Asian American and Pacific Islander Studies

Welcome to the Asian American & Pacific Islander research guide!

This research guide was designed to provide resources for social and literary research and to highlight both RCBC Library's resources and other freely available resources for our students.

Why was May selected as Asian American & Pacific Islander Month? 

May was selected because of its historical significance:   

• May 7, 1843 - The 1st immigrant from Japan arrived in the United States. 
• May 10, 1869 - The Transcontinental Railroad was completed.  The majority of workers who completed the railroad were Chinese immigrants.  

Source: https://www.asianpacificheritage.gov/about/

A brief history of Asian American & Pacific Islander Month:

• 1976 - Jennie Jew approached US Representatives to dedicate a month to Asian Pacific Americans
• 1977 - US Representatives Horton & Minetas introduced a resolution for the first 10 days of May to be designated "Asian-Pacific Week"
• 1978 - President Jimmy Carter signed the joint resolution for the celebration (PL 95-419)
• 1990 - President George H. W. Bush signed a bill to extend celebration from a week to a month (PL101-283)
• 1992 - May officially becomes an annual "Asian/Pacific American Month" (PL 102-450) 
• 2009 - President Barack Obama signed Proclamation 8369 to designate May as "Asian American & Pacific Islander Month" 

(Sources: https://www.asianpacificheritage.gov/about/ ; https://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/documents/proclamation-8369-asian-american-and-pacific-islander-heritage-month-2009; https://time.com/5592591/asian-pacific-heritage-month-history/)