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Events Coincide with AAPI Heritage Month 

The Office of Cultural Education is proud to announce a series of free public programs celebrating the rich history, enduring legacy, and extraordinary contributions of Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) communities in New York State. These events honor the rich and resilient journey of AAPI individuals and communities—recognizing not only the challenges they’ve overcome, but also their remarkable achievements, vibrant cultures, and enduring contributions that continue to shape and enrich our state. 

As part of this celebration, visitors to the New York State Museum are invited to explore the Tuck High Co. Chinatown Store, an ongoing exhibition in Metropolis Hall. This exhibit highlights the story of Tuck High, a family-operated business that served as a vital hub for Chinese immigrants in New York City’s Chinatown for more than 100 years. Providing daily necessities and fostering community, Tuck High played an essential role for Chinese immigrants navigating life in a new country. When it closed in 1980, it was the oldest continuously operating store in the neighborhood. 

Interim Deputy Commissioner for Cultural Education, Michael Mastroianni said,  “AAPI Heritage Month gives us an invaluable moment to shine a light on the resilience, ingenuity, and vibrant spirit of Asian American and Pacific Islander New Yorkers. From family-run shops like Tuck High Co. to trailblazing pilots and community champions, each story reminds us that adversity sparks innovation—and that these voices are integral threads in New York’s tapestry. We’re honored to bring these narratives to life, ensuring they inspire and resonate for generations to come.” 

Film Screening: Asian Americans – Breaking Ground
Date: Tuesday, May 6
Time: 12:00 pm
Location: New York State Museum, Huxley Theater 

Kick off our month of weekly screenings with Breaking Ground, the first episode in the acclaimed PBS/WETA documentary series Asian Americans. This episode explores the arrival of immigrants from across Asia and their early struggles in America, highlighting the groundbreaking roles they played in shaping the nation—despite exclusionary laws and widespread discrimination. 

Event: Museum of Chinese in America and New York State Archives Magazine: Chinese American Pioneers
Date: Thursday, May 8  
Time: 2:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. 
Location: Museum of Chinese in America, 215 Centre Street, New York, NY 10013 

In collaboration with the Museum of Chinese in America (MOCA), the New York Archives Magazine presents a panel discussion honoring pioneers Theodora Chan Wang and Virginia Kee—trailblazers in education and politics. The event includes a guided tour. A recording will be available the following week, and their stories are featured in the spring issue of New York Archives Magazine. 

Webinar: American Flygirl
Date: Friday, May 16  
Time: 12:00 p.m. 
Location: Register on the New York State Library’s Website 

Despite being the first Asian American woman to earn a pilot’s license and fight for this country, the inspiring story of Hazel Ying Lee is largely unknown. This webinar will focus on American Flygirl (Kensington 2024), the only book dedicated to the Asian American female aviator. Hazel lived in America at a time when she was subjected to unjust discrimination and the discussion will explore her courage and ongoing legacy. 

Film Screening: Asian Americans – A Question of Loyalty 
Date: Tuesday, May 13  
Time: 12:00 p.m. 
Location: New York State Museum, Huxley Theater 

Join us for the second part of the acclaimed WETA for PBS series Asian Americans. In this episode, an American-born generation is torn between their country of birth and their parents’ homelands in Japan and Korea. Those loyalties are tested during World War II, when families are imprisoned in detention camps, and brothers find themselves on opposite sides of the battle lines.  

Film Screening: Asian Americans – Good Americans
Date: Tuesday, May 20
Time: 2:00 p.m.
Location: New York State Museum, Huxley Theater 

Join us for the third part of the WETA for PBS series Asian Americans explores the Cold War years, when Asian Americans are simultaneously heralded as a “Model Minority” and targeted as the perpetual foreigner. This episode also highlights the emergence of Asian Americans on the national political stage. 

Event: BrainFood: Stories from the Collections – Celebrating AAPI Heritage Month
Date: Wednesday, May 21  
Time: 12:00 p.m. 
Location: Huxley Theater 

This special BrainFood lunchtime lecture will feature short presentations from across the Office of Cultural Education, showcasing selected items from our collections that reflect the voices, histories, and contributions of AAPI individuals and communities. A brief Q&A session will follow the presentations. 

Event: Lanterns of Chinatown – A Family Crafting Experience 
Date: Sunday, May 25  
Time: 1:00 p.m. 
Location: New York State Museum, Metropolis Hall 

Explore the legacy of Tuck High Co. and discover how it supported generations of Chinese immigrants. Then, tap into your creativity as you design and craft your own lantern to take home. Whether you're wishing for good luck, prosperity, or simply a brighter future, this program is a fun, interactive way to celebrate the history, culture, and artistry of Chinatown. Perfect for families of all ages! 

Film Screening: Asian Americans – Generation Rising and Breaking Through
Date: Tuesday, May 27  
Time: 12:00 p.m. 
Location: New York State Museum, Huxley Theater 

Join us for the fourth and fifth parts of the WETA for PBS series with a double screening of the final episodes in the Asian Americans docu-series. During a time of war and social tumult, a young generation claims a new identity: Asian Americans. The war’s aftermath brings new immigrants and refugees who expand the population and the definition of Asian American. 

About the Cultural Education Center

Established in 1836, the New York State Museum is the oldest and largest public museum in the United States. Home to leading scientists, historians, archeologists, and anthropologists, its collections represent the State’s rich cultural and natural heritage from the past and present, including a staggering 20+ million artifacts spanning 1.1 billion years ago to today. Located at 222 Madison Avenue in Albany, the Museum is open Tuesday through Sunday from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. It is closed on the Fourth of July, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's Day. Admission is free. For additional information, visit the  New York State Museum website and subscribe to our newsletter. 

The New York State Library, established in 1818, is the largest state library system in the nation and one of the largest research libraries in North America. It oversees a vast network of more than 7,000 libraries statewide. Collections are made available onsite and through a robust interlibrary loan program. The Library’s mission is advanced through several key divisions, including the Research Library, which houses a collection of over 20 million items, the Talking Book and Braille Library, and the Division of Library Development. The Library preserves and maintains invaluable historical collections and works, and serves as a Regional Depository for federal publications. Additionally, the State Library is the official repository of New York State government publications, ensuring their enduring preservation and accessibility for future generations. For more information, please visit the New York State Library website and subscribe to our monthly newsletter.  

The New York State Archives holds many of the oldest and most important archival treasures in the nation. The Archives preserves and makes accessible over 270 million records of New York’s State and colonial governments dating from 1630 to the present. The State Archives provides free access to photographs, artifacts, documents, manuscripts, and other materials that tell the story of New York’s history via its Digital Collections on the Archives website.      

The Archives Partnership Trust was founded in 1992 to build an endowment and provide project support to enhance humanities programs, increase access to these outstanding treasures, and continue the preservation of New York's historical records. Since its founding, the Partnership Trust, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, has supported exceptional projects and programs. These include the Research Residency Program, the Student Research Awards Program, history conferences, special exhibitions, public education programs, book signings and lectures, publications, teacher training institutes, preservation projects, and more.     

The State Museum, State Library, and State Archives are programs of the New York State Education Department’s Office of Cultural Education. Further information about programs and events can be obtained by calling (518) 474-5877 or by visiting the Office of Cultural Education website.    

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