Asian & Asian-American History at Duke University

This guide is designed to help researchers begin their research on Asian, Pacific Islander, and Asian-American students, faculty, and staff at Duke using the collections of the Duke University Archives. It is not intended to be a comprehensive bibliography, though University Archives staff periodically review and update it as our collections expand.

The information in this guide is separated into five sections. Please use the tabs at the left to navigate to each section.

• Secondary Sources: These items include research papers, theses, and books by Duke students, as well as outside researchers, on AAPI history at Duke.
• Archival Collections: These collections were received from University departments, faculty, alumni, and organizations, and contain primary sources, like correspondence, meeting minutes, scrapbooks, and subject files.
• Campus Publications: These titles include publications produced by AAPI students at Duke, as well as general Duke publications that include articles on AAPI community members.
• Photographs, Audio Recordings, & Film / Video
• Related Websites & Online Resources

After reviewing this guide, please contact a University Archives staff member if you need further assistance in locating additional resources.

The Duke University Archives, part of the David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library, is the official repository for the historical records of Duke University. Visit our website to learn more about us!

The materials described in this guide may be used in the Rubenstein Library's reading room.

Please note that university administrative records are restricted for 25 years, except with written permission from the office that created the records. Board of Trustees records are restricted for 50 years, except with written permission from the Board of Trustees. Find more information about University Archives access policies.

Helpful Links:

• Reading Room hours
• Directions to the Rubenstein Library reading room
• Register as a Rubenstein Library patron and request materials
• Ordering reproductions of Rubenstein Library materials
• How to cite Rubenstein Library materials

Whether you're looking for students, faculty, or staff, the Chronicle is always a great first place to search! Be aware that faculty and staff members' position titles may change over time, so browse through your search results list for an article from roughly the same time period you're researching--that way, you'll know exactly what role the faculty or staff member served in at that time.

If you're looking for a faculty or staff member, there are some other things you might try:

1. Search on their name in the Rubenstein Library's collection guide database. You may find a mention of them in a collection guide that'll explain who they are. Or if we have their papers, the collection guide will include a biographical note about them--and you can also see if there's anything in their papers that might be relevant to your research!
2. Googling is totally fine! They may have a wikipedia page or scholarly journals may include obituaries when they die--those often come up in google searches.
3. If you really want to know all about the person, check and see if they have a folder in the News Service Biographical Files or the Biographical Reference Collection.

For faculty, staff, or students/alums, you can also use Ancestry to locate census records, immigration documentation, and more.