Jose Joel Garcia Collection, 1968-1969

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Summary

Abstract:
Jose Joel Garcia was instrumental in the nascent Chicano movement at the University of California, Santa Barbara in 1968 and 1969. The papers in this collection help to chronicle these momentous years when activism was a significant part of many students’ lives at the universities. As a student Jose was part of the early formation of United Mexican American Students (UMAS) and Movimiento Estudantil Chicano de Aztlán (MEChA). This collection contains news articles and organizational documents as well as other information regarding protest activities, such as the Santa Barbara area Grape Boycott protests and the move to make education relevant to ethnic groups. Planning documents and justification dialogs regarding the Chicano Studies Program and the Black Studies Program are included in this collection. The materials in this collection help to show the great strides that were made toward equal opportunities in education and the effort involved in being part of the changes.
Extent:
2.0 linear feet and Three document boxes and one oversize box
Language:
Preferred citation:

Jose Joel Garcia Collection, CEMA 73, Department of Special Collections, University Library, University of California, Santa Barbara.

Background

Scope and content:

The Jose Joel Garcia Collection covers the Chicano movement at the University of California, Santa Barbara (UCSB) in 1968 and 1969. The United Mexican American Students (UMAS) documents and the Movimiento Estudantil Chicano de Aztlán (MEChA) are part of this collection. UMAS changed its name to MEChA during this time. Series one through three contains organizational documents. Meetings and conference papers, notes, constitutions, minutes, agendas and correspondence connected to these organizations are in these series. There are records related to organizations such as the Mexican-American Men’s Association, the Mexican-Americans and the Black Student Union (BSU).

Series four contains subjects such as the farm workers grape boycott and the United Farm Workers student activities at UCSB. The Chicano Studies Program proposals and policies are included in the subject series. There are documents showing the struggle against racism and the push for educational opportunity for minorities. There is also information on the push to make education relevant to minorities. The Educational Opportunity Program (EOP) materials in this collection convey the progress minorities made with opening doors to education, while many of the other materials show the push for social justice for minorities.

One of the interesting documents in series four is the Franklin Survey to assess the needs for that Santa Barbara Eastside neighborhood composed mainly of Latinos. Years after the survey Santa Barbara now has the rebuilt Franklin School and the completed Franklin Center nearby, that serves as a neighborhood community center, a County health medical clinic and has offices for non-profit organizations.

Many of the newspapers and articles in series five convey the struggles and dialogs that were going on during this time period when university activism and protests were in the headlines.

Series I United Mexican Associated Students

UMAS records contain information regarding Chicano/a movement associations including UMAS, Mexican-American Men's Association, and MEChA as well as information about programs supporting education. (Box 1 folders 1-11)

Series II MEChA (Movimiento Estudantil Chicano de Aztlán)

MEChA records and information regarding the name change from UMAS to MEChA (Box 1 folders 12-16)

Series III Black Student Union

Contains documents regarding the activities of the Black Student Union. (Box 1 folders 17-19)

Series IV Subjects

Subject files include documentation of UCSB campus organizations and their activities as well as various materials related to the goals of these organizations. This section includes documentation on racism and harrassment, and methods with which to correct these issues. (All of Box 2, and Box 3 folders 1-10)

Series V Newspapers and Articles

This section contains copies of the El Gaucho newspaper from September 1968 to Summer 1969 as well as the La Raza, Argo, and other miscellanous newspapers and articles. (Box 3 folders 11-16 and Oversize Box 4)

Biographical / historical:

Jose Joel Garcia is currently the executive director of the Tiburcio Vasquez Health Center in Union City, California. He was involved in the Chicano/a Student Movement of the late 60's and early 70's. As a student he was part of the early formation of United Mexican American Students (UMAS) and Movimiento Estudantil Chicano de Aztlán (MEChA). Garcia was part of the movement to establish a Chicano studies program at UCSB. He was at UCSB starting in 1965 and graduated in 1969.

Processing information:

This collection was processed by Callie Bowdish and CEMA staff May 2009.

Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard

Access and use

Restrictions:

None

Terms of access:

Copyright has not been assigned to the Department of Special Collections, UCSB. All requests for permission to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the Head of Special Collections. Permission for publication is given on behalf of the Department of Special 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:

Jose Joel Garcia Collection, CEMA 73, Department of Special Collections, University Library, University of California, Santa Barbara.

Location of this collection:
UC Santa Barbara Library
Santa Barbara, CA 93106-9010, US
Contact:
(805) 893-3062
special@library.ucsb.edu
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