Library Resources: Primary Sources: Asian Americans

This collection focuses on those members of the Central Coast community who are of Asian/Pacific-American heritage. The collection is based on a photographic exhibit produced by the Black Gold System Advisory Board in 1995. The photographs were borrowed from a number of individuals within the Asian-American communities and local historical societies in the counties of San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara and Ventura. The photos portray the Chinese-American, Filipino-American and Japanese-American communities prior to 1949.

Documents relating the Asian American experience from the mid-1800s to the mid-1900s.

Primary documents that tell the story of ethnic groups along the Columbia River Basin (encompassing areas of Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Wyoming, Utah and and British Columbia).

This site "illustrates nineteenth and early twentieth century Chinese immigration to California through about 8,000 images and pages of primary source materials...These documents describe the experiences of Chinese immigrants in California, including the nature of inter-ethnic tensions. They also document the specific contributions of Chinese immigrants to commerce and business, architecture and art, agriculture and other industries, and cultural and social life in California."

Site documents and archives oral histories and photos from Japanese Americans who were incarcerated during World War II. Nonprofit organization has a mission to educate, preserve, collaborate and inspire action for equity.

Daily journals, field reports, life histories, and secondary research materials. There is also extensive correspondence between staff, evacuees, and others. Geographic focus includes California (Manzanar and Tule Lake) and Arizona (Colorado River and Gila River areas).

The mission of the Japanese American National Museum is to promote understanding and appreciation of America's ethnic and cultural diversity by preserving, interpreting and sharing the experiences of Japanese Americans.

Documents the experience of Japanese Americans in WWII internment camps. Primary source materials include photographs, documents, manuscripts, paintings, drawings, letters, and oral histories.

Primary documents that tell the story of ethnic groups along the Columbia River Basin (encompassing areas of Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Wyoming, Utah and and British Columbia).

Collection of bilingual internment camp newsletters and photographs of the Rivers camps in Arizona.

The KADA brings together documents, photographs and sound files that document the Korean American community during the period of resistance to Japanese rule in Korea and reveal the organizational and private experience of Koreans in America between 1903 and 1965.

Provides access to two significant newspapers which tell the story of Japanese immigration and Japanese American community life in Seattle and beyond, from 1902 to 1950, and continuing to the present day. The newspapers, North American Times (1902-1942) and North American Post (1946-1950), were published primarily in Japanese, with occasional, and then regularly appearing, pages published in English. Translation summaries (English) are provided for some front page stories.

Documents the history of South Asian immigrants from the Punjab region in north India to California, 1899-present.

From the first Filipinos who stepped ashore at Morro Rock in 1587 to the most recent immigrants, Filipino Americans have left their mark on the Central Coast of California. This online exhibit recollects the lives of Filipino Americans, men and women who transformed the agricultural communities of San Luis Obispo, Monterey, and Santa Barbara Counties.

Resource focusing on post-1975 refugees and immigrants from Cambodia, Laos, and Vietnam and the communities they have developed in the United States. It contains 1,500 visual images and 4,000 pages of searchable text.