Source material

The laws, newspaper clippings, photographs, and footage gathered alongside the interviews, arranged in the order the story happened. Select any image to see it full size.

Exclusion, 1879-1924

For decades before the Korean War, American law kept Asian immigrants out. By 1924 almost no one from Asia could immigrate, and that included the Korean wives of American servicemen.

Harper's Weekly cover cartoon by Thomas Nast: a Black man walking away from a wall of Southern headlines beside a Chinese man walking away from a wall of Californian headlines — **“Political Assassinations,” Harper’s Weekly, September 13, 1879.** Thomas Nast. Library of Congress, Prints and Photographs Division

Engraving of a mob beating Chinese men and throwing their belongings from the windows of wooden buildings on a Denver street — **“The anti-Chinese riot in Denver, on October 31st,” Frank Leslie’s Illustrated Newspaper, November 20, 1880.** From a sketch by N. B. Wilkins. Via Wikimedia Commons

First page of the handwritten Chinese Exclusion Act, 1882 — **Chinese Exclusion Act, May 6, 1882.** National Archives

Engraving of armed white miners firing on Chinese miners who flee across open ground as buildings burn — **“The Massacre of the Chinese at Rock Springs, Wyoming,” Harper’s Weekly, September 26, 1885.** Library of Congress, Prints and Photographs Division

Poster headed The Chinese Must Go! announcing a mass meeting called by Mayor Weisbach at the Alpha Opera House — **“The Chinese Must Go!” Tacoma, 1885.** Washington State Historical Society. Via Wikimedia Commons

Color advertisement showing Uncle Sam kicking Chinese men off the edge of the country while holding a can of Magic Washer — **“The Chinese Must Go,” trade card, 1886.** Geo. Dee Magic Washer Co. Library of Congress, Prints and Photographs Division

Broadside headlined Hip! Hurrah! Chinese Excluded, calling Democrats to a rally at Horton House Plaza, ending No More Chinese! — **“Hip! Hurrah! Chinese Excluded,” rally poster, San Diego, 1888.** Democratic County Central Committee. Royal BC Museum, BC Archives, PDP03732

First page of the Immigration Act of 1924, H.R. 7995, stamped by the Department of State — **Immigration Act of 1924.** National Archives

World map of immigration quota areas under the 1924 act, with a hatched barred zone across most of Asia and a table of quotas by country — **Quota Areas, Immigration Act of 1924.** U.S. Department of State, Office of the Geographer, April 1940. National Archives

Newspaper page headlined America of the Melting Pot Comes to End, with two maps of Europe comparing immigration quotas — **“America of the Melting Pot Comes to End,” The New York Times, April 27, 1924.** Sen. David A. Reed. ProQuest Historical Newspapers

The war bride laws, 1945-1965

After World War II, Congress began letting servicemen bring their foreign wives home. For Asian wives each opening came separately, until the 1965 act ended the quota system and made family the center of immigration law.

Printed text of the War Brides Act, Public Law 271, December 28, 1945 — **War Brides Act, December 28, 1945.** U.S. Statutes at Large, 59 Stat. 659. govinfo.gov

First page of House Report No. 479, 80th Congress, May 28, 1947 — **House Report No. 479, May 28, 1947.** U.S. Congressional Serial Set. govinfo.gov

First page of Senate Report No. 501, 80th Congress, July 11, 1947 — **Senate Report No. 501, July 11, 1947.** U.S. Congressional Serial Set

Printed text of Public Law 213, July 22, 1947, amending the War Brides Act — **Public Law 213, July 22, 1947.** U.S. Statutes at Large, 61 Stat. 401

Printed first page of the Immigration and Nationality Act, Public Law 414, June 27, 1952 — **Immigration and Nationality Act, June 27, 1952.** U.S. Statutes at Large, 66 Stat. 163. govinfo.gov

Certificate of naturalization with a photograph and signature of an older Japanese man, Bunshiro Tazuma — **Bunshiro Tazuma’s certificate of naturalization, Seattle, June 21, 1954.** Tazuma Collection. Densho Digital Repository

First page of the enrolled Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965, H.R. 2580, stamped received by the White House — **Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965.** Public Law 89-236. National Archives

President Lyndon B. Johnson signs the immigration bill at a desk on Liberty Island, surrounded by officials, with the Manhattan skyline behind — **President Johnson signs the act at Liberty Island, October 3, 1965.** Yoichi Okamoto. National Archives, DocsTeach

Bar chart of the Korean American population by decade from 1940 to 2020, rising from 8,568 to 1,926,508, with growth peaking at 413 percent between 1970 and 1980 — **Korean American population, 1940-2020.** Taeku Lee, The Multiple Faces of the National Korean American Community (Council of Korean Americans, 2023), from U.S. Census data. ka.institute

Meeting in Korea

Most of the women met their husbands near U.S. bases in South Korea, during the war or after it. Many lived in or near the camptowns (기지촌, kijichon) that grew up around the bases, and the camptowns’ reputation was pinned on all of them, whether or not they had lived there.

American tanks fire down a Seoul street while a Korean family hurries down a stone stairway in the foreground — **Seoul, 1950.** David Douglas Duncan, LIFE. Via TIME

Tanks and Marines advance along a city street as smoke rises from burning buildings — **Street fighting in Seoul, September 1950.** David Douglas Duncan, LIFE. Via TIME

Korean and American men carry a wounded Marine in a helmet across rough ground — **Carrying a wounded Marine, Korea, 1950.** David Douglas Duncan, LIFE. Via TIME

A long column of Marines and vehicles moves along a snowy canyon road beneath a cliff — **The retreat from the Chosin Reservoir, December 1950.** David Douglas Duncan, LIFE. Via TIME

A Marine with a rifle walks down a mountain road past the bodies of fallen soldiers — **Marines pass their dead on the retreat from the Chosin Reservoir, December 1950.** David Douglas Duncan, LIFE. Via TIME

Marines in hooded winter gear and packs crowd together on a hillside — **Marines rest during the retreat from the Chosin Reservoir, December 1950.** David Douglas Duncan, LIFE. Via TIME

A Korean girl with her baby brother tied to her back stands in front of a stalled tank — **Haengju, June 9, 1951.** Maj. R. V. Spencer, U.S. Navy. National Archives

Portrait of a young Korean woman in a white top beside a smiling American soldier — **Ock Soon Lee and Frank Crimbchin, Korea, early 1950s.** Via KoreanAmericanStory.org, from Grace Jahng Lee, “Love Beyond Measure: Pega Crimbchin,” 2014 Oral history: Ock Soon Lee

A smiling young Korean woman in hanbok sits beside an American soldier with an Eighth Army patch, who holds their baby — **Park Yoo-sun, Ralph Smith, and their son, Charley, around 1952-53.** Family photograph. Via The Chosun Ilbo, September 3, 2025 Oral history: Charley Smith

A laughing young Korean woman holds up a mirror for a shirtless American soldier with shaving cream on his face — **The same couple in Korea, around 1952-53.** Family photograph. Via The Chosun Ilbo, September 3, 2025

A Korean woman holds a crying mixed-race toddler in front of a parked vehicle — **From The Mixed Names, 1963-65.** Joo Myung-duck. Courtesy of Museum Hanmi, via The Asia-Pacific Journal: Japan Focus

Two American soldiers walk down a street with two young Korean women beside a parked jeep — **Near a U.S. base, about 1965.** Green Bee Publishing. Via Blue Roof Politics

Two American soldiers walk down a dirt road with two Korean women who cover their faces from the camera — **Munsan, 1965.** Kuwabara Shisei, from Kankoku gen’ei. Via The Asia-Pacific Journal: Japan Focus

Arriving in America

When Yong Soon “Blue” Morgan, billed as the first Korean war bride, landed in Seattle on October 18, 1951, newspapers across the country ran the story. Most of the women who came after her got no coverage at all.

A smiling young Asian bride in a white dress, veil, and tiara sits at a dressing table — **A war bride on her wedding day.** TIAAPI History

The troop ship General LeRoy Eltinge in harbor, its decks crowded with soldiers — **The USNS *General LeRoy Eltinge* reaches Seattle, May 5, 1951.** U.S. Army. Harry S. Truman Library & Museum

Women in matching dresses wave from a bunting-draped stand as the Eltinge docks and officers walk along the pier — **Docking in Seattle, May 5, 1951.** Richard L. Woodcock, U.S. Army. Harry S. Truman Library & Museum

Newspaper story headlined Heroic Soldier's 'Prize' Is Bride: Sergeant Fights North, South Koreans to Win Her — **“Heroic Soldier’s ‘Prize’ Is Bride,” Spokesman-Review (Spokane), August 19, 1951.** North American Newspaper Alliance. Newspapers.com

Short newspaper article headlined First Korean War Bride Due Thursday — **“First Korean War Bride Due Thursday,” Bellingham Herald, October 17, 1951.** Associated Press. Newspapers.com

Newspaper column headlined Bremerton Soldier To Bring Back First Korean War Bride — **“Bremerton Soldier To Bring Back First Korean War Bride,” Daily Herald (Everett), October 17, 1951.** United Press. Newspapers.com

A young Korean woman holding a large bouquet walks down a ship's gangway beside an American sergeant carrying a bag — **Blue and Johnie Morgan arrive in Seattle, October 18, 1951.** Wayne Miller, LIFE. Via TIME

An older couple on a pier hold up a chalkboard sign reading Sgt. John M Morgan & Wife, Hello! Johnny & Blue — **Johnie’s parents on the pier.** Wayne Miller, LIFE. Via TIME

A woman kisses her soldier son while the young Korean bride, squeezed between them, smiles — **The welcome.** Wayne Miller, LIFE. Via TIME

Front-page photo of Yong Soon Morgan smiling between her husband and a banker, above the headline Tiny Korean War Bride 'So Happy' in America — **“Tiny Korean War Bride ‘So Happy’ in America,” Bremerton Sun, October 19, 1951.** Newspapers.com

Newspaper photo of Yong Soon Morgan holding roses as her husband's parents greet her, beside the headline Groom's Mom, Dad Hail Korean Bride — **“Groom’s Mom, Dad Hail Korean Bride,” Brooklyn Eagle, October 19, 1951.** United Press. Newspapers.com

Newspaper column headlined Bremerton G. I. Back With War Bride — **“Bremerton G. I. Back With War Bride,” Tacoma News Tribune, October 19, 1951.** Associated Press. Newspapers.com

Newspaper wirephoto of Yong Soon Morgan smiling with her husband and his parents, above the story Korea Bride Wrong About Her Welcome — **“New Horizons,” Tacoma News Tribune, October 20, 1951.** Associated Press. Newspapers.com

Two newspaper columns headlined First Korean War Bride Happy Now, beside a heating advertisement — **“First Korean War Bride Happy Now,” Bellingham Herald, October 21, 1951.** Associated Press. Newspapers.com

A young Korean woman in a cardigan sits by a window, looking to the side — **Blue Morgan in Seattle, 1951.** Wayne Miller, LIFE. Via TIME

A young Korean woman with her head bowed at a kitchen table with an American soldier and an older couple — **Blue Morgan at dinner with her husband’s family, 1951.** Attributed to Wayne Miller, LIFE. Via TIME

A smiling young Korean woman and an American man embrace, cheek to cheek — **Blue and Johnie Morgan, Seattle, 1951.** Wayne Miller, LIFE. Via TIME

A couple seen from behind at a railing, looking across dark water at city lights — **Blue and Johnie Morgan by the water, Seattle, 1951.** Wayne Miller, LIFE. Via TIME

After the welcome

Within a few years the coverage changed. Korean war brides still made the papers, but more often when something had gone wrong at home: a quarrel that ended with a gun, a fight over a child, a mother left alone with her daughters.

Short newspaper article headlined Korean War Bride Translates Letter for Local Veteran — **“Korean War Bride Translates Letter for Local Veteran,” Bremerton Sun, May 19, 1952.** Newspapers.com

Wirephoto of a smiling Korean woman and an American soldier each holding a baby twin — **“First Korean ‘War Twins,’” Spokesman-Review, August 18, 1952.** AP Wirephoto. Newspapers.com

Newspaper item headlined Korean Bride Off for England — **“Korean Bride Off for England,” Tacoma News Tribune, November 14, 1952.** Associated Press. Newspapers.com

Narrow newspaper column headlined War Bride Waves Gun at Hubby — **“War Bride Waves Gun at Hubby,” Tri-City Herald, December 4, 1953.** Newspapers.com

Short newspaper item headlined Camp Hanford GI Takes Baby to Portland, set across five columns — **“Camp Hanford GI Takes Baby to Portland,” Tri-City Herald, December 7, 1953.** Newspapers.com

Newspaper article headlined Korean War Bride Gets Daughter Back From Spouse — **“Korean War Bride Gets Daughter Back From Spouse,” Daily Herald (Everett), December 12, 1953.** United Press. Newspapers.com

Newspaper column headlined Direct Action Wins Return of Child — **“Direct Action Wins Return of Child,” Spokane Daily Chronicle, December 12, 1953.** United Press. Newspapers.com

Newspaper item headlined Korean Waif Is Welcomed by Wash. Family — **“Korean Waif Is Welcomed by Wash. Family,” Daily Herald (Everett), November 26, 1954.** United Press. Newspapers.com

Newspaper front page with an AP photo of a police officer handing a doll to a Korean mother and her two small daughters, headlined Deserted Korea War Bride, 2 Children Find New Life — **“Deserted Korea War Bride, 2 Children Find New Life,” December 1959.** Associated Press

Front-page story headlined Santa Brings Cheer To Abandoned Wife, Babes, with a photo of a policeman holding two small girls beside their mother — **“Santa Brings Cheer To Abandoned Wife, Babes,” Tacoma News Tribune, December 21, 1959.** Associated Press. Newspapers.com

Newspaper column headlined Frail Mother Hospitalized — **“Frail Mother Hospitalized,” Tacoma News Tribune, December 22, 1959.** Associated Press. Newspapers.com

Short newspaper item headlined Cut by Dish — **“Cut by Dish,” Tacoma News Tribune, February 12, 1963.** Newspapers.com

Newspaper photo of a soldier and his Korean wife standing over a registration table where a Red Cross volunteer sits — **“Bride School,” Columbus Ledger (Georgia), April 2, 1963.** Newspapers.com

Newspaper column headlined Woman Reported Assaulted — **“Woman Reported Assaulted,” Bremerton Sun, May 16, 1968.** Newspapers.com

The Korean Women’s Association

The Korean Women’s Association (KWA) began in 1972, when Hongja White started gathering Korean military wives near Fort Lewis in her Tacoma home and feeding them. Many were struggling with culture shock, language barriers, and abuse. By 1978 the association was running English and citizenship classes, counseling, job placement, and interpretation. It became a nonprofit in 1979 and today runs social services across Western Washington. Park Myung Rae, chair of its board, tells the association’s story in her oral history.

Korean women working at sewing machines in a room lined with shelves — **Early association members, undated.** Via World Korean News, September 15, 2023

Pink bilingual brochure panels titled Activities, Korean Library, and Korean Women's Association of Tacoma, with photographs of members — **KWA brochure, August 1978 (outside).** Korean Women’s Association of Tacoma

Pink brochure panels titled What is the K.W.A.?, How to Begin?, and Who are the K.W.A.?, with a group photograph — **KWA brochure, August 1978 (inside).** Korean Women’s Association of Tacoma

Newspaper page headlined Community organizations key to Asians' survival, with a portrait of Nam Hi Kim — **“Community organizations key to Asians’ survival,” The News Tribune, May 4, 1979.** Betty Anderson. Newspapers.com

Newspaper section headed On the Move, with a group photo of Korean women and the story Korean Women’s Association helps those in need — **“Korean Women’s Association helps those in need,” The Morning News Tribune, October 3, 1990.** Paid advertisement. Newspapers.com

Newspaper advertisement page headed Korea Town, with a photo of four people preparing food in a kitchen — **“KWA has social, health programs for Koreans,” The News Tribune, October 31, 1990.** Paid advertisement. Newspapers.com

About twenty women in brightly colored hanbok on a stage beneath a Korean and English banner dated June 26, 1992 — **Building-fund night, June 26, 1992.** Korean Women’s Association

Newspaper article with a portrait of a smiling Lea Armstrong beside her quote about immigrants — **“A world of services: Korean Women’s Association knows no boundaries,” The News Tribune, July 19, 1993.** Debby Abe; photograph by Geff Hinds. Newspapers.com

Newspaper columns headed Home care, continued from B1, and Women’s group excited to get a new director — **“Home care” and “Women’s group ‘excited’ to get a new director,” The News Tribune, February 27, 1995.** Newspapers.com

Newspaper clipping with a photo of three smiling women in hanbok under an Open House banner — **“Community group opens center,” The News Tribune, October 17, 2003.** David Wickert; photograph by Peter Haley. Clipping, Tacoma Public Library

Continuation of a newspaper story headed Center, continued from B1 — **“Community group opens center” (continued), The News Tribune, October 17, 2003.** David Wickert. Newspapers.com

Newspaper item headlined Fund-raiser to be held for women’s shelter — **“Fund-raiser to be held for women’s shelter,” The News Tribune, May 22, 2004.** Debbie Cafazzo. Newspapers.com

Newspaper section front headlined Shelter knows words to heal — **“Shelter knows words to heal,” The News Tribune, December 17, 2004.** Kris Sherman. Newspapers.com

Newspaper story headlined Citizenship test may become more difficult, with a Test yourself box of questions — **“Citizenship test may become more difficult,” The Herald (Everett), May 31, 2006.** Krista J. Kapralos. Newspapers.com

Newspaper sidebar headlined Culture, language key in aiding abuse victims — **“Culture, language key in aiding abuse victims,” The News Tribune, January 13, 2008.** Niki Sullivan. Newspapers.com

Newspaper story headlined Volunteers pick fruit to donate to hungry — **“Volunteers pick fruit to donate to hungry,” The Olympian, October 12, 2008.** Scott Fontaine. Newspapers.com

Newspaper page headlined A Voice for the Voiceless, with a photo of the KWA board in hanbok and a portrait of five founding members — **“A Voice for the Voiceless: KWA celebrates 40 years of service,” Tacoma Weekly, October 5, 2012.** Matt Nagle. Northwest Room, Tacoma Public Library

Newspaper page headed Top Contributors: Chong Dameron, with a portrait of a smiling Korean woman — **“Top Contributors: Chong Dameron,” Northwest Asian Weekly, November 21, 2015.** Andrew Kim. Clipping, Tacoma Public Library

Newspaper clipping headlined Korean Women’s Association Celebrates 45 Years of Service, with a photo of staff holding a Korean flag — **“Korean Women’s Association Celebrates 45 Years of Service,” Tacoma Weekly, June 2, 2017.** Jackie Fender; photograph courtesy of KWA. Clipping, Tacoma Public Library

Newspaper front page headlined New era for KWA, showing a crowd at a ribbon cutting outside a Korean Women's Association building — **“New Era for KWA: Korean Women’s Group Opens Supported Living Site,” Peninsula Daily News, December 29, 2017.** Jesse Major and Michael Dashiell; photograph by Michael Dashiell. Olympic Peninsula News Group

Newspaper commentary headlined Local nonprofit raises minimum wage to $15, hopes others will follow — **“Local nonprofit raises minimum wage to $15, hopes others will follow,” The News Tribune, December 30, 2018.** Matt Driscoll. Clipping, Tacoma Public Library

Tacoma Weekly front page headlined KWA Welcomes New Executive Director, with a portrait of a smiling woman — **“KWA Welcomes New Executive Director,” Tacoma Weekly, November 24, 2023.** Clipping, Tacoma Public Library

Newspaper page headlined Cover Story: KWA Celebrates Opening of Tahoma Place, with an image of a five-story apartment building — **“KWA Celebrates Opening of Tahoma Place,” Tacoma Weekly News, October 2, 2024.** Clipping, Tacoma Public Library

Newspaper page headlined KWA Caregiver Gives 32 Years of Service, with a photo of a woman in a plaid shirt before a We Serve All People sign — **“KWA Caregiver Gives 32 Years of Service,” Tacoma Weekly News, October 2, 2024.** Clipping, Tacoma Public Library

Newspaper page headlined Classes Resume at KWA’s Lifelong Learning Center, with a photo of a woman beside Korean calligraphy — **“Classes Resume at KWA’s Lifelong Learning Center,” Tacoma Weekly News, January 1, 2025.** Clipping, Tacoma Public Library

Magazine feature headlined The Difference One Person Can Make: the Sulja Warnick and KWA Story, with a portrait of a woman in a red hat — **“The Difference One Person Can Make: The Sulja Warnick and KWA Story,” Weekly Volcano, April 2025.** Angela Jossy. Clipping, Tacoma Public Library

About forty older Korean Americans in winter coats pose on the steps of a monument — **A KWA group outing.** Korean Women’s Association

Smiling Korean women in hairnets and KWA aprons flash peace signs behind trays of kimchi — **KWA volunteers making kimchi.** Via Joy Seattle (조이시애틀뉴스)

An outreach table with pamphlets and lanyards beside a Korean Women's Association banner for crime victim advocacy — **Crime victim advocacy outreach, 2020s.** Korean Women’s Association

A row of community leaders cut a ribbon in a large hall filled with exhibitor booths — **Ribbon cutting at a KWA community event.** Seattle Korean Daily (시애틀코리안데일리)

Older Korean women eating lunch from red trays at long tables, captioned 식사 시간 — **Lunch at a KWA senior meal site, July 2024.** Seattle Korean Daily (시애틀코리안데일리)

Older women stretching beside folding chairs on pink yoga mats, captioned 요가반 — **Yoga class at KWA’s Federal Way Senior Center, October 2024.** Seattle Korean Daily (시애틀코리안데일리)

A room of smiling seniors at round tables holding up rolls of paper towels — **Opening of the 2025 classes at KWA’s Federal Way Senior Center, January 2025.** Seattle Korean Daily (시애틀코리안데일리)

A backlit carved-wood map of Washington State's counties mounted on a wall — **Service-area map at KWA’s Tacoma headquarters, 2026.** Korean Women History Project

Brick office building marked KWA, We Serve All People, behind a street sign for the Korean Women's Association at 3625 Perkins Lane SW — **KWA headquarters, Tacoma, 2026.** Korean Women History Project

KWA’s “We Serve All People” sign, Tacoma headquarters, 2026. Korean Women History Project

Korean Tacoma

As Korean wives sponsored their families after 1965, a Korean business district grew up along South Tacoma Way in Tacoma and Lakewood. These clippings come from the Tacoma Public Library’s files on the city’s Korean community.

Newspaper editorial headlined Another first for Tacoma — **“Another first for Tacoma,” Tacoma News Tribune, May 16, 1976.** Editorial. Newspapers.com

Newspaper clipping headlined Teachers taste Korea’s best, with a photo of a girl dancing with a feathered fan — **“Teachers taste Korea’s best,” The News Tribune, November 18, 1979.** Betty Anderson. Clipping, Tacoma Public Library

Newspaper clipping headlined Tacoman’s directory aids state Korean community — **“Tacoman’s directory aids state Korean community,” The News Tribune, April 9, 1988.** Thad Martin. Clipping, Tacoma Public Library

Newspaper clipping headlined Koreans use gye to finance building ventures — **“Koreans use gye to finance building ventures,” The News Tribune, April 10, 1988.** Susan Gordon. Clipping, Tacoma Public Library

Newspaper clipping with a photo of a new shopping plaza beside the headline South Tacoma Way getting new look from ambitious Koreans — **“South Tacoma Way getting new look from ambitious Koreans,” The News Tribune, April 10, 1988.** Susan Gordon; photograph by Russ Carmack. Clipping, Tacoma Public Library

Newspaper clipping headlined 'Korea Town' signs to identify Tacoma enclave — **“‘Korea Town’ signs to identify Tacoma enclave,” The News Tribune, July 9, 1990.** Kim Severson. Clipping, Tacoma Public Library

Newspaper clipping headlined Building clout: Korean community builds clout in local political establishment — **“Building clout,” Tacoma City Paper, April 23, 1998.** Roger Valdez. Clipping, Tacoma Public Library

Newspaper clipping headlined Not all happy with 'Korean Town', with a photo of a street sign reading International Business District above Korean text — **“Not all happy with ‘Korean Town,’” The News Tribune, July 6, 2001.** Mina Vedder. Clipping, Tacoma Public Library

Newspaper clipping headlined Korean Americans find political voice — **“Korean Americans find political voice,” The News Tribune, March 28, 2004.** Angie Leventis. Clipping, Tacoma Public Library

Newspaper page headlined Korean Culture in Tacoma's backyard, with a photo of four women in hanbok at a tea table — **“Korean Culture in Tacoma’s backyard,” Tacoma Weekly, August 16, 2007.** Clare Jensen; photograph courtesy of Patsy Surh O’Connell. Clipping, Tacoma Public Library

Newspaper page headlined We thank you, United States. Pray for Korea, with a photo of children in hanbok singing and waving an American flag — **“‘We thank you, United States. Pray for Korea,’” The Senior Scene, November 2017.** Clipping, Tacoma Public Library

Newspaper page headed Top Contributor: Da-Hyang Kwon, A National Treasure, with a portrait of a woman in hanbok — **“Top Contributor: Da-Hyang Kwon, A National Treasure,” Northwest Asian Weekly, November 24, 2018.** Carolyn Bick. Clipping, Tacoma Public Library

Documentary

Documentary by William Yoon. William Yoon

Secondary footage

What was the impact of the Chinese Exclusion Act? American Experience, PBS, 2018

Review of the Year 1950, Record B. British Pathé, film ID 1510.03

Korean War Bride Ock Soon Lee Saved from Slavery. Real Life, Cornerstone Television Network, May 18, 2014 Oral history: Ock Soon Lee

KBS documentary on the Korean Women’s Association, 2007. KBS. Posted by KWA TV with us

KWA Community Expo, 2025. KBS WATV / Seattle, November 2025

The homecoming of KWA founder Hong Ja White, 2026. KBS WATV / Seattle, August 2026. Posted by KWA TV with us

Documents & further reading

Books and articles

Beyond the Shadow of Camptown: Korean Military Brides in America Ji-Yeon Yuh, New York University Press, 2002
Diaspora of Camptown: The Forgotten War’s Monstrous Family Grace M. Cho, Women’s Studies Quarterly 34, no. 1/2 (2006): 309-331
Korean Military Brides in New York Amy Lee and Joseph Tse-Hei Lee, Inter-Asia Cultural Studies 8, no. 3 (2007): 458-465
Vulnerability, Resilience and Well-being of Intermarriage: An Ethnographic Approach to Korean Women Jang-ae Yang and Kyoung-ho Shin, Journal of International Women’s Studies 10, no. 2 (2008)
The Pattern of American Society: Treatment of Korean War Brides in the United States Following the Korean War Tatiana Moore, Undergraduate Research Journal (University of Nebraska at Kearney) 24 (2020)
Red Lights, White Hope: Race, Gender, and U.S. Camptown Prostitution in South Korea Julie Kim, senior thesis, Claremont McKenna College, 2017
Dr. Ji-Yeon Yuh interview Crossing East, 2006
America’s First Korean War Bride Comes Home TIME, 2014
Yoo-sun and Ralph (유선과 랄프) Charley Smith, Positive Thinking (좋은생각), Seoul, 2026 Oral history: Charley Smith

Newspaper coverage

“New Horizons: Pretty Yong Soon Morgan, 23, First Korean War Bride to Arrive in the U.S. Through Seattle” Progress-Bulletin, October 19, 1951. Newspapers.com
“Creating a Legacy of Kindness” Kathleen Merryman, The News Tribune (Tacoma). Newspapers.com

Collections

Sulja Warnick Papers Community Archives Center, Tacoma Public Library
KWA: 50 Years of Helping the Community Northwest Room, Tacoma Public Library

Rights and permissions

Government records here are in the public domain. Other photographs and clippings are reproduced for education, credited to the photographers, publications, and archives that hold them. If you hold the rights to an item and would like it credited differently or removed, or would like to request use of an item, please contact the project.