the holiday began in the United States, historically it has not received that much coverage here (although Google is … Continue reading

Posted in 1970s | Tagged , , , | 4 Comments