How Can You Forget Me: Filipino American Stories

How Can You Forget Me: Filipino American Stories examines the overlooked history and lasting influence of a Filipino American community in Stockton, California. The exhibition follows the experiences of migrant laborers who settled there from the 1910s through the 1970s, when Stockton was home to one of the largest Filipino populations outside the Philippines.

The exhibition is built around twenty-six steamer trunks discovered in 2005. Preserved by Legionarios del Trabajo, a Filipino American fraternal organization, the trunks and their contents provide a personal record of community life. More than 50 artifacts are included, with three of the trunks displayed in the gallery.

When: November 20, 2025–November 28, 2027

Venue: Smithsonian National Museum of American History

Presented by: Smithsonian Asian Pacific American Center

Exhibition focus: Filipino American migration, labor, community, and history in Stockton, California, from the 1910s through the 1970s

Featured materials: Twenty-six historic steamer trunks and their contents, including more than 50 artifacts; three trunks are displayed in the gallery

Preservation: The trunks and materials were preserved by Legionarios del Trabajo, a fraternal organization

Curator: Sam Vong of the National Museum of American History, with support from curatorial assistant Ethan P. Johanson

Conservation: The Smithsonian’s Museum Conservation Institute provided staff expertise along with storage and conservation services for loaned objects

Gallery design: TSKP x IKD

Program context: The exhibition is the Smithsonian Asian Pacific American Center’s signature program for the Institution’s semiquincentennial celebration, “Our Shared Future: 250”

Tours: Tour bookings are available for students, community members, and professional groups

Tickets: Price not available