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Asian American and Pacific Islander Materials: A Resource Guide

The Asian American and Pacific Islander Collection

In 2007, after receiving a mandate and annual appropriation from Congress, the Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) Collection was established in the Library of Congress Asian Division. The collection was developed after a survey of collections in the Library of Congress delineated AAPI primary and reference sources housed in multiple divisions. Furthermore, much of the collection material is in English. Also included within these collections are some material in Chinese, Korean, Japanese, Vietnamese, Tagalog, and other Pacific Islander, South Asian, and Southeast Asian languages. The AAPI Collection consists of papers and collections from individuals and organizations such as sociologist and historian Betty Lee Sung, author Jade Snow Wong, social worker Royal Morales, author and analyst Juanita Tamayo Lott, historian E. San Juan Jr., graphic artist James N. Miho, playwright Philip Kan Gotanda, playwright Velina Hasu Houston, and Mu Performing Arts. Also includes original mimeographed 1944 series of newsletters entitled Gung Ho! published by and for the 407th Service Squadron during World War II. Moreover, the collections relate chiefly to Asian American assimilation, communities, demography, education, exclusion laws, health, history, identity, immigration, labor, performing arts, and World War II internment.

Notice of Collection Transfer
As of December 2023, all materials in the AAPI collection have been transferred to the Manuscript Division and the American Folklife Center. See below for further details.


In November 2023, the Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) collection, which comprises a number of individual collections pertaining to notable Asian American authors, scholars, activists, and artists, among others, was transferred from the Asian Division to the custody of the Manuscript Division. Researchers may request access to the AAPI collection in the Library's Manuscript Reading Room Reading Room. For further information on the collection, please see the research guide: Asian American and Pacific Islander Materials in the Manuscript Division.

In December 2023, one significant component of the AAPI collection, the "Asian American Pacific Islander miscellaneous community collection, 1906-2013," was transferred from the Asian Division to the custody of the American Folklife Center. Researchers may request access to this collection in the American Folklife Center Reading Room.