Rocky Chin Papers
Call Number
Dates
Creator
Extent
Language of Materials
Abstract
Rockwell "Rocky" Chin has been active in labor, community, and civil rights struggles in New York City since the early 1980s, particularly through his involvement with various Asian Pacific American (APA) organizations. Spanning between 1966 to 2016, with the bulk of materials from 1984-2001, this collection documents Chin's work as an activist, his involvement in political campaigns, and his teaching. Materials include correspondence, memoranda, meeting minutes, newsletters, publications and reports, legal briefs, brochures, event and conference programs, speech and article drafts, flyers, press releases, and newspaper clippings. A large portion of the collection pertains to Chin's service on the New York City Commission on Human Rights and materials related to Asian American movement groups like Basement Workshop, APA labor unions, the Asian American studies movement, demonstrations and rallies organized around redistricting issues, and Asian American involvement in various local and national political campaigns. There are also collected publications, reports, and audiovisual recordings related to Asian American cultural events and labor and community activism.
Biographical Note
Rockwell "Rocky" Chin has lived and worked in Lower Manhattan since the early 1980s, where he has been active in labor, community, and civil rights struggles. He was born in Washington, D.C. and completed his undergraduate studies at Lehigh University. Chin went on to receive a master's degree in City Planning from Yale University in 1971 and a law degree from the University of Southern California in 1974.
At the New York City Commission on Human Rights (HRC), Chin served as Assistant Deputy Commissioner for Community Relations, Acting General Counsel, and Supervising Attorney. In addition to prosecuting and mediating discrimination cases at the Commission, Chin participated in the HRC's efforts to eliminate exclusive male-only private clubs, address discrimination against immigrants, and eliminate barriers for people with disabilities.
In September 1992, Chin helped organize the first City Hall conference addressing the concerns of the city's Asian Pacific American communities. He attended the founding convention of the National Rainbow Coalition (now Rainbow/PUSH), helped coordinate support for Jesse Jackson and David Dinkins during their successful New York City campaigns, served as Treasurer for the Honorable Doris Ling-Cohen, and was the campaign manager for Sau Ngar Li and Danny Yip's Community School District 2 campaigns.
Chin is a member of the American Bar Association's Coordinating Committee on Immigration, the New York City Organizing Committee for Citizen Action, the New York Immigration Coalition, the Lower East Side Call for Justice, and the Asian Pacific American Labor Alliance, AFL-CIO. He has served as honorary board member of the Asian American Arts Alliance and as board member of Mobilizing For Justice (MFJ) Legal Services, Inc. For many years, Chin also served as Vice Chair of Leadership Education for Asian Pacifics (LEAP) and as Civil Rights Chair of the National Asian Pacific American Bar Association (NAPABA). He is a founder of the Asian American Bar Association of New York (AABANY) and a former president of AABANY.
In 2001, Chin ran and was defeated in the race for City Council as representative for District 1. He is a former member of Community Board 3 (Lower East Side).
Chin has taught at Hunter College, City College, Cornell University's School of Law, and New York University. He is married to May Chen, who served as an officer for Local 23-25 and as International Vice President of the International Ladies' Garment Workers' Union (later UNITE, UNITE/HERE, and Workers United).
From 2007-2015, Chin served as Director of the Office of Equal Opportunity and Diversity at the New York State Division of Human Rights. He has served as an AARP-New York Executive Council Member since 2016, and was named Commissioner of the New York City Commission on Human Rights in 2019.
Arrangement
The Rocky Chin Papers is arranged into three series:
Series I. Activism
Series II. Political Campaigns
Series III. Teaching
Scope and Contents
Spanning between 1966 to 2016, with the bulk of materials from 1984-2001, this collection documents Rockwell "Rocky" Chin's work as an activist, his involvement in political campaigns, and his teaching. Consisting of both paper and electronic formats, Rocky Chin's collection contains correspondence, memoranda, meeting minutes, newsletters, publications and reports, legal briefs, brochures, event and conference programs, speech and article drafts, flyers, press releases, and newspaper clippings. A large portion of the collection pertains to Chin's service on the New York City Commission on Human Rights (HRC) and materials related to Asian American movement groups like Basement Workshop, APA labor unions, the demonstrations and rallies organized around redistricting issues, and Asian American involvement in various local and national political campaigns. There are also collected publications, reports, and audiovisual recordings related to Asian American cultural events and labor activism. The publications in this collection include books and studies from national press outlets as well as issues of newsletters and periodicals from local community groups across the country and activist organizations. There is a portion of materials documenting Chin's 2001 run for City Council representative for District 1, which includes completed candidate questionnaires and surveys, printed campaign literature, printouts of digital photographs, a campaign banner, and photographic contact sheets. To a lesser extent, the collection contains Chin's teaching materials for his courses on Asian American studies. Some materials in this collection may have been created by Chin's wife, May Chen.
Subjects
Organizations
People
Topics
Donors
Conditions Governing Access
Materials are open without restrictions.
Conditions Governing Use
This collection is protected by copyright and/or related rights. You are free to use materials in the collection in any way that is permitted by the copyright and related rights legislation that applies to your use. For other uses you need to obtain permission from the rights-holder(s).
Preferred Citation
Identification of item, date; Rocky Chin Papers; WAG 325; box number; folder number or item identifier; Tamiment Library/Robert F. Wagner Labor Archives, New York University.
Location of Materials
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Donated by Rocky Chin and his wife, May Chen, in January 2012. The accession number associated with this gift is 2012.008.
Rocky Chin donated an additional 4 boxes of collected periodicals and recordings in 2018. The accession number associated with this gift is 2018.025.
Audiovisual Access Policies and Procedures
Audiovisual materials have not been preserved and may not be available to researchers. Materials not yet digitized will need to have access copies made before they can be used. To request an access copy, or if you are unsure if an item has been digitized, please contact Tamiment Library and Robert F. Wagner Labor Archives, special.collections@nyu.edu, 212-998-2596 with the collection name, collection number, and a description of the item(s) requested. A staff member will respond to you with further information.
Born-Digital Access Policies and Procedures
Advance notice is required for the use of computer records. Original physical digital media is restricted. An access terminal for born-digital materials in the collection is available by appointment for reading room viewing and listening only. Researchers may view an item's original container and/or carrier, but the physical carriers themselves are not available for use because of preservation concerns.
Appraisal
After the first donation in 2012, approximately 0.25 linear feet of widely distributed newspapers (NY Times, Washington Post, etc.) from the 2008 presidential election were discarded. During processing in 2020, out-of-scope, duplicate, and mold-damaged materials were deaccessioned, including an election banner, campaign signs, optical discs, and conference proceedings.
Separated Materials
Approximately 1.5 linear feet of books, newsletters, and comic books were separated for library cataloging.
About this Guide
Processing Information
During processing in 2020, original folders were retained whenever possible. Where appropriate, materials were rehoused in archival folders. If original folder titles are available, they were transcribed onto the new folder with descriptive enhancements by the archivist as necessary. If the original folder was kept, loose labels were stapled to ensure accurate titling and prevent loss of information. Loose paper materials were placed in archival folders with descriptive titles by the archivist. In February 2020, mold-damaged and out-of-scope materials were deaccessioned. Two optical disks were identified and inventoried, and forensically imaged, analyzed, and arranged in Forensic Toolkit.
New York University Libraries follows professional standards and best practices when imaging, ingesting, and processing born-digital material in order to maintain the integrity of the content.
In 2021, narrative description in the Series I scope note was edited to more accurately describe the forced removal and incarceration of Japanese Americans during World War II.
Researchers can access previous versions of the finding aid in our GitHub repository at https://github.com/NYULibraries/findingaids_eads/commits/master/tamwag/wag_325.xml.
Revisions to this Guide
Repository
Series I. Activism, 1968-2016, inclusive
Extent
Scope and Contents
The Activism series consists of materials documenting Rocky Chin's organizing and professional work with the New York City Commission on Human Rights, as well as the cultural events, strikes, and demonstrations in which he was involved. Materials include newsletters, correspondence, memos, meeting minutes, conference programs, brochures, booklets, flyers, speeches, T-shirts, posters, demonstration signs, optical discs, and a VHS tape. Of note are the materials documenting the organization and implementation of the first New York City Hall conference roundtable in 1992 addressing the concerns of the city's Asian Pacific American communities. These documents include press releases, memos, correspondence, reports, schedules, invitations, speeches, summaries and lists of attendees and issues.
A large portion of the Activism series consists of research files which informs Rocky Chin's work in his various organizational roles, his work at the New York City Commission on Human Rights, his interests as a professor, and while campaigning. Some of these materials highlight various issues such as employment discrimination, Japanese American World War II incarceration and reparations, language rights, redistricting and rezoning initiatives, the Asian American studies movement, city projects (e.g. Chung Park Project, Foley Square Courthouse Project), the Vincent Chin case, negative media depictions of Asian Americans, among many other subjects. These research files include materials such as periodicals, publications, reports, legal briefs, newspaper clippings, and event and conference programs.
Arrangement
This series is arranged chronologically.
Asian American Movement, 1968-1988, inclusive
Health Care in Chinatown, 1968, 1971, inclusive
Chinatown Housing Committee Study, 1969, inclusive
Asians in America Bibliography, 1970, inclusive
Asian Movement – Asian News Service, 1970-1971, inclusive
Basement Workshop, 1970-1985, inclusive
Newsletters and Promotional Material, 1970-1978, 1984, inclusive
Publications, circa 1970s, inclusive
Reports and Newsletters, 1970-1989, inclusive
Chinatown Street Fair, 1971-1973, inclusive
The Philippines, 1971-1973, 1980, inclusive
Harry Wong, circa 1972, inclusive
Asian Americans for Action Newsletter, 1972-1975, inclusive
New York Asian Coalition, 1972-1973, inclusive
Canada - Summer Youth Conference Program, 1973, inclusive
United Asian Communities Center – Bulletin Activities, 1973-1976, inclusive
Newsletters and Promotional Material, 1973-1977, 1990, inclusive
Asian Americans for Equal Opportunity Newsletters, 1973-1975, 1986-1988, inclusive
Periodicals and Event Programs, 1973-1988, inclusive
Publications, 1973-1988, inclusive
Asian American Student Association Periodicals, 1974-1978, 1980-1988, inclusive
Event Ephemera, 1975-1981, inclusive
Mao Memorial Speech, 1976 September, inclusive
Asian American Student Organizations, 1976-1988, 1995, inclusive
Asian American History Television Series Proposal, 1977, inclusive
Young/Chin v. U.S.A., 1978, inclusive
APA Heritage Festival Programs, 1979-1981, inclusive
Asian American Student Associations, 1979-1989, inclusive
T-Shirt – V. Chin (6-19-82), circa 1980s, inclusive
Asian Americans and Politics, 1980-1992, 2000, inclusive
Unity, 1980, inclusive
NCRR (National Coalition Reparations Redress), 1980-1986, inclusive
Asian American Student Association Periodicals, 1980-1988, 1995, inclusive
C.A.N. Charlie Chan, 1980-1981, inclusive
Racism in Film, 1981, inclusive
Asians in Media, 1981, 1993, inclusive
Reports and Periodicals, 1982-1989, inclusive
The Philippines, 1982-1990, 1999, inclusive
Publications – Japanese Americans, 1983-1997, inclusive
Racist Violence, 1983-1984, inclusive
News Clippings – Vincent Chin, 1983-1984, 1992, inclusive
Democratic Party – Asian Caucus, 1984, inclusive
AALC (Asian American Law Center), 1984-1985, inclusive
Chinese Women of America Calendar, 1985, inclusive
AALC Walk-in Legal Clinic in Chinatown, 1985, inclusive
Year of the Dragon, 1985, inclusive
LDC (Chung Park Local Development Corporation) Correspondence and Mailing List, 1985-1986, inclusive
CPA (Chinese Progressive Association), 1995-1997, inclusive
South Africa, 1986, inclusive
Asians in New York City, 1986-1991, inclusive
Dorothy Chin Brandt, 1987, inclusive
T-Shirt – National Rainbow Coalition's 1st Annual Biennial Convention, 1987
CAAAV (Committee Against Anti-Asian Violence), 1987-1994, inclusive
Anti-Asian Bias Complaints, CAAAV, etc., 1987-1993, inclusive
The Economic Status of Americans of Asian Descent: An Exploratory Investigation, 1988, inclusive
Speaking Out: Asian American Periodicals, 1988, inclusive
Asian American Bar Association (National and Local Correspondence), 1988-1989, inclusive
Transcript of Round Table Conference on Asian Civil Rights Issues for the 1990s, 1989, inclusive
AABANY (Asian American Bar Association of New York) - Rocky Chin, 1989-1993, inclusive
AABANY - Minutes of Committee Meetings, 1989-1990, inclusive
Periodicals – Typhoon, A. Magazine, and Echoes, 1990s, inclusive
T-Shirt – UNITY, circa 1990s, inclusive
Language Rights Coalition, 1990, inclusive
Mineta Statement on Language Rights, 1990, inclusive
Theater Hearings, 1990, inclusive
New York City Districting Commission, 1990-1991, inclusive
Reports and Publications, 1990-1994, 2005, inclusive
Hiring Audit, 1990-1992, inclusive
Federal Courthouse (Foley Square), 1991, inclusive
Redistricting Proposal Booklet, 1991, inclusive
Cornell Symposium on Asian American Studies, 1991, inclusive
AABANY Asian Crime Victims Project, 1991-1993, 1998, inclusive
Foley Square, 1991-1992, inclusive
Asian American Roundtable Logistics, 1991-1992, inclusive
Roundtable Responses, 1992, inclusive
Lunar New Year Event Program, 1992, inclusive
Asian Roundtable: City Agencies/Guidelines, 1992, inclusive
Political Empowerment, 1992, inclusive
Roundtable Lists, 1992, inclusive
Packet from July 20, 1992 Inter-Agency Meeting, 1992 July 20, inclusive
March on D.C. Save Our Cities, Save Our Children, 1992, inclusive
APALA (Asian Pacific American Labor Alliance) Founding Convention, 1992, inclusive
Publications, 1992, 1996, inclusive
Columbia Human Rights Law Review, 1993, inclusive
AABANY Foundation, 1993-1997, inclusive
NAPABA (National Asian Pacific Bar Association), 1993-1995, inclusive
NAPABA Civil Rights Committee, 1994-1999, inclusive
Exhibition Catalog – DMZ XING, 1994, inclusive
Labor, 1994, inclusive
NAPALC (National Asian Pacific American Legal Consortium) - Audit of Anti Asian Violence, 1994-1998, inclusive
Delegate Materials, 1996 Democratic National Convention, 1996, inclusive
Publications and Reports, 1996-1998, inclusive
Asian Crime Victims Project, 1996-1998, inclusive
Audiovisual Material – Reminiscences: A Collection of Movies by Tom Tam, 1969-1978, 1997
Exhibition Ephemera, 1997-2003, inclusive
ECASU (East Coast Asian Student Union Conference), 1997, inclusive
National Review Magazine Cover Controversy, 1997, inclusive
National Review Magazine Cover Controversy, 1997, inclusive
ECASU Conferences, 1997-1998, inclusive
ECASU Program Committee, 1997-1998, inclusive
NAPABA Civil Rights Committee Resource Handbook, 1998, inclusive
NAPALSA (National Asian Pacific American Law Student Association) Annual Conference Program, 1998, inclusive
NAPABA and AABANY Event Programs, 1998-2002, inclusive
Asian Pacific Islander American Caucus, 2000 Democratic Race, 1999-2000, inclusive
Asian Pacific American Access to Justice Summit, 1999, inclusive
Delta Reunion Memory Book, 1999, inclusive
T-Shirt – Coalition of Asian Pacific Americans, Asian Pacific American Heritage Festival, 2000-2009, inclusive
T-Shirt – Immigrant Workers Freedom Ride, circa 2000s, inclusive
T-Shirt – APALA 10th Biennial Convention, circa 2000s, inclusive
T-Shirt – APALA, Making Waves, circa 2000s, inclusive
T-Shirt – Asian American Arts Alliance, circa 2000s, inclusive
Banner – "We the People Say No to the Bush Agenda", circa 2000s, inclusive
Asian/Pacific American Heritage Month, 2000, inclusive
Publications and Reports, 2000-2004, inclusive
Asian American Studies Events, 2003, inclusive
Immigrant Workers Freedom Ride, 2003, inclusive
T-Shirt – Immigrant Workers Freedom Ride, 2003
Chinese Historical Society of American Publications, 2003-2006, inclusive
Newspapers – Sing Tao Daily and the China Press, 2003
Museum of Chinese in America Program, circa 2004, inclusive
David Wong, 2004, inclusive
New York State Board of Elections vs. Lopez Torres, 2004-2007, inclusive
Digital materials
Publications, 2004-2006, inclusive
Labor and Voting, 2004-2007, inclusive
Signs – APALA and Local 23-25, circa 2005, inclusive
Democratic Mayoral Candidates Debate and CCBA (Chinese Consolidated Benevolent Association), 2005, inclusive
City Council District Profiles, circa 2006, 2011, inclusive
Museum of Chinese in America, 2006-2007, inclusive
T-Shirt – Soundfest: Asian Americans in Music, 2007
New York Immigration Coalition Fundraising Committee Meeting, September 20, 2007, 2007-2008, inclusive
The New York Immigration Coalition Board of Directors, 2007-2008, inclusive
Reports and Publications, 2007-2012, inclusive
Korean Peninsula Peace Forum, 2008, inclusive
Audiovisual Material – 7th AAARI Annual Banquet, 2008-10-30
Digital materials
Campaign Poster – Daniel Squadron for New York State Senate, 2008
YKASEC (Young Korean American Service and Education Center) 24th Anniversary Gala Program, 2008, inclusive
Asian American/Asian Research Institute Publications, 2008-2013, inclusive
Obama '08, 2008, inclusive
Campaign Signs – Asian Americans Pacific Islanders for Obama, 2008
T-Shirt - APALA 10th Biennial Convention, 2009
Campaign Poster – S.J. Jung for City Council, 2009
Sign – Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire Memorial, 2011, inclusive
Reports and Publications, 2011-2016, inclusive
Sign – Fandang Obon, circa 2013-2016, inclusive
Publications and Reports, 2013-2014, inclusive
Publications and Reports, 2015-2016, inclusive
Series II. Political Campaigns, 1985-1992, 1999-2001, inclusive
Extent
Scope and Contents
The Political Campaigns series documents Rocky Chin's involvement in various New York City elections, including Jesse Jackson's presidential campaign in 1988, David Dinkin's mayoral campaign in 1989, and Sau Ngar Li and Danny Yip's 1999 run for the District 2 Community School Board Elections. Materials include correspondence, memos, press releases, newspaper clippings, statements, flyers, event programs, invitations, mailers, brochures, speeches, schedules, and meeting notes. In addition to these types of materials, Chin's own run for city council representative is also documented by completed candidate questionnaires and surveys, printed campaign literature, printouts of digital photographs, a campaign banner, and photographic contact sheets. Rocky Chin was a delegate at the 1996 and 2000 Democratic National Conventions, and supported Barack Obama's presidential candidacy in 2008, but the materials he collected from these roles are included in the Activism series, since it does not appear that he had a larger role in the campaigns.
Arrangement
This series is arranged chronologically.
Asian Americans for David Dinkins, 1985-1992, inclusive
Kee/Friedlander Race, 1985, inclusive
Asian Americans for Jesse Jackson '88, 1987-1991, inclusive
Campaign Pennants – New Yorkers for Jesse Jackson '88, 1988
School Board Elections News Clippings, 1999, inclusive
District 2 School Board Elections, 1999, inclusive
Button – Vote Danny Yip and Sau Ngar Li, 1999, inclusive
Chinese Press on City Council Election, 1999-2001, inclusive
Press Releases and Contacts, 2000-2001, inclusive
Printed Campaign Literature for City Council Run, 2000-2001, inclusive
Photographs and Contact Sheets, 2000-2001, inclusive
Press Contacts and Clippings, 2000-2001, inclusive
City Council Race Press Clips, 2001, inclusive
Grand Street Station, 2001, inclusive
Completed Candidate Questionnaires, 2001, inclusive
Campaign Banner – Rocky for City Council, 2000-2001, inclusive
Series III. Teaching, 1973, 1980-1989, 1995, inclusive
Extent
Scope and Contents
The materials in this series were expressly collected to develop course content at Hunter Colleges and the City College of New York, and include legal briefs, articles and readings, and newspaper clippings. This series also contains correspondence, syllabi, flyers, teaching observations, course flyers, and blank exams. Many of the research files he collected in his activism work informs the Asian American studies courses he taught, such as "Asian American Experience: Contemporary Issues," "US Policy Towards Asia - Asian Americans," and "Asian Americans Civil Rights and the Law."
Arrangement
This series is arranged chronologically.
