Guide to the Luis Leal papers CEMA 125
Finding aid prepared by Rebecca Vasquez, April 2024.
UC Santa Barbara Library, Department of Special Research Collections
2024 April
University of California, Santa Barbara
Santa Barbara 93106-9010
Phone Number: (805) 893-3062
special@library.ucsb.edu
Contributing Institution:
UC Santa Barbara Library, Department of Special Research Collections
Title: Luis Leal papers
Creator:
Leal, Luis, 1907-2010
source:
Leal, Antonio
Identifier/Call Number: CEMA 125
Physical Description:
34 Linear Feet;
(19 cartons, 7 flat boxes)
Date (inclusive): 1940-2009
Abstract: Papers of Luis Leal, a former writer, researcher, and Professor Emeritus of Chicana and Chicano studies at the University
of California, Santa Barbara.
Physical Location: Special Research Collections, UC Santa Barbara Library
Language of Material:
English, Spanish; Castilian.
Arrangement
The collection is arranged by topic into two series:
- Series 1: Course and University materials
- Series 2: Manuscript and Research materials
Biographical / Historical
Luis Leal (September 17, 1907 – January 25, 2010) was a Mexican-American writer, researcher, and Professor Emeritus of Chicana
and Chicano studies at the UC Santa Barbara. Leal was born and raised in Linares, Mexico during the Mexican Revolution. After
he graduated high school, he immigrated to the United States and settled in Chicago, Illinois to attend Northwestern University
in 1927. Over the next decade, Leal studied English, attended classes, and became a naturalized U.S. citizen. He earned a
Bachelor's degree in Spanish from Northwestern University in 1940 and a Master's in Spanish from the University of Chicago
in 1941. In 1943, he was drafted and served in the U.S. Army until World War II ended in 1945. After he returned from the
Phillipines, Leal continued his studies and earned a Ph.D. in Spanish and Italian from the University of Chicago in 1950.
He took his first teaching job at the University of Mississippi in 1952, and transferred a few years later to Emory University
in Atlanta, GA where he taught for another three years. Leal struggled with the segregation in the South and anti-integration
sentiments on campus, and by 1959 returned to Illinois to teach Latin American and Mexican literature at the University of
Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Up to his retirement in 1975, Leal taught two graduate seminars a semester, directed almost
four dozen dissertation students, and published numerous articles and books on Mexican, Latin American, and Chicano literature.
In 1976, he and his family moved to Santa Barbara, where he accepted a visiting professor position at UCSB, where he would
continue to teach for next three decades until his second retirement. While at UCSB, Leal held a research fellowship, taught
graduate literature courses, edited a literary periodical, directed the Center for Chicano Studies from 1994 to 1996, and
served as the Luis Leal Endowed Chair from 1995 to 1997.
Throughout his academic career, Leal authored more than 45 books and 400 scholarly articles and received numerous honors,
including the National Humanities Medal, which was presented at the White House in 1997 by then-President Bill Clinton; the
Distinguished Scholar Award from the National Association for Chicano Studies in recognition of his lifetime achievements
in 1988; and he was awarded the Mexico Order of the Aztec Eagle, the highest honor granted to foreign citizens by the Mexican
government, in 1991.
Scope and Contents
The collection contains materials produced and collected by Luis Leal's throughout his teaching and writing careers.
Materials may include course syllabi and assignments, student course evaluations, audiovisual recordings of lectures, university
departmental documents, correspondence, drafts and notes, publications by both Leal and others, newspapers, and other collected
reference materials.
Preferred Citation
[Identification of Item], Luis Leal papers. CEMA 125. Department of Special Research Collections, UC Santa Barbara Library,
University of California, Santa Barbara.
Conditions Governing Access
The collection is open for research.
Conditions Governing Use
Property rights to the collection and physical objects belong to the Regents of the University of California acting through
the Department of Special Research Collections at the UCSB Library. All applicable literary rights, including copyright to
the collection and physical objects, are protected under Chapter 17 of the U.S. Copyright Code and are retained by the creator
and the copyright owner, heir(s), or assigns.
All requests to reproduce, quote from, or otherwise reuse collection materials must be submitted in writing to the Department
of Special Research Collections at UCSB at special@ucsb.edu. Consent is given on behalf of the Regents of the University of
California acting through the Department of Special Research Collections at UCSB as the owner of the physical items and is
not intended to include or imply permission from the copyright owner. Such permission must be obtained from the copyright
owner, heir(s), or assigns. It is the responsibility of the researcher to determine who holds the copyright and pursue the
copyright owner or their assigns for permission to publish where the UC Regents do not hold the copyright.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Donated by Antonio Leal, Luis Leal's son, in November 2011.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Leal, Antonio
Series 1: Course and University materials
box 1
Luis Leal: A Journey of 100 Years documentary
box 1, folder 1
Santa Barbara International Film Festival brochure
January 22-Febrary 1, 2009
box 1, folder 1
Santa Barbara International Film Festival catalogue
Janurary 22-Febrary 1, 2009
box 1, folder 2
press Release
January 16, 2009
box 1, folder 2
production stills
undated
box 1, folder 2
The Independent article
Santa Barbara Filmmakers
January 22, 2009
box 1, folder 2
CASA magazine article,
Luis Leal: A Journey of 100 Years original
Janurary 23, 2009
box 1, folder 2
CASA magazine article,
Luis Leal: A Journey of 100 Years photocopy
Janurary 23, 2009
box 1, folder 2
Luis Leal: A Journey of 100 Years flyer
undated
Visual materials
2007-2009
Scope and Contents
Includes master footage, b-reel shots, and completed versions of the documentary.
- Don Luis Interviews: 1. Victor Fuentes 2. EVC Gene Lucas
- Luis Leal; Mario's Classroom Scene (cont'd); outside walking shots; Monday
- Luis Leal: A Journey of 100 Years; Total Running Time: 56 Minutes; Screening Copy
- Luis Leal; Journey of 100 years; DVD Movie
- Luis Leal; 1907-2010; Computer DVD
- Luis Leal; Books; Computer DVD
- Luis Leal; A Journey of 100 Years
- Endowed chair ceremony
- Luis Leal VO2
- Luis Leal; Pepe's House - Family Tree
- Sandra Cypress
- Luis Leal; B-Roll; House - Maps, Photos, Awards; Mural - I.V.
- Luis Leal Tape 1; Mario's Classroom Scene
- Luis Leal Tape 4; 7/25/07 - Home office (cont'd); Wall of Books; Photos on Wall/Military Badges
- Luis Leal; Library Shots
- Luis Leal Tape 3; Home Office; Computer; Magnifier/TV - Reading; Poem; Wed.
- Luis Leal; 1) Beach Scene; 2) Lagoon Scene; Tues
- Don Luis Test Shots @ Beach 7/87; Center for Chic. Studies
item V4932/BC
Luis Leal: A Journey of 100 Years
item V4933/DVD
Luis Leal: A Journey of 100 Years
box 2
Chicano Studies and Spanish department materials
1981-2001
Scope and Contents
Department of Spanish and Chicano Studies at UCSB; People from the Department of Spanish and Chicano Studies; Various Chicanos
personal Info
box 3
Chicano Studies course and department materials
Scope and Contents
Correspondence; Teacher Evaluations; Campaign to Establish The Luis Leal Chair in Chicano Studies; Chicano Studies class materials:
readings, study guides, exams; Scholarly Articles
box 4
Chicano Studies and Spanish course materials
1988-1999
Scope and Contents
Course readers and materials for Chicano Studies and Spanish courses. Also contains issues of Boletin Bioliografico that include
Leal articles.
box 5
Graduate student papers
Scope and Contents
Manuscripts not by Leal; graduate student papers; papers from an NEH seminar taught by Leal; some University related materials
box 6
Audiovisual lecture materials
Scope and Contents
Recordings of conference presentations; course and lecture material recordings; slides of images in Mexico.
Series 2: Manuscript and Research materials
box 7
Chicano writers and history research
1960-2002
Scope and Contents
Articles from Chicano writers; Notes from Chicano Classes; Information about Chicano writers; Critics of Chicano Short Stories;
Research in Chicano Culture and History
box 8
Chicano writers and writings
1986-1993
Scope and Contents
Administrative; Chicano Writings; Stories from Successful Chicanos; Critics from different books; The Chicano Rivera Stories;
Various Chicanos Personal Info
box 9
Chicano writers
Scope and Contents
Folders arranged alphabetically from S to V, corresponding to an individual's name. They contain: Articles, Essays from his
Chicano Studies classes, Correspondence, Short Stories, Recommendation Letters, Outlines on books, Hispano Americano semanario
de la vida y la verdad Magazine, 12/03/1948 Newspaper Clippings
box 10
Chicano writers and poets
Scope and Contents
Chicano poets and poetry; Chicano Anthology draft; Various Chicanos info; bound Leal publications
box 11
Chicano writers; Conference materials
1981-2003
Scope and Contents
Chicano writer bibliographies; art publications; conference materials
box 12
Chicano writers
Scope and Contents
Various Chicanos Personal Info
box 13
Publications
Scope and Contents
Leal articles in magazines, journals, newspapers and booklets.
box 14
Juan Rulfo manuscript
Scope and Contents
Juan Rulfo TSS Manuscripts; Juan Rulfo First Galley Proof Manuscripts; Juan Rulfo Second Galley Proof Manuscripts with handwritten
mark ups; Luis Leal: A Journey of 100 Years poster
box 15
Research materials
Scope and Contents
Manuscripts, Latina Magazines, and booklets
box 16
Research materials
Scope and Contents
Manuscripts not by Leal
box 17
Publications and research materials
Scope and Contents
Manuscripts both by and not by Leal
box 18
Publications and research materials
Scope and Contents
Manuscripts not by Leal; handwritten draft outline in a binder.
box 19
Publications and research materials
Scope and Contents
Various books and published pamphlets, some published or edited by Leal, but most are not.
box 20
Publications and research materials
Scope and Contents
Manuscripts not by Leal; handwritten draft outline of "Quetzalcoatl" in a binder.
box 21, box 22, box 23, box 24, box 25, box 26
Spanish language newspapers
1958-2004
Scope and Contents
Collection of Spanish language newspapers. Repeated titles include: La Communidad, Excelsio, El Nacional, Revista, and La
Nacion.
