Finding Aid for the Hector Tobar Papers 1970-2014
After graduation, Tobar became a junior reporter for a local Spanish and English publication called El Tecolote, which is still in existence today and serves the Latino community in the Mission District of San Francisco. This experience provided a platform where Tobar could document the emergence of "Latino cities" within major metropolitan urban spaces like San Francisco and Los Angeles. One can trace the theme of Latino urban cities or dwellings throughout his later work including the novels The Tattooed Soldier, The Barbarian Nurseries, and Translation Nation.
Furthermore, El Tecolote provided the necessary training needed for his acceptance into the Los Angeles Times Minority Editorial Training Program (METPRO) designed to train minorities in journalism at a time when the Los Angeles Times had few minority writers but which saw a sharp increase in Latino migration into the city, primarily Central Americans fleeing the proxy wars in El Salvador, Nicaragua, and Guatemala. Tobar's tenure at the Times was essential in visibilizing and mapping Central American migration to Los Angeles. His articles focused on immigration, refugees, the trauma of war, displacement, the emergence of Central American enclaves, the fight for citizenship rights, and political activism and organizing in the Westlake Pico-Union neighborhood.
As a result of his work in documenting Latino Los Angeles, Tobar provided important insight into the complex socio-economic and race relations simmering in the city during the Rodney King trial and the subsequent eruption of violence and revolution during the 1992 Los Angeles Uprisings. Because he had built a relationship with impoverished and underserved Latino, Black, and Asian neighborhoods of Los Angeles, he was able access in depth interviews and analysis about what was at the core of tensions in the city at this time. For his contributions to the coverage of the uprisings, Tobar won a Pulitzer Prize. His time as part of the Minority Editorial program was not without struggles, Tobar describes feeling like the "token Latino" during this time and notes that after his hiring, the newspaper did little if anything to hire more Latinos or people of color. A letter of resignation in the mid-1990 reflects this with Tobar pointing out that his departure meant only one other Latino reporter would be on staff at the newspaper in a city that is predominately Latino.
In 1996, Tobar returned to the times after the paper launched the Latino Initiative and hired Tobar as a Latino national affairs correspondence and he was able to cover news from across the U.S., eventually becoming the Los Angeles Times Bureau Chief in Mexico City and later Argentina. During this time, Tobar covered internal culture and politics in Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, and other countries in South America. Furthermore, he wrote about the effects of U.S. foreign policies in these countries.
In 2003, Tobar was sent to Baghdad where he covered the early stages of the U.S. / Iraq War and conducted much acclaimed coverage of undocumented immigrants serving in the U.S. armed forces.
In the mid 2000s and most recently, Tobar has focused more on his literary career and has published four books. The collection contains several copies of his books, which have been translated into French, Spanish, and Polish. Furthermore, including in his papers is correspondence about the publishing process. One particular point of interest is the role that small presses play in publishing Latino works. The Tattooed Soldier for example, was first published by Delphinium Books and later purchased by Penguin Books, a much larger publishing house. The collection holds several letters and emails detailing the process and negotiations surrounding publications.
One final but important aspect of the collection lies in the Tobar's personal correspondence with friends and family regarding episodes of depression he experienced in youth and as an adult. Sadness and melancholia (mentioned in notes and letters) is often referenced in the context of migration, and Central America.
- Series 1. Hector Tobar Collection
Field notes on research for "Translation Nation: Defining A New American Identity in the Spanish Speaking United States" 2000
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Field Notes for "Translation Nation: Defining A New American Identity in the Spanish Speaking United States" 12/18/2000
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Field Notes for "Translation Nation: Defining a New American Identity in the Spanish Speaking United States" 2000
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Field Notes for "Translation Nation: Defining A New American Identity in the Spanish Speaking United States" 2000
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Research for "Translation Nation: Defining a New American Identity in the Spanish Speaking United States"
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Research for "Translation Nation: Defining a New American Identity in the Spanish Speaking United States"
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Research for "Translation Nation: Defining a New American Identity in the Spanish Speaking United States"
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Calendar schedule for research done on "Translation Nation: Defining a New American Identity in the Spanish Speaking United States" 1/99 - 1/2004
Research for "Translation Nation: Defining a New American Identity in the Spanish Speaking United States"
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Research for "Translation Nation: Defining a New American Dream in the Spanish Speaking United States"
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Research for "Translation Nation: Defining a New American Identity in the Spanish Speaking United States"
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Research for "Translation Nation: Defining a New American Identity in the Spanish Speaking United States"
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Research for "Translation Nation: Defining a New American Identity in the Spanish Speaking United States"
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Research for "Translation Nation: Defining a New American Identity in the Spanish Speaking United States"
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Newspaper articles written by Hector Tobar for the Los Angeles Times
Research for "Translation Nation: Defining a New American Identity in the Spanish Speaking United States"
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Research for "Translation Nation: Defining a New American Identity in the Spanish Speaking United States"
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Research for "Translation Nation: Defining a New American Identity in the Spanish Speaking United States"
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Research for "Translation Nation: Defining a New American Identity in the Spanish Speaking United States"
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Newspaper articles written by Hector Tobar for the Los Angeles Times and L.A. Weekly
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Draft of "Translation Nation" Part 1
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Research for "Translation Nation: Defining a New American Identity in the Spanish Speaking United States"
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Latinos in the Iraq War
Early Draft of "The Barbarian Nurseries" Part 3
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Research for Translation Nation: Defining a New American Identity in the Spanish Speaking United States"
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Research for "Translation Nation: Defining a New American Identity in the Spanish Speaking United States"
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Book reviews for "Translation Nation: Defining a New American Identity in the Spanish Speaking United States"
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Events attended for release of "Translation Nation"
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Manuscript for "Translation Nation: Defining a New American Identity in the Spanish Speaking United States" 2/8/05
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Manuscript of "Translation Nation: Defining a New American Identity in the Spanish Speaking United States" 2/08/05
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Draft of "Translation Nation: Defining a New American Identity in the Spanish Speaking United States." Part 1
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Manuscript of "Translation Nation" Part 2
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Early draft of "The Barbarian Nurseries" manuscript
Early Manuscript of "Translation Nation: Defining a New American Identity in the Spanish-Speaking United States"
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Early draft of "The Barbarian Nurseries" Part 1
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Early Draft of "The Barbarian Nurseries" Part 2
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Correspondence with editors
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Draft of "Translation Nation: Defining a New American Identity in the Spanish Speaking United States" Part 1
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Articles written by Hector Tobar and others regarding Latino veterans
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Early manuscript of "Translation Nation: Defining a New American Identity in the Spanish Speaking United States"
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Early Draft of "The Barbarian Nurseries" Part 1.
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Early draft of "The Barbarian Nurseries" Part 2. Page 63-151 plus pages not numbered
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Portion of Manuscript from "The Barbarian Nurseries" Part 3
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Bound manuscript "The Barbarian Nursery" 10/2009
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Manuscript excerpt of "The Barbarian Nurseries" draft. 7/9/2011
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Manuscript draft of "The Barbarian Nurseries" Part 1
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Draft of manuscript of "The Barbarian Nurseries" Part 2, pages 248 - 422
Draft of "The Barbarian Nurseries" Part 1, pages 1-422
Manuscript draft of "The Barbarian Nurseries" Part 2, pages 250 - 422 3/7/2011
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Manuscript draft of "The Barbarian Nurseries" part 1, title pages and p. 3-262 3/18/2011
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Early draft of "The Barbarian Nurseries" Part 2, pages 263-557
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Manuscript Draft of " The Barbarian Nurseries" Part 2, pages 203 - 384
Draft of "The Barabarian Nurseries" Part 3, pages 385-557
Early draft of "The Barbarian Nurseries" Part 1. Title pages and 4-230 5/26/2011
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Early draft of "The Barbarian Nurseries" Part 2, pages 231 - 422
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Early draft of "The Barbarian Nurseries" Part 1, pages 3-221
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Early draft of "The Barbarian Nurseries" Part 2, pages 222 - 422 5/4/2011
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Cartridges of photos, floppy disks, and CDs
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Business Cards
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1970's negatives of family pictures
Folders 1 - 6 are family photographs with negatives. The box also includes cassette recorded interviews, and six spiral notebooks with notes and journal entries
Published books and novels written by Hector Tobar in various languages
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Early draft of "The Barbarian Nurseries" Part 1
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Manuscript of "The Barbarian Nurseries"
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Early draft of manuscript for "The Barbarian Nurseries"
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Early draft of "The Barbarian Nurseries" Part 2
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Early manuscript of "The Barbarian Nurseries"
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Reviews/Coverage in Latino magazines
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Event Flyers/Programs
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Reviews and articles of Hector Tobar's work
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Los Angeles Times, LA Weekly Newspaper articles written by Hector Tobar 1988-1992
El Tecolote, San Jose Mercury News, The Tenderloin Times, The Guardian, Twanas International Viewpoint, Socialist Action, and City on a Hill Newspaper and magazine Articles written by Hector Tobar 1986-1988
Copies of Los Angeles Times Newspaper Articles written by Hector Tobar 2003-2006
Los Angeles Times Newspaper Articles written by Hector Tobar 2010-2011
Los Angeles Times Newspaper articles written by Hector Tobar 2002-2005
Taped Interviews and notebooks with notes
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Tobar's Personal Correspondence
Information on METPRO the Minority Editorial Training Program at the Los Angeles Times through which Tobar was hired at the newspaper.
McCarter Theater playwriting workshop information and pamphlets. Tobar's play "Mini-Mail Heroes" was produced through their workshop.
Tobar's Family Tree
Personal Correspondence
Tobar's best friend, Gus Gregory was killed in Peru, allegedly by the Shining Path. The folder includes the two men's last correspondence before Gregory was killed.
Tobar's best friend, Gus Gregory was killed in Peru, allegedly by the Shining Path. The folder includes the two men's last correspondence before Gregory was killed.
Photographs of Tobar's time as a reporter at the Los Angeles Times. Including photos of celebration after Pulitzer Prize win.
Theatre feature/review for "Death and the Maiden" at the Mark Taper Forum starring Jimmy Smits in January 1994.
Early creative writing pieces
Story written by Tobar called "Rigoberta Menchu and the "New Dawn" of the Maya"
Piece on the Los Angeles uprisings in 1992.
Notes on playwriting, and his play "Mini-Mail Heroes"
Jacket cover for first publication of "The Tattooed Soldier"
Drafts of "The Tattooed Soldier" and writing research in 1993
Correspondence re: "The Tattooed Soldier" including the contract with Delphinium Books when he sold the manuscript.
Course reader for class Tobar taught at UC Santa Cruz circa 1985 called "Latin American Studies: Contemporary Revolutionary Movements"
Tobar's Journal
Copy of L.A. Weekly article written by Charles Rappleye called "Palace Coup: How Corporate Managers Wrested Control of the Times from Otis Chandler" in September 1993
Copies of El Tecolote Newspaper where Tobar began his career as a journalist.
Copies of Los Angeles Times Magazine featuring Tobar's story "Gloria and the Politics of Anger"
Various daily planners, agendas, and notebooks.
Personal Correspondence
Journal entries in loose leaf paper
Photographs of family and friends
Baseball signed by teammates in Little League
Copy of "Guatemala: And so victory is born even in the bitterest hours, North American Congress on Latin America."
Copy of "Lectura: La Tierra del Quetzal"
High School Diploma holder, scholarship membership certificate, high school commencement program.
Precalculus textbook
Copy of "The National Experience: A History of the United States" textbook.
Photo album of sports heroes including autographs.
First short story Tobar wrote
Personal correspondence, L.A. Weekly business cards, El Tecolote business cards, and other ephemera.
Family photos, friends, and trip to Guatemala
Cassette Tape: Reflections on Los Angeles. Floppy Disks titled: Farewell, California. Nov. 6, 1996" and "Working California Files Jan. '95" and "11/30/94 Completed First Draft"
Family photos, trip to Guatemala
Tobar's Photography
Copy of "El Salvador: Work of Thirty Photographers"
Drafts of "The Tattooed Soldier"
Newspaper clippings of Tobar articles for the Los Angeles Times from 1988-1991
Research Tobar conducted for his novel "The Tattooed Soldier"
Early manuscript of Tobar's "The Tattooed Soldier"
Research and another copy of an early manuscript for "The Tattooed Soldier"
Manuscript of "The Tattooed Soldier" 1994
Copies of Los Angeles Times article clippings written by Tobar and a performance evaluation dated 1985
Transcript of an interview
Draft of a play titled "We Don't Need No Stinkin' Borders"
Creative writing piece titled "Why Do The Machos Roam"
Documents for The Barrio Improvement Project started with Maria Cabildo
Resumes and correspondence re: Center Theater Group's "Twilight" by Anna Deveare Smith for which Tobar served as consultant.
Articles for the Los Angeles Times written by Tobar n.d. [1991]
Printed copies and clippings and newspaper articles 1989-1992
Early draft of "The Barbarian Nurseries" originally titled "Farewell, California"
Early creative writing pieces titled "The Star Chief" and "One Small Step."
Flyers for political action events Tobar was a part of during the mid 1980s 1985-1986
Notes on a seminal investigative journalism piece Tobar wrote in 1991 on mental health care in the Los Angeles Central Men's jail. 1991
Notes from Tobar's time as Beat reporter in 1991.
Notes and correspondence n.d. [1990]
Printed proofs of articles written by Tobar. Newspaper clippings, notes. 1991-1992
Personal correspondence n.d. [1992]
Resumes n.d. [1995]
Two photographs titled "Gualan 1958"
Notes titled "King Notes" dated 1993. 7/28/1993
Document titled "Technical Assistance to the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department Mental Health Operations Evaluation."
Copies of newspaper clippings of Tobar articles in which he covered the initial reports of the Rodney King beating and the ensuing controversy that lead up to the Los Angeles uprisings in 1992. Copies of newspaper articles Tobar wrote covering mental health care in the Los Angeles jail system. 1991-1993
Notes for article on mental health care in the Los Angeles county jails.
Notes for article on mental health care in L.A. county jails.
Personal correspondence 1989-1992
Creative writing drafts 1992-1993
Application and research to Hispanic Film Project
Photographs
Creative writing pieces - Immigration Odes
In 1995, Tobar left the Los Angeles Times to attend UC Irvine's MFA program in creative writing. Included in this folder are manuscripts from his work in the program, and correspondence.
8 1/2 x 11 Spiral Notebook n. d. [1995]
Watsonville Cannery Strike n.d.
UCSC Undergraduate essays and assignments
UCSC Financial Aid and Regents Scholarship Award
Gus Gregory Death Case Files - Tobar met Gregory as a student at UCSC. Gregory was killed by the Shining Path in Peru in July 1988
Tobar 1991 income taxes and a map of Fayetteville, North Carolina
Michael Brewer Case File
Mental restraints court files.
Los Angeles Times articles written by Tobar 1990s
Draft, photos, and research on Tobar's novel "The Tattooed Soldier"
Play program, review and other ephemera about "Beyond The Ashes" a play about the Los Angeles uprisings in 1992
Tobar's 1994 calendar, daily planner 1994
Tobar's resignation letter from The Los Angeles Times 5/28/1993
1994 World Cup Program and ticket stubs 1994
Copy of a play written by Tobar called "Mini-Mall Heroes" 6/1993
Photographs
Correspondence regarding articles published 1996, 2005, and 2006 1996, 2005, and 2006
Maps of Los Angeles, Guatemala, and El Salvador
Los Angeles Times Employee credentials and correspondence 1988
Fiction and creative writing pieces n.d.
Early Draft of "The Tattooed Soldier"
Book reviews and correspondence regarding "The Tattooed Soldier"
Newspaper clippings of Tobar articles from the Los Angeles Times 1993
Newspaper article clipping about Gus Gregory's death in Peru
Family income tax returns 1995 1995
Box contains copies of Tobar's masters thesis while an MFA student at UC Irvine. This manuscript was eventually published as "The Tattooed Soldier." Tobar's first novel. The box also contains correspondence, and ephemera from Tobar's undergraduate years at UC Santa Cruz.
Folders 1-7 contain drafts of "Farewell California." The original title for Tobar's novel which was eventually published as "The Barbarian Nurseries." The box also contains five spiral notebooks filled with notes and journal entries. Three bound journals and a copy of a pamphlet for a rally in honor of Nelson Mandela titled "A Tribute to Nelson Mandela: Rally for a Free South Africa" at the Los Angeles Coliseum on June 29, 1990
Newspaper clippings of articles written by Tobar for the Los Angeles Times 2003-2007
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Newspaper clippings of articles written by Tobar for the Los Angeles Times 2006
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Newspaper clippings of articles written by Tobar for the Los Angeles Times 2008
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Newspaper clippings of articles written by Tobar for the Los Angeles Times 2009
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Newspaper clippings of articles written by Tobar for the Los Angeles Times 2010
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Newspaper clippings of articles written by Tobar for the Los Angeles Times 2011
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Newspaper clippings of articles written by Tobar for the Los Angeles Times 2012
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Newspaper clippings of articles written by Tobar for the Los Angeles Times 2013
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Newspaper clippings of articles written by Tobar for the Los Angeles Times 2014
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Newspaper clippings of articles written by Tobar for the Los Angeles Times 1989-2000
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