Description
This collection is
comprised of the personal and political papers of Tony Lam, a refugee from Southern Vietnam
who influenced Orange County, California for several decades. The collection documents Lam’s
life at Camp Asan refugee camp, his campaigns for Westminster City Council, and his
influence on Orange County’s Vietnamese American community. Materials include pamphlets,
stickers, and other campaign objects, correspondence, newspaper clippings, and photographs.
Background
Tony Lam was the first Vietnamese American to be elected to public office in the United
States. In addition to serving as a politician, Lam was a refugee from Vietnam and an
activist who assisted Vietnamese refugees with their settlement in the United States and
helped create an inclusive community for the Vietnamese American community in Orange County,
California.