Guide to the Chinese American Democratic Club archives CEMA 49
This collection was processed by Callie Bowdish, Greg Simon, Chip Badley, and Paola Novo-Araya at CEMA in April, 2009. Addition
processed and finding aid revised by Holly Snyder on January 29, 2024.
UC Santa Barbara Library, Department of Special Research Collections
University of California, Santa Barbara
Santa Barbara 93106-9010
Phone Number: (805) 893-3062
special@library.ucsb.edu
2009; 2024 January 29
Title: Chinese American Democratic Club archives
Identifier/Call Number: CEMA 49
Language of Material:
English
, Chinese.
Contributing Institution:
UC Santa Barbara Library, Department of Special Research Collections
Physical Description:
9 Linear Feet
(12 document boxes, 1 oversize flat box)
Date (inclusive): 1983-2000
Abstract: The Chinese American Democratic Club Archives covers the period from 1988 to 2000. It contains campaign material, such as
election fliers, endorsements and candidate questionnaires or interviews. San Francisco local politics are viewed from this
group's interaction with politicians, political groups, and coalitions. There are some papers involving state and federal
politicians such as the former Lieutenant Governor of Delaware Shien Biau "S.B." Woo. The club's newsletters, administrative
papers and clippings focus on political activities and civil rights important to Chinese Americans in San Francisco.
Physical Location: Special Research Collections, UC Santa Barbara Library
Acquisition information
Gift of the Chinese American Democratic Club, 1997.
Access Restrictions
The collection is open for research.
Use Restrictions
Copyright has not been assigned to the Department of Special Collections, UCSB. All requests for permission to publish or
quote from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the Head of Special Collections. Permission for publication is given
on behalf of the Department of Special Collections as the owner of the physical items and is not intended to include or imply
permission of the copyright holder, which also must be obtained.
Preferred Citation
[Identification of Item], Chinese American Democratic Club archives, CEMA 49. Department of Special Research Collections,
UC Santa Barbara Library, University of California, Santa Barbara.
Historical Note
The Chinese American Democratic Club (CADC) was chartered in 1958 by the California State Democratic Central Committee and
the California Democratic Council. This was a response to growing political repression and violations of Chinese American
civil rights in the 1950s. This group advances the causes of Chinese Americans in the San Francisco area. The CADC Bylaws
Article II Objectives states that: The aim and purpose of this Club shall be to encourage the development of meaningful political
awareness within our community and to thereby foster active participation in the democratic process of government by all citizens;
to encourage Chinese candidates to run for elective office; to encourage the appointment of Chinese persons to appointive
positions; to demand a high standard in government to seek justice and equality for all peoples and to study, develop, and
advocate issues relevant to the empowerment and civil rights of Chinese Americans. (http://www.cadcsf.org/) The club has influenced City elections throughout the 1980s and 1990s and Club leaders have served on important City Commissions,
including the Airport, Planning, Port, Civil Service and Human Rights Commissions.
Scope and Content
The Chinese American Democratic Club (CADC) Archives, CEMA 49, along with the Chinese American Voters Education Committee
Archives, CEMA 61, chronicle an important San Francisco group dedicated to keeping Asian Americans politically active in San
Francisco. Administrative functions, special events, and topics of special concern to them are represented in this collection's
documents. Promoting the election and hiring of Asian Americans to government offices and positions such as school principals
is part of CADC's mission. Shien Biau "S.B." Woo who even though he was outside the San Francisco area and was elected Lieutenant
Governor of Delaware from 1985-1989 was supported by CADC. He ran for the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives and was
endorsed by CADC. Issues important to CADC members, as well as other members of the community such as housing, education,
civil rights, affirmative action and San Francisco politics are covered in this collection. CADC's affiliations with other
San Francisco Groups such as Lesbian/Gay and various democratic and minority groups and officials are apparent in their correspondence,
endorsements, and newsletter documents. Former CADC presidents such as Douglas Chan, Roland Quan, and Harold Yee, papers are
part of this collection that spans from 1983 - 2000.
Arrangement
Series I Administrative Records 1983-1997
Administrative records includes traditional board documents such as agendas, minutes and budget information. The CADC Issues
Committee documents are part of this series. The series spans from 1983 to 1997 with bulk dates between 1986 and 1990.
Series II Correspondence 1983-1999
Correspondence both incoming and outgoing gives the biggest insight into what was politically important to this group. Some
of the Documents from government officals have been put into their own are in this series.
Series III Endorsements and Candidate Information 1983-1999
Endorsements and candidate information includes publications and fliers providing information about various candidates running
for offices in the City and County of San Francisco. CADC interview papers are included. There is a small amount of information
on Shien Biau "S.B." Woo who held the highest political office of an Asian American at the time. The series spans from 1983
to 1999 and includes information on prominent San Francisco politicans, some who became U.S. senators, such as Senator Diane
Feinstein.
Series IV Events 1983-1999
Events includes CADC hosted events as well as ones that CADC members attended. These events include campaign fundraisers,
anniversaries, and other occasions. This series spans from 1983 to 1999.
Series V Club Newsletters and Press Releases 1983-1999
Both internally produced newsletters and publications as well as externally produced articles about the CADC are included.
There is an extensive collection of the CADC
Fiery Dragon News. This series spans from 1983 to 1999.
Series VI Subject Files 1983-1998
This series includes files on Asian American politics, education, government, housing, San Francisco politics, and other miscellaneous
subjects. This series spans from 1983 to 1998 with bulk dates between 1983 and 1996.
Series VII Newspaper Articles and Newspapers
Newspaper articles and newspapers such as
East West are part of this series. Oversized articles regarding San Francisco and Asian American Politics are included here.
Series VIII Box 13
This series is an addition to the collection that corresponds with the previous arrangement for the years 1986-1991. The bulk
of the materials relate to CADC's State and National Committee in 1986.
*Supplemental materials from 1999 were added to the existing series arrangement. These span between 1983-1991, with the bulk
from 1983-1986.
Related Archival Material
Chinese American Voters Education Committee, Inc. Archives (CEMA 61), Chinese American Political Association Archives. (CEMA
48) and Kearny Street Workshop Archives (CEMA 33)
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Administrative records
Chinese Americans -- Politics and government
Chinese Americans -- California -- San Francisco
Series I Administrative Records
box 9, folder 6
CADC Endorsement Committee
1984-1998
box 1, folder 5-6
CADC Issues Committee
undated, 1985
box 12, folder 2
CADC Nominations Committee
1983
box 12, folder 3,6-7,9
CADC Executive Committee/Board of Directors
1984-1986
box 12, folder 3-4
CADC Internship Committee
1984
box 12, folder 4
CADC Membership Committee
1984-1986
box 12, folder 5
CADC Communications Committee
1984
box 12, folder 7
CADC Draft Committee
1985
box 12, folder 9
CADC State and National Committee
1985-1986
box 13, folder 7,8
CADC Special Events Committee
1986-1987
box 2, folder 9-10
Retreat Information
1983-1991
box 3, folder 1-2
Rosters and Mailing Lists
1983-1996
box 3, folder 3-4
Rules and Bylaws
1983-1996
box 3, folder 5-10
Incoming correspondence
1984-1999
box 4, folder 1-6
Outgoing Correspondence
1984-1999
box 4, folder 7
Club Member Correspondence
1983-1986, also undated
box 4, folder 8
Government Officials
1984-1999
Series III Endorsements and Candidate Information
box 4, folder 9-15
Endorsements and Candidate Information
1984-1999
box 6, folder 1-3
Candidates Campaign Statements
1984-1994
box 7, folder 2-3
CADC Anniversary
undated
1983
Series V Club Newsletters and Press Releases
box 8, folder 1-10
External
1984-1999, also undated
box 9, folder 1
American Chinese Association
1987-1989
box 9, folder 2-5
Asian Politics
1984-1989, also undated
box 9, folder 7
California Delegate Selection Plan for the 1988 Democratic Convention
1987
box 9, folder 8-11
Chinese American Voters Education Committee (CAVEC)
1985-1994
box 9, folder 12-19
City and County of San Francisco
1984, also undated
box 10, folder 1
Committee For Immigration Justice
1989
box 10, folder 2
Council of Asian American Business Associations
1985-1987
box 10, folder 3
Education
1987-1988, also undated
box 10, folder 4
Election Statistics and Data - San Francisco
1987-1992
box 9, folder 20
Government Documents
1986-1993, also undated
box 10, folder 8
Housing
1985-1996, also undated
box 10, folder 9
Human Rights Commission
1989
box 9, folder 21
Legal-Sized Documents Miscellaneous
undated
Container Summary: legal size folder
box 10, folder 11
San Francisco Consolidated General Education
1993
box 10, folder 12
San Francisco Elections
1994
box 9, folder 22
San Francisco Politics
1986-1992
box 10, folder 14
Self-Help for the Elderly
1986
box 10, folder 15
Unified School District
1987-1995
box 12, folder 6, 8-9
Asian Pacific Caucus
1984-1986
box 12, folder 6, 9
Democratic National Committee
1984-1986
box 12, folder 8
Chinese for Affirmative Action
1985
box 12, folder 9
Commercial Club Workers
1985
box 13, folder 6
California Democratic Council
1986
box 11
Series VII Newspaper Articles and Newspapers (see also Boxes 12-13)
Container Summary: oversize box
Scope and Contents
This oversize box contains
East West newspapers and miscelleaneous newspapers and clippings
box 13
Box 13
1986-1991
Scope and Contents
Arranged by year, this box consists of administrative files including CADC State and National Committee papers, agendas, memos;
CADC newsletters, correspondence, internal and external events, newspaper clippings, and campaign information and statements.
