Ethnic Studies
100 linear feet of material from 1800 to 1980
Collections in this category illustrate the diversity of American society and focus on the contributions of minorities and marginal groups in forming a rich cultural history. The legal, educational, political, and personal experiences of the ethnic groups noted in this subject category portray perceptions and points of view outside the mainstream of society, and widen and deepen our sense of both the past and the present.
Prominent topics include the World War II importation of Mexican workers by the United States government, Native American history, and the evolution of the civil rights movement from the pre-Civil War period through modern times.
Although there are no geographical limitations, most of the material relates to the United States between 1800-1980. Related materials may be found in the Radical Pamphlets Collection; for materials focussing specifically on civil rights in the 1960’s and 1970’s, see the Contemporary Issues Collection. The archives of the Chicano Studies Department of the University of California at Davis may also yield significant materials.