Historical Society of Long Beach

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Section 2 at the Remembering the Killing Fields Exhibit, Chicago

The Remembering the Killing Fields exhibit opened in 2011 and is a permanent exhibit at the National Cambodian Heritage Museum (formerly known as the Cambodian American Heritage Museum) in Chicago. The second section of the exhibit, “Destroying Society,” documents how the Khmer Rouge disrupted all normal daily activities (economic, religious, educational, medical, artistic, recreational, familial, and other activities), replacing them with forced labor that supported the Khmer Rouge’s agenda and projects. (Cambodian Association of Illinois)

Section 1 at the Remembering the Killing Fields Exhibit, Chicago

The Remembering the Killing Fields exhibit opened in 2011 and is a permanent exhibit at the National Cambodian Heritage Museum (formerly known as the Cambodian American Heritage Museum) in Chicago. The first section of the exhibit, “Clearing the Cities,” documents the Khmer Rouge take over of Cambodia, seizing Phnom Penh (the capital city) and forcing all urban residents into rural areas where they would be separated from families and forced into labor camps. (Cambodian Association of Illinois)

Rothary and Simone Dimang at their Donut Shop

Most American immigrant stories include finding success in one particular business niche with which the group becomes identified. For Cambodians, it has been doughnut shops. These kinds of small businesses worked well for Cambodians because they could be run by families and did not require extensive English language skills. Pictured is Rothary Dimang (center at the counter) at his shop on Pine Ave and Fourth St in Long Beach, CA, which he ran between 1983 and 1985. To the left is Simone, his wife. Behind him are other family members who helped in the shop.

Glory Buddhist Temple, Lowell, MA

Glory Buddhist Temple (Banlieu Buddha Cakra) at 24 Cambridge Street, Lowell, MA. The temple was founded in 1989 in the Cambodian community in Lowell. For more information, see its history at The Pluralism Project at Harvard University: https://pluralism.org/glory-buddhist-templebanlieu-buddha-cakra

Welcome to Cambodia Town, Lowell, MA

Welcome to Cambodia Town, Lowell, Mass, located at 21 Branch Street, in the center of the Cambodian community. The park contains a replica of the central tower at Bayon temple in the Angkor area of Cambodia. The welcome sign, set on an open lotus flower, is flanked by lions and two five-headed naga (snakes). For more information about Cambodia Town in Lowell, see their facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/CambodiaTownLowell/

Kry Lay at a SEAL Project Event

Kry Lay (standing) addressing members of the Long Beach Unified School District in 2002. First District City Councilwoman, Bonnie Lowenthal, is 4th from left. Next to Councilwoman Lowenthal is Judy Seal, daughter of Betty Seal who developed the South East Asian Learners (S.E.A.L.) Project to meet the educational needs of Cambodians who began arriving in Long Beach in 1975. Lay was instrumental in developing educational materials for the S.E.A.L. project.