Collection Guide
Collection Title:
Collection Number:
Get Items:
Cruz (Margaret) papers
M1578
View entire collection guide
Search this collection
Table of contents
Language of Material:
English
Contributing Institution:
Department of Special Collections and University Archives
Title: Margaret Cruz papers
Creator:
Cruz, Margaret
source:
McAuliffe, Debra Lee
Identifier/Call Number: M1578
Identifier/Call Number: 9329
Physical Description:
37 Linear Feet
(57 manuscript boxes, 9 cartons, 4 flat boxes)
Date (inclusive): 1947-2007, bulk 1960s-2004
Abstract: Margaret Cruz was active professionally with the Mexican American Political Association and the Margaret Cruz Latina Breast
Cancer Foundation (MCLBCF). She was a lawyer, businesswoman, political activist and educator. She served on numerous boards
of civic organizations, particularly in San Francisco's mission district.
Born in Nogales, Arizona in 1920, Margaret Cruz (nee Herrera) had her birth registered in Sonora, Mexico, and was naturalized
as a United States citizen when she turned 21. She was very active with the Latin American and Mexican American communities
in San Francisco, especially the Mission District. She co-founded MAPA (Mexican American Political Association) in 1960 and
became its first female president in 1973, and was involved in many related organizations throughout her life, such as LULAC
(League of United Latin American Citizens), the NWPC (National Women's Political Caucus) and the Chicana Caucus. When Cruz
was diagnosed with breast cancer in 1994, she founded the Latina Breast Cancer Foundation to work on improving education and
understanding of breast cancer for Latinas.
She attended Lux-Wilmerding Junior College in San Francisco. Later in life, she got a scholarship to Lincoln Law School and
graduated when she was 62, after which she opened up a consulting firm for immigration with She died at the age of 86 in 2007
from complications of breast cancer. Her husband, Frank Cruz, who she married in 1950, predeceased her in 2005.
The collection consists of papers related to Margaret Cruz's political and social work with the Mexican and Latin American
communities, especially in San Francisco, California. This includes correspondence, meeting minutes, publications and publicity,
resumes, ephemera, datebooks, notes, and awards. She was instrumental in organizations such as the Mexican American Political
Association (MAPA), the League of Latin American Citizens (LULAC), the National Women's Political Caucus (NWPC) and the Chicana
Caucus, and the Margaret Cruz Breast Cancer Foundation (MCLBCF).
Most of the administrative files for the Margaret Cruz Latina Breast Cancer Foundation (MCLBCF) are here, including meeting
agendas and minutes, personnel files, fundraising events and grant papers, financial reports, programming files, dissolution
proceedings.
While Special Collections is the owner of the physical and digital items, permission to examine collection materials is not
an authorization to publish. These materials are made available for use in research, teaching, and private study. Any transmission
or reproduction beyond that allowed by fair use requires permission from the owners of rights, heir(s) or assigns.
Collection is open for research. Materials must be requested at least 36 hours in advance of intended use.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Gift of Debra Lee McAuliffe, 2007.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
activist lawyer
Mexican American women
Mexican Americans -- California
McAuliffe, Debra Lee