UNB. Overseas Chinese Student Association fonds

UA RG346

Archives & Special Collections
Harriet Irving Library
University of New Brunswick
PO Box 7500, Fredericton, NB E3B 5H5


Contents

Series:
  1. OCSA Operational Records
  2. Membership Records
  3. Photographs
  4. Miscellaneous


Title: UNB. Overseas Chinese Student Association fonds . -- 1964-2011. -- 112.5 cm of textual records; 673 photographs; 107 slides; 1 artifact.

Administrative History: The Overseas Chinese Student Association (OCSA) at UNB was officially founded on Friday, November 6, 1964. At that time, the constitution was discussed and approved, the executive was elected, and Mr. Tony Yen was chosen as president. In its first year, the OCSA boasted 40 members. It was decided in 1965 that membership would be open to all students on the UNB and STU campuses, rather than just Chinese students, as this would allow the association to be affiliated with the SRC.

The main objectives of the association are to promote friendship and better understanding among overseas Chinese students, UNB and the Fredericton Community; to work for the interests and welfare of all overseas Chinese students; and to render assistance to new students coming to the University of New Brunswick. It also strives to promote Chinese culture and traditions. Activities within the group include such things as a mid-autumn BBQ, movie nights, a Chinese New Year Banquet & Cultural Show and an Orientation party. As well, the association started a Chinese radio program on CHSR in the 1985 - 1986 academic year, and in September 1995 set up a web site on the Internet.

There have been various changes throughout the years, primarily due to the increasing number of Chinese students studying at UNB who come from different countries in Asia. When the association was founded, approximately half of the members were from Taiwan. In 1999, however, there are few Taiwan students on campus, and most OCSA members come from Hong Kong, Malaysia and Singapore. As a result, rather than being the only Chinese organization in Fredericton which all Chinese people join, it is now just one of many, including the Malaysian Students Society, the Chinese Cultural Association of New Brunswick and the Chinese Students and Scholars Association.

Custodial History: Since about 1980, all records were in the custody of Dr. Anthony Lister, who acted as the group's faculty advisor.

Scope and Content: This fonds reflects the history of the Overseas Chinese Student Association at UNB. It contains operational records from 1964-2011, such as annual reports, minutes, correspondence, membership records, and constitutions. Also included in this fonds are photographs and slides of various OCSA events, posters, programs, questionnaires, Chinese movie memorabilia, and ephemera associated with Chinese New Year Festivals. As well, there is a ten year run of the OCSA's financial records.

This fonds is arranged into four series: 1) OCSA Operational Records. -- 1964-2011; 2) Membership records. -- 1966-2010; 3) Photographs. -- 1978-2002; predominant 1978-1982 and 4) Miscellaneous. -- 1964-1999

Notes:

Title: Title is based on the contents of the fonds.

Extent: 388 photographs; b&w and col.; 14.7 cm x 10.0 cm and smaller; 285 negatives; b&w and col; 35 mm.

Source of Acquisition: Bulk of fonds was transferred to the UNB Archives on March 29, 1999 by the Executive of the OCSA through Dr. Anthony Lister. Records for 1999-2000 were deposited on Mar. 21, 2000. 100 slides were deposited on Mar. 7, 2002. Records for 2003-2004 were deposited on April 5, 2004. Photographs and negatives of the 2001 and 2002 Chinese New Year Banquet and Show were deposited on March 16, 2006. Records were also deposited on April 12, 2006; April 19, 2007; Feb. 9, 2009; and Feb. 14, 2011. See donor file for details.

Language: Documentation is frequently in both Chinese and English.

Restrictions:

Access: Textual records are restricted for thirty years from the date of their creation. Access in this time period is only with written permission of the current President of the OCSA. There is no restriction on access to graphic material held apart from the textual records.

The OCSA executive retains the right to access, and borrow temporarily if necessary, both textual and graphic materials required for them to conduct their business affairs or for display purposes.

Reproduction: Permission of the current President of OCSA is required for reproduction of graphic material. Publication rights are retained by the OCSA on all records of their association, both textual and graphic.

Related Material: The Anthony C. Lister fonds, UA RG 351, contains an extensive collection of slides documenting OCSA activities.

Other: The division between the content of series 1 and 4 is sometimes arbitrary; therefore it is wise to search both series when looking for a particular subject.

Untitled files or files originally titled in Chinese have been given a title in English, based on contents. These files are annotated in the listings of file titles.


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email address archives@unb.ca
Last Update:  2011/03/23