License & Attribution

Last updated: February 11, 2026

This page explains how to properly cite and use content from the Souvannavong Family Historical Archive.

How to Cite This Archive

When referencing historical information from this website in your research, publications, or educational materials, please use the following citation format:

Preferred Citation Format

"[Specific fact or quote]" - The Souvannavong Family Historical Archive
(https://souvannavong.family), compiled by Brian Saycocie

Example Citations

General reference:

Historical content sourced from the Souvannavong Family Archive
(https://souvannavong.family)

Specific page reference:

"Outhong Souvannavong served as Ambassador to Japan from approximately
1960-1964 and accompanied King Savang Vatthana on his 1970 state visit
to Japan." - The Souvannavong Family Historical Archive
(https://souvannavong.family/sections/ambassador-to-japan/)

Academic citation (MLA style):

Saycocie, Brian, compiler. "Ambassador to Japan." The Souvannavong Family
Historical Archive, 2026, souvannavong.family/sections/ambassador-to-japan/.
Accessed [date].

Academic citation (Chicago style):

Saycocie, Brian, comp. The Souvannavong Family Historical Archive. 2026.
https://souvannavong.family.

Permitted Uses

✅ You MAY use this content for:

Educational purposes - Teaching about Southeast Asian history, Lao monarchy, or diaspora studies
Historical research - Academic papers, theses, or scholarly publications
Genealogical research - Family history investigations or heritage documentation
News and journalism - Articles about Lao history or refugee experiences
Fact-checking - Verifying historical claims about Laos (1898-1996)
Cross-referencing - Comparing with other archival sources
Non-commercial documentation - Blog posts, educational videos, or community presentations

Requirements: Provide proper attribution linking to https://souvannavong.family

Restrictions

❌ You MAY NOT:

Reproduce photographs without permission - Family photographs and historical images are protected. Contact us for permission.
Use for commercial purposes - Selling or monetizing this content requires written permission
Misrepresent historical facts - Do not alter dates, names, or events
Create derivative works from personal correspondence - Letters and personal documents must remain private
Remove attribution - Always credit the Souvannavong Family Archive

For permissions beyond these terms, please contact us.

Copyright & Ownership

Historical Content

The historical narrative, family research, and compiled documentation are protected by copyright.

Owner: Brian Saycocie and the Souvannavong Family
Compiler: Brian Saycocie

Photographs

All photographs in this archive are:

Family-held artifacts from 1920s-1970s
Protected by copyright
Available for educational use with attribution
Require permission for reproduction or commercial use

For high-resolution images or reproduction rights: Contact us

Website Code

The technical implementation (HTML, CSS, JavaScript) is open source under the MIT License (see below).

MIT License

The website source code is released under the MIT License:

MIT License

Copyright (c) 2026 Brian Saycocie and the Souvannavong Family

Permission is hereby granted, free of charge, to any person obtaining a copy
of this software and associated documentation files (the "Software"), to deal
in the Software without restriction, including without limitation the rights
to use, copy, modify, merge, publish, distribute, sublicense, and/or sell
copies of the Software, and to permit persons to whom the Software is
furnished to do so, subject to the following conditions:

The above copyright notice and this permission notice shall be included in all
copies or substantial portions of the Software.

THE SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED "AS IS", WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR
IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO THE WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY,
FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE AND NONINFRINGEMENT. IN NO EVENT SHALL THE
AUTHORS OR COPYRIGHT HOLDERS BE LIABLE FOR ANY CLAIM, DAMAGES OR OTHER
LIABILITY, WHETHER IN AN ACTION OF CONTRACT, TORT OR OTHERWISE, ARISING FROM,
OUT OF OR IN CONNECTION WITH THE SOFTWARE OR THE USE OR OTHER DEALINGS IN THE
SOFTWARE.

What this means:

The website's technical code is free to use, modify, and redistribute
You can build similar historical archive websites using this codebase
Attribution to the original authors is appreciated but not required for code
The MIT License applies to code only, NOT to historical content or photographs

Source code: Available on GitHub

Special Considerations

Photographs

Historical photographs (1920s-1970s) in this archive are rare primary sources. Many are the only surviving copies. While we encourage their use for education and research:

Always attribute the Souvannavong Family Archive
Provide context - include dates, names, and historical significance when known
Request permission for publication, exhibition, or commercial use
Maintain dignity - these are family members and historical figures

Personal Information

This archive includes:

Family genealogical data across four generations
Personal correspondence and oral history
Names, dates, and biographical details

Privacy considerations:

Living family members' personal information should be handled respectfully
Do not use for purposes unrelated to historical research or education
Contact information should not be harvested or redistributed

Historical Accuracy

We strive for accuracy but acknowledge:

Some dates are approximate due to limited French colonial records
Personal names may have multiple Romanization spellings
New archival materials may refine our understanding over time

Found an error? Please contact us with supporting documentation.

For Researchers

Primary Sources

This archive compiles materials from:

Family-held photographs and artifacts
Personal correspondence and official documents
International archival sources (Lao, French, Japanese, American)
Oral history interviews
Government records and diplomatic documentation

Citing Specific Sections

Each page has a unique URL. When citing specific content:

Include the full page URL
Note your access date
Specify the section or paragraph if applicable
Provide context for the historical claim

Example:

According to the Souvannavong Family Archive, Outhong Souvannavong
served as President of the King's Council from 1965-1975, the highest
advisory body to King Savang Vatthana during the final years of the
Lao monarchy. (https://souvannavong.family/sections/kings-council/,
accessed February 10, 2026)

Cross-Referencing

We encourage researchers to:

Verify claims against other archival sources
Contact us with additional documentation
Share corrections or supplementary materials
Collaborate on expanding this historical record

Questions?

For permission requests:
Contact us - We typically respond within 5-7 business days

For academic collaborations:
Email via our contact form with your institutional affiliation

For corrections or additional sources:
Submit through our contact page with supporting documentation

Additional Resources

Full disclaimer: View our disclaimer page
Project documentation: GitHub repository
AI/LLM guidelines: See llms.txt
Site credits: View humans.txt

Last Updated: February 10, 2026
Version: 1.0.0