Contributing Institution: Sacramento Public Library

Title: Richard Rodriguez Letter

Identifier/Call Number: MC 127

Identifier/Call Number: /repositories/31/resources/1177

Physical Description: 1 Box; 0.1 Linear Feet

Date (inclusive): 1982-2023

Abstract: This collection contains a personal letter written by Richard Rodriguez to the branch supervisor of the McKinley branch of the Sacramento Public Library. In the letter, Rodriguez reminisces on the role the McKinley Library played in his early education. Also included is a copy of the 40th Anniversary edition of "Hunger of Memory: The Education of Richard Rodriguez (2022)."

Language of Material: English .

Richard Rodriguez is an award-winning American author and public intellectual. He was born in San Francisco, California on July 31, 1944, the third of four children, to Mexican immigrant parents, and grew up in Sacramento, California. Despite barely speaking English when he started elementary school, Rodriguez grew up to earn a B.A. in English from Stanford University in 1967, an M.A. from Columbia University in 1969, and concluded his formal education as a PhD candidate at the University of California, Berkeley, that included a stint studying at the Warburg Institute in London. Rodriguez's books include "Hunger of Memory: The Education of previous hit Richard Rodriguez (1982)"; "Days of Obligation: An Argument with My Mexican Father (1992)," which was a Pulitzer Prize finalist; "Brown: The Last Discovery of America (2002)"; and "Darling: A Spiritual Autobiography (2013)." In addition to his autobiographical books, Rodriguez has contributed essays to newspapers, journals and magazines, including Harpers and the Los Angeles Times, and appeared frequently on the PBS NewsHour television show where he won a Peabody Award for his video essays.

The McKinley Library was established in December 1918 as a Sacramento County Free Library Station. The library was originally located in the McKinley Clubhouse at McKinley Park with an initial collection of 655 volumes. The library temporarily moved to David Lubin Elementary School when the clubhouse was torn down, but relocated back to McKinley Park in the new Clunie Memorial Clubhouse on October 26, 1936. By this time, the library collection had grown to contain over 5,000 volumes. By 1960, a separate McKinley Library building was constructed. The new facility was built to hold 10,000 books but houses a collection exceeding 40,000 items.

[Identification of item], Richard Rodriguez Letter Collection, MC 127, Sacramento Room, Sacramento Public Library, Sacramento, California

The Richard Rodriguez Letter Collection contains a two-page, typed personal letter written and hand signed by Richard Rodriguez to the branch supervisor of the McKinley Library Branch, along with the plain white envelope it was contained in. In the letter, Rodriguez reminisces on the role the McKinley Library played in his early education and thanked its librarians for contributing to his life success as a writer. A hardcopy book of the 40th Anniversary Edition of "Hunger of Memory: The Education of Richard Rodriguez (2022)," donated by Rodriguez, is included.

All requests to publish or quote from private collections held by the Sacramento Public Library must be submitted in writing to sacroom@saclibrary.org. Permission for publication is given on behalf of the Sacramento Public Library as the owner of the physical items and is not intended to include or imply permission of the copyright holder, which must also be obtained by the patron. No permission is necessary to publish or quote from public records.