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Table of contents
Language of Material:
English
Contributing Institution:
Chicano Studies Research Center Library
Title: Maria Acosta Duran Papers
Creator:
Duran, Maria Acosta
Identifier/Call Number: CSRC.126
Physical Description:
1.8 linear feet
(2 boxes; 1 oversize flat box)
Date (inclusive): 1915-1988
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.
Language of Material: Materials are in English and Spanish.
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.
Open for research.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
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.
The arrangement was determined by the initial archivist.
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.
[Identification of item], Maria Acosta Duran Papers, 126, UCLA Chicano Studies Research Center, University of California,
Los Angeles.
The collection was processed by an unknown person. It was described by Doug Johnson in 2019.
The
James and Margarita Mendez Papers at the UCLA CSRC are a collection of Duran's daughter and son-in-law's papers.
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.
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.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Community Service Organization
Villa, Pancho, 1878-1923
Corral Vda. de Villa, Luz, 1894-1981
Alianza Hispano-Americana
International Ladies' Garment Workers' Union
Lancaster (Calif.)