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Guide to the Movimiento Estudiantil Chicano de Aztlán (MEChA) Records, University of California, Irvine
AS.132
AS.132
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Title: Movimiento Estudiantil Chicano de Aztlán (MEChA) records, University of California, Irvine
Identifier/Call Number: AS.132
Contributing Institution:
Special Collections and Archives, University of California, Irvine Libraries
Language of Material:
English
Physical Description:
5.9 Linear feet
(17 boxes)
Date (bulk): Bulk, 1971-2002
Date (inclusive): 1968-2006
Abstract: This collection comprises the records of the University of California, Irvine (UCI) chapter of Movimiento Estudiantil Chicano
de Atzlán (MEChA), a student organization that promotes higher education and Chicano culture. The collection contains basic
organizational documents, yearly files maintained by elected officers, scrapbooks, photographs, and subject files on major
topics of interest to MEChA.
creator:
University of California, Irvine. Movimiento Estudiantil Chicano de Aztlán.
The collection is open for research.
Property rights and copyright reside with the University of California. For permissions to reproduce or to publish, please
contact the University Archivist.
Movemiento Estudiantil Chicano de Atzlán (MEChA) Records, University of California, Irvine. AS-132. Special Collections and
Archives, The UC Irvine Libraries, Irvine, California.
Donated to the University Archives by MEChA in 2007, 2011.
Accruals are expected.
Processed by Audrey Pearson, 2008, and Audra Eagle Yun, 2011.
Movimiento Estudiantil Chicano de Aztlán (MEChA) is a national student organization that promotes Chicano education, political
activism, culture, and history. One of its principal aims is to expand Chicano enrollment in and graduation from colleges.
It is dedicated to socializing and politicizing students in the "ideals del movimiento" to gain self determination and fight
against forces of oppression.
MEChA was established in Santa Barbara, California in 1969 following a series of conferences at schools and universities in
California that drew attention to the needs and interests of Chicano students. The document "El Plan de Santa Barbara" described
how MEChA intended to tie together various student organizations in the Southwest to "respond as a unit to oppression and
racism" and carry out "campaigns of liberation for our people." At the University of California, Irvine (UCI), MEChA absorbed
the United Mexican American Students (UMAS), an earlier organization with similar goals, circa 1969-1970. Since then, MEChA
de UCI has sponsored events such as Mes de la Raza, youth conferences, Cinco de Mayo, and Chicano graduation. The group has
also been active in promoting a Chicano studies program at UCI and representing Chicano interests during the development and
review of UCI's minority affairs and affirmative action programs. MEChA de UCI is classified as an umbrella organization affiliated
with UCI's Cross Cultural Center. The national organization is divided into ten geographical regions, including Southern California,
or Alta Califas Sur. Each region is divided into several
centrales, or centers, with which high school, college, and university chapters are affiliated. Alta Califas Sur is divided into six
centrales, including the Orange County center to which MEChA de UCI belongs.
Movimiento Estudiantil Chicano de Aztlán. "Official National MEChA Website." http://www.nationalmecha.org/ (accessed May 23,
2008).
Collection Scope and Content Summary
This collection comprises the records of Movimiento Estudiantil Chicano de Atzlán (MEChA) at the University of California,
Irvine, a student organization that promotes higher education for Chicanos, political activism against racism and oppression,
and Chicano culture. The collection contains organizational documents describing MEChA's mission and purpose, files from elected
officers that document MEChA's yearly activities, scrapbooks, photographs, and subject files on major topics of interest to
MEChA.
This collection is arranged in four series.
- Series 1. Organizational files, 1980-1999. 0.2 linear feet
- Series 2. Subject files, 1968-2002. 1 linear foot
- Series 3. Officers' files, 1970-2006. 3.8 linear feet
- Series 4. Scrapbooks, 1995-2006. 0.9 linear feet
Materials related to MEChA can also be found in the following collection:
- Cross Cultural Center Records, University of California, Irvine. AS-052. Special Collections and Archives, The UC Irvine Libraries, Irvine, California. A guide to this collection is available through the Online Archive of California at http://www.oac.cdlib.org/findaid/ark:/13030/kt967nd67n.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
United Farm Workers.
University of California, Irvine. Movimiento Estudiantil Chicano de Aztlan -- Archives.
Mexican American college students -- California -- Irvine -- Societies, etc.
Mexican Americans -- Civil rights -- 20th century
Mexican Americans -- Education (Higher)
Mexican Americans -- Study and teaching (Higher) -- California -- Irvine
Photographic prints -- California -- Orange County -- 20th century.