Sticky post
Santa Clara County COVID-19 Financial Solidarity
As of March 1, 2021, this financial solidarity project has ended. Continue reading Santa Clara County COVID-19 Financial Solidarity
Sticky post
Signs of a Pandemic
In May 2020, in an effort to document the COVID-19 pandemic, we put out a public call with the following prompt: “What signs* have you noticed around San Jose during the shelter in place order? [*interpret ‘signs’ however you wish!].” These photographs represent the submissions we received. To submit a sign to this collection, email us your photo at submissions@archive408.com. Continue reading Signs of a Pandemic
Ly Tong’s Hunger Strike by José Villarreal
In November 2007, the San Jose City Council approved the naming of the prominent Vietnamese neighborhood of Story and McLaughlin Road in Eastside San Jose to “Saigon Business District.” This decision came without any community involvement and the name was pushed through by, then City Council member, Madison Nguyen. The Vietnamese community felt slighted when it came to this decision because they wanted their neighborhood … Continue reading Ly Tong’s Hunger Strike by José Villarreal
Mutual Aid 408: Learning, Listening, & Discussion Group
The purpose of this learning and discussion group is to grow our local knowledge about mutual aid, as well as our capacity to organize and participate in mutual aid efforts. It began in May 2020, in response to the needs surfaced in light of the COVID-19 pandemic. This effort is organized by Archive408, and open to anyone who is interested. To participate in the group … Continue reading Mutual Aid 408: Learning, Listening, & Discussion Group
San Jose Trans Oral History Project: An Interview with Felicia Elizondo
“My name is Felicia A. Elizondo. I’m also known as Felicia Flames. I am a transsexual woman—male to female. I am an activist, entertainer, a historian, a trailblazer, a Tenderloin queen, a pioneer, a legend, an icon, a diva, a 32-year survivor of AIDS, and a Vietnam War veteran.” Continue reading San Jose Trans Oral History Project: An Interview with Felicia Elizondo
Archiving a Pandemic
Public health crises are often marked by various kinds of data: red-dotted maps, pie charts, and line graphs. We tabulate the tests administered, the lives saved or lost, the points in the stock market, the beds and ventilators in local ICUs, the shortages of objects, the vital signs of those who fall ill. The few stories that become woven into history are often sensational, racist, … Continue reading Archiving a Pandemic
4 of 23: Applied Materials
To read an introduction to this series – 0 of 23: An Introduction To read the first piece in this series- 1, 2 and 3 of 23: The Triple Site On their website, Applied Materials has a timeline of relevant events dating back to the 1970’s, when they opened their headquarters in Santa Clara, California. In 2018 they were named one of the World’s Most … Continue reading 4 of 23: Applied Materials
re/un/dis covering: A Q&A with Michelle Lapitan
I was first diagnosed in 2000 when I was nine years old and, by the time I was thirteen, I had already experienced three relapses. I have very little of my own writing/documentation/etc. from that time, partly because I was young and partly because (I think) I felt that this was something I do not want to remember. Continue reading re/un/dis covering: A Q&A with Michelle Lapitan
Rule 32: Enjoy the Little Things [by Michelle Lapitan]
I think it’s funny how much can change in a year. Last summer, the stem cell transplant team at Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital at Stanford gave me three sheets of paper. Three sheets of paper held together by one staple. Continue reading Rule 32: Enjoy the Little Things [by Michelle Lapitan]
Investigating Bertha Boronda’s Mugshot Photograph
If you are a member of any San Jose History groups on social media, you doubtless have seen Bertha Boronda’s mugshot photograph. It is a marvelous and eerie portrait, captured on leap day in 1908, and likely a rare example of an inmate documenting a fellow inmate. Continue reading Investigating Bertha Boronda’s Mugshot Photograph
Archive408 