Inventory of the Gloria Anzaldúa Altares Collection

Irene Reti
The University Library
Special Collections and Archives
University Library
University of California, Santa Cruz
Santa Cruz, California, 95064
Email: specoll@library.ucsc.edu
URL: http://library.ucsc.edu/speccoll/
© 2006
The Regents of the University of California. All rights reserved.

Inventory of the Gloria Anzaldúa Altares Collection

Collection number: MS 308

The University Library

Special Collections and Archives

University of California, Santa Cruz

Santa Cruz, California
Processed by:
Irene Reti & M. Carey
Date Completed:
September 2006
Encoded by:
M. Carey
© 2006 The Regents of the University of California. All rights reserved.

Descriptive Summary

Title: Gloria Anzaldúa Altares collection
Dates: 1942-2004
Collection number: MS 308
Creator: Anzaldúa, Gloria
Collection Size: 25 boxes, 1 roll box
Repository: University of California, Santa Cruz. University Library. Special Collections and Archives
Santa Cruz, California 95064
Abstract: This collection of figurines, small clay pots, masks, rattles, candles, altar cloths, and other ephemera was used by Gloria Anzaldúa as altar (altares) objects at her home in Santa Cruz, California. These altares were an integral part of her spiritual life and creative process as a writer.
Physical location: Stored in Special Collections & Archives: Advance notice is required for access to the collection.
Languages: Languages represented in the collection: English

Access

This collection is open for viewing.

Publication Rights

Property rights reside with the University of California. Literary rights are retained by the creators of the records and their heirs. For permission to publish or to reproduce the material, please contact the Head of Special Collections and Archives.

Preferred Citation

Gloria Anzaldúa Altares collection. MS 308. Special Collections and Archives, University Library, University of California, Santa Cruz.

Acquisition Information

Gift of Anzaldúa Family in 2005.

Biography

"I sit here before my computer, Amiguita, my altar on top of the monitor with the Virgen de Coatlalopeuh candle and copal incense burning. My companion, a wooden serpent staff with feathers, is to my right while I ponder the ways metaphor and symbol concretize the spirit and etherealize the body. The Writing is my whole life, it is my obsession." Gloria E. Anzaldúa from Borderlands/La Frontera (Aunt Lute Books, 1999)
Independent scholar and creative writer Gloria E. Anzaldúa was an internationally acclaimed cultural theorist. As the author of Borderlands/La Frontera: The New Mestiza, Anzaldúa played a major role in shaping contemporary Chicano/a and lesbian/queer identities. And as editor or co-editor of three multicultural anthologies, she played an equally vital role in developing an inclusionary, multicultural feminist movement. Anzaldúa's writings have been included in over 100 anthologies to date. Her works greatly impacted a wide variety of academic disciplines, including (but not limited to) American studies, Chicano/a studies, composition studies, cultural studies, ethnic studies, feminism and feminist theory, literary studies, queer theory, and women's studies. A versatile author, Anzaldúa published poetry, theoretical essays, short stories, autobiographical narratives, interviews, children's books, and multigenre edited collections. Her published works include This Bridge Called My Back: Writings by Radical Women of Color (1981, co-edited with Cherr?e Moraga), a ground-breaking collection of essays and poems widely recognized by scholars in Women's Studies as the premiere multicultural feminist text; Borderlands/La Frontera (1987), a founding text of Chicano/a Studies and Border Studies, as well as a classic of twentieth-century American literature; Making Face, Making Soul/Haciendo Caras: Creative and Critical Perspectives by Feminists-of-Color (1990), a multigenre collection used in many university classrooms; two bilingual children's books "Friends from the Other Side/Amigos del otro lado and Prietita and the Ghost Woman/Prietita y la Llorona; Interviews/Entrevistas (2000), a memoir-like collection of interviews; this bridge we call home: radical visions for transformation (2002, co-edited with AnaLouise Keating), a multigenre collection that examines the current status of feminist/womanist theorizing; and additional stories and essays. Anzaldúa and her works won numerous awards, including a fiction award from the National Endowment of the Arts, the Before Columbus Foundation American Book Award, the Lamda Lesbian Small Book Press Award, the Susan Koppelman Award, the Smithsonian Notable Book Award, and the Americas Honor Award. Borderlands/La Frontera was selected as one of the 100 Best Books of the Century both by Hungry Mind Review and by Utne Reader.
Anzaldúa was born in the Rio Grande Valley of south Texas, the eldest child of Urbano and Amalia Anzaldúa. She received her B.A. from Pan American University, her M.A. from University of Texas, Austin, and her Ph.D. (awarded posthumously) from the University of California, Santa Cruz.
AnaLouise Keating

Scope and Content of Collection

This collection of figurines, small clay pots, masks, rattles, candles, altar cloths, and other ephemera was used by Gloria Anzaldúa as altar (altares) objects at her home in Santa Cruz, California. These altares were an integral part of her spiritual life and creative process as a writer.

Indexing Terms

The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in the library's online public access catalog.
Anzaldúa, Gloria--Archives
Altars
Altarpieces
Idols and images--Worship
Authors, American--California--Santa Cruz County
Mexican American lesbians--Fiction
Mexican American women--Ethnic identity
Women and literature--United States--History--20th century

Other Finding Aids

Gloria Anzaldúa papers at the Nettie Lee Benson Latin American Collection, University of Texas.

Box 1

Painted Fish (large - wood)

Box 1

Painted frog (wood ornament)

Box 1

Aztec Statue (stone on wood pedestal)

Box 1

Aztec Head (stone)

Box 1

Brass monkey

Box 1

Metal horse (black)

Box 1

Wood sea otter

Box 1

Naughty Nun crèche

Box 1

Fossil spiral

Box 1

Wooden Owl on pedestal

Box 1

Red Fruit Bowl (ceramic, small)

Box 1

Tiny Rattan Basket w/ceramic fruits & vegetables

Box 1

Shell (large, white)

Box 1

Shell (small white/tan)

Box 1

Shell (small w/hole)

Box 1

Metal Horse on polished rock slice

Box 1

"Frieda Kahlo" - button

Box 1

"Support Indian Sovereignty" - button

Box 1

"Who you callin' immigrant, pilgrim?" - button

Box 1

"Take Back the Night" - button

Box 1

"Being Weird isn't enough" - button

Box 1

"Todos un Pueblo" - button

Box 2

Red Cowboy Hand

Box 2

Black penguin (beak broken)

Box 2

Glass Hummingbird

Box 2

Wooden Roadrunner

Box 2

Ceramic duck

Box 2

Black armadillo (standing)

Box 2

Duck Box

Box 2

Hen coin box

Box 2

Stone Seal

Box 2

Red Stone dog

Box 2

Black spoon

Box 2

Brass turtle

Box 2

Metal armadillo (The Alamo)

Box 2

Hen box (oriental)

Box 2

Black rooster

Box 2

Black duck (standing)

Box 2

Black duck (nesting)

Box 2

Black clay hen (nesting)

Box 2

Black clay rooster (standing, tail fanned)

Box 2

Coiled snake w/separate tail and head (incense burner)

Box 2

Armadillo magnet

Box 2

Snake magnets (2)

Box 2

Wood alligator

Box 2

Clay salamander

Box 2

Beaded lizard

Box 2

Painted wood alligator

Box 2

Polynesian woman (wood)

Box 2

4 Snakes (1 flat ceramic; 1 light brown; 1 dark brown; 1 short gourd rattle)

Box 2

Snake (bamboo, articulated)

Box 3

Mouse pad decorated w/ Virgin de Guadalupe

Box 3

Wooden snake on wheels

Box 3

Stone turtle

Box 3

Wood box decorated w/cacti

Box 3

Wood stick, approx. 6" long

Box 3

4 Small rubber turtles

Box 3

Stone turtle (handmade by Rose Lightning)

Box 3

Virgin candle

Box 3

Small basket with cut ribbons

Box 3

2 Small face masks

Box 3

Yemaya candle

Box 3

Stuffed snake

Box 3

Eskimo knife

Box 3

Yellow wool cloth w/fringe

Box 3

Red plastic frame with cartoon of naked woman sleeping, jaguar, snake

Box 3

Multi-colored woven rug wrapped around 1 pink metal framed picture of jaguar

Box 3

2 Pouches w/dried nuts

Box 3

Pouch w/sand, dirt, seeds, etc

Box 3

Articulated wooden snake toy

Box 3

Braided straw coil

Box 3

Frieda Kahlo - US Stamp ceremony 6/22/2001, postcard

Box 3

Small blue rug

Box 3

Silver metal frame with cartoon - Frank Romero "La Llorena"

Box 3

Many Hands Gallery box containing: 1 round crystal; 1 crystal pendant & black bead choker

Box 3

Mini books in slipcases

Box 3

Carved wood turtle

Box 4

Metal lizard incense burner

Box 4

Coiled paper snake (fragile)

Box 4

Beaded doll

Box 4

2 Corn cobs - wax candles

Box 4

Miniature tableau: Skeleton kneeling over grave with flowers

Box 4

Metal woman

Box 4

Ceramic lizard magnet

Box 4

3 Miniature ceramics: rabbit, owl, cat

Box 4

2 Pendants - goddess Quan Yin

Box 4

Miniature tableau: Black painted wood car with man & woman passengers w/separate cross marked "Gloria"

Box 4

Miniature tableau: Diego Rivera as a frog, table w/food, skeleton Frida Kahlo; label reads, "Ofrenda para Diego Y Frida"

Box 4

Miniature tableau: table with skulls, snakes, black candles - table base broken

Box 4

Metal frog - small

Box 4

Metal horse [brass]

Box 4

Black felt hat

Box 4

Frog wind chime

Box 5

Wooden yellow jaguar woman with tail (large, fragile)

Box 5

Wood & stone incense holder w/ turtle & incense sticks

Box 5

Standing figurine in paper w/ ceramic face & basket of corn kernels

Box 5

Abalone shell

Box 5

Sandstone book end

Box 5

Round, wooden mirror

Box 5

"Fundo Colliguay, Chile" - Key holder in shape of house front

Box 5

Star of Austerity - "The Watcher" card

Box 5

Wooden egg

Box 5

Lace butterfly in plastic box

Box 6

Small armadillo

Box 6

Large red armadillo

Box 6

Black hippo

Box 6

Stone polar bear

Box 6

Stone horse

Box 6

Stone Duck box

Box 6

Stone quail

Box 6

Stone Duck, setting

Box 6

Stone duck, beak elevated

Box 6

Ceramic black mask, small

Box 6

Virgin with calla lilies

Box 6

Small wooden mask

Box 6

Shell and metal Owl

Box 6

Stone Owl box

Box 6

Virgin crèche

Box 6

Clay mask, brown

Box 6

Fish-tailed woman

Box 6

Clay pig, small

Box 6

Unicorn magnet - shell inlay

Box 6

11 buttons (1 "No on 2"; 1 Outrageous 1997; 1 Amazonia National Zoo; 1 Discover Columbus Legacy; 1 Purple/pink cave painting; 1 "I'm Illegal"; 1 Talk Action=Zero; 1 Hopwood v. University of Texas; 1 Contributor; 1 Refuse & Resist; 1 Spic dyke)

Box 6

"The Rattle" - broken in handling by student

Box 6

Origami by Kit Quan - 2 round boxes, 1 large square box, 2 small square boxes, 1 triangle box, 1 cow, 4 dark orange stars, 2 light orange stars, 3 gold stars, 1 green star, 1 purple star, 1 blue star,; 1 white frog

Box 6

Miniature book - no text

Box 6

Writers' altar with inscription strip, 1 red dice, 6 plastic toy animals (1 gorilla, 1 lion, 1 lioness, 1 rhinocerous, 2 alligators)

Box 6

Altar in Bathroom

A A

Tray A - 2 $2.00 bills, 1 beaded lizard, 1 metal lizard, 1 tiny trillobyte, 1 tiny red hippo, 1 tiny stone, 1 virgin medal

B B

Tray B - 4 graduated "yin-yang" canisters, largest holds coins: 1 10 pence (Gt. Britain); 1 Susan B. Anthony Silver dollar; 1 Danish Krone; 9 Mexican pesos; 1 Mexican 20 pesos coin

Box 7

Aztec twins figure

Box 7

Small white clay pot

Box 7

Rubber stamp of "Our Lady of Guadalupe"

Box 7

"Virgin" magnet - satire of Our Lady of Guadalupe

Box 7

Small "Our Lady of Guadalupe" magnet

Box 7

Small "Our Lady of Guadalupe" - cloth pendant, back side has image too

Box 7

"La Sirena" magnet

Box 7

1 cactus magnet

Box 7

Silver mirror with brass flowers, birds, sun

Box 7

"Our Lady of Guadalupe" wooden plaque

Box 7

Piece of pyrite (Fool's Gold)

Box 7

Unicorn in geode

Box 7

Zebra candle stick

Box 7

Metal bell

Box 7

Round ceramic box w/top - green decoration

Box 7

3 Clear crystals

Box 7

1 Purple geode

Box 7

2 Purple crystals

Box 7

Elongated female figurine

Box 8

Turtle made from Mt. St. Helen's ash

Box 8

Oval turtle magnet

Box 8

Wooden fish, wooden armadillo ornaments

Box 8

Blue/Black beaded necklace

Box 8

3 coins in a small clay pot

Box 8

"Texas" magnet

Box 8

Skeleton playing guitar ink stamp

Box 8

Big plastic skull

Box 8

Miniature clay skull

Box 8

"La Marrana de-Mi-Vecina" - clay pig

Box 8

Cactus ink stamp

Box 8

Miniature plastic bull

Box 8

Miniature metal dragon

Box 8

Miniature plastic bat

Box 8

Miniature yellow car

Box 8

Jade horse

Box 8

4 coins (1 peso, 3 coins unidentified)

Box 8

Miniature wooden house

Box 8

Plastic skull wind-up toy

Box 8

Astrological dice

Box 8

Clear turtle

Box 8

Stuffed velvet heart ornament

Box 8

Bead, stone, feather necklace

Box 8

Beaded brooch on safety pin

Box 8

Crystal w/woven circle necklace

Box 8

Beaded spider

Box 8

Box O' Rocks (8 white/clear crystals; 1 pink crystal; 2 rock slices; 8 assorted rocks)

Box 8

6 Ceramic goddesses

Box 8

2 round boxes - 1 small black box, 1 larger patterned straw box

Box 8

Pepper Tree magnet

Box 8

Shell box

Box 8

Rock w/crystals in small plastic box

Box 8

2 rubber turtles

Box 8

2 rubber monsters

Box 8

10 assorted shells

Box 8

Snake magnet

Box 8

Octopus magnet

Box 8

2 metal salamanders

Box 8

1 aluminum snake

Box 8

1 sea horse

Box 8

1 wooden horse in packaging

Box 8

1 piece of mushroom coral

Box 8

1 red/gold square brocade jewelry box

Box 9

Ceramic figurine ornament

Box 9

STiny paper flower bouquet

Box 9

Red striped bag

Box 9

Crocheted bag

Box 9

Small double spot pot

Box 9

Tiny metal mask

Box 9

Small dark blue medicine pouch

Box 9

Small Green/Brown striped crocheted bag

Box 9

Wooden box w/62 small iridescent marbles and 3 large marbles

Box 9

Zippered bag for holding marbles

Box 9

Ceramic layered face mask (large)

Box 9

Beaded collar (orange, violet/ blue, white)

Box 9

Mexican flag

Box 9

Leather pouch w/feathers

Box 9

Small leather pouch

Box 9

Small crocheted pouch

Box 9

Large rainbow striped crocheted bag

Box 9

Feather w/ wood attachment [laid in box on top]

Box 9

Aztec coaster

Box 9

Bull tile (ceramic tile with steer head on it)

Box 10-13

Framed pieces w/glass

Box 10

"Buried Fire" - card

Box 10

[Stone woman seated w/ turquiose necklace] card

Box 10

[Indian woman - face] mezzotint print - card by Liliana Wilson, 1961

Box 10

[Jaquar print on card]

Box 10

[Indian woman w/bird] image by Liliana Wilson Grez card

Box 10

[Portrait of boy w/ 3 leaves] card

Box 10

[Carved stone woman w/child] card

Box 11

[Open hands collage on handmade paper]

Box 11

"The Meaning of Life" painting card by Liliana Wilson, 1994

Box 11

[Frida Kalo - double portrait] card by Castro, 1991

Box 11

[Aztec stone wall carving], card

Box 11

[Frog drawing] card b/w, 1969

Box 11

[Hand prints on cave wall]

Box 11

"Vallede Bravo, Mexico 1993" by Margaret Randall - b/w card

Box 12

[Virgin de Guadalupe] card

Box 12

[Female nude reclining] blue card

Box 12

[Family portrait w/2 dogs] painting by Lilianna Wilson Grez

Box 12

[Announcement card for show featuring Lilianna Wilson Grez & Celia Roddriquez]

Box 12

"One Nation Under God" card showing quilt

Box 12

[Woman playing flute] b/w drawing on card

Box 12

[Boy sitting on bench with fish staring at him from his lap] - card of painting by Liliana Wilson Grez

Box 13

[Virgin of Guadalupe] blue background, green shawl - card

Box 13

"Tsankawi" by Margaret Randall - color photo card

Box 13

[Frida Kalo w/twins in uterus] color card

Box 13

[Jaquar] b/w/print

Box 13

[Frida Kalo w/Diego Rivera on forehead] color print card by Castro, 1996

Box 13

[1000 pesos bank note - Juana de Asbaje]

Box 13

"Call for Submissions - This Bridge Called My Back, Twenty Years Later", 2001

Box 14

Mermaid pot w/stopper

Box 14

Painted gourd with face on neck

Box 14

Black ceramic pot w/ribbon, shell, beads and feather tied to neck

Box 14

Wooden Horse [broken tail re-attached]

Box 14

Dream Shaman [metal figure attached to 3 rocks]

Box 15

Baskets w/dangling silver colored beads

Box 15

Small black cauldron

Box 15

Clasping figures carved from one piece of wood

Box 15

Virgin of Guadalupe magnet (decorated w/glitter, sequins, faux stones)

Box 15

Pierced metal cross

Box 15

Metal cowgirl boot w/spur

Box 16

Black glazed ceramic rooster bowl containing metal star

Box 16

2 Gourds with incised faces

Box 16

Ceramic figurine [seated woman with calla lilies]

Box 17

Mortar and pestle

Box 17

Ceramic woman black w/square black bead necklace

Box 17

Fossil tile

Box 17

Ceramic otter - black

Box 18

Virgin of Guadalupe candlestick

Box 18

Mermaid on a fish on an alligator on a turtle candlestick

Box 19

Virgin de Guadalupe candles

Box 19

Black metal candlestick holder w/round candle

Box 20

Jaguar head - large wood mask

Box 20

Three rattan baskets [one tall, one bowl shape, 1 small woven with pattern]

Box 21

Large copper plate w/ Aztec designs in middle

Box 21

Small blue-washed copper plate w/ painted sun/flower in center

Box 21

Virgin de Guadalupe plastic plate

Box 21

Wooden Mexican mirror

Box 21

Green painted wooden easel (small)

Box 21

Altar cloths, runners

Box 21

Purple quilted cloth

Physical Description: 12 x 12 1/4"
Box 21

Blue, white, pink, red, brown, black, green, yellow bands - woven runner

Physical Description: 12 x 26"
Box 21

Black background w/ colored chevron stripes - woven

Physical Description: 12 1/2 x 16"
Box 21

Circular woven piece w/ women and children figures in center panel

Physical Description: 96" x 23"
Box 21

Virgin de Guadalupe tapestry - woven in Turkey

Physical Description: 38 x 58"
Box 21

Blue, red black white bands - woven runner

Physical Description: 11 3/4 x 10"
Box 21

Brown multi-colored bands - woven runner

Physical Description: 11 3/4 x 10"
Box 21

Hot pink stripes w/ multi-colored smaller bands - wovwen runner

Physical Description: 9 3/4 x 11 1/4"
Box 21

Purple stripes with multicolored smaller bands - woven runner

Physical Description: 10 x 18"
Box 21

Gray stripes w/ multi-colored smaller bands - woven runner

Physical Description: 10 x 18"
Box 21

Purple stripes w/ multi-colored smaller bands - woven runner [sun damaged]

Physical Description: 10 x 18"
Box 21

Orange stripes w/multi-colored smaller bands - woven runner

Physical Description: 12 1/2 x 21"
Box 21

Large black and pink stripes w/smaller multi-colored bands - woven runner

Physical Description: 12 1/2 x 21"
Box 21

Large white stripes w/smaller multi-colored bands - woven runner [stained]

Physical Description: 12 1/2 x 21"
Box 22

Coatilcue stone figure (heavy, hand-made)

Box 22

Aztec bookends

Box 23

Finger piano

Box 23

7 Small multi-colored altar cloths/rugs

Box 24

Colorful ceramic Mexican water jug

Box 24

Black and white pottery vase [tall]

Box 24

Black and white pottery vase [large bottom]

Box 25

Goddess staff

Box 25

Serpent staff

box-folder 26:1

Teaching history, 1987-1988

box-folder 26:2

Spiritual Activism: Making Altares, Making Connections by Gloria E. Anzaldua - 3 unpublished copies of draft, 16 pages, 19 pages, 21 pages ca. 1996 ca. 1999

Note

(Copyright Gloria E. Anzaldua Estate. All permission to quote from these documents must be obtained from the Gloria E. Anzaldua Estate. This essay is may not be photocopied or photographed)
box-folder 26:3

Gloria Anzaldua's Writing Practice and Spiritual Activism, by AnaLouise Keating [5 pgs.] 2014

box-folder 26:4

Book cover samples: Borderlands/La Frontera & Making Faces, Making Soul ca. 1980-2004

box-folder 26:5

Paper ephemera (Workshop flyer, postcards, stickers, Bookshop Santa Cruz poetry handouts), ca. 1980-2004

box-folder 26:6

Artwork (photocopies of images, collage, etc.), ca. 1980-2004