Mexican Communist Party Collection
Scope and Contents Note
The collection covers the Mexican Communist Party from 1935-1966 with the bulk of the materials being from the 1950s and 1960s. Also included are publications that range from 1974-2013, which relate to far-left political groups and movements. While most of the Mexican Communisty Party materials are from Mexico City and the central section, the Mexican Communist Party was a national one, which is seen in the colleciton through materials from different state sections such as Puebla, Nuevo Leon, and Sinaloa. Materials beyond the 1960s are mainly publications related to the party, offshoots of the party, and other far-left political groups, movements, and causes.
Proceedings: includes reports, declarations, correspondence, congress proceedings, and other printed material related to the Mexican Communist Party. Of interest is the correspondence, writings, and other materials related to the Mexican Railway Strike of 1959 and the ensuing imprisonment of those involved. It includes correspondence and writings from many of the imprisoned members including David Alfaro Siqueiros, Filomeno Mata, Valentín Campa, Demetrio Vallejo, Dionisio Encina, and José Encarnación Pérez Gaytán. This series also includes communication of solidarity from international groups and other state sections of the Mexican Communist Party.
Publications: includes pamphlets, newsletters, and articles ranging from 1974-2013. Titles of note include Revolución,
Ediciones Revolución,
Centro de Investigaciones Históricas de los Movimientos Armados, Liga Comunista 23 de Septiembre, and others.
Dates
- Creation: 1935-2013
- Creation: Majority of material found within 1958-1966
Language of Materials
English
Access Restrictions
Unrestricted.
Use Restrictions
Standard copyright restrictions apply.
Historical Note
The Mexican Communist Party officially began in 1919 as a result of the strengthning workers' movement in Mexico, the interational communist movement, and the success of the Great October Socialist Revolution of 1917. In 1935 the Mexican Communist Party participated in the creation of the El Comité Nacional de Defensa Proletaria, which opposed the political group directed by Luis N. Morones and Plutarco E. Calles. The 1920s-1930s were tumultuous years in the party, marked by internal issues, key figures renouncing the party, and a struggle to define the party's role and values.
The 1940s-1960s were the decades which saw the most activity and change in the party's history. Various key explusions and separations from the party ocurred during this time, including the newly created el Partido Obrero Campesino de México (POCM) in 1950 and later in 1957 with the creation of José Revueltas'-led Liga Leninista Espartaco. 1958-1959 was marked by the influential Railroad Movement (Movimiento ferrocarrilero), which unified the railroad workers on a national level and would have a lasting influence for years to come. Over 800 people involved in the strike were sentenced to prison, including many who were kept in prison for several years. Demetrio Vallejo and Valentín Campa were kept in prison from 1959-1969, their release was greatly a result of the efforts of the Mexican Student Movement of 1968 (Movimiento estudantil de 1968).
After the Student Movement of 1968 the Mexican Communist Party attempted to bring together various factions of reformists and far-left groups that had been operating under different names, but with similar motives. Ultimately in May of 1978, the Mexican Communist Party joined El Partido Demócrata Mexicano (PDM) and the El Partido Socialista de los Trabajadores de México (PST). The next years would see splits and mergings between other political groups and parties. Ultimately, in 2011 the Marxist-Leninst inspired Commuist Party of Mexico (Partido Comunista de México, PCdeM) was created and is still operational.
Works Referenced:
Campa S., Valentín. Mi testimonio: experiencias de un comunista mexicano 1st ed. México: Ediciones de Cultura Popular, 1978.
Full Extent
1.5 linear feet
Abstract
Documents, proceedings, publications, bulletins, correspondence, newsletters, and other printed materials related to the Mexican Communist Party (Partido Comunista Mexicano). The materials cover the critical events and happenings of the party during its existence, in particular those of the 1950s-1960s, including the Mexican Railway Strike of 1959 (Huelga ferrocarrilera mexicana de 1959).
Acquisition Information
Purchase.
Accession numbers: 2014-20, 2014-26
Additions
No further materials are expected for this collection.
Processing Information
Collection processed by Dylan Joy, 2017.
- Title
- Mexican Communist Party Collection
- Status
- Edited Full Draft
- Author
- Nettie Lee Benson Latin American Collection
- Date
- January 2017
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard (Dacs)
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
- Language of description note
- Finding aid written in English.
Revision Statements
- 2021 March: Edited by Carla O. Alvarez to fix compliance check errors to prepare for the migration to new TARO website.
- 2021 November: Edited by Devon Murphy to update control access terms and formatting based on the TARO Control Access List.
- 2025 July: Revised by Ryan Sullivant to fix validation errors prior to ingestion into ArchivesSpace.
Repository Details
Part of the Benson Latin American Collection, The University of Texas at Austin Repository
2300 Red River Street
Austin Texas 78712 United States
(512) 495-4578
bensonspecialcollections@austin.utexas.edu