CHINESE ASSOCIATION
Social organisations provided a vital community for Chinese immigrants in strange and often hostile surroundings. District associations based on areas of origin and villages were established, as were family (Hut Guan) associations based on surnames.
The collection contains annual reports (1889-1995), correspondence, minutes, committee papers, and newspaper cuttings. Detailed chronological indexes are available.
The National Association of Chinese-Americans (NACA)
NACA has a long history of supporting and promoting Chinese-American communities. They have been a strong advocate for the participation of Chinese-Americans in the American political process and for the preservation of their culture and heritage in the America.
NACA also hosts a variety of events that bring together Chinese dignitaries, local government officials and community leaders. Their activities have been instrumental in fostering economics, business, cultural and education exchanges between China and the United States.
In addition to hosting events, NACA has also mentored high school and college students. Their goal is to help students understand the value of Chinese culture and how it can be incorporated into mainstream American society. They also host various competitions for student organizations to showcase their best campus traditions. NACA has a rich history of community involvement and has always been committed to improving the lives of their members. This includes promoting and preserving the Chinese language, educating students, and promoting the importance of the Chinese-American relationship.
The Chinese Consolidated Benevolent Association of New England (CCBA)
The CCBA is home to family associations, a federal credit union and Chinese language classes. It also organizes activities such as the annual lion dance parade for the Lunar New Year and August Moon Festival to attract visitors to Chinatown. It also manages the Tai Tung Village and Waterford Place apartment complexes, which provide affordable housing to Chinese-American residents. CCBA also coordinates Chinatown crime watch, which involves volunteers patrolling the streets to prevent crime in the area.
During the early 20th century, CCBA was an intermediary between Chinese and non-Chinese communities. It filed many lawsuits against government agencies that discriminated against Chinese. It also helped Chinese immigrants with job-seeking and lodging, as well as marriage, burial, and medical issues.
In addition, CCBA works closely with many main stream organizations to provide services for the community. It is currently preparing an application to register its Old Quincy School building in the National Register of Historic Places.
The Chinese American Association of Minnesota (CAAM)
During this centennial year, a group of people from the Minnesota Chinese community are working to better honor their community’s history of more than a century in this state. These efforts include conducting oral history interviews with Chinese Americans of all ages. The interviews will help add to the existing records and collection, which can provide clues to ancestors’ immigration and settlement experiences.
The resulting archive will be used to develop cultural, educational and recreational programs for the local Chinese American community. In addition, CAAM has several divisions that are dedicated to serving the community including the Twin Cities Chinese Language School and the CAAM Chinese Dance Theater.
The Chicago Chinese Consulate appointed CAAM and a related nonprofit to host the St. Paul branch of its Overseas Chinese Service Center (OCSC) program in 2016, according to a Minnesota Chinese World article. The OCSCs are overseen by the Communist Party’s United Front Work Department (UFWD), which is a network that collects intelligence, exerts control over overseas Chinese-language media and influences diaspora groups.
The Chinese Consolidated Benevolent Association of Iowa (CCBAI)
CCBA members are not individuals but family associations (sometimes called Zhong Hua or Chinese Six Companies). The CCBA’s world headquarters in San Francisco on Stockton Street is painted green, yellow and red (Chinese lucky colors) with pagoda rooftops. The building is only open to members and approved visitors.
These organizations were founded to help immigrants succeed in their new homes. Look for your ancestors’ names on the lists and rosters of these organizations.
The CCBA has acted as a clearinghouse and voice for Chinese-Americans. Its members are a diverse group that includes business and professional groups, civic and cultural organizations, women’s groups and family associations. In addition, CCBA has worked to promote charitable activities and educate the public about Chinatown. It has also lobbied for the removal of discriminatory state and local laws that threatened Chinatown’s residents. The CCBA also helped families return to China by paying for their steamship passage and offering advice and financial resources.