17 donors
5% complete
$20,000 Goal
The Dallas Asian American Historical Society was established in April 2022 by co-founders Stephanie Drenka and Denise Johnson to research, preserve, and amplify the legacy of Asian Americans in the Dallas Area. Read more about the inspiration behind the organization and view our online collection.
On July 7, 2023, Leftover: The Enduring Legacy of Chinese Cuisine in Dallas opened to the public. Since opening night, more than 1,000 visitors stepped through the doors of the Wilson House and into history.
In May 2024, we premiered our documentary, "Hear Me ROAR" at the Angelika Film Center. Hear Me ROAR offers a profound glimpse into the triumphs, challenges, and contributions of Asian American changemakers from the Dallas community. The ongoing oral history series is available to the public online.
Three years into our organization, we realized that the need for our work and long-term vision was even bigger.
We opened a physical space to take history back into our own hands, to preserve the voices of our communities, and to remind the world that Asian Texans have always been here, shaping the culture and future of this state.
The Museum of Asian Texans (MAT), founded and operated by the Dallas Asian American Historical Society (DAAHS), is the first cultural institution of its kind in Dallas dedicated to preserving, celebrating, and amplifying the histories and lived experiences of Asian Texans.
Located in the historic South Side on Lamar building, the MAT functions as a community archive, storytelling lab, resource center, and exhibition gallery. It will serve as a transformative thirdspace for history, healing, and cultural connection. Our mission is to shift public narratives by centering the voices, lived experiences, and creativity of Asians in Texas through inclusive storytelling and community-rooted preservation.
The MAT is small, but it is ours. Every corner was built with love, intention, and community care. It belongs to all of us, and our hope is to keep it open as long as possible.
Right now, immigrant communities are being scapegoated by racist policies. Museums and schools are under attack for daring to tell the truth. In this climate, preserving our history is not just remembering... it’s resisting. Every artifact in our archive, every story on our walls, is a refusal to be erased.
But building this museum is bigger than just us. It's about creating a legacy that will last. That’s why we’re asking you to invest in this work. To help us sustain a space where our communities can see themselves reflected.
Every dollar, every social media share, every story passed down helps shift the narrative from invisibility to power.
The Museum of Asian Texans is an answer to the questions left by our ancestors and promise to present and future generations. We belong and our legacy is here.
Researching, preserving, and amplifying the legacy of Asian Americans in the Dallas area
* organizational capacity-building
* office/community resource space
* archival equipment and supplies
* research materials and books;
* funding to support a public presentation (event or exhibition) highlighting the outcomes of our research
As historians, we know U.S. history is filled with examples of systemic racism and oppression that dehumanize people. Discrimination against people of Asian descent began as early as the 1800s, with the arrival of the first Chinese immigrants, and continues today.
According to StopAAPIHate.org, a total of 10,905 hate incidents against Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) persons were reported to Stop AAPI Hate between March 19, 2020 to December 31, 2021.
At the Dallas Asian American Historical Society, we condemn racism, xenophobia, misogyny, and racial and gendered violence. We also acknowledge that transformation and sustainable change require dismantling systems of oppression through a comprehensive and multi-racial approach.
We prioritize community-based responses and education/awareness to protect against anti-Asian hate incidents rather than relying on increased policing or law enforcement intervention that would perpetuate violence and trauma against fellow Black and Brown communities.
We believe cross-cultural community education and a fuller understanding of our history will promote empathy and racial healing. We strive to collaborate with others who are working to change the narrative and amplify historically-excluded voices.
The Asian diaspora was largely facilitated by imperialism, colonialism, and militarization. We are no strangers to economic exploitation, incarceration, and forced migration. We have been scapegoated and pitted against others to benefit White Supremacy.
But our history is also filled with examples of coalition and movement building. In 2013, the Association for Asian American Studies set a precedent as the first academic association to adopt a resolution supporting “the protected rights of students and scholars everywhere to engage in research and public speaking about Israel-Palestine.”
We formed this organization in response to rising anti-Asian hate crimes that were fueled by dehumanizing narratives. We are committed to antiracism and anti-imperialism. And, most importantly: an obligation to ensure underrepresented stories are told, preserved, and uplifted. The silencing of voices and destruction of cultural memory are antithetical to our narrative change work.
We stand unequivocally with Palestinians against the genocidal actions led by the Israeli State and funded by the United States government. Additionally, we call for an end to Islamophobic, anti-Muslim rhetoric targeting Arab and West Asian Americans. As Yuri Kochiyama once said, “We must strive for unity amongst all oppressed communities.”
View our current participation opportunities.
Online Volunteering
Help Us Make History
Online
Organization name
Dallas Asian American Historical Society
Causes
Arts & Humanities
Operating Budget
Less than $100,000
Counties Served
Collin, Dallas, Denton, Tarrant
BIPOC Serving
Asian/Pacific Islander, Other
BIPOC Leadership
Both the Executive Director/CEO and Board Chair
Address
1409 Botham Jean Blvd #107