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Chinese American Voters Education Committee archives
CEMA 61  
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Table of contents What's This?
  • Conditions Governing Access
  • Biographical / Historical
  • Preferred Citation
  • Processing Note
  • Related Collections
  • Scope Note
  • Series Description
  • Conditions Governing Use

  • Contributing Institution: UC Santa Barbara Library, Department of Special Research Collections
    Title: Chinese American Voters Education Committee archives
    Identifier/Call Number: CEMA 61
    Physical Description: 6 Linear Feet (10 document boxes, 4 oversize boxes)
    Date (inclusive): 1984-2000
    Date (bulk): 1986-1992
    Abstract: The Chinese American Voters Education Committee (CAVEC) Archives covers the period from 1985 to 1996. In this collection there is overlap between CAVEC and the Chinese American Democratic Club (CADC). Most of the documents are Chinese American Democratic Club related records. San Francisco local politics are viewed from this group's interaction with politicians, political groups, and coalitions. The club's newsletters, administrative records and clippings focus on political activities and civil rights important to Chinese Americans in San Francisco.
    Language of Material: English .

    Conditions Governing Access

    This collection is open for research.

    Biographical / Historical

    The Chinese American Voters Education Committee (CAVEC) was founded in 1976 and incorporated as a 501(c)3 non-profit, public benefit corporation in 1978 by a group of community activists who foresaw the emergences of the then relatively small Asian american community as an integral part of San Francisco's civic life.
    The mission of the organization was and continues to be to support the enfranchisement of Asian Americans, particularly new citizens, into American civic, cultural and social life. CAVEC has been at the forefront of developing citizen education programs for the Asian American community. Through community dialogue, bilingual citizen guides, bilingual leadership and grass-roots organizing, CAVEC has played an instrumental role in the birth of public consciousness in San Francisco's immigrant Asian American community.
    CAVEC's accomplishments include serving as the community primary resource for voting rights education and advocacy; educating and influencing several generations of Asian American community leaders including Judges Lillian Sing, Julie Tang and Lenard Louie, Supervisors Tom Hsieh, Mabel Teng and Leland Yee and activists like Andrew Sun, Henry Der, Grant Din, Harold Yee and Isabel Huie; attracting generations of immigrants to community service, voting and volunteerism through public education campaigns; and serving as the community repository of technical and administrative expertise in demographic and sociological analysis.
    by Douglas S. Chan, Chairman 1997 and David E. Lee, Executive Director 1997

    Preferred Citation

    Chinese American Voters Education Committee, CEMA 61, Department of Special Collections, University Library, University of California, Santa Barbara.

    Processing Note

    This collection was processed by Callie Bowdish, Greg Simon, Chip Badley, and Paola Novo-Araya at CEMA in May 2009.

    Related Collections

    Chinese American Democratic Club Archives (CEMA 49), Chinese American Political Association Archives. (CEMA 48) and Kearny Street Workshop Archives (CEMA 33)

    Scope Note

    The Chinese American Voters Education Committee (CAVEC) Archives, CEMA 61, along with the Chinese American Democratic Club Archives (CADC), CEMA 49, chronicle an important San Francisco group dedicated to keeping Asian Americans politically active in San Francisco. Most of the documents are CADC related records. Administrative functions, special events, and topics of special concern to them are represented in this collection's documents. Issues important to CAVEC members, as well as other members of the community, such as housing, education, civil rights, affirmative action and San Francisco politics are covered in this collection. CAVEC's affiliations with other San Francisco groups and officials are apparent in their correspondence, endorsements, and newsletter documents.

    Series Description

    Series I Administrative Records 1985 – 1995
    Administrative records includes traditional board documents such as agendas, minutes and budget information. The CADC Issues Committee and CADC Political Technology Committee's documents are part of this series. The series spans from 1985 to 1995 with bulk dates between 1986 and 1991.
    Series II Correspondence 1983 – 1990
    Correspondence both incoming and outgoing gives the best insight into what was politically important to this group. Also included are official government documents as well as correspondence between club members.
    Series III Endorsements and Candidate Information 1980s-1990s
    Endorsements and candidate information includes publications and fliers providing information about various candidates running for offices in the City and County of San Francisco. CADC interview documents are included. The series spans from the 1980s to the 1990s and includes information on prominent San Francisco politicians, some who became U.S. senators such as Senator Diane Feinstein.
    Series IV Events 1980s – 1990s
    Events include CADC-hosted events as well as ones that CADC and CAVEC members attended. These events include campaign fundraisers, anniversaries, and other occasions. This series spans from the 1980s to the 1990s.
    Series V Club Newsletters and Press Releases 1983 - 1996
    Both internally-produced newsletters and publications as well as externally produced articles about the CADC and CAVEC are included. There is an extensive collection of the CADC Fiery Dragon News. This series spans from 1983 to 1996.
    Series VI Government Documents 1983-1991
    The series contains official government-produced election material including ballots and mailers. It spans from 1983 to 1991.
    Series VII CAVEC (Chinese American Voters Education Committee) 1978-1996
    The series contains correspondence, notes, memos, and other documents pertaining to the Chinese American Voters Education Committee. Also included in this series is information on the Asian American Voter Registration movement of 1995 as well as CAVEC recruitment documents. Dates covered are from 1978 to 1996.
    Series VIII CAABA (Council of Asian American Business Associations) 1986-1988
    CAABA (Council for Asian American Business Associations) is a statewide non-profit organization that seeks to promote the interests of the Asian American business community in California. (taken from CAABA website, http://www.caaba.org) Dates covered are from 1986 to 1988.
    Series IX Subject Files 1980-1990s
    This series includes files on Asian American politics, education, government, housing, San Francisco politics, and other miscellaneous subjects such as the Embarcadero Freeway demolition of 1991. This series spans from 1980 to 1990s with bulk dates between 1985 and 1994.
    Series X Videos (undated)
    Includes two video tapes associated with CAVEC. Both tapes are Public Service Announcements (PSAs), commercial-length spots designed to promote an oftentimes political or organizational topic. Both PSAs in CEMA 61 focus on the Asian American vote and the importance of registering to vote and subsequently voting. Both PSAs are approximately thirty seconds long with accompanying footage on both tapes. One tape is from 1992 and the other is undated.
    Series XI Miscellanea (undated)
    This box contains assorted business cards, newspapers, campaign buttons and CAVEC buttons.

    Conditions Governing Use

    Property rights to the collection and physical objects belong to the Regents of the University of California acting through the Department of Special Research Collections at the UCSB Library. All applicable literary rights, including copyright to the collection and physical objects, are protected under Chapter 17 of the U.S. Copyright Code and may be retained by the creator and the copyright owner, heir(s), or assigns.
    All requests to reproduce, quote from, or otherwise reuse collection materials must be submitted in writing to the Department of Special Research Collections at UCSB at special@ucsb.edu. Consent is given on behalf of the Regents of the University of California acting through the Department of Special Research Collections at UCSB as the owner of the physical items and is not intended to include or imply permission from the copyright owner. Such permission must be obtained from the copyright owner, heir(s), or assigns. It is the responsibility of the researcher to determine who holds the copyright and pursue the copyright owner or their assignees for permission to publish where the UC Regents do not hold the copyright.

    Subjects and Indexing Terms

    Administrative records
    Chinese Americans -- California -- San Francisco
    Chinese Americans -- Politics and government