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Guide to the José Montoya Papers
CEMA 20
CEMA 20
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Table of contents
Title: José Montoya Papers
Identifier/Call Number: CEMA 20
Contributing Institution:
University of California, Santa Barbara, Davidson Library, Department of Special Collections, California Ethnic and Multicultural
Archives
Language of Material:
English
Physical Description:
10.0 linear feet
Date (inclusive): 1954-2009
Abstract: The José Montoya Papers cover his life from his return from the Korean War around 1954 through the late 2000s. They contain
biographical information such as correspondence, events and sketchbook images. Montoya is an important cultural luminary of
the Chicano Movement in which he has been long involved as a poet, activist, educator and artist. His artwork in this collection
is represented in slides and in digital format on Calisphere.
General Physical Description note:
21 document boxes (1-4, 11-22), 5 photo binder boxes (5-9), 8 oversize boxes (11, 23-29) and 85 Sketchbooks that are being
digitized
General Physical Description note: 638 slides, 17 audio cassettes, 29 boxes, and digital images from the 84 sketchbooks
creator:
Montoya, José - 1932
Selected digitized images from this collection on Calisphere.
José montoya Papers, CEMA 20, Department of Special Collections, University Library, university of California, Santa Barbara
The artist of any work retains all rights to that work. Copyright has not been assigned to the Regents of the University of
California. The copyright law of the United States (Title 17, United States Code) governs the making of photocopies or other
reproductions of copyrighted material. Under certain conditions specified in the law, libraries and archives are authorized
to furnish a photocopy or other reproduction. One of these specified conditions is that the photocopy or reproduction is not
to be "used for any purpose other than private study, scholarship, or research." If a user makes a request for, or later uses,
a photocopy or reproduction for purposes in excess of "fair use," that user may be liable for copyright infringement. No further
reproduction is permitted without prior written permission by the artist or copyright holder. Any requests for permission
to reproduce this piece must be directed to: José Montoya c/o California Ethnic and Multicultural Archives Library – CEMA
University of California, Santa Barbara, CA 93106 Phone: (805) 893-8563 E-mail: cema@library.ucsb.edu
Conditions Governing Access note
None
Because José Montoya has been such a prolific artist his works can be found in several of the CEMA collections. First and
foremost is his graphic work with the RCAF (Royal Chicano Air Force (CEMA 8). However, Montoya has works included in the Self-Help
Graphics & Art Archives (CEMA 3), the Galeria de la Raza Archives (CEMA 4), the Ralph Maradiaga Collection (CEMA 35), the
Centro Cultural de la Raza Archives (CEMA 12), the Teatro Campesino Archives (CEMA 5), and the Ricardo Favela Papers (CEMA
72).
Processed by Salvador Güereña and Alexander Hauschild, Updated September 2007, Updated 2009 by Callie Bowdish and CEMA staff.
José Montoya is one of the premiere cultural activists in the Chicano movement. He was Born in New Mexico in 1932, but grew
up in central California. He witnessed the struggle for migrant farm workers rights first hand. His involvement with organized
labor, and collaboration with Cesar Chavez and the United Farm Workers movement, was the begining of his lifelong commitment
to artistic inquiry and an unwavering dedication to artistic activism. Montoya co-founded one of the ground-breaking Chicano
Artist Collectives in 1970. This group came to be known as the Royal Chicano Air Force. The RCAF set the standard for using
art as a tool for Chicano historical exposition, advocacy and the education of young people.
Besides being a multifaceted artist, Montoya is the author of three collections of poetry, including the highly acclaimed
In Formation: 20 Years of Joda. He is featured in over 40 anthologies. Montoya exhibited internationally in Cuba, Mexico and Paris, as well as all over
the United States. He is most famous for his work as a poet, and has given readings at top universities around the United
States and abroad. Montoya's influence on poetry is seen in the next gereration of poets. His use of Spanish, English and
barrio slang poetry is reflected in the styles of the countless Chicano writers and poets who follow him.
Soon after the Korean War, Montoya entered San Diego City College as an art student. He later transferred to the California
College of Arts and Crafts in Oakland California where he graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in 1962. He began his career by
teaching high school until he earned his M.A. in 1971, at California State University, Sacramento. He then taught for 25 years
in the Department of Art Education at California State University, Sacramento (CSUS).
Montoya is also known as a founding member of the musical group, Trio Casindio, and for his involvement in the 1974 program
called Art in the Barrios. As part of the program, he worked with young and old to create art in the form of posters and murals.
The José Montoya Papers are rich in manuscript and poetry drafts, and other writings. The collection is currently housed in
39 boxes but will grow over time. Additional series may be created as more materials are added to the collection. His personal
Writings, include the sub-series College Papers, a collection of Montoya’s college and high school papers, arranged chronologically
whenever possible. The second group of writings is the Poetry section, arranged by date and title. There are multiple drafts
of many of the poems. The third sub series Speeches, statements and position papers includes several important pieces from
Montoya’s professional life. The fourth sub series Publications is arranged chronologically and provides multiple examples
of Montoya’s work through the period of 1972 through 1985. Many more examples of his published work can be found in the Davidson
Libraries Ethnic and Gender Studies Library. Some of which help to describe his feelings and attitudes about art and the cultural
movement. The fifth sub series Includes drafts of Montoya’s book “In Formation: 20 years of Joda”. There are multiple drafts
of many of the poems. Published by Chusma House and subsequently by Bilingual Review/Press
An important part of the Writings section is Montoya’s miscellaneous writings and free writes. Many of the pages included
are simply thoughts on various issues or free form creative exercises, allowing us insight into his methodology and in some
cases his outlook on the Chicano Movement, art, and his place in both. Other pieces included in the miscellaneous section
are drafts of poems and notes by Montoya otherwise not related to poems or writings found elsewhere in the collection.
Slides, photographs and digital images of Montoya's work are in Series IV and V. There are historical photos of the Chicano
Movement in the Photography section and the slides include much of Montoya's art work as well as Royal Chicano Air Force activites.
Series I Personal Biographical, includes correspondence, poetry and events that Montoya was involved in.
Series II Personal Writings, starts in 1957 and spans three boxes. It includes college papers, poetry, speeches and publications such as
In formation 20 years of Joda.
Series III Barrio Art Program, begins with a history of the Barrio Art Program written by Montoya in 1997 and also contains papers written by students
about the program, such as the one entitled “My experience at the Washington Neighborhood Center.” These documents are rich
in newspaper articles and historical documentation concerning the Barrio Art Program. This Series is expected to grow over
time.
Series IV: Photographs is made up of two sub series. The first sub series Photographs spans one box and contains mostly personal and
biographic images arranged according to the donor’s creation. The second sub series Jose Montoya’s Pachuco Art a Historical
Update February 14 thru March 14, 1977, is a detailed and photographically rich exhibit of the Pachuco Spirit from the 40s
and 50s. At present the exhibit is arranged according to subjects until the exhibit order itself can be more perfectly established.
The sub series spans five boxes.
Series V Oversize, Publications and Articles, spans 7 oversize boxes and houses the collection’s larger format content. At the beginning of box 11 is an original “Famous
Artist Course” sketch book from Famous Artist School Inc. ca. 1960, monogrammed “Jose Montoya”. Included is a critique of
Montoya’s architectural drawing style by one of his instructors.
Series VI Audio, contains cassettes from 1985 - 2001 which are of poetry readings, interviews, talks and radio shows.
Series VII Slides features 638 slides from various periods of Montoya’s life.
Series VIII Sketchbooks contains 85 sketchbooks that cover from the 1950s to the 2000s. These Sketchbooks have selected pages that are being digitized
and are being made available on Calisphere. The sketchbooks are to be given back to the artist and retuned to CEMA at a later
date.
Series IX Subjects contains events, articles of interest, and differnt subjects areas such as universtiy papers, the RCAF, Chicano art Essays
and the National Latino Fatherhood and Family Institute.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Chicano movement--California
Mexican American art -- 20th century
Mexican American artists -- California
Mexican Americans -- Civil rights
Royal Chicano Air Force
United Farm Workers of America