Ethnic Studies Funds
The Immigration History Research Center (IHRC) is one of the nation's leading archival/library repositories of source material on immigration and ethnicity. The IHRC locates, collects, preserves, and makes available for research the records of 24 ethnic groups that originated in eastern, central and southern Europe and the Near East. Collections include printed, manuscript, and audio-visual materials of national and local origin. Most of the printed publications are the products of ethnic presses in the United States and Canada from the late nineteenth century to the present; but there are also many academic and popular works from university and commercial publishers. 
The manuscript collections typically include the personal papers of community leaders, clergymen, and journalists and the records of fraternal organizations, service agencies, and publishing companies. Audio-visual materials consist of files of phonograph records, photographs, and oral history tape recordings.
Because of the unique value of this resource, used by researchers from around the world, its care and development require ongoing and dedicated commitment. Staff with foreign language expertise, cultural knowledge, and archival/library experience are essential to fully serve the needs of the collections and the people who use them.
Funds in the individual ethnic group designations will provide staff support, research awards, and outreach services to the corresponding ethnic communities. The first priority is increased staff support. A major thrust of the campaign is the establishment of Fellowships for qualified graduate students to assist in the care and development of the collections. 
Donations of any amount are welcomed for the ethnic studies funds. Establishing a graduate fellowship requires an initial gift or pledge of at least $25,000, with a total of $150,000 needed ultimately to endow it fully. The fellowship (as well as the ethnic studies fund in general) may be named after the primary, or "lead," donor.
As national initiatives, the creation of these funds will raise public consciousness of our nation's immigrant heritage and make a significant investment in future understanding of the crucial role of immigration and ethnicity in the United States.
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Please consider an online contribution or pledge today.
Follow the University of Minnesota Foundation link to use your credit card at the University of Minnesota Foundation's secure site. You must type in the designation "Immigration History Research Center: Fund 4601- XXX collection [insert the ethnic collection of your choice]" in order to have your gift directed to a particular fund.
You may also submit a pledge through the same Web page.
