Evangeline (Vangie) Buell

Woman Warrior 2019

Civil Rights Activist, Historian, Musician

Vangie has been aptly described as a Renaissance woman – musician, author, human rights activist, community organizer, and historian. Her activism dates back to the 1960’s, when she was involved in the civil rights and anti-war movements. She made vital contributions to the Consumers Cooperative in Berkeley, from starting the Kiddie Korral child care center to raising money for Central Valley farmworkers.

In the 1980’s Vangie became the first public events coordinator at the International House at U.C. Berkeley, where she fostered and promoted cultural exchanges between international and American students, staff, scholars, heads of state, spiritual leaders, and the community at large. In the early 90’s, Vangie organized the East Bay chapter of the Filipino American National Historical Society. That group published Seven Card Stud with Seven Manang's Wild, co-edited by Vangie, the first anthology of stories of Filipino Americans in the Bay Area. She went on to write her memoir, Twenty-Five Chicken and Pig for a Bride: Growing Up in a Filipino Immigrant Family.

In her accomplished career as a folk singer and guitarist on stage, radio, and television, Vangie focused on songs of peace and promoted the understanding of ethnic traditions.At age 87, Vangie hasn’t slowed down. Now, at Piedmont Gardens senior housing, she continues to organize musical performances for its residents, and has assumed many leadership positions there.