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Gutiérrez (Juana Beatriz) Mothers of East Los Angeles
Collection
URB.MELA
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Contributing Institution:
Special Collections & Archives
Title: Juana Beatriz Gutiérrez Mothers of East Los Angeles (MELA) Collection
Creator:
Gutiérrez, Juana Beatriz
Identifier/Call Number: URB.MELA
Extent:
6.92 linear feet
Date (inclusive): 1978-2004
Abstract: Juana Beatriz Gutiérrez co-founded the
Mothers of East Los Angeles (MELA) with several other women and a priest, Monsignor John
Moretta. After co-founding MELA, she formed MELA-SI (Santa Isabel), becoming the president
of that organization. Both groups worked to keep their communities and families safe by
assisting others, organizing protests, and raising awareness within the community. Gutiérrez
had nine children, all of whom assisted with MELA projects. She has received awards for her
work within the community and today MELA is a well-known grassroots organization. The
records of the Mothers of East Los Angeles consist primarily of correspondence to and from
Mothers of East Lost Angeles members, as well as newspaper clippings regarding the Mothers
during their activities. It also contains flyers, magazine articles and certificates for
achievements of MELA.
Language of Material: English,
Spanish; Castilian
Juana Beatriz Gutiérrez co-founded the Mothers of East Los Angeles (MELA) with several
other women and a priest, Monsignor John Moretta, when a proposal regarding a state prison
jeopardized her children's safety. She was born and raised in Mexico, and later moved to
Texas where she married her husband Ricardo. After her marriage she moved to Boyle Heights,
where she began to take active roles in helping the community. After co-founding MELA, she
formed MELA-SI (Santa Isabel), becoming the president of that organization. Both groups
worked to keep their community and families safe, by helping others, protesting against
projects, and rising awareness on problems in the community. Gutiérrez had nine children all
of whom helped with the projects. She has received awards for her projects in the community,
and today MELA is a well known grassroots organization.
The
Juana Beatriz Gutiérrez Mothers of East Los Angeles (MELA)
Collection
consists primarily of correspondence to and from Mothers of East Lost
Angeles members, as well as newspaper clippings regarding the Mothers during their
activities. It also contains flyers, magazine articles and certificates for achievements of
MELA. The collection is arranged in four series:
Administrative
Records
(1984-2002),
Community Activism (1978-2004), and
General Correspondence and Enclosures (1985-2004), and
Exhibition Materials (1987-2002).
Series I,
Administrative Records, contains administrative
information about MELA, consisting of flyers, summaries, statements, as well as calendars
and newsletters distributed by MELA. The series is arranged chronologically.
Series II,
Community Activism, documents many of the events
coordinated by MELA and include materials such as correspondence, flyers, and newspaper
clippings. It is divided into fifteen subseries:
Education -
Scholarships
(1994-2002),
Education - General
(1987-2002),
Environment - Ecology (1992-2003),
Environmental Earth Fairs and Community Clean Up Programs
(1993-2003),
Environmental - Incinerators and Toxics (1988-2000),
Environmental - Gas and Energy (1995-2002)
,
Environmental - Air and Water
(1987-2000),
Environmental -
General
(1990-2004),
Health - Lead (1993-2000),
Health - General (1994-2002),
Prisons
(1983-1992),
Political (1984-2004),
Transportation (1991-2000),
Labor (1990-2002), and
General Projects (1987-2003). The materials are arranged
chronologically.
Series III,
General Correspondence and Enclosures, contains
correspondence to and from MELA and/ or Juana Gutiérrez. This series also contains newspaper
clippings and other enclosures about MELA and their achievements. The series is arranged
chronologically.
Series IV,
Exhibition Materials, includes items from previous
gallery exhibits which highlight the history and accomplishments of MELA.
Series I: Administrative Records, 1984-2002
Series II: Community Activism, 1978-2004
Subseries A: Education - Scholarships, 1994-2002
Subseries B: Education - General, 1987-2002
Subseries C: Environment - Ecology, 1992-2003
Subseries D: Environmental Earth Fairs and Community Clean Up Programs, 1993-2003
Subseries E: Environmental - Incinerators and Toxics, 1988-2000
Subseries F: Environmental - Gas and Energy, 1995-2002
Subseries G: Environmental - Air and Water, 1978-2002
Subseries H: Environmental - General, 1990-2004
Subseries I: Health - Lead, 1993-2000
Subseries J: Health - General, 1994-2002
Subseries K: Prisons, 1983-1992
Subseries L: Political, 1984-2004
Subseries M: Transportation, 1991-2000
Subseries N: Labor, 1990-2002
Subseries O: General Projects, 1987-2003
Series III: General Correspondence and Enclosures, 1985-2004
Series IV: Exhibition Materials, 1987-2002
Digital reproductions of selected items in this collection are available electronically as
a part of the
Latina(o) Cultural Heritage Archives
project.
Other Information:
This collection was processed under a U.S. Department of Education Title V
Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSI) Grant.
The collection is open for research use.
Copyright for unpublished materials authored or otherwise produced by the creator(s) of
this collection has not been transferred to California State University, Northridge.
Copyright status for other materials is unknown. Transmission or reproduction of materials
protected by U.S. Copyright Law (Title 17, U.S.C.) beyond that allowed by fair use requires
the written permission of the copyright owners. Works not in the public domain cannot be
commercially exploited without permission of the copyright owners. Responsibility for any
use rests exclusively with the user.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Juana Beatriz Gutierrez, 2004.
For information about citing items in this collection consult the appropriate style manual,
or see the
Citing Archival Materials
guide.
Robert G. Marshall, Yolanda Alaniz, Joan Van Sickle, Maria Bonilla
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Documents
Photographs