Guide to the Santiago "Jim" Meza / Campo Indian Reservation Papers
MS 276
Finding aid prepared by Aimee Santos
Collection processed as part of grant project supported by the Council on Library and Information Resources (CLIR) with generous
funding from The Andrew Mellon Foundation.
San Diego History Center Document Collection
1649 El Prado, Suite 3
San Diego, CA, 92101
619-232-6203
January 3, 2012
Title: Santiago "Jim" Meza / Campo Indian Reservation Papers
Identifier/Call Number: MS 276
Contributing Institution:
San Diego History Center Document Collection
Language of Material:
English
Physical Description:
0.5 Linear feet
(1 box)
Date (inclusive): 1901-1984
Abstract: This collection contains papers of Santiago "Jim" Meza and the Campo Indian Reservation, including tribal administration and
welfare, Meza's homestead land disputes, and personal papers of Meza and family.
Language of Materials: Collection materials are in English and Spanish.
creator:
Meza, Santiago
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Accession number 850612A.
Conditions Governing Access
This collection is open for research.
Conditions Governing Use
The San Diego History Center (SDHC) holds the copyright to any unpublished materials. SDHC Library regulations do apply.
Arrangement
Items in collection are arranged by subject.
Biographical / Historical Notes
The Campo Indian Reservation is located on 15,000 acres in southeastern San Diego County. In 1893, the first portion of the
Campo Indian Reservation's territory was patented. The Campo Constitution was passed by the tribal community on July 13, 1975.
In 1974, there were 40 people recorded living in Campo Indian Reservation.
Santiago "Jim" Meza was a Spokesman for the Campo Indian Reservation. He communicated with the United States Department of
the Interior Bureau of Indian Affairs and the Indian Field Service of the Mission Indian Agency regarding land conflicts and
inheritance, and the request for the election of Spokesmen and Committee Members to represent Campo. Meza also requested welfare
assistance for food, clothing, and financial assistance from the Mission Indian Agency, as well as structure repairs and installation
of a well to provide a closer source for drinking water.
Francisco "Frank" Cuero, son of a Campo Indian Reservation Chief and brother of Santiago "Jim" Meza, owned a homestead of
160 acres. Upon Cuero's death, conflicts arose over the land and its inheritance. Meza eventually inheritated the land.
Scope and Content
This collection contains papers of Santiago "Jim" Meza and the Campo Indian Reservation. Tribal papers include correspondence
with federal and local Indian agencies regarding welfare assistance and the election of spokemen and committee members. Documentation
is included of Meza's homestead land dispute and inheritance. Personal papers of Meza include medical welfare assistance correspondence
and bills, finances, personal correspondence, and photographs, as well as some involving his brother, Francisco "Frank" Cuero.
Processing Information
Collection processed by Aimee Santos on January 3, 2012.
Collection processed as part of grant project supported by the Council on Library and Information Resources (CLIR) with generous
funding from The Andrew Mellon Foundation.
Preferred Citation
Santiago "Jim" Meza / Campo Indian Reservation Papers, MS 276, San Diego History Center Document Collection, San Diego, CA.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
California. Dept. of Social Welfare.
Cuero, Francisco
Meza, Marquita
Meza, Santiago
Mission Indian Federation.
San Diego County (Calif.). Dept. of Public Welfare.
United States. Bureau of Indian Affairs.
United States. Dept. of the Interior.
United States. Mission Indian Commission.
United States. Office of Indian Affairs. Field Service.
United States. Office of Indian Affairs. Mission Agency.
Williams, John, Mrs.
Williams, John
Campo (Calif.)
Campo Indian Reservation (Calif.)
Campo Indians
Indian reservations
Kamia Indians
San Diego (Calif.)
Box-folder 1:1
Tribal administration,
1936 November 20-1959 August 17
Includes:
Communications with Mission Indian Agency
Electing Spokesmen and Committee Members
Campo Indian Reservation Voters
Newsletter from Field Representative
Box-folder 1:2
Santiago Meza land disputes and inheritance documents,
1915 July 10-1935 October 7
Box-folder 1:3
Santiago Meza land disputes and inheritance documents,
1935 October 14-1961 July 12
Box-folder 1:4
Miscellaneous land documents,
undated
Includes:
Jim Meza notes on land division
California Laws of Descent and Distribution
Box-folder 1:5
Welfare assistance,
1931 September 8-1964 April 24
Includes:
Requests and responses to requests for clothing, house repairs, and financial assistance, including those for Jim Meza and
family.
Box-folder 1:6
Medical welfare assistance (Meza),
1952 December 1-1968 October 1 and undated
Includes:
Correspondence with San Diego County Department of Public Welfare, Department of Health, Education, and Welfare, State Department
of Social Welfare, and Department of the Interior.
Box-folder 1:7
Medical bills (Meza),
1958 September 2-1967 July 26
Box-folder 1:8
Financial documents (Cuero and Meza),
1922 July 15-1969 November 14 and undated
Includes:
Correspondence and receipts regarding payments.
Letter from Montgomery Ward & Co. to Jim Meza in response to his request for value of a coyote skin, November 21, 1929.
Box-folder 1:9
Personal correspondence (Meza),
1963 December 14-1968 April 14
Box-folder 1:10
Francisco Cuero Mexican Military discharge letter (in Spanish),
1901 February 13
Box-folder 1:11
Photographs,
1918 September 18-1944 June 10
Includes:
John Williams, Bonita, Calif., September 18, 1918
Mr. and Mrs. Williams and Jim Meza, June 10, 1944
Box-folder 1:12
Correspondence: miscellaneous,
1932 May 5-1947 April 2 and undated
Includes:
Letter from C.L. Ellis, Superintendent of the Mission Indian Agency, to H.H. Scott, Chief of Police, regarding Jim Meza's
nephew, Manuel Perez, May 5, 1932.
Letter and advertisement from Viscose Company to Jim Meza, May 22, 1936.
Letter from unknown author to Department of Public Health regarding application for delayed birth certicate, April 2, 1947.
Easter and Christmas greeting cards.
Box-folder 1:13
Empty envelopes,
1905 July 1-1938 May 9 and undated
Box-folder 1:14
Miscellanea,
1919-1984 April 28 and undated
Includes:
Joe Williams' application for National Service Life Insurance, January 30, 1945
Names and addresses, December 31, 1948 and undated
"Pharyngitis routine" by Bruce A. Sanderson, M.D.
Word lists, including note on Social Service office
Assessment List, County of San Diego, 1919 (blank forms)
