Southeast Asia Resource Action Center records, 1975-2003

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Summary

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.
Extent:
21.2 Linear Feet (25 boxes and 1 oversized folder) and 21 digitized images
Language:
English .
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.

Background

Scope and content:

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.

Biographical / historical:

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.

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.

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.

Access and use

Restrictions:

Collection open for research.

Terms of access:

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.

Location of this collection:
Southeast Asian Archive
The UCI Libraries, P.O. Box 19557
Irvine, CA 92623-9557, US
Contact:
(949) 824-3947
spcoll@uci.libanswers.com
Website