Access
Publication Rights
Preferred Citation
Acquisition Information
Processing Information
Organizational History
Scope and Content of Collection
Arrangement
Related Material
Contributing Institution:
Special Collections and Archives, University of California, Irvine Libraries
Title: Southeast Asia Resource Action Center records
Identifier/Call Number: MS.SEA.004
Physical Description:
21.2 Linear Feet
(25 boxes and 1 oversized folder) and 21 digitized images
Date (inclusive): 1975-2003
Abstract: This collection consists of the organizational files of the Southeast Asia Resource Action Center (SEARAC), a national organization
created to further the development of nonprofit organizations led by and for Southeast Asians, and to aid in the adjustment
of Southeast Asian refugees to American society. Documents related to organizations that have collaborated with SEARAC are
also included. The collection includes correspondence among the organizations and from refugees, meeting minutes, memoranda,
reports, newspaper clippings, and conference materials.
Language of Material:
English
.
Access
Collection open for research.
Publication Rights
Property rights reside with the University of California. Literary rights are retained by the creators of the records and
their heirs. For permissions to reproduce or to publish, please contact the Head of Special Collections and University Archives.
Preferred Citation
Southeast Asia Resource Action Center records. MS-SEA004. 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 Southeast Asia Resource Action Center, 2002-2003.
Processing Information
Processed by Julia Stringfellow, 2003. Translation services provided by Quan Tran, 2003. Processing was supported by a National
Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) grant.
Organizational History
The Southeast Asia Resource Action Center (SEARAC) was founded in 1979 as a national organization whose purpose was to further
the development of nonprofit organizations led by and for Southeast Asians, and to aid in the relocation of Southeast Asian
refugees into American society. Initially formed as the Indochina Resource Action Center (IRAC), SEARAC's principal mission
has evolved to increase awareness of issues relating to of Southeast Asian Americans and promote community empowerment and
leadership development.
SEARAC has a long history of conference planning and management. The strengthening of social services, such as health care
and education, for the Southeast Asian American community, is an important goal. The organization strives to increase the
level of Southeast Asian participation in government, and in the offices of private and independent organizations. The visibility
of Southeast Asians' contributions to the United States is an ongoing priority for SEARAC.
SEARAC's accomplishments include the organization of the Thank You, America gala in 1998 that was attended by more than 400
supporters and friends. The event honored IRAC/ SEARAC's 19 years of accomplishments and the leadership of its founding director,
Le Xuan Khoa. The publication of the first national directory of mutual assistance associations describes the organizations
with which SEARAC collaborations were accomplished. The creation of coalitions with a wide range of national leaders from
refugee and immigrant advocates to civil right organizations has also contributed to SEARAC's achievements.
For further information on SEARAC, see the organization's website http://www.searac.org.
Scope and Content of Collection
This collection consists of the organizational files of the Southeast Asia Resource Action Center (SEARAC), a national organization
created to further the development of nonprofit organizations led by and for Southeast Asians, and to aid in the adjustment
of Southeast Asian refugees to American society. Documents related to organizations that have collaborated with SEARAC are
also included. The collection includes correspondence among the organizations and from refugees, meeting minutes, memoranda,
reports, newspaper clippings, and conference materials.
Arrangement
This collection is arranged in four series.
- Series 1. Southeast Asia Resource Action Center organizational files, 1978-2000. 3 linear ft.
- Series 2. Subject files concerning refugee issues, 1975-2003. 7 linear ft.
- Series 3. Refugee files, 1975-1997. 3 linear ft.
- Series 4. Newspaper clippings, 1979-2000. 2.8 linear ft.
Related Material
The following Special Collections and Archives collections contain materials directly related to SEARAC:
- Gayle Morrison Files on Southeast Asian Refugees. MS-SEA014.
- Project Ngoc Records. MS-SEA016.
- Thomas Joel Wilson Papers. MS-SEA023.
- Paul Tran Files on Southeast Asian Refugees. MS-SEA002.
- Southeast Asian Archive Vertical File Collection. MS-SEA020.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Photographic prints
Documents
Video recordings
Sound recordings.
Ephemera
Clippings -- United States -- 20th century.
Refugees -- Southeast Asia -- Archives.
Refugees -- United States -- Archives.
Refugees -- Services for -- United States.
Southeast Asians -- United States -- Archives.
Southeast Asians -- United States -- Societies, etc . -- Archives.
Letters -- 20th century.
Southeast Asian Americans -- Archives.
Southeast Asian Americans -- Societies, etc. -- Archives.
Southeast Asian Americans -- Political activity -- Archives.
Nonprofit organizations -- United States
Community organization -- United States
Southeast Asia -- Emigration and immigration -- History -- Sources
United States -- Emigration and immigration -- History -- Sources