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Chinese American Citizens Alliance (Houston Chapter) records

 Collection
Identifier: MS 0606
Finding aid note: Stored offsite at the Library Service Center and require 24-hour notice for retrieval. Please contact the Woodson Research Center at 713-348-2586 or woodson@rice.edu for more information.

Scope and Contents

The Chinese American Citizens Alliance records contain documents and artifacts relating to the CACA, at the national and Houston levels, as well as personal papers of Edward K.T. Chen and other various papers on Asian and Chinese Americans.

Dates

  • Creation: 1953-2024

Creator

Language of Materials

Materials are in Chinese (booklets) and English.

Conditions Governing Access

This material is open for research.

Stored offsite at the Library Service Center and require 24-hour notice for retrieval. Please contact the Woodson Research Center at 713-348-2586 or woodson@rice.edu for more information.

Use restrictions

Permission to publish material from the Chinese American Citizens Alliance papers must be obtained from the Woodson Research Center, Fondren Library.

Historical Note

The Chinese American Citizens Alliance is an organization created in 1895 in San Francisco, California by a group of Chinese Americans who wished to celebrate their heritage and fight against the prejudice they were facing at the time. The Alliance’s purpose was to provide support for the Chinese American community, as well as other Asian American groups, by linking the traditions and culture of their homeland with the ideals and customs of America. They also fought to represent the rights of Chinese Americans and were instrumental in improving the legal status of Chinese Americans and other Asian Americans across the country.

The Alliance’s first name, “Native Sons of the Golden State,” was replaced in 1915 for the “Chinese American Citizens Alliance” due to increased national interest. The San Francisco site became the Grand Lodge and acts as the governing body of the Alliance, with 18 existing Lodges across the country.

The Houston Lodge was established in 1954 with Edward K.T. Chen as the founding President. Along with providing a close relationship with the Chinese American community of Houston, the Houston Lodge has presented the Miss Chinatown Houston Scholarship Pageant every year since 1971.

Extent

5 Linear Feet (5 boxes)

Abstract

This collection contains correspondence, programs, and other papers regarding or created by the Chinese American Citizens Alliance (CACA), related to the national organization or to the Houston Lodge specifically, as well as personal papers of Edward K.T. Chen. It also contains a variety of materials about Asian-Americans and Chinese-Americans. (3 boxes)

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Donated by Dr. Edward C.M. Chen on September 26, 2012, Mrs. Linda Wu in November, 2015, Mrs. Judy Lee, in 2021, and Dr. Anne Chao, 2024.

Accruals

Additional materials may be acquired for this collection.

Related Materials

Houston Asian American Archives oral history interviews, 1980-2015, MS 573 http://library.rice.edu/collections/WRC/finding-aids/manuscripts/0573">http://library.rice.edu/collections/WRC/finding-aids/manuscripts/0573

Edward C.M. Chen Family Collection, MS 561 http://library.rice.edu/collections/WRC/finding-aids/manuscripts/0561">http://library.rice.edu/collections/WRC/finding-aids/manuscripts/0561

Title
Guide to the Chinese American Citizens Alliance (Houston Chapter) records, 1953-2024
Status
Completed
Author
Amanda Focke
Date
2014
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin
Language of description note
English

Repository Details

Part of the Woodson Research Center, Rice University, Houston, Texas Repository

Contact:
Fondren Library MS-44, Rice University
6100 Main St.
Houston Texas 77005 USA
713-348-2586