Immigrant Voices from America's "Forgotten Gateway" A Model for Civic Engagement

From Benjamin Franklin's tirades against German immigrants in the mid-18th century to the Chinese Exclusion Act in the 19th and the National Quota Act of the 20th, our nation has demonstrated a consistent history of tension over whom we collectively regard as "real Americans" and whom we will allow into this country. This article explores the challenges and rewards of rooting an historical museum exhibit on American immigration in community collaboration and dialogue between contemporary immigrants and immigrant descendants. Curator Suzanne Seriff discusses innovative strategies employed in an upcoming traveling exhibit on historical immigration through Galveston, Texas.