VACA Supports Southeast Asian Archive

(left to right) Chancellor Michael Drake, VACA Chair
Daniel Do-Khanh, and Wells Fargo Regional President
Rob Myers. Photo by Allan Helmick

The Vietnamese American Community Ambassadors (VACA), a chapter of the UCI Alumni Association, launched a fundraising effort for the UCI Libraries' Southeast Asian Archive at a media event in December 2011. At the event, VACA and UCI Chancellor Michael Drake announced a joint commitment to raise matching gifts totaling $50,000 to hire an archivist for the nationally recognized Southeast Asian Archive.

The Southeast Asian Archive was established in 1987 due to the inspiration and assistance of the local Vietnamese American community and UCI Librarian Anne Frank who began collecting resettlement materials and even paintings from people who spent time in refugee camps as they made their way to the U.S. after the end of the Vietnam War in 1975. Today, the Archive includes thousands of books, journals and ephemera, but there is a need to hire a professional archivist to manage the collection and catalog new donations.

"The Southeast Asian Archive is a gem that we have. It's unique. There's no other university or library that has a collection that we have,"

Wells Fargo Bank became the first donor to pledge support of VACA's fundraising effort by announcing a gift of $10,000. Representatives were on hand to present the check to VACA Chair Daniel Do-Khanh and Chancellor Drake. Since that time additional gifts have come in from individuals and organizations totaling over $15,000 and more contributions are expected.

"The Southeast Asian Archive is a gem that we have. It's unique. There's no other university or library that has a collection that we have," said Do-Khanh. "And I think that over the years, the collection has grown and it's strong, but there are realities, which is the budget, staffing. How do we grow this collection? How do we maintain it first and how do we grow it? And so this is a very important juncture for us."

Former Interim University Librarian Jerry Lowell expressed his sincere appreciation and support of VACA's efforts. "We are truly impressed with VACA's commitment to help us raise the stature of this important Archive for the community and for scholarly research. One of our highest priorities is to build premier special collections that represent the unique geographical setting that we are in. It is very admirable that VACA understands the importance of preserving their history and heritage through the Archive."

To make a gift in support of the VACA Fundraising Initiative, please click here or contact Julie Sully, Interim Director of Development at 949.824.4658 or jsully@uci.edu.

An Open House for the Southeast Asian Archive will be held on May 3rd at 5pm in Langson Library. The event will feature a performance by Refugee Nation and tours of the Archive. For further information, please contact Christina Woo, Southeast Asian Archive Librarian, at 949.824.4974 or cjwoo@uci.edu.