A Guide to the Reynaldo J. Esparza Research Papers, 1802-1995


Descriptive Summary
	Creator:	Esparza, Reynaldo J. (Reynaldo José), 1923-
	Title:	Reynaldo J. Esparza Research Papers
	Dates:	1802-1995
	Creator Abstract:	A native of San Antonio, Texas, Reynaldo J. Esparza (born 1923) is the great-great-grandson of Gregorio Esparza, who died in the Battle of the Alamo.
	Content Abstract:	Produced and gathered in the course of historical and genealogical research, the Reynaldo J. Esparza Research Papers consist of correspondence, source documents, published material, research papers, genealogical material, and photographs.
	Identification:	Col 8827
	Extent:	3.92 linear feet (6 boxes, 3 oversize items)
	Language:	Most materials are in English; some are in Spanish.
	Repository:	Daughters of the Republic of Texas Library at the Alamo, San Antonio, Texas

Biographical Note

Born in San Antonio in 1923, Reynaldo José Esparza graduated from Brackenridge High School and served in the U.S. Navy for the duration of World War II. Returning to San Antonio after the war, he worked for a wholesale grocery company and the U.S. Postal Service until his retirement in 1984.

Having learned as a child of his ancestry as a great-great-grandson of Gregorio Esparza, one of the native Texans who died in the Battle of the Alamo, Esparza developed an interest in history, particularly the part Mexican-Americans played in the Texas Revolution. Esparza conducted detailed historical and genealogical research on Gregorio Esparza and his family and became an active spokesman on the role of the native Texans during the independence struggle. He collaborated with numerous other researchers, exchanging information on the Esparzas and other early San Antonio families.

As an adult, Esparza also pursued formal studies, receiving an Associate in Arts degree from San Antonio College in 1970 and graduating from Southwest Texas State University in 1972 with a degree in history and political science. He is a member of the Sons of the Republic of Texas and numerous other organizations. Esparza married Nora Ruiz in 1945; they are the parents of six children.

Scope and Content Note

Produced and gathered in the course of historical and genealogical research, the Reynaldo J. Esparza Research Papers consist of correspondence, source documents, published material, research papers, genealogical material, and photographs.

The papers were placed by their creator into several subject files. Within these subjects, material has been subdivided by document type. Typically, these include documents copied from various sources, published source material, newspaper clippings, and family trees and other genealogical compilations. Unsorted material not associated with the other subject groupings has been placed in a General series.

A significant portion of the papers concerns the Esparza family in general and several individual family members, particularly Gregorio Esparza and his sons Enrique and Francisco. Other family members documented include a daughter of Enrique Esparza, Mother Maria Claude of the Sisters of Charity of the Incarnate Word. Research material on the Coy family, the Lee family, and the Esparza connection to Canary Islander settlers in San Antonio also focuses on genealogy.

Material on the Battle of the Alamo centers on the participation of Gregorio Esparza and other native-born Texans. More general research covers the San Augustine church founded by the Esparza family in Atascosa County, Texas; the pioneer freighter and minister Policarpo Rodriguez; early San Antonio history; and the Spanish missions of San Antonio. The immediate family of Reynaldo Esparza is documented by printed items associated with special events, some family photographs, and a memoir of Esparza’s World War II experience. The remaining material consists of a scattering of items, primarily associated with Texas history.

A large portion of the papers are photocopies, obtained from a variety of sources, published and unpublished. Research papers and speeches written by Reynaldo J. Esparza on his family and their role in Texas history are found throughout, along with papers by other authors. Photographs include family portraits and snapshots of places and events. A number of negatives, probably of family members, and some photo prints are unidentified.

Restrictions

Access Restrictions

No restrictions. The collection is open for research.

Usage Restrictions

Please be advised that the library does not hold the copyright to most of the material in its archival collections. It is the responsibility of the researcher to secure those rights when needed. Permission to reproduce does not constitute permission to publish. The researcher assumes full responsibility for conforming to the laws of copyright, literary property rights, and libel.


Index Terms

	Personal Names
		Esparza, Reynaldo J. (Reynaldo José), 1923-
		Esparza, Enrique, 1828-1917.
		Esparza, Francisco, ca. 1833-1887.
		Esparza, Gregorio, 1808-1836.
		Esparza, Maria Claude, 1852-1914.
		Rodríguez, José Policarpio, 1829-1914.
		Coy family.
		Esparza family.
		Lee family.
	Organizations
		San Augustine Catholic Church (Atascosa County, Tex.)
		San Antonio Missions National Historical Park (San Antonio, Tex.)
	Subjects
		Alamo defenders.
		Canary Islanders--Texas--San Antonio--History.
		Genealogy--Texas.
		Mexican Americans--Texas--San Antonio.
		Missions--Texas--San Antonio.
	Locations
		San Antonio (Tex.)--History--Sources.
		Alamo (San Antonio, Tex.)
		San Augustine (Tex.)
	Genres/Formats
		Personal papers.
		Correspondence.
		Genealogies.
		Photographs.
		Research notes.

Finding aid edited and encoded by Caitlin Donnelly, 2010 November.

Detailed Description of the Collection



Reynaldo J. Esparza Research Papers, 1802-1995
Box	Folder
1		Alamo
	1		Correspondence
	2		Alamo defender lists
	3		Published source material
			Research papers
	4			"An Answer to Colonel William Barret Travis," Reynaldo J. Esparza, 1968
	5			“Hispanic Defenders of the Alamo,” Reynaldo J. Esparza
	6			“Remembering the Alamo: A Bibliography of Tejano Accounts,” Tim Matovina
				“The Alamo: A Sore Point?” Amy McCauley, 1990
	7			“Brothers at Arms,” Richard D. Esparza
	8		Speeches
	9		Printed material
	10-11		Clippings
	12		Photographs
		Canary Islanders
	13		Source material
	14		Published source material
	15		Genealogical material
	16		Speeches and research papers
	17		Printed material
	18		Clippings
	19		Miscellaneous items
		Coy family
	20		Correspondence
	21		Genealogical material
	22		Photograph: Sofia Coy, 1915
Box	Folder
2		Esparza genealogy
	23		Correspondence
	24		Deed: Enrique Esparza, et al to Manuel Esparza, Atascosa County, Texas, 1896 March 25
	25-28		Source material
	29		Manuscript: Memoir, Michael V. Peche
	30		Published source material
	31		Genealogical material
	32		Notes
	33-34		Clippings
	35		Photographs
		Enrique Esparza
	36		Source material
	37		Published source material
	38		Biographical material
	39		Clippings
	40		Photographs
Box	Folder
	Oversize 1		Oversize photograph: Enrique Esparza
Collection	Folder
Panoramic Photographs			Separated photograph: U.S. Navy unit, group photograph, circa 1940-1949
Box	Folder
3		Francisco Esparza
	41		Correspondence
	42		Source material
	43		Genealogical material
	44		Notes: Walt Laos
	45		Clippings
	46		Photographs
		Gregorio Esparza
	47		Source material
	48		Published source material
	49		Research papers
				“Ones [sic] Man’s Fight for Freedom,” Marissa Esparza, Kelly Barsun, and Dawn Ayers
				“Gregorio Esparza: A Profile in Heritage,” Rey J. Esparza, 1972
				Untitled
	50		Printed material
	51		Clippings
	52	Maria Claude Esparza
		Reynaldo J. Esparza family
	53		Correspondence
	54		Research papers and manuscripts
				“To Laura and Michael,” Reynaldo J. Esparza
				World War II memoir, Reynaldo J. Esparza
	55		Speeches
	56		Military records: David J. Esparza
	57		Printed material
	58		Certificates
Box	Folder
	Oversize 2		Oversize certificates: Texas Catholic Historical Society, Certificate of Merit to Reynaldo J. Esparza, 1984 March 2 and 1987 March 6
Box	Folder
3	59		Miscellaneous family papers
	60		Clippings
	61		Photographs
	62	Esparza School
		Lee family
	63-65		Source material
	66		Genealogical material
	67		Clippings
	68		Photographs
Box	Folder
6			Photographs
Box	Folder
4		Policarpo Rodriguez
	69		Published source material
	70		Clippings
	71		Photographs
		San Antonio, Texas
	72		Correspondence
	73		Source material
	74		Published source material
	75		Typescript: Personal Memoirs of John N. Seguin
	76		Maps
	77		Research papers
				“The Spanish Military Company of the 2nd Flying Company of San Carlos de Parras, Mexico,” John Ogden Leal
				“Economic Integration of a Periphery: The Cattle Industry in 18th Century Texas,” Jesus F. de la Teja
	78		Periodicals
	79		General printed material
	80		Clippings
	81		Photographs
		San Antonio Missions
	82		Correspondence
	83		Published source material
	84		Maps and plats
	85		San Antonio Missions National Historical Park
	86		Printed material
	87		Periodicals
	88		Notes
	89		Clippings
	90		Photographs
Box	Folder
5		San Augustine, Texas
	91		Correspondence
	92		Source material
	93		Published source material
	94		Speeches
	95		Report: “A Historical Study and Archaeological Notes on the Esparza Site: the Esparza Farms, the San Augustine Mission Church and the San Augustine School, with Relevant Character Histories and Biographical Information,” Kay Thompson Hindes
	96		Printed material
	97		Notes and miscellaneous items
	98		Clippings
	99		Photographs
		General material
	100		Genealogical material
	101		Research papers
				“The Sephardic Colonization of the Spanish North American Frontier,” Richard G. Santos
				“Los Guerreros—Two Spanish Colonial Towns,” 2 items
	102		Published source material
	103-104		Periodicals
	105		Printed material
	106		Columbus quincentennial
	107		Clippings
			Photographs and portraits
	108			Antonita Martinez
	109			Unidentified
Box	Folder
6				Unidentified [negatives]
Box	Folder
5	110			Photocopies
	111		Miscellaneous material