Register of the David Spencer collection
Finding aid prepared by Daniel B. Case
Hoover Institution Library and Archives
©2009, 2016
434 Galvez Mall
Stanford University
Stanford, CA 94305-6003
hoover-library-archives@stanford.edu
Title: David Spencer collection
Date (inclusive): 1971-1995
Collection Number: 92022
Contributing Institution: Hoover Institution Library and Archives
Language of Material: In Spanish and English
Physical Description:
7 manuscript boxes
(2.8 Linear Feet)
Abstract: Salvadoran military interrogation and other reports, transcripts of interrogations, Salvadoran government press releases,
captured guerrilla documents, guerrilla warfare manuals, leaflets, flyers, and photographs relating to guerrilla activities
of the Farabundo Martí National Liberation Front in El Salvador and to allegations of human rights abuses in El Salvador.
Includes a summary study with selected translations by David Spencer.
source:
Spencer, David
Physical Location: Hoover Institution Library & Archives
Access
The collection is open for research; materials must be requested in advance via our reservation system. If there are audiovisual
or digital media material in the collection, they must be reformatted before providing access.
Use
For copyright status, please contact the Hoover Institution Library & Archives.
Acquisition Information
Acquired by the Hoover Institution Library & Archives in 1992.
Preferred Citation
[Identification of item], David Spencer collection, [Box no., Folder no. or title], Hoover Institution Library & Archives.
Biographical Note
| 1974 |
Received PhD in economics from Texas A&M University |
| 1974-1975 |
Visiting professor at Michigan State University
|
| 1975-1979 |
Taught at Illinois State University |
| 1975-1986 |
Taught at Washington State University |
| 1981 |
Received tenure at Washington State University |
| 1988-1989 |
Visiting professor at Massachusetts Institute of Technology |
| 1990 |
Received the Best Article Award from the peer-reviewed academic journal
Economic Inquiry
|
| 1991 |
Moved to Brigham Young University and taught as full professor |
| 1996 |
Published
From Vietnam to El Salvador: The Saga of the FMLN Sappers and Other Guerrilla Special Forces in Latin America
|
| 1997 |
Received a Fulbright Scholarship to Vietnam |
| 1998-2001 |
Chair of Graduate Record Examination Committee |
| 2005 |
Received the Alcuin Fellowship Award at Brigham Young University |
| 2007-2008 |
Visiting professor at University of Michigan |
Scope and Content of Collection
The David Spencer collection includes Salvadoran press bulletins, military interrogation transcripts, and captured guerrilla
manuals and documents relating to guerilla group activities of the Frente Farabundo Martí para la Liberación Nacional (FMLN)
during the Salvadoran Civil War. Additional materials include captured correspondence, diaries, memoranda, pamphlets, photographs,
battle reports, and a few printed materials pertaining to FMLN activities while at war with the Salvadoran military. There
are also two drafts by Spencer on the FMLN Special Forces and the Cold War in Latin America, as well as photographs taking
by Spencer while in El Salvador during the Civil War. Note that the majority of the collection is photocopies made by Spencer
of materials from the Salvadoran Archives.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Guerrillas -- El Salvador
Civil rights -- El Salvador
Spencer, David
Frente Farabundo Martí para la Liberación Nacional
Speeches and Writings
1992
box 1, folder 1
FES: The Special Forces of the FMLN,
1992
box 1, folder 2
The External War: The Argentine Dirty War in Central America,
1992
box 1, folder 4
El Proceso de Paz en El Salvador
circa 1980-1990
Press bulletins
1989-1992
Scope and Contents note
Published by the Salvadoran government related to events occurring during the Civil War, arranged chronologically.
Correspondence
1980, 1983
Scope and Contents note
Captured correspondence between FMLN guerrillas and a letter from Archbishop Leonidas Proano of Riobamba, Ecuador to the FMLN.
box 3, folder 3
Letter from Proano, Leonidas Archbishop of Riobamba, Ecuador
1980
Manuals
1971-1988
Scope and Contents note
Manuals confiscated from the FMLN covering guerrilla military strategy and tactics, political and policy guidelines, and how
to create and run a political party. The manuals originate either from Cuba or the Soviet Union and borrow military and political
knowledge from other Cold War conflicts in Vietnam and Latin America.
box 4, folder 11
Microfilm duplicates
circa 1980-1990
Scope and Contents
No Content
Photographs
1980-1991
Scope and Contents note
Photographs taken by Spencer cover over a decade's worth of history, illustrating the mood and atmosphere during the Salvadoran
Civil War. The photographs are of Salvadoran military exercises and graduation ceremonies of the Atlacatl Battalion (an alleged
death squad), FMLN guerrilla contraband, and weapons captured by the Salvadoran military. There are also photographs of Salvadoran
political and military leaders and other notable figures of the era.
box 4, folder 13
Photocopies
circa 1980-1990
Interrogations
1981-1990
Scope and Contents note
Salvadoran military-transcribed interrogations of captured FMLN guerrillas. The transcripts contain family, academic, and
personal information, as well as information relating to FMLN movements, locations, and munition stockpiles.
box 7, folder 1
Alvila-Rodriguez, Milton Sifredo
1987
box 7, folder 2
Caceres-Galindo, Jose Antonio
1982
box 7, folder 3
Castillo-Morales, Juan Jose
1986
box 7, folder 4
Diaz-Umana, T. Gilberto
1984
box 7, folder 5
Hernandez-Hespinosa, Ricardo de Jesus
1989
box 7, folder 6
Hernandez-Portillo, Jose Justiniano
1985
box 7, folder 7
Mijango-Flores, Jose Humberto
1985
box 7, folder 8
Morales-Galvez, Santos Salome
circa 1980-1990
box 7, folder 9
Rivas-Melendez, Jose Herminio
1987
box 7, folder 10
Romero-Tavaver, Jolio Santiago
1981
box 7, folder 11
Torrez-Richards, Federico Ruben
1985
box 7, folder 12
Valle-Hernandez, Cesar Alberto
1985
box 7, folder 13
Zepeda-Gonzalez, Carlos Rolando
1990
Printed matter
1983, 1992
box 7, folder 14
General,
1983
Scope and Contents note
Contains radio bulletins, leaflets, political flyers, and other ephemera. Note that this appears to be original material.
box 7, folder 15
Diario Latino
1992
Scope and Contents note
Contains photocopies of four issues of the newspaper
Diario Latino.
