Dalip Singh Saund Collection

Collection Overview

Geographical Coverage: Washington, D.C.
California
Language(s): English (2), Uncategorized (247)
Number of Items: 249
Item Types: Photograph (206), Newspaper Clipping (23), Text (7), Audio (4), Correspondence (2), Advertisement (1), Uncategorized (6)
Collection Creator: Eric Saund
Donor(s): Eric Saund

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About the Collection

Collection Description
This collection consists of 18 photographs of Dalip Singh Saund, depicting his family and political activities. One photograph shows Saund with Lyndon B. Johnson and John F. Kennedy. Other photographs are from Saund's June 1960 Life magazine photoshoot. Also included are digitized copies of individual items that further illustrate Saund's political career such as a pamphlet authored by Saund and entitled, "What America Means to Me," and a Congress campaign contribution check from Joseph Wapner.

Biographical History
With references from the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress: Dalip Singh Saund (September 20, 1899 – April 22, 1973) was an American politician who was a member of the United States House of Representatives. He served the 29th District of California from 1957 to 1963. He was the first Sikh American, Asian American and Indian American elected as a voting member of the United States Congress. Born in Amritsar, India, he was educated in boarding schools; and received an A.B. degree from the University of Punjab in 1919. He came to the United States in 1920 to attend the University of California and graduated in 1924 receiving M.A. and Ph.D. degrees. Saund was a lettuce farmer in the Imperial Valley of California from 1930-1953, and also a distributor of chemical fertilizer. In 1949, he became a citizen of the United States and, less than a year later, was elected judge of Justice Court in the Westmoreland Judicial District in Imperial county in California, but was denied his seat, not having been a citizen one year when he was elected. In 1952, Saund was elected judge of the same court again and served until his resignation on January 1, 1957. In 1952, 1956, and 1960, he served as a California delegate to the Democratic National Conventions. Saund married Marian (nee Kosa) Saund in 1928. They had three children. He suffered a severe stroke, as he was preparing to run for the Senate in May, 1962. He died on April 22, 1973 in Hollywood, California. United States Congress. "Dalip Singh Saund (id: S000075)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.

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Related Materials

Collection Themes: Political Engagement (53), Uncategorized (196)

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Administrative Information

Access & Use: Items in this SAADA collection are open for research. Items may not be sold or redistributed, copied or distributed as a photograph, electronic file, or any other media without express written consent from the copyright holder and the South Asian American Digital Archive (SAADA). The user is responsible for all issues of copyright.

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