Ethnic Studies

The National Archives are a rich source for exploring governmental and military archival materials, but their collection extends broadly into numerous facets of U.S. history. If you want to search for materials that are available online, make sure that you only check the "Archival Materials Online" box.

A central hub for digital collections in California libraries, museums, and archives. Includes materials from University of California archives and a wide range of other California institutions.

A key hub listing the holdings of hundreds of archives in California. Much of what is listed isn't digitized, but digital availability is indicated using an "eye" icon.

Your starting point for access to repositories in the collections of the many Smithsonian museums and archives.

A searchable directory of worldwide archives. Not all materials are digitized, but searches can be narrowed to include only online materials.

Per the site's own description, "The Freedom Archives contains over 12,000 hours of audio and video recordings which date from the late-1960s to the mid-90s and chronicle the progressive history of the Bay Area, the United States, and international movements. We are also in the process of scanning and uploading thousands of historical documents which enrich our media holdings."

From the site: "The Densho Archives contain primary sources that document the Japanese American experience from immigration in the early 1900s through redress in the 1980s, with a strong focus on the World War II mass incarceration."

"The Documented Border: An Open Access Digital Archive is an interdisciplinary effort whose goal is to advance understanding and awareness about the U.S.-Mexico borderlands and its peoples during a period of unprecedented societal change."

"Established in 1981, the TV Archive preserves 6000 hours of newsfilm, documentaries and other TV footage produced in the Bay Area and Northern California from the Twentieth Century."

"The Japanese American Relocation Digital Archives (JARDA) contains thousands of primary sources documenting Japanese American internment."

Provides digital collections related to the labor movement and unions, particularly in the San Francisco Bay Area.

Archives related to the 1968-9 student strike that led to the establishment of one of the first programs in Ethnic Studies in the U.S.

Additional archival material related to SFSU's School of Ethnic Studies

Houses numerous archival materials related to the South Asian Americans. Browsable by numerous categories, including theme, document type, time period, and state.

"The Welga Digital Archive - Bulosan Center for Filipino American Studies focuses on preserving and presenting the broad aspects of the Filipino American experience."

Provides scanned treaties and cession agreements between Indigenous peoples and a variety of U.S. entities.