Political Asylum Project of Austin (PAPA) Records


Descriptive Summary
	Creator	Political Asylum Project of Austin
	Title	Political Asylum Project of Austin (PAPA) Records
	Dates:	1987-2002
	Abstract	Organizational files, publications, and related materials reflect the activities of the Political Asylum Project of Austin (PAPA). Established in 1988, PAPA, now called American Gateways, is an organization that works to provide legal services and education to refugees and immigrants in Central Texas.
	Accession No.	2004-13
	Extent	7 linear inches
	Language	English and Spanish
	Repository	Benson Latin American Collection, The University of Texas at Austin

Administrative History

The Political Asylum Project of Austin/Proyecto de Asilo Político de Austin (PAPA) started in 1988 as a volunteer organization, and remained largely staffed by students, lawyers, and community volunteers for about a decade. The original mission was to promote the human rights of refugees and immigrants in Central Texas through legal representation, public education, and advocacy. A 1989 grant from the National Sanctuary Defense Fund to PAPA via the Friends Meeting of Austin enabled PAPA to hire its first employee and director for fifteen years, Nidia Salamanca. The second grant, from the Texas Interest on Lawyers Trust Accounts (IOLTA) in 1990, enabled PAPA to hire its second employee (and first paid lawyer), Cynthia Leigh. In 2008 the organization voted to change its name to "American Gateways."

Resource: American Gateways (formerly PAPA) web site at www.americangateways.org

Scope and Contents Note

Legal documents, correspondence, financial records, minutes, rosters, newsletters, and newspaper clippings, 1987-2002 (7 linear inches), reflect the founding and activities of the Political Asylum Project of Austin (PAPA). The first series, Administrative, is arranged chronologically, and illustrates the growth of the organization over its first 15 years. This series includes incorporation records from the Immigration Resource Center. Other organizational materials include the legal documents of PAPA's founding, items from the Board of Directors, and office files. The second series, Publications, includes copies of PAPA's newsletter, Noticiero PAPA, various outreach materials, and newspaper and journal articles about PAPA and the immigration issues that their organization helps to resolve.


Arrangement
	I. Administrative
	Immigration Resource Center
	Creation
	Board of Immigration Appeals
	Board of Directors
	Office Files
	II. Publications

Restrictions

Access Restrictions

Unrestricted.

Use Restrictions

Standard copyright restrictions apply.


Index Terms
	The PAPA Records are classified under the following Subject Headings:

		Political Asylum Project of Austin
		Emmigration and Immigration--United States
		Refugees, Political--United States
		Asylum, Right of

Administrative Information

Preferred Citation

Cite as: Political Asylum Project of Austin Records, Benson Latin American Collection, the University of Texas at Austin.

Box and Folder Inventory



I. Administrative

box	folder
1	1	Immigration Resource Center (San Antonio), 1987-1989

		Creation

	2		Incorporation status, 1990-1995

	3		Non-profit status, 1990-2002

	4		Tax exemption application, 1990-1991

		Board of Immigration Appeals

	5		Organization accreditation, 1994

	6		Representative accreditation, 2001

	7		Accreditation materials, 1993

		Board of Directors

	8		Meeting agendas and minutes, 1990-1997

	9		Rosters and duties, 1988-1997

	10		Statements of interest, 1989, n.d.

	11		Fundraising/Finance commitee, 1990-1993

	12		Assorted committees, 1990-1993

		Office Files

	13		Correspondence, 1989-1997

	14		Financial records, 1989-2002

	15		Forms, 1996



II.Publications

box	folder
2	1	Noticiero PAPA, 1989-2001

	2	Outreach, 1990-1993, n.d.

	3-4	Articles on PAPA, 1989-1998 [2 folders]