SAVE Our National Archives A-File Advocacy Records

Title: SAVE Our National Archives A-File Advocacy Records

Dates: 1998 - 2012

Collection Number: AAS ARC 2018/1

Creator/Collector: Jeanie Low Sue Lee Lorraine Dong Rosalyn Tonai Grant Din Jennie Lew William Wong Christopher Chow Save Our National Archives (SONA)

Extent: 1.25 linear feet (3 boxes)

Repository: UC Berkeley. Ethnic Studies Library

Abstract: SONA (Save OUR National Archives) is a broad consortium of non-profit organizations and individuals dedicated to the preservation and enhancement of public access and services provided by the REGIONAL offices and collections of the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA). After twelve years, SONA was successful in advocating that the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS) agreed to schedule older Alien Case Files for transfer to NARA’s historical collection for public research, June 2009. SONA’s core team based in San Francisco consisted of representatives of the Chinese Historical Society of America (CHSA), Angel Island Immigration Station Foundation (AIISF), National Japanese American Historical Society (NJAHS), and the Asian American Studies Department at San Francisco State University.

Language of Material: English

Collection is open for research.

Materials in this collection may be protected by the U.S. Copyright Law (Title 17, U.S.C.). In addition, the reproduction of some materials may be restricted by terms of University of California gift or purchase agreements, donor restrictions, privacy and publicity rights, licensing and trademarks. Transmission or reproduction of materials protected by copyright beyond that allowed by fair use requires the written permission of the copyright owner. Responsibility for any use rests exclusively with the user. All requests to reproduce, publish, quote from, or otherwise use collection materials must be submitted in writing to the curator, Ethnic Studies Library, University of California, Berkeley 94720-2360.

[Identification of item]. SAVE Our National Archives A-File Advocacy Records. Collection Number: AAS ARC 2018/1. UC Berkeley. Ethnic Studies Library

SONA (Save OUR National Archives) was a broad consortium of non-profit organizations and individuals dedicated to the preservation and enhancement of public access and services provided by the REGIONAL offices and collections of the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA). Based in San Francisco with national alliances, SONA formed to protest the closure of the thirteen regional national archives; and that the Alien Case Files (A-Files) were designated as a preserved historical collection at NARA. This collection contains comprehensive newspaper coverage of the twelve year campaign to preserve the Alien Case Files and make them accessible to the public. It also contains detailed email correspondence, petitions and letters to NARA, USCIS, various legislators and others regarding preservation and public access to the A-Files, resources and advocacy materials and VHS/DVD media items, as well as materials related to the naming of the Research Room at the National Archives in San Francisco.