Honor the heritage of Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders (AANHPIs) by learning more about their lives and history.
Newspapers and other primary source documents are a great way to supplement book research. Reading directly from these sources can help you understand more about the everyday experiences of Asian Americans.
That’s why the library subscribes to Asian Life in America, a primary source collection that provides online access to 19,000 American and global sources.
What You’ll Find in the Database
Asian Life in America’s sources offer perspectives from and about Americans of Asian and Pacific Islander heritage.
You’ll find articles about notable people such as film star Anna May Wong, but you’ll also find information on everyday AANHPI people—including Kentuckians. For example, Pong Dock was a 14-year-old Chinese American who enrolled in public school in Covington, Kentucky, in 1913.
At the time, schools were segregated, and some white Covington residents claimed he should attend the African American school.
But the school superintendent ultimately allowed Pong Dock to begin first grade at the white school.
Not Sure Where to Begin?
Asian Life in America offers Suggested Searches, organized by historical eras, themes, topical areas, and events. These curated searches take the guesswork out of finding useful content.
Examples of Suggested Searches include:
- Chinese-born Yun Wing graduates from Yale College (1854)
- Philippine-American War (1898-1902)
- Life in the Japanese Internment Camps
- Swami Satchidananda arrives in the U.S. to spread his brand of yoga (1966)
- Figure skater Kristi Yamaguchi wins a gold medal at the Olympic Games in Albertville, France (1992)
Other Suggested Searches focus on more contemporary topics, such as K-pop, author Celeste Ng, and increased attacks on Asian Americans during the COVID 19 pandemic.
Get Started
Find the link to Asian Life in America on our Find Articles or All Databases webpages.
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