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http://www.columbia.edu/itc/sipa/U6210/ik105/site.html
Offers a brief treatment of the history of
Korean immigration into the U.S., including factors for emigration
and immigration statistics. This website also includes a
chart of Korean immigration into the U.S. from 1903 to 1994,
compiled from the 1995 U.S. Immigration and Naturalization
Service, Annual Report.
A Korean-American Chronology
http://www.duke.edu/~myhan/kaf9808.html
A chronological timeline of Korean American history compiled
by students from the University of Massachusetts at Boston.
According to the website, the chronology "explores significant
social, political, economic, cultural, and professional milestones
in Korean American history." Moreover, the entries "describe
topics such as immigration, discriminatory legislation, the
world wars, the formation of activist organizations, and the
contributions Korean Americans have made to all aspects of
American society." It begins with 1864 and the supposed
birth date of Philip Jaisohn, the first Korean citizen of
America, and ends with 1994 and the first airing of Korean
American comedian Margaret Cho's television sitcom All American
Girl.
The dates are specific (i.e., include month
and date) when possible. The information is broad and therefore
tends to be unfocused-indeed, some of the information seems
rather random-but this website succeeds in being both brief
and comprehensive. As stated above, it includes historical
information on important events in Korea that relate to the
U.S., such as the Korean War and the 1988 Summer Olympics
in Seoul. The site also tends to focus more on the early history
of Korean America (early 1900's). The information from this
website is copied from the now-defunct bostonchinatown.com,
where the chronology was originally posted. The Asian American
Chronology is also cited as a source.
A Korean Century
http://www.hanahou.com/akoreancentury.htm
An article from Hana Hou: The Magainze of
Hawaiian Airlines which briefly details the history of Korean
America in honor of the Korean Centennial. The text highlights
specific accomplishments and events such as the 1903 voyage
of the SS Gaelic, the 1919 Declaration of Independence,
and Sammy Lee’s Olympic gold medal victory. A brief, well-written,
and mostly accurate article on Korean American history.
A Letter to My Grandson
http://www.kimsoft.com/2002/sunoo.htm
Minjok Tongshin Editor's Note: “Dr. Harold
Hak-won Sunoo wrote this letter to his grandson. Dr. Sunoo
tells of the history of Korean immigration to the United States,
of all the early immigrants struggles and hardships and efforts
and successes in paving the way for the Korean immigrant community
in America today. He highlights in particular the story of
Mr. Chang In-hwan and his assassination of Mr. Stevens, an
American diplomat who helped to orchestrate Japan’s
annexation of Korea. Dr. Sunoo teaches his grandson
to be proud to be Korean, to hold on to his roots, to live
proudly and freely in America, and to struggle
for independence and reunification of Korea
in the future.”
This website provides one of the most complete
and detailed depiction of the events surrounding Durham White
Stevens’ assassination and the subsequent trial of Chang In-hwan
that is available online. It includes quotes from Stevens,
Chang, and Chang’s accomplice Chun Myong-un, as well as quotes
from the American media. Perhaps the first and certainly
one of the most important acts of Korean American political
radicalism.
Aboard the Gaelic with David Deshler,
1902
http://www.koreancentennial.org/earlylife.htm
From <http://www.koreancentennial.org/earlylife.htm>:
“A brief letter written by David W. Deshler aboard the
S.S. Gaelic as it sailed from Korea to Yokohama December 30,
1902, with the first shipload of immigrants bound for Hawai'i.
From the Files of the Waialua Sugar Company, Hawaiian Sugar
Planters' Association Archives, Hamilton Library,
University of Hawai'i at Manoa.”
Ahn Chang Ho’s Lecture
http://www.kimsoft.com/war/r-3-1.htm
One audience member’s reaction to a speech
that Ahn Chang-Ho made on February 14, 1927 in Jirin, China.
The author counters Ahn’s self-reformative view of Korean
independence, and suggests that such beliefs are detrimental
to the Korean independence movement. The author clearly advocates
a more direct action approach towards Japanese occupation
and argues that adopting a non-violent, self-improvement stance
towards Korean independence is essentially the same as giving
up to the Japanese oppressors. Although these events transpire
in China and little is mentioned about Ahn’s efforts in America,
this website does present a clearer picture of Ahn’s political/spiritual/moral
views and the views that directly oppose them.
AsianWeek.com: Feature: Korean American
History
http://www.asianweek.com/2003_01_10/feature_timeline.html
This website offers a brief chronological
history of Koreans in America from 1864 to 2001. The writer
appears to have drawn off of the same source as the previous
website for her article. However, the text is easier to read
and the information is more focused than A Korean-American
Chronology, although both offer essentially the
same information. The events covered are similarly broad
and general, ranging from the 1864 birth of Philip Jaisohn
to the 2001 election of Harry Kim as one of the first Korean
American mayors. In short, this website offers a quick, easy
start to Korean American history, and I recommend looking
at this before A Korean-American Chronology.
“Do San” (Ahn Chang-Ho), 1878-1938, who
devoted his entire life to furthering the education of Korean
and its independence movement.
http://www.anctilsmartialarts.com/TaeKwonDo/Handbook/History/Do_San.htm
An article from the Korea Herald (January
28, 1976) that marks the life and accomplishments of Ahn Chang-Ho.
The text contains limited information on the years that Ahn
spent in the United States, and concentrates more on his efforts
in Korea and elsewhere.
Do-san is the third hyung of the Chang-Hon
School of Taekwondo
http://tkdtutor.com/10Patterns/03Dosan/DosanInfo.htm
This website discusses the efforts of Ahn
Chang-Ho in the fight against Japanese imperialism. The text
mostly focuses on Ahn’s work in Korea.
DOSAN: THE MAN AND HIS THOUGHT
http://www.gkn-la.net/dosan_resources/dosan8.htm
A comprehensive look at the life and political
and moral philosophy of Ahn Chang-Ho. Though there is a biographical
section to this text, much of the information concentrates
on the philosophy and ideology that Ahn often preached and
emphasized in his actions. This website also contains excerpts
and analysis of “To My Dear Comrades,” an open letter
that he sent to members of Heung Sa Dahn (Young Korean
Academy) in America, Mexcio, and Hawaii on July 7, 1921
Early Korean Immigrants to America: Their
Role in the Establishment of the Republic of Korea
http://www.ieas.or.kr/vol14_4/14_4_3.pdf
This lengthy, yet well-written and highly
informative article from the East Asian Review (Vol.
14, No. 4, Winter 2002, pp. 43-71) discusses the role of early
Korean American patriots such as Ahn Chang-Ho, and early Korean
American political/social organizations, such as the Korean
National Association, in the Korean nationalist/independence
movement. The article concludes with a synopsis of four different
visions for an independent Korea.
Era of Initial Immigration (1903-1945)
to New Wave of Immigration (1948-2000)
1. 7226 Pioneers
who crossed the Pacific Ocean
http://www.koreanfedusa.org/eng/article/img/1.htm
2. Arrival of
the Initial Immigration Ship on January 23, 1903
http://www.koreanfedusa.org/eng/article/img/2.htm
3. Arrival of
the 1056 Picture Brides
http://www.koreanfedusa.org/eng/article/img/3.htm
4. Establishment
of Initial Groups and Devotion on Children’s Education
http://www.koreanfedusa.org/eng/article/img/4.htm
5. Initial Church
of the immigrants and Their Religious Lives
http://www.koreanfedusa.org/eng/article/img/5.htm
6. 40 Years of
Independence Movements
http://www.koreanfedusa.org/eng/article/img/6.htm
7. Celebrating
100th Anniversary of Immigration to USA
http://www.koreanfedusa.org/eng/article/img/7.htm
Goals of KAH Website / The Korean National
Association as an Example
http://www.koreanamericanheritage.com/KorAmHistWEBupdated.pdf
Note: Scroll down to the heading “The
Korean National Association as an Example”
This website discusses the formation of the
Korean National Association (KNA) as a means of political
empowerment. The text cites the 1908 assassination of Durham
W. Stevens by Chang In Hwan and Chang Myung Woon as the rallying
cause for the collaboration of the Mutual Assistance Society
(Kongnip Hyop Hoe) of California and the United Korean
Society (Hanin Hapsong Hyop Hoe) of Hawaii, a collaboration
that eventually resulted in the formation of the KNA. Includes
pictures.
History of Korean and Japanese Immigration
http://web.hamline.edu/graduate/graded/degreeprogram/mat/diversityresources/
HTML%20word%20documents/asianamerican.htm
The first half of this text focuses on Korean
immigration patterns and who was immigrating from Korea during
which time period. The Oriental Exclusion Act of 1924 and
Immigration Act of 1965 are also cited as major developments
in the history of Korean American immigration.
The Independence Movement Activities of
Dosan in America
http://m1.aol.com/gknla/Dosan/dosan2.htm
A detailed, though somewhat confusing retelling
of Ahn Chang-Ho’s political efforts in Korean America. The
information focuses primarily on the role of the Korean National
Association and Heung Sa Dahn (Young Korean Academy)
in building a stronger Korean American community and fighting
for Korean independence.
THE KNA: The Founding of The Korean National
Association
http://www.koreanamericanheritage.com/kna.htm
A depiction of the events leading up to the
formation of the Korean National Association, perhaps the
most important and effective Korean American political organization.
The text points to the assassination of Durham White Stevens
and Rhee Syngman’s subsequent betrayal of the Korean American
community as the catalysts for the merging of Hanin Hapsong
Hyop Hoe (United Korean Society) and Kongnip
Hyop He into the Korean National Association.
Korean American Museum
http://www.kamuseum.org/community/base.htm
This well-designed website is easy to navigate
and includes small pictures. Its information on Korean American
history is divided into three waves of Korean immigration:
1904-1924, 1953-1967, and 1968-present, and focuses on Korean
immigration and living patterns.
This website contains a considerable amount
of political theory and insights, such as suggestions that
during World War II, “issues of racism were at the forefront
of the war against Nazism” which made "notions of
white superiority became less acceptable,” and that these
sentiments paved the way for the abolition of anti-Asian immigration
legislation.
Also includes information on Ahn Chang-Ho
and his early efforts to unite the Korean American community.
Additionally, this website touches upon the reasons for early
Korean immigration to the Untied States, including economic
and religious factors.
The section called “ORGANIZATIONS”
lists the various types of community organizations that are
common to Korean and Korean American communities. Additionally,
there is contact information for Los Angeles-based Korean
American community organizations.
The section called “DEMOGRAPHICS”
includes a number of graphs that provide statistical data
on Korean immigration patterns and information compiled in
the 1990 census. This is a great source for reliable statistics.
The section called “KA PIONEERS” includes
information on the Pioneer Generation, which is identified
as the generation of Korean Americans that are descended from
the first wave of Korean immigration (1903).
The Korean Americans in the War of Independence
http://www.kimsoft.com/2003/left-right04.htm
This website focuses on the efforts of Chang
In Whan, Park Yong-Man, Roh Baik Lin, Ahn Chang-Ho, and Rhee
Syngman in the fight for Korean independence.
[Korean Centennial 1903-2003]
http://www.koreancentennial.org/resources.htm
This website features a number of impressive
online documents pertaining to Korean immigration to Hawaii
in the early 1900’s and Koreans and Methodist Churches in
Hawaii. Most of the documents are actually lists of real
people. Though the information presented here is impressive,
it is perhaps best suited for individual family research projects
since it is so specific.
Passports Issued
to Koreans in Hawai'i, 1910-1924
http://www.koreancentennial.org/passport.pdf
From <http://www.koreancentennial.org/resources.htm>:
“List of passports issued to Koreans in Hawai’i
by the Japanese government, 1910-1924. Transcribed from records
in the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs.” 46
pages.
Korean Ministerial
Appointments to Hawaii Methodist Churches, 1906-2000
http://www.koreancentennial.org/methmin.PDF
From <http://www.koreancentennial.org/resources.htm>:
“A chronologically arranged list of Koreans appointed to
ministerial positions in Methodist churches in the Hawaiian
Islands from 1906 to 2000, compiled from the minutes of the
annual sessions of the Hawaii Mission of the Methodist Episcopal
Church (the present United Methodist Church).” 60 pages.
Early Membership
of Korean Methodist Churches in Hawai'i
http://www.koreancentennial.org/churchmm.pdf
From <http://www.koreancentennial.org/resources.htm>:
“Membership list of the early Korean Methodist churches
in Hawai'i transcribed from lists kept in the
superintendent's files at the Hawai'i District
Office of the United Methodist
Church.” 50 pages.
THE KOREAN CONNECTION
http://bchs.kearney.net/BTales_199705.html
This article centers on the Korean American
community in Kearney, Nebraska and the nearby towns of Hastings
and Lincoln. These towns became military training grounds
for Korean American youth, facilitated by Park Yong-Man.
The article also mentions Henry Chung, Rhee Syngman, and highlights
the accomplishments of several Korean men who were trained
in Nebraska.
Korean Immigration, Time Line
http://www.math.sunysb.edu/~gnewman/history.html
This is a very brief, sparsely detailed time
line of Korean immigration. The website divides Korean immigration
into four waves: 1903-1905, 1912-1924, 1924-1960’s, and 1965-present.
The text is hard to read, both because of the color scheme
and because of the brief, staccato nature of the text itself.
Since no sources are cited, I would be very hesitant to rely
on the information provided. I suggest using this as a supplementary
resource source, but do not read this before examining more
comprehensive and accurate Korean American history research
materials.
Korean Immigrants in America by
Dr. Harold Hakwon Sunoo
This is a comprehensive study detailing the
history of Korean immigrants in America. It claims to be
“the first oral history of the early Korean immigrants
in America” and relies on taped oral interviews with the
immigrants as the basis of the article. As a result, it focuses
on the personal experiences of the immigrants themselves.
Throughout the reading, one certainly begins to gain a better
understanding of the traditional Korean societal values that
dictated life in Korean America, such as Confucianism.
Moreover, there is constant reference throughout
the text to the sort of racial prejudice and discrimination
that early Korean immigrants faced in their daily lives.
There is also a recurrent theme of a strong faith in Christianity.
All of the interviews were conducted in the
mid-to-late 1970’s with immigrants who lived primarily in
Hawaii or on the West Coast during the early-to-mid 1900’s.
Chapter One:
INTRODUCTION
http://www.minjok.com/article/viewspecial.php3?catagory=minjok&code=596
The first chapter
includes a preface and introduction to the study, and describes
some of the motivations for immigrating to the United States.
It also touches upon the factors that drew Korean women immigrants
to America. Finally, Sunoo suggests that World War II and
the quest for liberation from Japanese imperialism united
and empowered the Korean American community unlike anything
we have seen since.
Chapter Two:
THE POLITICAL MOTIVATION
http://www.minjok.com/article/viewspecial.php3?catagory=minjok&code=593
This chapter provides
a detailed historical framework for the Korean nationalist
movement that attracted Korean immigrants to America. It
focuses on the time of Japanese occupation of Korea, and action
taken by Koreans against such oppression both in Korea and
in America. The text includes detailed descriptions of some
of the atrocities committed by the Japanese government in
Korea, as well as primary source material, such as quotes
from participants in the Korean independence movement. Finally,
this chapter describes the spiritual motivations that drove
the Korean independence movement.
Chapter Three:
SOCIAL MOTIVATIONS
http://www.minjok.com/article/viewspecial.php3?catagory=minjok&code=592
This chapter focuses
on some of the other reasons for Korean immigration to America,
besides Japanese imperialist oppression. It tells the stories
of three people, two females and one male, who immigrated
to America in the early 1900’s, their reasons for leaving
Korea, and their experiences and the hardships that they faced
in America. For all three, their reasons for leaving are
the same: a quest for personal freedom and liberation. The
text also includes mention of the Korean National Association,
which is described as essential to the immigrants’ transition
from one culture to another.
Chapter Four:
ECONOMIC MOTIVATION FOR THE IMMIGRANTS
http://www.minjok.com/article/viewspecial.php3?catagory=minjok&code=591
Of course, economic
factors were also one source of motivation for immigration
to America. This chapter describes the harsh economic conditions
in Korea that moved some to leave their homeland for a life
of further toil, hard work, and struggle in the United States.
Chapter Five:
THE MARRIAGE BY PICTURE
http://www.minjok.com/article/viewspecial.php3?catagory=minjok&code=590
More detailed information
and first-hand accounts of the hardships faced by Korean American
picture brides in the early to mid 1900’s. This chapter describes
the factors that drew Korean women to becoming picture brides,
and the living, work, and family conditions that greeted them
once they arrived on America’s shores.
Chapter Six:
THE MARRIAGE BY MATCHMAKERS
http://www.minjok.com/article/viewspecial.php3?catagory=minjok&code=589
This chapter describes
the traditional Korean custom of matchmaking, and how matchmaking
played an important role in early Korean America. The husband
in one of the couples interviewed is actually Ahn Young-ho,
the cousin of famous Korean American community leader Ahn
Chang-Ho. He describes the blatant discrimination that he
faced while living in America, such as not being served in
restaurants and barbershops. The other interviewee actually
first landed in Mexico, and thus, she describes the plight
of Koreans living in Mexico. She also discusses the role
of the Korean National Association in aiding Korean Mexicans.
Conditions in Mexico were so bad that the author writes that
“all Korean immigrants used to think America must be like
heaven.”
Chapter Seven:
EDUCATION FOR EARLY IMMIGRANTS
http://www.minjok.com/article/viewspecial.php3?catagory=minjok&code=588
This chapter details
the difficulties faced by Korean immigrants in seeking formal
education. It includes the story of Easurk Emsen Charr, who
actually wrote an autobiography of his experiences as a Korean
American immigrant (The Golden Mountain). The other
person interviewed is Dr. Henry de Young (Chung), a noted
Korean pioneer who was privy to a number of excellent educational
opportunities and eventually earned a Ph.D. in Political Science
from American University. He describes some of the work that
he did following the completion of his education, as well
as his relationship with Syngmann Rhee.
Chapter Eight:
THE EARLY IMMIGRANT FAMILY LIFE
http://www.minjok.com/article/viewspecial.php3?catagory=minjok&code=587
This chapter highlights
the problems that many early Korean immigrant families faced
in America. Much of these problems arose out of the Confucian
teachings that dictated traditional Korean family life. This
chapter also further explores the lives of picture brides
and ends with an interview with one Korean immigrant family
“success” story.
Chapter Nine:
POLITICAL GROUPS
http://www.minjok.com/article/viewspecial.php3?catagory=minjok&code=585
This chapter provides
in-depth information on the political realm of early Korean
America. In particular, it focuses on three organizations
led by two different Korean American patriots: the Korean
National Association (and the Korean Patriotic Women’s Association)
and Young Korean Academy (Heung Sa Dahn) led by Ahn
Chang-Ho, and Dongji-hoe led by Rhee Syngman. There
is also information on Park Yong-man and his military efforts
for Korean independence. Much of the chapter centers on Rhee
and the political strife that plagued Korean American politics.
Chapter Ten:
THE ROLE OF IMMIGRANT CHURCH
http://www.minjok.com/article/viewspecial.php3?catagory=minjok&code=584
The Christian church,
particularly the Methodist and Presbyterian churches, played
a major role in early Korean immigrant life and continues
to play a large role today. This chapter describes the factors
that contributed to the prominence of Christianity in Korean
America, such as the poor economic, social, political, and
psychological conditions that drew Korean Americans together
through organized religion, and highlights the important events
in the history of the Korean American church, such as the
establishment of the first Korean-owned Presbyterian Church.
There seems to be a strong underlying message that Christianity
was one of the keys to survival for many Korean American immigrants.
CONCLUDING REMARKS
http://www.minjok.com/article/viewspecial.php3?catagory=minjok&code=583
These final words
exude the qualities and successes of the early Korean American
immigrant population. It highlights the difficulties, hardships,
and discrimination that Korean Americans were forced to overcome.
The author emphasizes the devotion to community, family, and
children that these early immigrants held so strongly—a devotion
that he suggests seems to have been lost by later generations
of Korean Americans. This final chapter also describes the
slow and unconscious process of “Americanization” that the
early Korean American immigrants went through, and the effects
of this process on them now. The author leaves us with a
plea to draw strength, inspiration, and knowledge from the
experiences of the “Korean pioneers in America.”
Korean Passengers Arriving at Honolulu,
1903-1905
http://www.koreancentennial.org/passlist.pdf
From <http://www.koreancentennial.org/resources.htm>:
“List of Korean passengers arriving in Honolulu
from 1903 to 1905, transcribed from steamship passenger manifests.
This 137-page document lists 6,740 arriving passengers and
includes lists of the ships on which they traveled and a chronological
list of the voyages.”
Koreans in the United States, 1905
http://www.koreancentennial.org/earlylife3.htm
From <http://www.koreancentennial.org/earlylife3.htm>:
“A description of religious work among the Korean immigrants
in the United States written by the Reverend
George Heber Jones. From World-Wide Missions (June 1905):
6-7.”
Koreans in the United States, 1916
http://www.koreancentennial.org/earlylife4.htm
From
<http://www.koreancentennial.org/earlylife4.htm>:
“Text of a letter written by Earl K. Paik of San Francisco
April 14, 1916, broadly describing some of the activities
of Koreans in Hawai'i and the mainland United States. From
the Papers of William E. Griffis, Cornell University,
Ithaca, New York.”
LAC Korean American
http://www.msmc.la.edu/ccf/LAC.Korean.html
This website offers a very brief treatment
of Korean American immigration history. It begins with Korean
immigrant workers in Hawaii and tends to focus on the American
immigration legislation that dictated the course of Korean
immigration into the U.S. Most of the website is dedicated
to current living patterns and issues facing the Korean American
community.
One Night with the Koreans in Hawaii,
1903
http://www.koreancentennial.org/earlylife2.htm
From <http://www.koreancentennial.org/earlylife2.htm>:
“A description by S. F. Moore of a brief visit with Korean
plantation workers in Hawai'i in 1903, published in The Korea
Review, volume 3, number 12 (December 1903): 529-532.”
Oranges and Independence: Ahn Chang Ho
and Cornelius Earle Rumsey, an Early East-West Alliance in
Riverside, 1904-1911
http://www.ci.riverside.ca.us/museum/rmm/ahn.html
This website tells the story of the relationship
between Ahn Chang-Ho and Cornelius Earle Rumsey, who helped
Ahn form his Korean employment agency that would eventually
help many Korean American immigrants find jobs in the U.S.
The text also highlights some of Ahn’s important accomplishments
and details the lives of Koreans in Riverside, California,
where Rumsey lived and where Ahn arrived in March 1904 to
assist his countrymen and find a stable job.
Philip Ahn: Born in America
http://www.philipahn.com/pacessay.html
A lengthy and detailed biography of Philip
Ahn: the first American citizen born of Korean parents in
the United States (he was the son of famed Korean patriot,
Ahn Chang-ho), and the first known Korean American actor in
Hollywood. This website details his early life, including
his role in the Heung Sa Dahn (Young Korean Academy),
his inital foray into acting, the discrimination and difficulties
he faced on account of his ethnic background, the types of
roles that he generally accepted (such as Japanese villains),
and the films, television shows, public appearances, etc.
that he was a part of.
Who Was Rhee Syngman?
http://www.kimsoft.com/2000/rhee.htm
A damning, if not mostly true, portrayal
of the life and political contributions of Rhee Syngman.
The text provides information that disputes the often heroic
depictions of Rhee in most American information sources.
Whereas most resources on Rhee tend to gloss over his less-than-admirable
deeds as a leader of the Korean American community, this website
presents the uncensored story of Rhee’s political life of
deceit, corruption, and greed. My only hesitation with this
website is that it does not list its sources.
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