Smithsonian Asian Pacific American History, Art, And Culture In 101 Objects, edited by Smithsonian Curator Theodore S. Gonzalves, is a captivating, beautifully woven, and vividly displayed anthology. The book gives readers a deeper understanding on what it is like to be Asian American Pacific Islander. It also gives a deeper understanding of the Asian American Movement that began shortly after the 1965 Immigration and Nationality Act.
The collection of artifacts in Gonzalves’ anthology are like a microcosm for the collective AAPI community: Different but similar in so many ways, with our histories overlapping one another. Just like the diverse AAPI community, each carefully chosen object in this anthology carries its own unique story about where it came from and how it came to be. However, when seen as a collective, common themes emerge, like tragedy, belonging, resistance and solidarity, and community. These themes are what connect us together.
Readers might experience what editor Gonzalves felt when he and a small group of curators, collections managers, and educators – all Smithsonian staff – diligently put together this book. “It’s a range,” he said. “…heavy, fun, inspiring, and sobering.”
Pictures of each object grab readers’ attention so closely because of their large size and color. It’s usually the first thing to notice when flipping each page. Objects range from artwork to historical figures, artifacts, memorabilia, clothing, comic books, and so on. Some objects, like fortune cookies, or the ukulele, or wok cooking pans are basically household names. But after reading their origin stories, seeing these images again takes on a new understanding.
When asked if he had any favorite objects, Gonzalves said that he gets asked about favorites a lot. As Smithsonian curator, he’s even personally collected about a handful of the items included in this book.
“If I were a private collector talking about what was in my gallery, I could probably give you an answer. But I’m a curator working on behalf of the public trust. The idea of picking a favorite feels strange to me. It’s an honor to help steward the objects that are under our care,” he said.
“I work with a talented group of scholars, researchers, curators, collections managers, conservators, and educators who are trying to advance our knowledge of Asian American and Pacific Islander history, art, and culture.”
For the book, Gonzalves had to whittle down the list of objects for this book from 1,200 to 101. He enlisted a team of 19 staff from 14 different Smithsonian Institution units – museums, centers, galleries, libraries, and archives. He had them nominate objects from SI’s collections and looked for overlaps and gaps, while making sure they accounted for a diversity of experiences, time periods, and geographic locales. Gonzalves wrote over half the stories included with each object.
“The themes aren’t interchangeable,” said Gonzalves. “…but I’m hoping that readers will be able to recognize how objects might fit into other categories. I invite readers to remix the collection as they see fit.”
Theodore S. Gonzalves is a Curator of Asian Pacific American History for the Smithsonian Institution, the world’s largest museum and research complex. A recipient of the US Fulbright Scholar award, he has a Ph.D. in Comparative Culture from the University of California, Irvine. Gonzalves’ research specialties are Comparative Cultural Studies, Asian Pacific American History, and Culture and the Performing Arts. Apart from being a scholar and curator, Gonzalves is also a renowned musician. He is currently on the board of directors for the American Council of Learned Societies.
