Finding Aid for the Tomas Benitez Collection, 1970-2006 CSRC.0068
Processed by CSRC.
Chicano Studies Research Center Library
2009
144 Haines Hall
Box 951544
Los Angeles, California 90095-1544
librarian@chicano.ucla.edu
Contributing Institution:
Chicano Studies Research Center Library
Title: Tomas Benitez Collection
Creator:
Benitez, Tomas ca. 1955 -
Identifier/Call Number: CSRC.0068
Physical Description:
6.2 linear feet
(16 boxes)
Date (inclusive): 1970-2006
Abstract: Tomas Benitez has decades of experience in the Los Angeles Chicano cultural community. He has served as director of development
at Plaza de la Raza and executive director of Self-Help Graphics. He is also a founding member of the Latino Arts Network.
This collection of magazines, posters, gallery cards and show/gallery invitations comprises his personal collection of ephemera,
memorabilia and realia relating to his experience and participation in the world of Los Angeles arts.
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.
Language of Material:
English
, Spanish; Castilian
.
Access
Open for research.
Acquisition Information
This collection was donated to the UCLA Chicano Studies Library and Archive by Tomas Benitez. Deed of gift on file at the
UCLA CSRC Archive office.
Biography
Tomas Benitez was born and raised in front of a television set in East L.A. Since then, he has been a cultural worker for
the past thirty years, working with numerous non-profit community arts groups including his current post, Director of Development
at Plaza de la Raza. He is former Executive Director of Self Help Graphics & Art, has worked with the Bilingual Foundation
for the Arts, Teatro de la Esperanza, and with the late C. Bernard "Jack" Jackson at the Inner City Cultural Center. He is
a founding member of the Latino Arts Network.
Tomas is the Architect of Folly to the Ministry of Culture, a collective of artists dedicated to using ridicule as a form
of non-violent resistance to social injustice and the "stupiditiness of governmenticalism". Current projects include Pinatas
for Peace, which sends virtual pinatas to world leaders who demonstrate a tendency for violent behavior, the Great Wall of
Chinga, a project designed to deconstruct the proposed U.S./Mexican border fence before it gets constructed, and We Say No,
a video project designed to capture Americans Just Saying "No" --- to the wall, the war, and anything else.
Tomas is also a member of the County of Los Angeles Arts Commission (past president), has lectured on Chicano Art and Culture
across the United States, Africa and Europe, and is an active member of the Baseball Reliquary, a group of artists who love
baseball despite the professional game. Tomas would rather play second base for the Samurai Bears, but he never could hit
a curveball to save his life. Tomas lives and writes in Monterey Park, CA. Biography courtesy of Tomas Benitez
Preferred Citation
[Identification of item], Tomas Benitez Collection, 68, Chicano Studies Research Center, University of California, Los Angeles.
Processing Information
Processed by CSRC in 2009. Finding aid edited by Esmeralda Gomez under the supervision of Doug Johnson in 2020.
Scope and Content
This collection of magazines, posters, gallery cards and show/gallery invitations comprises Tomas Benitez's personal collection
of ephemera, memorabilia and realia relating to his experience and participation in the world of Los Angeles arts.
Publication Rights
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
Mexican American artists
Self-Help Graphics and Art, Inc.
Mexican American arts
Mexican American drama (Spanish)
Los Angeles (Calif.)
Plaza de la Raza (Los Angeles, Calif.)
Benitez, Tomas ca. 1955 -
Box 1, Folder 1
Duplicates: Various show cards, gallery and exhibit materials
1992-1999
Box 1, Folder 2
Duplicates: gallery cards
1990-1991
Box 1, Folder 3
Duplicates: Gallery and exhibit cards
1992-1998
Box 1, Folders 4-5
Duplicates: Gallery and show cards
2000
Box 1, Folder 6
Duplicates: Show cards, gallery cards
2001
Box 1, Folder 7
Duplicates: Show cards, gallery cards
2002
Box 2, Folder 1
Chicano art exhibition posters
1970-1979
Box 2, Folder 2
Art Exhibitions and University of Wisconsin Chicano Studies Newsletters
1980-1989
Box 2, Folder 3
Invitations, advertisements, art shows and exhibitions
1980-1989
Box 2, Folder 4
Flyers and invitations to art exhibits, advertisements
1987-1989
Box 2, Folder 5
Juana and Del Corazon Festivals
1990-1995
Scope and Contents
Books, programs from theater productions.
Box 2, Folder 6
Various Chicano art exhibitions and performances invitations
1990
Box 2, Folder 7
Mexican Museum art
1990-1991
Box 2, Folder 8
Museum and gallery invitations
1991
Box 2, Folder 9
Self-Help Graphics Galleria events
1992
Scope and Contents
Includes play program,
The Wood Demon.
Box 2, Folder 10
Museum programs and art exhibition invitations
1992
Box 2, Folder 11
Teatro Campesino
1993
Scope and Contents
Invitations and ads
Box 2, Folder 12
Culture Clash
1993
Scope and Contents
Invitations to exhibitions by Patssi Valdez, Diane Gamboa, and others.
Box 2, Folder 13
Los Angeles Women Theatre Festival: Gronk Exhibition
1994
Scope and Contents
Invitations, flyers and programs to events
Box 2, Folder 14
Theatre events and gallery events
1994
Scope and Contents
Ads and invitations to museum exhibitions
Box 2, Folder 15
Southwest Voter Registration Project
1995
Scope and Contents
Includes Latino art calendar and museum events.
Box 2, Folder 16
Various art exhibits and events
1995
Scope and Contents
Includes mailers and invitations.
Box 3, Folder 1
Chicano! Press material
1996
Scope and Contents
Includes: MALDEF Award Dinner invitation; arious performances and conference event flyers and invitations.
Box 3, Folder 2
Invitations to various art exhibits
1997
Box 3, Folder 3
Various flyers/invitations to art events
1996
Box 3, Folder 4
Invitations and flyers to art/cultural events
1997
Box 3, Folder 5
Invitations/flyers to various art events, theatre, film screenings
1998
Box 3, Folder 6
MALDEF Awards Dinner
1998
Scope and Contents
Invitations to art exhibits
Box 3, Folder 7
Invitations to various art, music, cultural, and film events
1999
Box 3, Folder 8
MALDEF Awards Dinner
1999
Scope and Contents
Invitations to various events and art shows
Box 3, Folder 9
Sor Juana: A Tribute to Mexican Women Festival
1996-1999
Scope and Contents
Various booklets from events
Box 4, Folder 1
MALDEF Awards Dinner Community
2000
Scope and Contents
Invitations, press releases and advertisements
Box 4, Folder 2
Culture Clash
2000
Scope and Contents
Invitations and advertisements to theatre shows, festivals, galleries, and museum art exhibits
Box 4, Folder 3
Various cultural events
2000
Scope and Contents
Advertisements, press releases, invitations
Box 4, Folder 4
The Field Museum
2000
Scope and Contents
Booklets, Artscope, Self-Help Graphics
Box 5, Folder 1
Invitations and booklets to various Chicano art and cultural events
2001
Box 5, Folder 2
Various Chicano art and theater events
2001
Scope and Contents
Invitations, flyers, and cards
Box 5, Folder 3
Various Chicano art and film events
2001
Scope and Contents
Invitations, flyers, and cards
Box 6, Folder 1
Museum art exhibitions
2002
Scope and Contents
Invitations, press releases, and ads
Box 6, Folder 2
Self-Help Graphics print exhibitions
2002
Scope and Contents
Press releases and invitations from museums and galleries
Box 6, Folder 3
Latino/Chicano/Hispanic art, music, and cultural events
2002
Scope and Contents
Ads, invitations, and press releases
Box 6, Folder 4
Day of the Dead Celebration at MOLAA
2002
Scope and Contents
Booklets, Self-Help Graphics, Latino Heritage Month Calendar
Box 7, Folder 1
Event invitations, calendar and programs
2003
Box 7, Folder 2
Invitation to Chicano art, theatre, and musical events
2003
Box 7, Folder 3
Latino, Hispanic, and Chicano culture events
2003
Scope and Contents
Invitations, ads, and press releases
Box 7, Folder 4
Finding Family Stories
2003
Scope and Contents
Booklets and Self-Help Graphics
Box 8, Folder 1
La Mano Press
2004
Scope and Contents
Flyers and invitations to various events and Self-Help Graphics
Box 8, Folder 2
Latino/Hispanic plays, art, and cultural events
2004
Scope and Contents
Invitations and advertisements
Box 8, Folder 3
Ads and invitations to various cultural events
2004
Box 9, Folder 1
Christmas Mailer
2005
Scope and Contents
Mailers, ads, brochures
Box 9, Folder 2
Invitations and flyers to Chicano art exhibits
2005
Box 9, Folder 3
Postcards, invitations, and card to Chicano art exhibitions
2005
Box 9, Folder 4
Plaza de la Raza
2006
Scope and Contents
Includes: invitations to Chicano art exhibitions; pamphlets and programs for Chicano theater and film productions; brochures
for Chicano film festivals.
Box 9, Folder 5
Invitations, cards, and postcards of Chicano art and film exhibitions
2006
Box 9, Folder 6
Postcards and invitations to Chicano art and music exhibitions/shows
2006
Box 10, Folder 1
Postcards and cards on Chicano art events
undated
Box 10, Folder 2
Chicano art and theater events
undated
Scope and Contents
Pamphlets, cards, flyers, booklets, and empty envelopes
Box 10, Folder 3
Chicano art & theater exhibitions
undated
Scope and Contents
Includes: cards, pamphlets, and postcards; pamphlets to various Chicano museums.
Box 10, Folder 4
White Memorial Medical Center
undated
Scope and Contents
Booklets on Chicano art collections and theater production, and holiday card from White Memorial Medical Center
Box 10, Folder 5
Holiday cards and exhibition pamphlets
undated
Box 10, Folder 6
Cards & booklets on Chicano art exhibitions
undated
Box 12, Folder 1
LA Times & Hispanic magazine
1987-1999
Box 12, Folder 2
La Gente de Aztlán and Latin Heat
1998-2002
Box 12, Folder 3
Latin arte & Latin style magazines
1999-2001
Box 13, Folder 1
Newsletters on Chicanos, Hispanics and Latinos in Art and Culture
1979-2002
Box 13, Folder 2
"Missing in Action: Latinos in Hollywood"
1999
Box 13, Folder 4
Educational Issues Coordinating Committee Youth Leadership Conference
1988-1991
Box 13, Folder 5
MEChA Constitution
1989
Scope and Contents
plan and conference program
Box 13, Folder 6
Chicano Moratorium Commemoration flyers
1990-2005
Box 13, Folder 7
Teatro Campesino - Guadalupe Theater
1985-1995
Box 13, Folder 8
Nueva Luz
2003-2004
Scope and Contents
4 issues
Box 13, Folder 9
Event programs and Los Angeles cultural event calendars
1987-2000
Box 13, Folder 10
Articles on Chicano Art and Theatre
1988-2005
Scope and Contents
Clippings and photocopies.
Box 14, Folder 1
Urban Latino & Time magazine
1988-2000
Box 14, Folder 2
Various magazines
1978-1993
Box 14, Folder 4
Urban Latino, Vista, and Westway magazines
2000
Box 15, Folder 1
El Andar Magazine
1987-2001
Box 15, Folders 2-3
Various magazines A-F
1988-2003
Box 16, Folder 1
Art and museum exhibition materials
1988-2003
