Collection Guide
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Burciaga (Cecilia Preciado) papers
M2229
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Table of contents
Contributing Institution:
Department of Special Collections and University Archives
Title: Cecilia Preciado Burciaga papers
Creator:
Burciaga, Cecilia Preciado, 1945-2013
Identifier/Call Number: M2229
Physical Description:
38 Linear Feet
(71 boxes)
Date (inclusive): 1952-2006
Abstract: One of the first high-ranking Chicana administrators at a private university, Cecilia P. Burciaga (1945-2013) was a leader
in civil rights and education.
Language of Material:
English
.
Open for research. Note that material must be requested at least 36 hours in advance of intended use.
Audiovisual and born-digital materials are not available in original format, and must be reformatted to a digital use copy.
Please note: Box 43 contains files related to student work and financial aid and is CLOSED for research until 2051.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Purchase; 2017. Accession MSS 2017-147
One of the first high-ranking Chicana administrators at a private university, Cecilia Preciado Burciaga (1945-2013) was a
leader in civil rights and education who inspired generations of students during a twenty year career at Stanford University
and later California State University-Monterey Bay. Her advocacy and mentoring extended to participation in various organizations
and conferences (including the landmark 1977 National Women's Conference), and she was was also a frequent public speaker.
Born in Pomona, California to Mexican immigrant parents, Burciaga earned a bachelor's degree in Spanish, English and linguistics
from California State University-Fullerton in 1967 and a secondary teaching credential in 1968. She earned a master's degree
in policy studies in education from the University of California-Riverside in 1972. Before arriving at Stanford, she was a
social science research analyst for the U.S. Civil Rights Commission in Washington, D.C. and worked for the Interagency Committee
on Mexican-American Affairs.
Burciaga arrived at Stanford in the summer of 1974 to become assistant to the president and provost for Chicano affairs under
President Lyman. She subsequently held many posts at Stanford, including Associate Dean of Graduate Studies and Research,
Assistant Provost for Faculty Affairs, and Development Officer for Student Affairs. Burciaga and her husband, writer and artist
José Antonio "Tony" Burciaga (whose collection Stanford also holds), served for ten years as resident fellows at Casa Zapata,
the Chicano-theme dorm.
Following a messy and controversial dismissal from Stanford in 1994, Burciaga became a founding dean of California State University-Monterey
Bay. She first worked in the Office of the President and later as the Associate Vice President of Student Affairs. In 2002,
the university settled on a racial discrimination lawsuit brought by Burciaga and two others. The settlement established a
$1.5 million scholarship fund for low-income students from California. Cecilia Burciaga died in 2013 of lung cancer. She was
67 years old. [adapted from: https://news.stanford.edu/news/2013/april/cecilia-burciaga-services-040213.html]
[identification of item], Cecilia P. Burciaga papers (M2229). Department of Special Collections and University Archives, Stanford
Libraries, Stanford, California
Burciaga was interviewed by the Stanford Historical Society Oral History Program:
https://searchworks.stanford.edu/view/tv687dc7972
Stanford also holds the papers of her husband, the writer and artist José Antonio "Tony" Burciaga: https://oac.cdlib.org/findaid/ark:/13030/c8pz5gv8/
The collection contains correspondence (including email from as far back as 1987-1988), published and unpublished writing
and speech transcripts, articles and publicity featuring Burciaga, and a variety of publications, reports, and organizational
materials. There are separate series for both Stanford and CSU-MB materials, the latter containing several boxes related to
her discrimination lawsuit. There is a small amount of photographs, but almost no media in the collection.
While Special Collections is the owner of the physical and digital 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.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Hispanic American women -- California -- Biography -- Sources
Women -- Education (Higher)
Chicano Community at Stanford University.
Hispanic Americans -- Education (Higher)
Stanford University
Burciaga, José Antonio.