Emilio Zamora Papers

The materials in this collection document the early professional and civic activities of scholar Emilio Zamora. The materials date roughly from 1963-1987, with the majority documenting the period between 1970-1985. They document Zamora's tenure teaching, developing, and administrating burgeoning Mexican American, Chicano, Ethnic, and Bilingual Studies programs at universities in Texas and California, with most relating to his work at Texas A&I, University of Texas at Austin, University of Texas at San Antonio, Juárez-Lincoln University and the University of California Los Angeles (UCLA). The materials also document his extensive record of civil engagement and advocacy for Mexican American communities in the United States, including his position as County Chair of the Travis County Raza Unida Party (RUP) from 1977-1978 and party membership from 1970-1979. Zamora's professional and civic work intertwined closely with his scholarly research and writing on labor histories of Mexicans and Mexican Americans in Texas; related materials are included in the collection.

The documents consist of academic program materials, correspondence, administrative materials and meeting notes, drafts and manuscripts, subject files, newspapers, clippings, subject files, photographs, transparencies, and collected publications, all relating to his work, political affiliations, and research on the study of Mexican Americans and their history. The papers are organized into five series: 1) Biographical Materials, 2) Professional Files and Materials, 3) Civic Engagement, 4) Printed Materials, and 5) Oversize Materials.

The first series, Biographical Materials, is the smallest; it includes Zamora's university degrees, fellowship applications, a FOIA request, and resumes.

The second and most extensive series, Professional Files and Materials, is organized into three subseries, 1) Ethnic and Chicano Studies Programs, 2) Writing and Research, 3) Subject files. The first subseries includes materials documenting his professional activities at Texas A &I, UT Austin and UT San Antonio, The University of California Los Angeles, and the Juárez-Lincoln University, as well as his work with the National Association of Chicana and Chicano Studies (NACS/NACCS) and subject files. These materials best demonstrate Zamora's extensive involvement in the field of Mexican American, Chicano, and Ethnic Studies. The second subseries, Writing and Research, documents Zamora's early scholarly contributions and collected research materials, relating to Mexican American labor history and the history of Mexican-Americans in Texas and their relationship to Mexico. This subseries also contains materials relating to Zamora's editorial activities, including requests to edit and manuscripts. The final subseries, Subject Files, documents Zamora's participation in the National Association of Chicana and Chicano Studies (NACS/NACCS), conference participation, and collected materials relating to Chicano and Ethnic Studies programs across the United States.

The third series, Civic Engagement, documents Zamora's political and civic activities relating to issues faced by Mexican American communities. The series includes documents relating to the Raza Unida Party in Travis County, of which Zamora was a member from 1970-1979 and the chairperson from 1977-1978. This series also includes subject files from other organizations, primarily based in Central and South Texas as well as California, relating to education, immigration, and labor advocacy.

The fourth series, Printed Materials, includes collected publications, newsletters, newspapers, and newspaper clippings published by and/or about Chicano and Mexican American groups and organizations that relate to the struggles and challenges faced by Mexican-Americans in the United States.

The final series, Oversize Material, includes Chicano Movement calendars, posters, and stickers.