LULAC Archives at The University of Texas at Austin

Description

The University of Texas at Austin is the designated repository for the records of the League of United Latin American Citizens. LULAC was formed in 1929 by the merger of three Mexican American civic organizations in Texas:
Order Sons of America
Order Knights of America
and the League of United Latin American Citizens.

As the oldest active organization of Hispanic Americans, LULAC is committed to the advancement of the Latino community in the United States. The LULAC Archives record the organization's profound achievements in many areas, especially social and educational advancement.

About the Nettie Lee Benson Latin American Collection:

The Nettie Lee Benson Latin American Collection, a unit of the General Libraries, embodies more than eighty years of the University of Texas at Austin's commitment to create and maintain a specialized research library dedicated to the culture and history of Latin America. The internationally recognized Benson Latin American Collection acquires and provides access to materials on Mexico, Central and South America, the Caribbean and the Hispanic presence in the United States.

History of the LULAC Archives Project

On September 9, 1980, President Peter T. Flawn of the University of Texas at Austin announced his sponsorship of the LULAC Presidential Papers Project, a cooperative effort by the University and LULAC to gather in one central location the personal papers of former LULAC Presidents. The Nettie Lee Benson Latin American Collection's Mexican American Library Program has collaborated with former LULAC officers to expand the LULAC Archives beyond its nucleus, the presidential records.

Since late 1980, the general LULAC membership, as well as many LULAC presidents, have contributed their records. The promotion of regular, voluntary disposition of documents by members and officers fulfills an ongoing objective of the Mexican American Library Program to expand the LULAC Archives.


Availability:
The LULAC Archives are available for use by the public in the Rare Books and Manuscripts Reading Room.

Hours of operation are Monday through Friday, 9:00am to 5:00pm; Saturday and intersession hours vary. Please consult the web site listed below for more information.

How to Donate to the LULAC Archives:
The Mexican American Library Program appeals to the LULAC Membership for its assistance.

- Types of materials you may donate:

LULAC News
Local, district, state and national newsletters and other publications
Scrapbooks and news clippings reporting on LULAC activities
Bylaws and constitutions
Convention programs
LULAC position papers and reports
Correspondence (ex: letters, emails, memos)
Photographs
Audiocassettes
Videocassettes
DVDs
CDs
Other audiovisual materials
- An archivist at the Benson Latin American Collection will organize your donated material.

- The archivist will be happy to provide advice about proper storage and preservation of your historical documents at home.

Your contribution will be a valuable addition toward documenting LULAC history.