Discover on this page Baker Library resources by—or about—Jewish Americans and Asian American/Pacific Islanders (AAPI). Some materials have a connection to global Jewish and/or Asian identities. Want to learn more about certain materials? Contact infoservices@hbs.edu

 

Quick Research Resources

 

 

A banner that says "Jewish American and Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month" with the bell tower of Baker Library. Additional text says "Baker Library, infoservices@hbs.edu, Informed Leaders Start Here".

Jewish American

  • Poke around in EMIS for an overview of Israel's economy, industries, news, etc.
  • Explore Statista's Global Consumer Insights data to narrow in on Jewish consumers' attitudes and behaviors towards certain products and services
  • Use Technavio to view their Global Kosher Foods Market 2023-2027 report

Asian American/Pacific Islander

  • Use Crunchbase to filter companies founded/led by individuals of East Asian, Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander, South Asian, or Southeast Asian descent
  • Use Nikkei Asia to explore news and analysis of Asian countries, including Oceania and the Pacific Islands
  • Look at our guide on AAPI History and Business

SELECT TITLES ON JEWISH AMERICAN & AAPI CULTURE

Baker and Harvard Libraries have a variety of diverse titles. The inclusion of these works in our collections is closely tied to principles of equity, inclusion, belonging, and anti-racism.

 

Four book covers from Harvard Libraries that are about Jewish American or AAPI culture

 

Use this interactive visualization of Baker and Harvard Library materials to browse select resources. Click on a book cover to request—or learn more about—the item via the library catalog, HOLLIS.

Special Collections and Archives

Special Collections and Archives collects and makes available the records of business dating from the 14th century to the present and the records of the Harvard Business School since its founding in 1908.

 

Felix M. Warburg

Portrait Photograph Collection, Baker Library, Harvard Business School

Image of Felix M. Warburg

Robert Lehman, circa 1960

Lehman Brothers Records, Baker Library, Harvard Business School

Image of Robert Lehman

Jewish American Philanthropy

Baker Library’s special collections include the papers of numerous Jewish American business people and families who were greatly involved in philanthropic affairs in the 19th and 20th centuries. These include the investment banker Felix M. Warburg, Boston department store executive Louis Kirstein, and members of the families who led the Lehman Brothers and Kuhn Loeb & Co. investment firms. The records document deep engagement in civic, religious, artistic, and political affairs.

 

A Chronicle Of the China Trade: The Records of Augustine Heard & Co., 1840-1877

 

A Chronicle of the China Trade: The Records of Augustine Hears & Co., 1840-1877. The image has an ornate bird and fish

 

Baker Library has extensive holdings that document the development of U.S. trade with China during the 19th century. The collections include business records of American companies and merchant families that established trading operations in Hong Kong, Shanghai, and other ports during the early 19th century. Augustine Heard & Co. was among the largest American trading houses in China, leaving behind an extensive chronicle of its partners’ experiences. These materials offer a window into momentous events in Sino-Western relations as well as the day-to-day activities of American traders in the treaty ports.

 

Hsia Pin-fang Papers, 1929-1927

 

Two outgoing cable messages from the Bank of China. One is in Chinese and the other is a copy in English.

 

Hsia Pin-fang (1902-1970, HBS MBA 1927) was an executive of the Bank of China who managed the bank’s operations in New York, Ottawa, and London from 1939 to 1951, during the height of World War II and the Chinese civil war that resulted in the Communist takeover of 1949.

 

Working Knowledge

HBS Working Knowledge distills the latest faculty research into practical insights for leaders, entrepreneurs, and change agents. Stay up-to-date by signing up for the Working Knowledge Newsletter.

 

Selected Work by—or about—Jewish Americans and Asian American/Pacific Islanders

 

 

Geoffrey Jones discusses his case study, "Thomas J. Watson, IBM and Nazi Germany," exploring the options and responsibilities of multinationals with investments in politically reprehensible regimes.

Even when companies actively try to prevent it, bias can sway algorithms and skew decision-making. Ayelet Israeli and Eva Ascarza offer a new approach to make artificial intelligence more accurate.

Many of us respond with a knee-jerk reaction when adversity hits, but a more considered approach is better for a successful resolution. Joshua Margolis discusses the resilience regimen.

 

 

A community's biggest minority group endures the most discrimination from a majority who fears losing status, says research by Marco Tabellini and colleagues. Findings from 20 years of crime and demographic data could help policymakers improve race relations.

Airbnb bookings dropped 12 percent more for hosts with Asian names than other hosts during the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic, says research by Michael Luca. Could better design deter bias, particularly during times of crisis?

Hotel concierges provide better service to white customers than Black and Asian customers, says research by Alexandra Feldberg and colleague. They offer three strategies to help companies detect bias on the front line.

 

Additional Resources

Expand the sections below to see other resources, events, or research happening at Harvard and beyond.

 

  • AAPI
    • HBS Staff Stories: AAPI

    Staff Stories is a podcast featuring staff in conversations that reveal another side of themselves, with the goal of building a stronger, closer, and more supportive community. It’s a podcast by staff, for staff.

    Asian, Pacific Islander, Desi American (APIDA) Community Resources

    A collection of Harvard University resources for the APIDA community.

    Harvard University Asia Center

    The Asia Center has been committed to facilitating the cross-cultural study of Asia at Harvard University by fostering research and bringing together faculty members, students, scholars, and other professionals to explore the interconnected histories of the region and the significant issues facing Asia today. 

    Asian American and Pacific Islander Studies Working Group

    The Asian American and Pacific Islander Studies Working Group is a space of interdisciplinary collaboration between faculty, graduate students, and undergraduates pursuing scholarship on Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) histories, experiences, and intellectual traditions. Its goals are to build scholarly community, to explore major debates and developments in AAPI Studies, and to enrich the research pursued by its members across Harvard University.

    History of Asian/Pacific American Heritage Month

    The history of May as a celebration of Asian/Pacific American Heritage Month since 1977, along with a calendar of national celebration events. By the Library of Congress. 

    HBS Faculty Research Specializing in Asia

    Explore which faculty have a research interest in Asia.

    Department of East Asian Languages and Civilizations at Harvard

    Teaching the languages and civilizations of of East Asia since 1879.

    Asian Affinity Business Association (AABA) at HBS

    The Asian-American Business Association (AABA) provides a community for the promotion, understanding, and cross-cultural exchange of Asian and Asian-American business, social, academic, cultural, and political initiatives.

    Asian Business Empowerment Council as part of the Boston Foundation

    The ABEC aims to coordinate and unify a vibrant community of business owners, entrepreneurs, service providers, and advocates to build a strong collective voice for the Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) business community across Massachusetts.

    Harvard Business Review

    The article "What Organizations Can Do to Retain Asian American Talent".