The Ricardo Ocreto Alvarado archive consists of documents, correspondence, audiovisual, photographic and other materials. The photographic materials consist of prints, slides, and approximately 3000 negatives. The original documents are mostly official records from Ricardo Alvarado's army service. There is also a large amount of Janet Alvarado's (Ricardo Alvarado's daughter) working files, which consist of research, designs, grants, newspaper clippings, correspondence, publicity, flyers, display labels and other materials. These documents are from two exhibits she created using her father's photographs: Through My Father's Eyes (1998-2002) and Alvarado Compositions (2014).

Ricardo Ocreto Alvarado was born in the Philippines in 1914. Alvarado moved to California in 1928. He enlisted in the First Filipino Infantry Regiment, U.S. Army in 1942 as a medic. After World War II he worked as a civilian cook at San Francisco's Letterman Army Hospital. Using a view camera, Alvarado documented Filipino-American community life at dances, banquets, baptisms, funerals, and other gatherings. He photographed primarily in San Francisco but also in rural settings. In 1959 Alvarado married Norberta Magallanes and ended his photographic work.

10.5 Linear Feet (8 manuscript storage boxes, 2 record storage boxes, and 6 flat boxes)

While Special Collections is the owner of the physical items, permission to examine collection materials is not an authorization to publish. These materials are made available for use in research, teaching, and private study. Any transmission or reproduction beyond that allowed by fair use requires permission from the owners of rights, heir(s) or assigns.

Open for research. Note that material must be requested at least 36 hours in advance of intended use. Audiovisual & born-digital materials are not available in original format, and must be reformatted to a digital use copy.