NOW Live from the Smithsonian Asian Pacific American Center

The Smithsonian Asian Pacific American Program honors the passing of Francis Yoshito Sogi on November 3, 2011.  Born in 1923 in Lanihau, Hawaii, Mr. Sogi served with the Military Intelligence Service and the Counter Intelligence Corps during World War II, rising to the rank of Captain.  He earned degrees from the University of Hawaii and Fordham University.  Mr. Sogi was an international lawyer and a Life Partner of Kelley, Drye & Warren, and a recipient of the Order of the Sacred Treasure from the emperor of Japan.  Throughout his life, Mr. Sogi was a major leader in the Japanese American community. Through the Francis and Sarah Sogi Foundation, he contributed to causes that supported the canonization of the Japanese American experience in organizations such as the National Japanese American Memorial Foundation, the Japanese American Veterans Association, the Japanese American National Museum, and the Smithsonian Asian Pacific American Program.  We thank Mr. Sogi for his generous support throughout the years; America was made stronger by his service.

Franklin Fung Chow, a longtime volunteer, supporter, and docent of the Smithsonian Asian Pacific American Program passed away on November 9, 2011. After arriving in D.C. from San Francisco in 1971, he worked for the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), US Commission on Civil Rights, and other agencies where he helped to promote civil rights.  In his spare time, he promoted the local Asian Pacific American community through service to the Asian Pacific American Federal Employee Council (APAFEC), Asian American Arts and Media, and other groups devoted to the nascent identity, arts, civil rights, and heritage movements.  He also catered many events through his catering business, and founded Pau Hana Connection and other informal activities to create an informal “old boys’ network” for the APA community.  At the 2010 Smithsonian Folklife Festival, he was honored at the Asian Pacific American program for his outstanding contributions through an oral history of his life, which was featured on the Festival website. Franklin also served as a cook and storyteller on opening day.

Field interview of Franklin

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