Collection context
Summary
- Creators:
- Duran, Maria Acosta
- Abstract:
- This collection contains the personal papers of Maria Acosta Duran (also known as Maria Duran Lang), a garment worker, political activist, and entrepreneur. It consists of photographs and personal documents. It also includes documents from groups she was active in, such as the Alianza Hispano-Americana, the International Ladies' Garment Workers' Union, and the Community Service Organization. There is a small amount of correspondence and some writings. Perhaps most notable is Duran's first-hand account of the Battle of Columbus, Pancho Villa's 1916 raid into the United States, as well as its aftermath and her 1973 meeting with Luz Corral, Villa's widow. There is also some material on her businesses in Lancaster, CA, and other events in the city, such as the construction of the prison there.
- Extent:
- 1.8 linear feet (2 boxes; 1 oversize flat box)
- Language:
- English and Materials are in English and Spanish.
- Preferred citation:
-
[Identification of item], Maria Acosta Duran Papers, 126, UCLA Chicano Studies Research Center, University of California, Los Angeles.
Background
- Scope and content:
-
The collection includes photographs, mostly from the 1920s to the 1940s. They include portraits and candid shots, including several of Duran's Japanese American neighbors in the years leading up to World War II. There are documents of a personal nature, as well as from the groups Duran was involved in, such as the Alianza Hispano-Americana, the International Ladies' Garment Workers' Union, and the Community Service Organization. There is a small amount of correspondence, and some writings. Perhaps most notable is Duran's first-hand account of the Battle of Columbus, Pancho Villa's 1916 raid into the United States, as well as its aftermath and Duran's 1973 meeting with Luz Corral, Villa's widow. There is also some material on her businesses in Lancaster, CA, and other events in the city, such as the construction of the prison there.
- Biographical / historical:
-
Maria Acosta was born on August 15, 1906 in Mexico. Around 1914, her family moved to Columbus, New Mexico, where she would witness Pancho Villa's incursion into the United States in 1916. In 1925 she married Epimenio Duran in Los Angeles. That same year, they had a daughter, Margarita, and a year or two later, a son, Eloy. Maria filed for divorce in 1935. She worked in the garment industry and, going to night school, earned her high school diploma in 1940.
She was involved with the Aliana Hispano-Americana, a mutual aid society and insurance company for Mexican Americans. She was active with the International Ladies' Garment Workers' Union. She served as treasurer for the Community Service Organization, a civil rights group where she worked with future congressman Edward Roybal, among others. She was so central to the CSO's operations that the group actually used her home address as its business adress for a time.
In 1950 she married Charles H. Lang. At some point, they moved to Lancaster, California, where she opened a cafe called Don Carlos. She was at times the only woman on the Lancaster Chamber of Commerce. There is evidence that she remained politically active with the Chicano Moratorium in 1970. She died on February 26, 1988 in Lancaster.
- Acquisition information:
- Unknown, but the James and Margarita Mendez Papers were donated by Victor Duran Mendez on June 7, 2011. It is likely this collection was part of that gift.
- Processing information:
-
The collection was processed by an unknown person. It was described by Doug Johnson in 2019.
- Arrangement:
-
The arrangement was determined by the initial archivist.
- Physical location:
- COLLECTION STORED OFF-SITE AT SRLF. Advance notice required for access. Contact the UCLA Chicano Studies Research Center Library and Archive for paging information.
- Rules or conventions:
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Access and use
- Restrictions:
-
Open for research.
- Terms of access:
-
These materials are made available for use in research, teaching, and private study pursuant to U.S. Copyright Law. The user must assume full responsibility for any use of materials, including but not limited to infringement of copyright and publication rights of reproduced materials. Any materials used for academic research or otherwise should be fully credited with the source. The original authors may retain copyright to the materials.
- Preferred citation:
-
[Identification of item], Maria Acosta Duran Papers, 126, UCLA Chicano Studies Research Center, University of California, Los Angeles.
- Location of this collection:
-
University of California, Los Angeles, Chicano Studies Research Center Library, 193 Haines HallLos Angeles, CA 90095-1544, US
- Contact:
- (310) 206-6052