Guide to the Antonio Salazar Chicanismo photograph collection CEMA 177

Mari Khasmanyan, 2018
UC Santa Barbara Library, Department of Special Research Collections
University of California, Santa Barbara
Santa Barbara 93106-9010
special@library.ucsb.edu


Language of Material: English
Contributing Institution: UC Santa Barbara Library, Department of Special Research Collections
Title: Antonio Salazar Chicanismo photograph collection
Identifier/Call Number: CEMA 177
Physical Description: 1 Linear Feet (1 flat-box)
Date (inclusive): 1969-1972
Abstract: This photograph collection consists of one flat box filled with 196 [35 mm negative] films, 3 [126 negative] films, 5 black and white photographs, one digital CD and hard-drive containing images taken by Antonio Salazar. Salazar's images tell of the beginning of the MECHA organization at the University of Washington, their protests against the war in Vietnam, as well as the abuse of immigrant farmworkers in the United States. As a member of the first admitted group of Chicano undergraduate students at the University of Washington, his collection includes photographs of social and political activities from 1968-1972. Images in this collection depict Chicanismo/El Movimiento, including students, UMAS/MECHA student groups, Tomas Ybarra-Frausto and El Teatro Del Piojo (Chicano theatre group), and Chicano involvement in anti-war movement/moratorium. Also included are images of Chicano/Latino historical figures such as Cesar Chavez, Dolores Huerta, Corky Gonzalez, Luis Valdez, El Teatro Campesino, as well as historically important Chicanos in the State of Washington.
Physical Location: Special Research Collections, UC Santa Barbara Library
Language of Material: The collection is in English with some Spanish material.

Access Restrictions

The collection is open for research. The born-digital files in this collection have not yet been processed and are currently unavailable for viewing.

Use Restrictions

Copyright has not been assigned to the Department of Special Research Collections, UCSB. All requests for permission to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the Head of Special Research Collections. Permission for publication is given on behalf of the Department of Special Research Collections as the owner of the physical items and is not intended to include or imply permission of the copyright holder, which also must be obtained.

Preferred Citation

[Identification of Item], Antonio Salazar Chicanismo photograph collection, CEMA 177. Department of Special Research Collections, UC Santa Barbara Library

Acquisition Information

Donated by Antonio Salazar, June 2016.

Processing Information

Processed by Mari Khasmanyan and Pablo Amaya, June 2016.

Biography

The grandson of Mexican immigrants, Antonio Salazar was born in the San Joaquin Valley, near Fresno, California. His family, based in the Rio Grande Valley of Texas, would come to California as part of the migrant stream. He was primarily raised in Texas and Washington state.
From 1968-1972, he was an undergraduate student at the University of Washington in Seattle, Washington, as part of the first group of Chicano students to attend the University of Washington. The students, approximately 30, quickly became political and organized the first United Mexican American Students organization (UMAS), which later became MECHA. The students lobbied the university administration to have its first Chicano studies class and located Tomas Ybarra-Frausto to be its first instructor.
From 1968-1972 the University of Washington was one of the most politically active campuses on the West Coast and the MECHA students were active in leading grape boycott activities, in the anti-war movement, and in pushing for farm labor legislation at the state capital, Olympia. Under the leadership of Tomas Ybarra-Frausto, they formed El Teatro Del Piojo, patterned after the Teatro Campesino of Luis Valdez.
Antonio Salazar started taking mostly black and white images of the turbulent events during those four years, developing the images himself. He received some training and direction from Irwin Nash, a Seattle photographer. Apart from the University of Washington MECHA students, and their activities, he shot images of Cesar Chavez, Dolores Huerta, Corky Gonzalez, Reyes Tijerina, Luis Valdez, and other iconic Chicano leaders.
Virtually all of the images were shot with Canon rangefinder cameras, the VIT and 7s, with Canon and Nikon lenses. Kodak Tri-X was the film of choice. Antonio Salazar graduated in 1972 with a degree in Latin American studies and stopped taking pictures to pursue a professional career.
These Chicanismo images have been in at least three books, in a number of exhibits in Washington state and were included in an exhibit that was shown at UNAM in Mexico City and in other parts of Mexico. After a long hiatus from photography, with the advent of digital imaging, he started shooting extensively with digital cameras and has had his images published in a number of national photography magazines.

Scope and Content

This photograph collection consists of one flat box filled with 196 [35 mm negative] films, 3 [126 negative] films, 5 black and white photographs, one digital CD and hard-drive containing images taken by Antonio Salazar. Salazar's images tell of the beginning of the MECHA organization at the University of Washington, their protests against the war in Vietnam, as well as the abuse of immigrant farmworkers in the United States. As a member of the first admitted group of Chicano undergraduate students at the University of Washington, his collection includes photographs of social and political activities from 1968-1972. Images in this collection depict Chicanismo/El Movimiento, including students, UMAS/MECHA student groups, Tomas Ybarra-Frausto and El Teatro Del Piojo (Chicano theatre group), and Chicano involvement in anti-war movement/moratorium. Also included are images of Chicano/Latino historical figures such as Cesar Chavez, Dolores Huerta, Corky Gonzalez, Luis Valdez, El Teatro Campesino, as well as historically important Chicanos in the State of Washington.

Subjects and Indexing Terms

Chicano movement
Chicano archives
Student protesters
Farm Workers Theater
Theater -- Political Aspects

 

Negatives

box 1, folder 1

B-2: Mexican American commission at Olympia February 1972

Physical Description: Contains 6 negatives

Other Descriptive Information

Original note by donor reads: 27, 28, 29, 21A, 24, 7A, 18A, 2, 3, 34, (10)
box 1, folder 1

B-6: Olympia hearings on farm labor bills February 1972

Physical Description: Contains 6 negatives
box 1, folder 1

B-7: UW (University of Washington) MECHA (Movimiento Estudiantil Chicano de Aztlán/ Olympia hearings January 1972

Physical Description: Contains 6 negatives
box 1, folder 1

B-10: Robert Trevino, lead UFW (United Farm Workers) organizer and MECHA student/Young Lawyers and SAB October 1971

Physical Description: Contains 2 negatives
box 1, folder 1

B-12: Northwest Rural Opportunities (NRO) workshop September 1971

Physical Description: Contains 6 negatives
box 1, folder 1

B-14: San Jose Chicano political convention April 1972

Physical Description: Contains 6 negatives
box 1, folder 1

B-15: San Jose Chicano political convention April 1972

Physical Description: Contains 6 negatives

Other Descriptive Information

Original note by donor reads: 12, 17, 20A, 29, 36, (5)
box 1, folder 2

Erasmo Gamboa undated

Physical Description: Contains 4 negatives

Other Descriptive Information

Original note by donor reads: OA, (1)
box 1, folder 2

#60: United Voice/Mexican American organization August 1971

Physical Description: Contains 6 negatives
box 1, folder 2

#59: Farm labor bill meeting at Yakima August 13, 1971

Physical Description: Contains 6 negatives

Other Descriptive Information

Original note by donor reads: 16, 13, 3, 6, (4)
box 1, folder 2

#57: Bilingual bookmobile at Othello farm worker camp July 1971

Physical Description: Contains 6 negatives
box 1, folder 2

#56: Bilingual bookmobile at Othello farm worker camp July 1971

Physical Description: Contains 6 negatives
box 1, folder 3

#55: Othello Big Labor Camp, Bruneau June 1971

Physical Description: Contains 5 negatives
box 1, folder 3

#51: UW MECHA students May 27, 1971

Physical Description: Contains 3 [126] negatives
box 1, folder 3

#49: Teatro Campesino at University of Washington May 14, 1971

Physical Description: Contains 6 negatives

Other Descriptive Information

Original note by donor reads: 1A, 5A, 7A, 12, 12A, 20, 20A, 25, 27, 30, 31, 32, 33, (13)
box 1, folder 3

#48: Teatro Campesino at University of Washington May 14, 1971

Physical Description: Contains 6 negatives

Other Descriptive Information

Original note by donor reads: 7, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, (7)
box 1, folder 3

#47: Teatro Campesino at University of Washington May 14, 1971

Physical Description: Contains 6 negatives

Other Descriptive Information

Original note by donor reads: 1A, 2A, 5A, 6A, 13A, 14A, 31A, (7)
box 1, folder 4

#46: Teatro Campesino at University of Washington May 14, 1971

Physical Description: Contains 6 negatives

Other Descriptive Information

Original note by donor reads: 5, 6, 10, 11, (4)
box 1, folder 4

#39: anti-war demonstration April 17, 1971

Physical Description: Contains 6 negatives

Other Descriptive Information

Original note by donor reads: 26A, 30, 30A, 7A, 8A, 9A, 31A, 34A, 20A, 22A, 3AA, 14A, 18A, 1, 1A, (15)
box 1, folder 4

#38: anti-war moratorium April 17, 1971

Physical Description: Contains 6 negatives

Other Descriptive Information

Original note by donor reads: 3A, 5A, 9A, 10A, 11A, 12A, 18A, 19A, 26A, 27A, 20A, 22A, 23A, (13)
box 1, folder 4

#37: Chicano anti-war Moratorium April 17, 1971

Physical Description: Contains 6 negatives
box 1, folder 4

#36: Takeover of Jane Sanders' quarters April 17, 1971

Physical Description: Contains 6 negatives

Other Descriptive Information

Original note by donor reads: 20, 23, 18, 9, 11, 2A, 6A, 31A, 32A, 33A, 26, 27, 28, (13)
box 1, folder 4

#35: MECHA students at University of Washington April 13, 1971

Physical Description: Contains 6 negatives

Other Descriptive Information

Original note by donor reads: 28, 29, 30, 36A, (4)
box 1, folder 5

#34: MECHA retreat April 1971

Physical Description: Contains 6 negatives

Other Descriptive Information

Original note by donor reads: 6, 6A, 8, 10, 17, 18, 24, 29, 31, (11)
box 1, folder 5

#32: MECHA retreat April 1971

Physical Description: Contains 6 negatives

Other Descriptive Information

Original note by donor reads: 26, 28, 29, 30, 33, 34, 36A, 21, 22, 24, 9, 13, 2, 6, 7, (15)
box 1, folder 5

#31: MECHA retreat April 1971

Physical Description: Contains 6 negatives

Other Descriptive Information

Original note by donor reads: 34, 35, 29, 14, 14A, 10A, 11A, 1A, 2A, 4A, 5A, (11)
box 1, folder 5

#27: Racism workshop WSU March 10, 1971

Physical Description: Contains 7 negatives

Other Descriptive Information

Original note by donor reads: 6A, 13, 13A, 35A, 36A, 20A, 15, 15A, 28A, 31, 32, (11)
box 1, folder 5

#26: Racism conference at Washington State University, Pullman March 10, 1971

Physical Description: Contains 6 negatives

Other Descriptive Information

Original note by donor reads: 31A, 33A, 35A, 13A, 22A, 23A, 56, (7)
box 1, folder 6

#25: 2nd racism conference Washington State University March 10, 1971

Physical Description: Contains 6 negatives

Other Descriptive Information

Original note by donor reads: 14A, 18A, 27, 27A, 28A, 6A, 21, 12A, 36, 31, 32, (11)
box 1, folder 6

#17: UW MECHA students undated

Physical Description: Contains 2 negatives
box 1, folder 6

#16: UW MECHA meeting at Granger, Washington late June 1970

Physical Description: Contains 5 negatives
box 1, folder 6

#13: UW MECHA students Spring 1970

Physical Description: Contains 5 negatives

Other Descriptive Information

Original note by donor reads: 17A, 7A, 9A, 10A, (4)
box 1, folder 6

#12: Chicano anti-war moratorium 1971

Physical Description: Contains 3 negatives
box 1, folder 7

#11: Grape Boycott picking at Seattle grocery stores 1969-1970

Physical Description: Contains 4 negatives
box 1, folder 7

#8: Luis Valdez speaking at WSU (Washington State University) racism conference October 1970

Physical Description: Contains 4 negatives

Other Descriptive Information

Original note by donor reads: 15A, 17A, 18A, 19A, 20A, 6A, 10A, (7)
box 1, folder 7

#5: Grape boycott picking at Safeway November 1970

Physical Description: Contains 4 negatives

Other Descriptive Information

Original note by donor reads: 9, 10, 15, 16, 19, (5)
box 1, folder 7

Demonstration; Dolores Huerta at Seattle Federal Courthouse; Color negative [illegible] of Cesar Chavez at Granger WA 1969

Physical Description: Contains 9 negatives
 

Photographs undated

box 1, folder 8

Black and white photographs undated

Physical Description: 5 black and white photographs printed by Panda Photos