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Nagai (Nelson and Beverly) Collection of Asian-American History and Culture
M1928
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Table of contents
Language of Material:
English
Contributing Institution:
Department of Special Collections and University Archives
Title: Nelson and Beverly Nagai Collection of Asian-American History and Culture
source:
Nagai, Nelson
source:
Nagai, Beverly
Identifier/Call Number: M1928
Physical Description:
7.5 Linear Feet
: 10 boxes, 2 oversize folders
Date (inclusive): circa 1968-1980
Abstract: Publications & ephemera of late-20th century radical political activism centered in the Bay Area, with an emphasis on Asian-American
activism. Includes correspondence, newspapers, pamphlets, periodicals, posters, printed ephemera, t-shirts, buttons, and videocassettes.
This collection consists of publications & ephemera of late-20th century radical political activism, with an emphasis on Asian
American protest movements. The collection includes the following material:
Radical Asian community newspapers, most from the 1970s and 1980s ; various pamphlets related to Communism, the African-American,
Chicano and Puerto Rican communities, and American workers’ and radical Leftist movements; t-shirts with safety-pin buttons
from the 1970s; large photographs of the sites of Japanese internment camps in California; and movie posters of films about
Asians and Asian-Americans.
Nelson Nagai was the chairperson of the constitution committee of Stockton’s Yellow Seed, a community service organization.
While at Stanford University, Nagai also served as the chairperson of the Asian American Student Association. During the International
Hotel struggle, Nagai served as the auditor of the International Hotel Tenants Association.
The original Kearny Street Workshop (KSW) storefront in San Francisco Chinatown, 1971, located on the ground floor of the
International Hotel. At the time, the images produced by KSW's silkscreen and graphics artists were among the first to portray
strong and bold images of Asian Americans. The group's work was a hallmark of the Asian American movement on the West Coast
but it was also a place "where they felt they belonged," which is how Nelson Nagai described the Yellow Seed, a Stockton organization
(see text below).
From an excerpt of "I Come From a Yellow Seed" by Nelson Nagai:
"[In 1969] it was decided that the Asian community needed a drop-in center for youth -- some place where they felt they belonged
and an alternative to the pool hall [which had been boycotted because the white owner told Asians to leave the establishment].
So the Yellow Seed Center was born.
Quickly an organization was started around the center. [In 1971] the Yellow Seed received funding for a recreation center
to serve the children of Asian cannery workers from the federal government. Our idea was to provide activities for Asian children
so that they would not have to run the streets like we did."
From Snapshots of Asian America (KQED)
Open for research. Note that material must be requested at least 36 hours in advance of intended use. Audiovisual materials
are not available in original format, and must be reformatted to a digital use copy.
While Special Collections is the owner of the physical and digital items, permission to examine collection materials is not
an authorization to publish. These materials are made available for use in research, teaching, and private study. Any transmission
or reproduction beyond that allowed by fair use requires permission from the owners of rights, heir(s) or assigns.
[identification of item], Nelson and Beverly Nagai Collection of Asian-American History and Culture (M1928). Dept. of Special
Collections and University Archives, Stanford University Libraries, Stanford, Calif.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Gift of Nelson Nagai, 2012. Accession 2012-249.
Some items were catalogued individually and can be found on Searchworks at this link:
https://searchworks.stanford.edu/catalog?q=%22The+Nelson+and+Beverly+Nagai+collection+of+Asian-American+history+and+culture.%22&search_field=subject_terms
University of the Pacific holds the Nelson Nagai And Grace Sumida Collection (MSS 329), whjich contains material collected
by Nelson and his mother Grace.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Radicalism.
Asian-Americans -- History
Printed ephemera
Nagai, Nelson
Nagai, Beverly