Records of the Asian Pacific American Cultural Center

Collection

Identifier: UAPA

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

The Records of the Asian Pacific American Cultural Center consists of documents dated 1984 to 2023, with the bulk falling from 1992 to 2010. The collection primarily documents programs and events, such as Asian Fest, P.A.L.S., and Explorers. The activities of associated clubs, especially Hui 'O Hawai'i Club (now Pacific Club), are also represented. Material types include scrapbooks, administrative files, correspondence, newsletters and promotional materials, news clippings, posters, photographic materials, audio cassettes, videotapes, CDs, Zip disks, and t-shirts. Much of the collection has been digitized and is available in CSU Libraries' digital repository, Mountain Scholar.

Dates

Creation: 1984-2023
Creation: Majority of material found in 1992-2010

Creator

Colorado State University. Asian Pacific American Cultural Center (Person)

Restrictions on Access

Some materials are restricted due to the presence of student identification numbers and other personally identifiable information. Only Asian Pacific American Cultural Center staff may access these files, and only with written permission from the APACC director or program manager.

Restrictions on Use

Not all of the material in the collection is in the public domain. Researchers are responsible for addressing copyright issues.

History

The Asian Pacific American Cultural Center (APACC) provides support for Native Hawaiian, Pacific Islander, Middle Eastern, Asian American (including Southeast Asian, Desi, adopted, mixed race) students and other historically marginalized communities at Colorado State University. Founded in November 1984 due to grassroots demands for an Asian American student advocacy office, the center was originally named Services for Asian American Students (SAAS). It was part of CSU's Advocacy Cluster (later Student Diversity Programs and Services), and the first office was located in Aylesworth Hall.

To accurately reflect SAAS's support for students from Hawaii, the center's name changed to Asian/Pacific American Student Services (A/PASS) in 1991. CSU attracted an increasing number of Asian and Pacific American students, and so the organization's services grew. In May 1997, A/PASS relocated from Aylesworth Hall to the Lory Student Center. In 2009, the center again changed its name to Asian Pacific American Cultural Center (APACC) based on recommendations from a survey of students, faculty, and staff.

Linda Ahuna-Hamill, a graduate student in 1984, served as the first director of what was then SAAS. She held the position part-time for the first two years and then full time until 2004. Mikiko Kumasaka directed the center from 2004 to 2010. JoAnn Cornell, the center's current director, assumed the role in 2010.

Since its founding, APACC has provided educational programs and volunteer opportunities for students to build community and to spread awareness of Asian American culture. For example, P.A.L.S. and Explore were mentorship programs that aimed to connect elementary school aged Asian American students in the Fort Collins area to Asian American college students at Colorado State University. The Pacific Club luau and the APACC sponsored Asian Fest were annual events that celebrated culture and built community at CSU.

The first Hawaii Club on campus was established in late 1949 or early 1950. Hui ‘O Hawai'i (also known as Hawaii Club) was re-established in 1985, a year after the founding of SAAS. In 1987, Hui 'O Hawai'i hosted the first annual luau at Colorado State University. In 2017, the club also changed its name to Pacific Club.

Extent

12 linear feet

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Abstract

The Asian Pacific American Cultural Center (APACC) provides access to resources that support Native Hawaiian, Pacific Islander, Middle Eastern, and Asian American students while at Colorado State University. Since its founding in November 1984 as Services for Asian American Students (SAAS), APACC has provided educational programs and volunteer opportunities for students to build community and to spread awareness of Asian American culture. The collection primarily documents APACC programs and events, such as Asian Fest, P.A.L.S., and Explorers. The activities of associated clubs, especially Pacific Club’s, formerly recognized as the Hui O` Hawai`i Club, annual Luau, are also represented. Material types include scrapbooks, administrative files, correspondence, newsletters and promotional materials, news clippings, posters, photographic materials, audio cassettes, videotapes, CDs, Zip disks, and t-shirts.

Arrangement

The collection consists of 5 series in 25 boxes:

Series 1: APACC, APASS, SAAS

Series 2: Hawaii Club and Pacific Club

Series 3: Scrapbooks

Series 4: Audio/Visual Materials

Subseries 4.1: Photos and Slides, 1985-2019

Subseries 4.2: Digital Media

Subseries 4.3: Analog Media

Series 5: Oversized and Artifacts

Acquisition

Records of the Asian Pacific American Cultural Center was transferred by the center's director, JoAnn Cornell, in 2015. Additional accessions were transferred in 2017, 2018, 2022, and 2023.

Online Materials

Some materials have been scanned and are available through the Colorado State University Libraries website. In the electronic version of this document, direct links appear in context.

Processing

Processing was completed in November 2023. Metal clips and staples were removed and replaced with plastic ones as necessary. Loose photos were placed in protective sleeves. The collection was refoldered in acid-free folders as necessary and reboxed. Duplicate items beyond two copies were removed. Loose compact discs (CDs) and digital versatile discs (DVDs) were placed in protective sleeves. T-shirts and an oversized award were wrapped with unbuffered tissue paper. Photos were removed from frames when possible and placed in protective sleeves. Scrapbooks that were received in 3-ring binders were removed from the original binders and placed in acid-free clamshell boxes. Where needed, scrapbook pages were removed from the original plastic sleeves and placed in archival quality protective sleeves. A scrapbook given to Maud Williamson by the Future Homemakers of Japan was moved to the Faculty and Alumni Scrapbook Collection.