Kaimal Family on University of Washington's Campus
Photograph taken on the University of Washington's campus, Padma is three. The Kaimal's lived nearby in a one bedroom apartment in a private house. Lorraine sewed the coats that she and Padma are wearing. Her mother had been a "stitcher" aka seamstress in a factory in Boston.
Kaimal Family Photograph
Showing Lorraine a family album on the porch at Ampang House, the family home in Kottayam.
Lorraine, Padma (behind), Kamala (sister in law), Mini (Kamala's daughter); adult woman on right unknown.
J.C. Kaimal Portrait
In 1961 J.C. Kaimal was hired by the Department of Defense to work in meteorological research. The field of meteorology had been war focused up to this time, but large amounts of money began to be directed into research under President Kennedy. J.C. Kaimal's work was part of the new focus on science.
Family Portrait at Ampang House
"Lorraine and Padma's first visit to India. The three of them took a flight chartered by Indian university students out of Detroit which took six hops to get to Bombay. It was not a new plane, and it never made the trip back because the student organization couldn't afford the fuel for the return flight. They had to borrow money from a friend to get home on SwissAir.
Photograph of the Kaimal's Christmas Celebration
"[The Kaimal's] Enjoying the Christmas tree in their Seattle apartment. Note the television in the background. They were able to buy their first TV set with the tax rebate check they received for having a dependent (Padma). It was exactly enough money to purchase at black and white TV." --Maya Kaimal
Photograph of K.N. Kaimal and Prime Minister Nehru
"Nehru is awarding a prize to my grandfather at an industrial fair in New Delhi. My grandfather's exhibit was about rubber cultivation. Note the code-switching by my grandfather as he moves from a namaste greeting to a western-style handshake." --Maya Kaimal
Photograph of J.C. Kaimal and Family on a Boat
J.C. Kaimal, wife Lorraine, daughter Padma, and other Indian students were invited by Elizabeth Bayley Willis, an Indian textile scholar, who enjoyed inviting Indians to her home on Bainbridge Island.
