The American Indian Community History Center records document the efforts of the Community History Project to collect and preserve the history of the San Francisco Bay Area urban American Indian community. The collection also documents the work of one of the oldest urban American Indian community centers in the United States, the Intertribal Friendship House, where the Project was housed. The records offer insights into local activities, community members, events, and organizations, many of which also have national significance. The collection consists of Intertribal Friendship House records, oral history materials, writings about Native Americans, newspaper clippings, newsletters, Community History Project records, files from project coordinator Susan Lobo, and subject, organization, and people files.

The Community History Project is dedicated to preserving the history of the broader San Francisco Bay Area "urban Indian" community. One of the high points in this preservation effort includes the book project, "Urban Voices: The Bay Area American Indian Community" (2002). In 1976, the Community History Project (CHP) grew out of the interests of Geraldine (Gerri) Martinez Lira, Marilyn LaPlante St. Germaine, and Susan Lobo to preserve the histories of American Indians whose lives were greatly impacted by the federal relocation programs that moved them from reservations to the Bay Area with the promise of sustainable employment, better education for their children, and affordable housing. Initially, the CHP committee focused on recording their oral histories, but as the committee expanded, with Sharon Mitchell Bennett, Charlene Betsillie and Joyce Keoke joining the project, so too did the project's focus.

64.5 linear feet (49 cartons, 6 card file boxes, 4 oversize folders)

Some materials in these collections 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 owners. Works not in the public domain cannot be commercially exploited without permission of the copyright owner. Responsibility for any use rests exclusively with the user. For additional information about the University of California, Berkeley Library's permissions policy please see: http://www.lib.berkeley.edu/about/permissions-policies

Cartons 1-38, Cardfile Box 6, and Oversize folders 1-4 are open for research. Cartons 39-47 contain unreformatted archival audiovisual materials and are currently unavailable for use in the reading room. Cardfile Boxes 1-5 contain restricted personal information and are closed to researchers until 2045.