Free to Use and Reuse: Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month
Selected historical images touch on the experiences and contributions of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders while living in the United States. A formal celebration of AAPI heritage comes each May. Unless otherwise noted, the images are from the Prints & Photographs Division.
Browse more content that is free to use and reuse.
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These illustrated research guides can help you explore Library of Congress resources for Asian American and Pacific Islander Studies. -
Korean and other Asian shops and organizations in the Lakewood neighborhood, Chicago, Illinois. Photo by Jonas Dovydenas, 1977. American Folklife Center -
On Leong Merchants Association, 2216 South Wentworth Avenue, Chicago, Cook County, Illinois. Drawing, 2008 -
Scene at the Asian Lantern Festival at the Reid Park Zoo in Tucson, Arizona. Photo by Carol Highsmith, 2019 -
Representative Patsy Mink announces the formation of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus. Photo by Laura Patterson, 1994 -
The Hindu Temple and Cultural Center, near the town of Madrid in Boone County, Iowa. Photo by Carol M. Highsmith, 2016 -
Liliuokalani, the last sovereign of the Kamehameha dynasty that ruled the Hawaiian kingdom. Photo, around 1891 -
Hawaii's ex-queen files a protest. Ex-queen Liliuokalani. Newspaper clipping, 1897 -
Corporal Joseph Pierce of Co. F, 14th Connecticut Infantry Regiment (Chinese American soldier who achieved highest rank during the Civil War) Photo by William Hunt, 1862-1865 -
Anna May Wong, Chinese American Actress. Photo by Carl Van Vechten, 1935 -
Pu'ukoholā Heiau, Kawaihae, Hawaii. Temple constructed by constructed by Kamehameha the Great, 1790-91. Plan drawn in 2009. -
George Nakashima Woodworker, Showroom, New Hope, Pennsylvania. Photo by James W. Rosenthal, 2011 -
Hindu Temple (Vedanta Society), San Francisco, California. Designed by Swami Trigunatitananda with Joseph A. Leonard, architect, and built 1905-1908. -
Locke, California. Frame structures built by Chinese immigrants, 1910s-1920s, in a rural agricultural community. Photo by Jet Lowe, 1984 -
The Queen of Peace Shrine and Gardens in a largely Vietnamese neighborhood of Port Arthur, Texas. Photo by Carol M. Highsmith, 2014 -
Oakland, California. A large sign reading "I am an American" placed by a family of Japanese descent in their store window before they were incarcerated. Photo by Dorothea Lange, 1942 -
Surf riders, Honolulu. Woodcut by Charles Bartlett, 1920 -
Some of the hundreds of participants at the 10th-annual Hmong New Year Celebration in downtown Chico, California. Photo by Carol M. Highsmith, 2012 -
Hindu Temple, Austin, Texas. Photo by Carol M. Highsmith, 2014 -
Obon Festival, Senshin Gakuin and the Dharma School of the Senshin Buddhist Church of Los Angeles, California. Photo by Amy Skillman, 1982. American Folklife Center -
Transportation Secretary Norman Y. Mineta during the Senate Commerce hearing about the September 11th terrorist attacks. Photo by Scott Ferrell, 2001 -
A family group at Agat, Guam. Photo by the Keystone View Co., approximately 1910s. -
Filipino American Red Cross surgical dressing unit, Washington, D.C. Left to right: Mrs. Conchita Perez and Mrs. J. Weldon Jones. Photo, 1944. -
Graduation, First Korean School, Silver Spring, Maryland. Photo by Lucy Long, 1982 -
Chinese, Thai, and Vietnamese restaurants side by side in the Flushing neighborhood of New York City's Queens borough. Photo by Carol M. Highsmith, 2018 -
First Korean School, Silver Spring, Maryland. Photo by Lucy Long, 1982. American Folklife Center -
Civilian exclusion order #5, directing removal by April 7 of persons of Japanese ancestry, San Francisco, California. Photo by Dorothea Lange, 1942 -
Mountain View, Calif. Apr. 1942. A scene in an orchard of a 20-acre farm before the operators, of Japanese ancestry, were detained, to go later to War Relocation Authority centers for the duration. Photo by Dorothea Lange, 1942 -
Japanese-Americans clean their cemetery before they are detained. San Juan Bautista, California. Photo by Russell Lee, 1942 -
San Benito County, California. Japanese-American who is waiting for his final incarceration orders. Photo by Russell Lee, 1942" -
Los Angeles, California. Japanese-American detainees from West Coast areas under U.S. Army war emergency order. Photo by Russell Lee, 1942 -
Pictures and mementoes, Yonemitsu home, Manzanar Relocation Center. Photo by Ansel Adams, 1943. -
Tom Kobayashi, Landscape, Manzanar Relocation Center, California. Photo by Ansel Adams, 1943. -
Deadwood, South Dakota. Champion Chinese hose team of America. Photo by John C.H. Grabill, 1888 -
Chinese service. Burial service of High Lee, South Dakota. Photo by John C.H. Grabill, 1891 -
Chinese pharmacy, Los Angeles, California. Photo by Detroit Photographic Co., 1899 -
Men and child in front of building with hanging lanterns, Chinatown, San Francisco. Photo by Arnold Genthe, around 1900. -
Miss April Lou, teacher at PS 1, Manhattan, with six Chinese children, recent arrivals from Hong Kong and Formosa, . Photo by Fred Palumbo, 1964. -
Chinese dragon entry in the Battle of Flowers Parade, taken during the parade, San Antonio, Texas. Photo by Scott J. Baird, 1982. American Folklife Center -
The Cleo Rogers Memorial Library, designed by Chinese-American architect I.M. Pei in Columbus, Indiana. Photo by Carol M. Highsmith, 2016