James and Margarita Mendez Papers, 1918-2003

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Summary

Creators:
Mendez, Margarita and Mendez, James
Abstract:
This collection contains material on the lives of James and Margarita Mendez. It consists of photographs, printed matter, memorabilia, correspondence, and realia. It includes material on Garfield and Roosevelt High Schools, the foreced relocation and incarceration of Japanese Americans, the World War II service of James Mendez and Margarita's brother Eloy Duran, and material related to Margarita's career as a social worker.
Extent:
4.8 Linear Feet (4 boxes; 3 flat boxes; 2 oversize flat boxes)
Language:
Materials are in English, Spanish, and Japanese.
Preferred citation:

[Identification of item], James and Margarita Mendez Papers, 127, UCLA Chicano Studies Research Center, University of California, Los Angeles.

Background

Scope and content:

This collection contains material on the lives of James and Margarita Mendez. It consists of photographs, printed matter, memorabilia, correspondence, and realia. There is a great deal of material on their secondary school years at both Garfield High School and Roosevelt High School in Los Angeles. Both schools had large populations of Japanese American students whose educations were interrupted by forced relocation and incarceration. Margarita had many Japanese American friends throughout her life and perhaps because of this fact she retained material from the Gila River and Poston camps. During the Second World War, James served in the 127th Infantry Regiment of the 32nd Infantry Division alongside Margarita's brother Eloy. Both men retained a significant amount of material from their service in the Pacific War and, in Eloy's case, the American Occupation of Japan. While there is only a small amount of material related to James's career as an insurance salesman, there is a great deal on Margarita's career in social work. There is material on her education, including a draft of her thesis, material on various positions she held, publications, and information about Trabajadores de la Raza, an association of student and professional social workers founded in 1969. There are also a number of plaques and certificates bestowed on Margarita throughout her career.

Biographical / historical:

James Aleman Mendez was born July 21, 1921 in Los Angeles. He attended James Garfield High School and Frank Wiggins Trade School before joining the United States Army. He served in the 127th Infantry Regiment of the 32nd Infantry Division and fought in New Guinea and the Philippines. After the war he worked as a salesman for the General American Life Insurance Company.

Margarita Acosta Duran was born on December 5, 1925 in Los Angeles. She attended Theodore Roosevelt High School, UCLA, and USC, where she earned a Master of Social Work degree. As a social worker, she specialized in youth and mental health issues. She was repeatedly recognized by professional organizations, the city and county of Los Angeles, and the State of California or her contributions to her profession and community. She died on February 26, 1996 in Bellflower.

Margarita's younger brother, Eloy, served in the same Army regiment as James. Though there is no evidence in the collection, it is possible that he introduced them. James and Margarita were married on December 23, 1950. They had at least four sons.

Acquisition information:
Gift of Victor Duran Mendez, June 7, 2011.
Processing information:

The collection was arranged by an unknown person. The collection was described by Doug Johnson, July 2019.

Arrangement:

The collection was arranged by an unknown person, who seems to have attempted to retain the donor's original order.

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], James and Margarita Mendez Papers, 127, 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 Hall
Los Angeles, CA 90095-1544, US
Contact:
(310) 206-6052
librarian@chicano.ucla.edu
Website