TABLE OF CONTENTS
Descriptive Summary
Biographical Note
Arrangement
Restrictions
Index Terms
Administrative Information
Description of Series
Photographs
League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC)
Miscellaneous
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Carmen Cortes Collection:
An Inventory of Records at the Houston Metropolitan
Research Center, Houston Public Library
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| Creator | Cortes, Carmen Garza, 1913- |
| Title | Carmen Cortes Collection |
| Inclusive Date | 1920's-1966 |
| Identification | MSS 194 |
| Extent | 5 boxes |
| Language | Materials are
in English. |
| Repository | Houston Metropolitan Research Center, Houston Public
Library |
Carmen Garza Cortes was born in 1913 in Mission San Juan, San Antonio, Texas. After her father Bartolo died in 1914, her mother Victoria married Julio Reyes, a farmen from McQueney, Texas. Carmen and her older sister grew up with Reyes' three daughters from his first marriage. Later, Reyes moved to Houston where he owned a grocery store on Avenue K in Houston's Magnolia Park subdivision.
Carmen attended a local business college after high school. In 1933 she married Melicio Cortes, who owned a produce store in Houston.
In the 1940's, Carmen Cortes became the first Hispanic hired for a "white collar" job by Harris County; she worked for a judge.
Carmen was a very active member of the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC). Carmen served as the National secretary of LULAC during the 1950's through 1960, and again from 1966-1967. In addition, she served other Hispanic organizations including Ladies' LULAC Council #22, as well as a number of other Hispanic social and civic clubs.
In her leadership role in these organizations, especially in LULAC, Carmen Cortes became an early woman activist for Hispanic civil rights.
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Arrangement
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| The collection comprises 5 boxes. Box 1 and 2 are photographs of family, extended family, and friends, including a number for LULAC social events. Box 3 is a personal photo album of Ms. Cortes' from the 1920's and 1930's. Box 4 contains programs and resolutions from LULAC conventions and issues of the LULAC News from 1950 through 1966. Box 5 contains LULAC correspondence fron or to Carmen Cortes, souvenirs and documents from Hispanic groups and family papers from the Reyes-Martinez and Cortes families. The over 300 photos are arranged chronologically by family/subject group. Each photo is identified. |
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Access Restrictions
None.
Use Restrictions
Permission to publish or reproduce materials from the Carmen Cortes Collection must be obtained from the Houston Metropolitan Research Center or the appropriate copyright holder.
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| Subjects (Persons) |
| | Cortes, Carmen Garza, 1913- |
| Organizations |
| | League of United Latin American Citizens |
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Carmen Cortes Collection. MSS 194. Houston Metropolitan Research Center, Houston
Public Library.
Donated by Mrs. Carmen Cortes, 1981.
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Photographs
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| Box | Folder |
| 1 | 1 | | Photographs 1-25: Gutierrez and Garza families |
| 2 | | Photographs 26-58A: Reyes and related families #1 |
| 3 | | Photographs 59-104: Reyes and related families #2 |
| 4 | | Photographs 105-124: Garza Cortes family |
| 5 | | Photographs 125-184: Cortes family/LULAC |
| 6 | | Photographs 185-205: Martinez family/US Army |
| Box | Folder |
| 2 | 1 | | Photographs 206-228: Navarro family |
| 2 | | Photographs 229-232: Cruz family |
| 3 | | Photographs 233A-233B: Mexican American Band/TX |
| 4 | | Photographs 233C: Mexican American Band/TX |
| 5 | | Photographs 234-238: Mexican Americans |
| 6 | | Photographs 239-246: Saltillo, Mexico |
| 7 | | Photographs 367-383: Additional photos |
| Box |
| 3 | | | Photographs Album (photos 247-366) |
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League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC)
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| Box | Folder |
| 4 | 1 | | National Convention By-Laws 1952/Operating Procedures 1956 |
| 2 | | National Convention Program, Austin, TX |
| 3 | | National Convention, El Paso, TX, and Supreme Council |
| 4 | | National Convention, Anaheim, CA, Amendments & Resolutions |
| 5 | | National Convention, Laredo, TX, Amendments & Resolutions |
| 6 | | National Convention, Chicago, IL, Amendments & Resolutions |
| 7 | | National Convention and Supreme Council Meeting, San Antonio, TX, Program, Correspondence, & Minutes |
| 8 | | LULAC News December 1950, May 1952, January, February, November 1953 |
| 9 | | LULAC News, 25th Anniversary Issue, February 1954 |
| 10 | | LULAC News May, June, August 1955 |
| 11 | | LULAC News January, May 1956, February, March, June, July 1957 |
| 12 | | LULAC News March, July-December 1958 |
| 13 | | LULAC News January-June, November 1959 |
| 14 | | LULAC News February 1960, and Proposed Amendment Reading |
| 15 | | LULAC News June 19?? and September 1961 |
| 16 | | LULAC News January,February,May,September,December 1962 |
| 17 | | LULAC News January,April,May,July, August, November - December 1963 |
| 18 | | LULAC News February, April/May 1964 Tabloid |
| 19 | | LULAC News June,July, November, December 1964 |
| 20 | | LULAC News January, February, April, June, December 1965, January 1966 |
| Box | Folder |
| 5 | 1 | | Local Council Membership Lists, Financial Reports, Correspondence |
| 2 | | Carmen Cortes Correspondence, Clips |
| 3 | | "Little School of the 400" |
| 4 | | Ladies LULAC Houston: clips, correspondence, programs |
| 5 | | LULAC Texas: correspondence, resolutions, convention program |
| 6 | | LULAC California: Carmen Cortes correspondence |
| 7 | | LULAC Illinois: Carmen Cortes correspondence |
| 8 | | LULAC Indiana: Carmen Cortes correspondence |
| 9 | | LULAC Minnisota: Carmen Cortes correspondence |
| 10 | | LULAC New Mexico: New Mexico Boys School |
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Miscellaneous
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| Box | Folder |
| 5 | 11 | | YMCA (Houston) & Magnola Park Branch YMCA |
| 12 | | Sociedad Mutualista Mexicana "Benito Juarez": 1924 Rule Book |
| 13 | | Club Mexico Bello: souvenirs, programs, correspondence |
| 14 | | Various Houston Hispanic Social Organizations: clips, souvenir programs |
| 15 | | Houston Convention/Booster Material |
| 16 | | Texas Gubernatorial Election Program |
| 17 | | Texas Mexican American: clips |
| 18 | | U.S. History Guide for Citizen Naturalization en español |
| 19 | | Kennedy Assassination - Houston Press |
| 20 | | Reyes-Martinez Family: documents, papers, correspondence #1 |
| 21 | | Reyes-Martinez Family: documents, papers, correspondence #2 |
| 22 | | Cortes children: clippings, report cards, souvenirs, Jr. LULACs |
| 23 | | Cortes Family: records, documents, clips (marriage, notary) |
| 24 | | Pen & Ink Watercolor Minatures of Mexican Scenes by P. Navarro |
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