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Hmong Resource Materials
MSS.1067
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Table of contents
Language of Material:
English
Contributing Institution:
Special Collections Research Center
Title: Hmong Resource Materials
Identifier/Call Number: MSS.1067
Physical Description:
1.25 Linear Feet
Date (inclusive): 1978-1997
Abstract: Bibliographies, articles, newsletters and guides to the Hmong language, culture and arts.
The collection was donated by the Reference Department in 2000.
The collection is open for research.
Copyright has not been transferred to California State University, Fresno.
The Refugee Act of 1980 allowed Southeast Asians and others admission into the United States. In order to stay, the refugees
had to go through the U.S. Dept. of State, the Immigration and Naturalization Service, and national voluntary agencies. Due
to the intake of refugees, schools became impacted causing a financial burden for the Fresno Unified School District. Social
services such as health professionals were also affected by the incoming amount of Southeast Asians. Housing became difficult
since refugees would have multiple families in one unit. However, there were mutual assistance agencies to help settle the
refugees; The Vietnamese Association and the Lao Family.
One of the Southeast Asian cultures who immigrated was the Hmong. They came from the mountains of northern Laos in order
to escape death or imprisonment. They practiced agriculture and often relocated. The Hmong are very family oriented with
unique cultural beliefs such as in the Hmong New Year's celebration. They and other Southeast Asians escaped their homelands
to find sanctuary in the United States. Since there was a wave of refugees entering the community and schools, guidelines
and information were gathered in order to better work with the Hmong and other Southeast Asians. This included language,
art, and information about their cultures. Many publications were created to support the refugees and give an idea about
the struggles that the Hmong and other Asians endured.
The Hmong Resource Materials collection measure 7 linear inches and date from 1978 to 1997. The collection is arranged in
four series: Educational material, News, Resources, and Miscellaneous.
The
Educational material series (1978-1991 and undated) consists of multiple documents that were used in teaching new refugees and other Southeast
Asian newcomers. This includes guides for activities in a classroom, art, and languages of Southeast Asia. It also contains
fact sheets about the history of the refugees and about their culture. Health and population information can be found in
this series as well.
The
News series (1983-1994 and undated) is made up of articles, clippings, and newsletters. The articles are from the Los Angeles
Times, United Press International, and Image. The news clippings go on to divulge information on the Hmong involved politics
and the protests made against welfare. "The Hmong- A Struggle in the Sun" is a Fresno Bee publication that talks about the
Hmong's life in Fresno and the impact of culture diversity. The Refugee is an English-Hmong newsletter.
The
References series (1983-1987) contains abstracts, catalog lists, and citations of Hmong and other Southeast Asian publications. The
citations were obtained from other databases.
The
Miscellaneous series (undated) includes handwritten notes that outline some of the documents in the collection. Not all of the documents
mentioned are included.