The Rhode Island Historical Society, in collaboration with the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History, will present a free talk on Wednesday, June 5, at 6 pm on the new book Smithsonian Asian Pacific American History, Art, and Culture in 101 Objects with curator and author Dr. Theodore Gonzalves.
Gonzalves invites guests to experience both well-known and untold stories through influential, controversial, and meaningful objects. He will explore complex history and shared experiences: navigation, intersections, labor, innovation, belonging, tragedy, resistance and solidarity, community, service, memory, and joy and engage with Asian-Pacific American issues, including the immigrant experience, the importance of media representation, what history gets officially documented vs. what does not, and so much more.
Dr. Theodore S. Gonzalves is a curator at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History. His areas of responsibility include the research, collection, and exhibition of the performing arts and Asian Pacific American histories. He previously served as director of the Smithsonian Asian Pacific American Center. A Fulbright Scholar with extensive teaching experience in the United States, Spain, and the Philippines, Dr. Gonzalves has also been awarded senior fellowships at the Smithsonian Institution, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and the Library of Congress. He was elected the 21st president of the Association for Asian American Studies in 2018, appointed to the Organization of American Historians' Distinguished Lectureship Program in 2023, and is currently a member of the board of directors of the American Council of Learned Societies.
The Rhode Island Historical Society, the state's oldest and only statewide historical organization, is dedicated to honoring, interpreting and sharing Rhode Island's past to enrich the present and inspire the future. Founded in 1822, the RIHS is an advocate for history as a means to develop empathy and 21st -century skills, using its historical materials and knowledge to explore topics of timeless relevance and public interest. As a Smithsonian Affiliate, it is dedicated to providing high-quality, accessible public programming and educational opportunities for all Rhode Islanders through its four sites: the John Brown House Museum, the Museum of Work & Culture, the Mary Elizabeth Robinson Research Center and the Aldrich House.
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