David Adame Papers

This collection documents the activities of David Adame, who was a member of LULAC from 1948 to 2003. The collection consists of six series: Personal and Biographical; Subject Files; National LULAC; State LULAC; LULAC Sponsored Organizations and Initiatives; and Ephemera. These records are comprised of correspondence, LULAC publications, minutes, membership and dues records, résumés, reports, and organizational documents, clippings, certificates and awards, and photographs of members and events of LULAC.

Personal and Biographical, series one, contains personal records of Adame's involvement with LULAC, particularly during his candidacies for LULAC Man of the Year; papers documenting his involvement as a deacon in the Catholic Church; and the records of the many recognitions he received throughout his life and career. These documents include his résumés; personal information submitted in relation to LULAC Man of the Year; certificates and awards; loose papers, forms and photographs from his role as a deacon; and personal correspondence.

Series two, Subject Files, is largely composed of papers documenting Adame's pursuits and civic roles outside of his responsibilities with LULAC. In particular, his participation in the events committee of Club Mexico Bello is documented; this material consists mainly of organizational papers and meeting notes. Also contained in this series are materials regarding the death of President Kennedy in the form of photographs, clippings and a written report. This event was tangentially related to Adame's role at LULAC. At the time of JFK's visit to Houston, Adame was executive State Director of LULAC. Adame along with John J. Herrera worked to bring President Kennedy to attend a LULAC reception at the Rice Hotel in Houston; they sent a letter of invitation to the White House. As executive State Director, Adame therefore met and was photographed with JFK the night before the president's assassination. This series is also made up of papers relating to the ABC Protests of 1995—in which stations that were owned and operated by the American Broadcasting Company were picked in most major U.S. cities, because of the network's lack of positive portrayals of Latinos in prime-time programs—as well as Adame's collection of newspaper clippings.

National LULAC, series three, makes up the majority of Adame's papers and pertains exclusively to his various roles in the organization, including his role as National Chaplain and national advisor. This series includes correspondence; administrative documents, reports and proposals; membership ledgers and documents; and programs and materials relating to the National LULAC conventions. Issues of LULAC News have been separated and cataloged. They can be be found through the University Libraries Online Catalog.

State LULAC, series four, is comprised of documents generated from Adame's tenures as State LULAC Chaplain, State LULAC Director, and District 80 Director. These include documents and programs from the State LULAC Conventions; financial materials and ledgers; membership information; and organizational materials regarding the Texas State Job Fair.

Series five, LULAC Sponsored Organizations and Initiatives, represents the records generated from projects that were implemented with LULAC support. The papers document Adame's involvement in Junior LULAC; the Little School of 400, later the Headstart Program; Girls' Club; LULAC Scholarships; and Operation SER ('SER' is an acronym for Service, Employment, and Redevelopment, and it also means “to be” in Spanish), an employment organization. Adame served in a leadership capacity in the foundation of the Little School of 400 and Operation SER; therefore, documentation relating to these initiatives comprises the bulk of this series.

Audio Visual, series six, consists of various photographs of Adame and others, including one photo of John J. Herrera and Gus Garcia. It was possibly taken at the 1947 National LULAC Convention's Picnic at Zilker Park in Austin, Texas. There are also two cassette tapes, a recording of a LULAC Council 60 meeting and another of Anthony (Tony) Robbins.

Series seven, Ephemera, consists of materials that were are housed separately from Adame's paper documents including LULAC plaques, campaign buttons, and booklets. These materials were generated through his activities with LULAC and his other civic duties, including his tenure as a Grand Juror.

Oversize Material, series eight, consists of large format awards certificates and posters, newsclippings, and photographs.

2016 Additions: include biographical information, a shadow box, photographs, posters, and LULAC memorabilia.