In 1992, May was designated Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month to honor the rich histories and contributions of Asian Americans in the United States. For family historians, this month presents an opportunity to discover the stories, explore migration journeys, and preserve the voices of Asians and Pacific Islanders who have played integral roles in building America.
We can help rediscover and reclaim these stories by exploring available resources like immigration and naturalization records that document their journeys to and in America. Historical newspapers can uncover stories and give us a sense of what life was like in the times and places where Asian and Pacific Islanders settled.
By researching and sharing these stories, we ensure that Asian American ancestors and their legacies are not forgotten. Join the National Genealogical Society (NGS) in honoring Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month this May.
Here are some resources that can aid you in your quest to preserve and research this history.
Chinese Historical Society of America.
FamilySearch Immigration and Naturalization (databases with images). While these collections typically cover all of the records for a particular location, there are also quite a few Asian- and Pacific Island-specific databases.
FamilySearch Wiki: Asia and Middle East.
FamilySearch Wiki: Pacific Island Guide.
FamilySearch Wiki: South Korea Genealogy.
Filipino American National Historical Society
Hoji Shinbun Japanese Newspaper Digital Collection. The “world’s largest online archive of open-access, full image Japanese American and other overseas Japanese newspapers in Asia and South America.”
My Koseki. Japanese Family Register Tool for locating vital family records for ancestors in Japanese city registers.
National Archives - Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Heritage Month.
National Archives - Chinese Immigration and the Chinese in the United States.
National Archives - WWII Japanese Americans Incarceration. Records of incarcerations in War Relocation Authority (WRA) Camps.
National Japanese American Historical Society
Siyi Chinese Genealogy Forum. Message boards for Chinese Genealogy.
