Introduction

The Families of Vietnamese Political Prisoners Association Collection contains 157 linear feet of immigration applications, correspondence, speeches, meeting notes, financial and legal records, printed materials, and other administrative records that document the activities of the Families of Vietnamese Political Prisoners Association (FVPPA), a non-profit organization active from 1977-1999 in campaigning for the release of re-education camp prisoners in Vietnam. The records document not only the activities of the FVPPA, but also the individual stories of 12,000 applicants for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees' (UNHCR) Orderly Departure Program (ODP). The collection is arranged in six series: ODP Applications, Office Files, Resettlement Files, Master Lists of Applicants, Restricted/Reserved Files, and Oversized Documents.

Accessing the Collection

A finding aid to the complete collection is available. This finding aid is organized into series and subseries, with descriptive information and a box list of each included.

Additionally, a searchable database of the Application Names files has been created. People who find their own file listed in the database who are interested in restricting access to their files can use a link included on the page to file their request.

Privacy Information

While the Applications Series of the collection offers a wealth of demographic and genealogical knowledge to researchers, the files contain personal information on over 1 2 ,000 individuals who applied for the Orderly Departure Program. To balance researcher accessibility with privacy concerns, the Archive will keep the Applications series restricted (closed) for six months. During this time, any person who worked with the FVPPA and has concerns over personal information possibly contained within the records can contact the archive to make the appropriate arrangements to safeguard his or her privacy. A web page has been created where individuals can search a database of applicant file names, but cannot view the content of the files themselves. The web page includes contact information for the archive and instructions for individuals interested in restricting their files. On December 1, 2008, the Applications Series will be opened to the public for onsite research.

Special Thanks

This project was made possible by a grant from the National Historic Publications and Records Commission.

Return to Top