Guide to the Chinese American Voters Education Committee archives CEMA 61
Callie Bowdish, Greg Simon, Chip Badley and Paola Nova
UC Santa Barbara Library, Department of Special Research Collections
University of California, Santa Barbara
Santa Barbara 93106-9010
Phone Number: (805) 893-3062
special@library.ucsb.edu
Contributing Institution:
UC Santa Barbara Library, Department of Special Research Collections
Title: Chinese American Voters Education Committee archives
Identifier/Call Number: CEMA 61
Physical Description:
6 Linear Feet
(10 document boxes, 4 oversize boxes)
Date (inclusive): 1984-2000
Date (bulk): 1986-1992
Abstract: The Chinese American Voters Education Committee (CAVEC) Archives covers the period from 1985 to 1996. In this collection there
is overlap between CAVEC and the Chinese American Democratic Club (CADC). Most of the documents are Chinese American Democratic
Club related records. San Francisco local politics are viewed from this group's interaction with politicians, political groups,
and coalitions. The club's newsletters, administrative records and clippings focus on political activities and civil rights
important to Chinese Americans in San Francisco.
Language of Material:
English
.
Conditions Governing Access
This collection is open for research.
Biographical / Historical
The Chinese American Voters Education Committee (CAVEC) was founded in 1976 and incorporated as a 501(c)3 non-profit, public
benefit corporation in 1978 by a group of community activists who foresaw the emergences of the then relatively small Asian
american community as an integral part of San Francisco's civic life.
The mission of the organization was and continues to be to support the enfranchisement of Asian Americans, particularly new
citizens, into American civic, cultural and social life. CAVEC has been at the forefront of developing citizen education programs
for the Asian American community. Through community dialogue, bilingual citizen guides, bilingual leadership and grass-roots
organizing, CAVEC has played an instrumental role in the birth of public consciousness in San Francisco's immigrant Asian
American community.
CAVEC's accomplishments include serving as the community primary resource for voting rights education and advocacy; educating
and influencing several generations of Asian American community leaders including Judges Lillian Sing, Julie Tang and Lenard
Louie, Supervisors Tom Hsieh, Mabel Teng and Leland Yee and activists like Andrew Sun, Henry Der, Grant Din, Harold Yee and
Isabel Huie; attracting generations of immigrants to community service, voting and volunteerism through public education campaigns;
and serving as the community repository of technical and administrative expertise in demographic and sociological analysis.
by Douglas S. Chan, Chairman 1997 and David E. Lee, Executive Director 1997
Preferred Citation
Chinese American Voters Education Committee, CEMA 61, Department of Special Collections, University Library, University of
California, Santa Barbara.
Processing Note
This collection was processed by Callie Bowdish, Greg Simon, Chip Badley, and Paola Novo-Araya at CEMA in May 2009.
Related Collections
Chinese American Democratic Club Archives (CEMA 49), Chinese American Political Association Archives. (CEMA 48) and Kearny
Street Workshop Archives (CEMA 33)
Scope Note
The Chinese American Voters Education Committee (CAVEC) Archives, CEMA 61, along with the Chinese American Democratic Club
Archives (CADC), CEMA 49, chronicle an important San Francisco group dedicated to keeping Asian Americans politically active
in San Francisco. Most of the documents are CADC related records. Administrative functions, special events, and topics of
special concern to them are represented in this collection's documents. Issues important to CAVEC members, as well as other
members of the community, such as housing, education, civil rights, affirmative action and San Francisco politics are covered
in this collection. CAVEC's affiliations with other San Francisco groups and officials are apparent in their correspondence,
endorsements, and newsletter documents.
Series Description
Series I Administrative Records 1985 – 1995
Administrative records includes traditional board documents such as agendas, minutes and budget information. The CADC Issues
Committee and CADC Political Technology Committee's documents are part of this series. The series spans from 1985 to 1995
with bulk dates between 1986 and 1991.
Series II Correspondence 1983 – 1990
Correspondence both incoming and outgoing gives the best insight into what was politically important to this group. Also included
are official government documents as well as correspondence between club members.
Series III Endorsements and Candidate Information 1980s-1990s
Endorsements and candidate information includes publications and fliers providing information about various candidates running
for offices in the City and County of San Francisco. CADC interview documents are included. The series spans from the 1980s
to the 1990s and includes information on prominent San Francisco politicians, some who became U.S. senators such as Senator
Diane Feinstein.
Series IV Events 1980s – 1990s
Events include CADC-hosted events as well as ones that CADC and CAVEC members attended. These events include campaign fundraisers,
anniversaries, and other occasions. This series spans from the 1980s to the 1990s.
Series V Club Newsletters and Press Releases 1983 - 1996
Both internally-produced newsletters and publications as well as externally produced articles about the CADC and CAVEC are
included. There is an extensive collection of the CADC
Fiery Dragon News. This series spans from 1983 to 1996.
Series VI Government Documents 1983-1991
The series contains official government-produced election material including ballots and mailers. It spans from 1983 to 1991.
Series VII CAVEC (Chinese American Voters Education Committee) 1978-1996
The series contains correspondence, notes, memos, and other documents pertaining to the Chinese American Voters Education
Committee. Also included in this series is information on the Asian American Voter Registration movement of 1995 as well as
CAVEC recruitment documents. Dates covered are from 1978 to 1996.
Series VIII CAABA (Council of Asian American Business Associations) 1986-1988
CAABA (Council for Asian American Business Associations) is a statewide non-profit organization that seeks to promote the
interests of the Asian American business community in California. (taken from CAABA website, http://www.caaba.org) Dates
covered are from 1986 to 1988.
Series IX Subject Files 1980-1990s
This series includes files on Asian American politics, education, government, housing, San Francisco politics, and other miscellaneous
subjects such as the Embarcadero Freeway demolition of 1991. This series spans from 1980 to 1990s with bulk dates between
1985 and 1994.
Series X Videos (undated)
Includes two video tapes associated with CAVEC. Both tapes are Public Service Announcements (PSAs), commercial-length spots
designed to promote an oftentimes political or organizational topic. Both PSAs in CEMA 61 focus on the Asian American vote
and the importance of registering to vote and subsequently voting. Both PSAs are approximately thirty seconds long with accompanying
footage on both tapes. One tape is from 1992 and the other is undated.
Series XI Miscellanea (undated)
This box contains assorted business cards, newspapers, campaign buttons and CAVEC buttons.
Conditions Governing Use
Property rights to the collection and physical objects belong to the Regents of the University of California acting through
the Department of Special Research Collections at the UCSB Library. All applicable literary rights, including copyright to
the collection and physical objects, are protected under Chapter 17 of the U.S. Copyright Code and may be retained by the
creator and the copyright owner, heir(s), or assigns.
All requests to reproduce, quote from, or otherwise reuse collection materials must be submitted in writing to the Department
of Special Research Collections at UCSB at special@ucsb.edu. Consent is given on behalf of the Regents of the University
of California acting through the Department of Special Research Collections at UCSB as the owner of the physical items and
is not intended to include or imply permission from the copyright owner. Such permission must be obtained from the copyright
owner, heir(s), or assigns. It is the responsibility of the researcher to determine who holds the copyright and pursue the
copyright owner or their assignees for permission to publish where the UC Regents do not hold the copyright.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Administrative records
Chinese Americans -- California -- San Francisco
Chinese Americans -- Politics and government
Series I Administrative Records
box 1, folder 11
CADC Issues Committee
1991
box 1, folder 12
CADC Political Technology Committee
1987
box 3, folder 1-6
Retreat Information
1980-1995
box 3, folder 7-17
Rosters and Mailing Lists
1980-1992
box 4, folder 1-2
Rosters and Mailing Lists
1991-1993
box 4, folder 3-8
Rules and Bylaws
1980-1990
Series III Endorsements and Candidate Information
box 5, folder 2-12
Endorsements and Candidate Information
box 5, folder 13-15
Ballot Pamphlet
1990-1991
box 6, folder 4
CADC- 1991 Chinese New Year Dinner
box 6, folder 11-12
Molinari fundraising Event 1987
Series V Club Newsletters and Press Releases
Series VI Government Documents
box 8, folder 7-10
Government Documents
1983-1991
box 9, folder 11
CAVEC- Asian American Voter Registration 1995
box 9, folder 12
CAVEC- Recruitment Documents
drawer Miscellaneous Posters
CAVEC- Poster with Registration Forms Attached
undated
General Physical Description: The text on the poster reads "Just a Reminder: You Can Determine The Destiny of Your Child If You Vote. Register Early and
Vote." Below the poster, forms are stapled. The image on the poster includes an Asian boy and girl in black and white.
box 9, folder 13-18
Council of Asian American Business Associations
1986-1988
box 10, folder 1-3
Asian American Bar Association of the Grater Bay Area
1987-1989
box 10, folder 7
"California's Asian Population" and miscellaneous articles
box 10, folder 8
City and County of San Francisco
box 10, folder 10
Embarcadero Freeway Demolition 1991
box 10, folder 11
First Chinese Baptist Church
box 10, folder 14
The Skilled Campaign Worker workshop 1986
CAVEC PSA Tape 1 V3406/VHS
Language of Material: Chinese.
Video Description
PSA (Public Service Announcemnt) of Asian children and teenagers reciting the American Pledge of Allegience. PSA concludes
with "For their future, register and vote." The text is both written on the screen in English and spoken in Chinese. CAVEC
information listed at bottom of the screen. PSA is followed by a recording of a sporting event with accompanying commericals.
1992.
CAVEC PSA Tape 2 V3407/VHS
Video Description
PSA of an Asian woman alone in an apartment. She hears and repeats continuous phrases and then asks for her turn to talk.
Text at the end of the PSA reads, "You don't have a voice if you don't vote." CAVEC information listed at end of PSA. PSA
repeats 6 times on the video. Undated.
Series XI Miscellanea and Newspapers
Oversize Box
This box contains assorted business cards, newspapers and newspaper articles, campaign buttons and CAVEC buttons.
box 12-14, box Oversize
The San Francisco Journal
June 1976 - July 1980
