The Orange County and Southeast Asian Archive (OC&SEAA) Center at UC Irvine Libraries is celebrating 10 years of transformative growth in preserving and amplifying the region’s diverse cultural narratives. Since its official opening in May 2015, the OC&SEAA has grown into a dynamic hub that transformed how Orange County’s history and Southeast Asian diaspora experiences are documented, accessed, and understood.

Origins and Evolution

The OC&SEAA's journey began in 2013 when Dr. Thuy Vo Dang was appointed as the first archivist for the Southeast Asian Archive and Regional History. By September of that year, Vo Dang and her colleagues submitted a proposal to relocate the Southeast Asian Archive from its original location on the third floor of Langson Library into a larger, more community-oriented space.

With strong support from Endowed University Librarian Lorelei Tanji, the Libraries’ administration successfully advocated for the first floor of the Gateway Study Center to be dedicated to Orange County regional history and the Southeast Asian Archive. Within nine months, they built out the new 2,800 square feet space, which officially opened on May 13, 2015.

"We started strategizing on how we could grow both the collection and space, so that our users can start here as the beginning point for them to explore this important history," Vo Dang noted about the OC&SEAA's creation.

A Decade of Achievement

Since the 2015 opening, two major grants have supported and expanded the OC&SEAA initiatives: the 2017–2020 Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) "Transforming Knowledge, Transforming Libraries" grant of $500,000 and the 2022–2026 Carnegie Mellon Foundation "Community-Centered Archives Practice" grant of $800,000. These initiatives have established an ethical approach to archival practice that is used throughout the United States.

The OC&SEAA has remained committed to its original vision as a community-oriented facility while still expanding its scope. Krystal Tribbett joined the staff in 2017 as the Orange County Regional History archivist, codirecting the OC&SEAA with Vo Dang to make it a vital place for community-centered archives practice.

The center's work is guided by the principles of CARE: collaborative through shared authority, attentive to inequities reflected in archives, responsive to the community's needs, and engaged with the divergent priorities of communities.

Cultural Impact

Over the years, the OC&SEAA Center has held numerous events and exhibitions highlighting Orange County’s past and the histories of immigrants and refugees from Cambodia, Laos, and Vietnam.

The center has also established multiple partnerships with community groups through initiatives like the OC Archives Bazaar, establishing a network of collaborative partnerships dedicated to preserving and sharing diverse histories.

Looking Forward

As the OC&SEAA enters its second decade, it continues to expand its community-centered approach to archival work.

"We are actively engaged in and seeking ongoing noncustodial, equitable partnerships to ensure sustained preservation and access to the histories of the region, especially related to social justice and communities underdocumented in the historical record. For UC Irvine Libraries Special Collections and Archives and the Orange County and Southeast Asian Archive Center, we believe this is the future of archives and special collections stewardship," says University Archivist and Head of Special Collections and Archives Audra Eagle Yun.

The center's ongoing work aims to sustain UC Irvine Libraries' commitment to community-centered archives practice, investing resources in values-driven work that empowers students and preserves community history through collaborative partnerships built on trust and mutual growth.

Through its innovative approach to archival practice, the OC&SEAA continues to transform how communities interact with their histories, ensuring that diverse voices are heard, preserved, and celebrated for generations to come.