Guide to the James A. Schill collection of photographs and a pocket diary of
Southeast Asian refugees MS.SEA.064
Finding aid prepared by Julia Huynh , 2019.
Special Collections and Archives, University of California, Irvine
Libraries
(cc) 2019
The UCI Libraries
P.O. Box 19557
University of California, Irvine
Irvine 92623-9557
spcoll@uci.edu
Contributing Institution:
Special Collections and Archives, University of California, Irvine
Libraries
Title: James A. Schill collection of photographs and a pocket diary of Southeast Asian
refugees
Creator:
Schill, James A.
Identifier/Call Number: MS.SEA.064
Physical Description:
0.4 Linear Feet
Date (bulk): 1975-1984
Abstract: This collection is comprised of
materials collected by James A. Schill, a retired Foreign Service Officer with the U.S.
Department of State and USAID. The materials include a Vietnamese boat person refugee's
pocket diary from 1979, numerous color photographs of Vietnamese and Cambodian refugees at
refugee camps in Malaysia and Thailand between 1975 to mid 1980s, as well as photographs of
refugee resettlement in Camp Pendleton in 1975.
Language of Material:
English .
Access
The collection is open for research.
Publication Rights
Property rights reside with the University of California. Copyrights are generally retained
by the creators of the records and their heirs.
Digital material is provided for private study, scholarship, or research. Transmission or
reproduction of any material protected by copyright beyond that allowed by fair use requires
the written permission of the copyright owners.
Note: James A. Schill retains the copyright during his lifetime of all materials authored
by him. Other photographs are noted as taken by the US Marine Corps photographers or others
with the Refugee Office of the US State Department.
Preferred Citation
James A. Schill collection of photographs and a pocket diary of Southeast Asian refugees,
1975-1984. MS-SEA064. Special Collections and Archives, The UC Irvine Libraries, Irvine,
California. Date accessed.
For the benefit of current and future researchers, please cite any additional information
about sources consulted in this collection, including permanent URLs, item or folder
descriptions, and box/folder locations.
Acquisition Information
Gift of James A. Schill, 2016.
Processing History
Processed by Julia Huynh, 2019.
Historical Background
James A. Schill is a retired Foreign Service Officer with the U.S. Department of State and
USAID. His assignments included work in Vietnam in 1968-72 and Laos in 1973-75. He served as
the acting Deputy Director for Indochinese resettlement out of Camp Pendleton, California
from June-October 1975. He was also the Refugee Coordinator in Singapore, Malaysia, and
Indonesia directing the resettlement of tens of thousands of Indochinese refugees to the
United States between 1978-84.
Collection Scope and Content Summary
These records document the conditions of refugee camps in Southeast Asia and resettlment in
Camp Pendleton, California, collected by James A. Schill, a retired Foreign Service Officer
with the U.S. Department of State and USAID. The collection comprises mostly of color
photographs of Vietnamese and Cambodian refugees at refugee camps in Malaysia and Thailand
between 1975 to mid 1980s, as well as photographs of refugee resettlement in Camp Pendleton
in 1975. Also included is a Vietnamese boat person refugee's pocket diary with entries
written in English, Vietnamese and French from 1979, detailing their journey to Pulau
Bidong, Malyasia. Box 1 folder 7 contains photos depicting the aftermath of violence imposed
on the community that are potentially disturbing.
Collection Arrangement
This collection is arranged in 1 series. Series 1. Photographs of Southeast asian refugees,
1975-1984. 0.4 linear feet. Original order of photographs are maintained.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Refugee camps -- Southeast Asia -- Photographs.
Refugees -- Southeast Asia -- Archives.
Photographs
Southeast Asians -- Archives.
box 1, Folder 1
Photographs of Camp Pendleton
1975
box 1, Folder 2
Photographs of Camp Pendleton
1979-09-19
box 1, Folder 3
Photographs of refugee camps
circa 1980s
box 1, Folder 4
Photographs of Anambas Islands
1979
box 1, Folder 5
Photographs of Refugee Department
circa 1980s
box 1, Folder 6
Photographs of refugee camp visit
circa 1980s
box 1, Folder 7
Photographs of Songkhla Camp
circa 1980s
Scope and Contents
This folder contains photos depicting the aftermath of violence imposed on the
community that are potentially disturbing.
box 1, Folder 8-9
Photographs of visit to Pulau Bidong
circa 1980s
box 1, Folder 10
Pocket diary of a Vietnamese boat person refugee
1979