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(Identify the item and cite the series), Records, Texas Good Neighbor Commission. Archives and Information Services Division, Texas State Library and Archives Commission.
A good neighbor policy was first established in Texas in 1943. The 48th Legislature passed House Concurrent Resolution 105, which called for equal treatment of Mexicans and other Latin Americans residing in or visiting the state. Based on this resolution, in June of that year Governor Coke Stevenson issued a proclamation establishing a good neighbor policy between Texas and Mexico, emphasizing equal treatment for Latin Americans in Texas. Following this move, the state was eligible for federal funding to put such a policy into effect. Later that same year, the Governor appointed the first Good Neighbor Commission, an unofficial seven-member commission, to carry out the good neighbor policy--generally correcting the undesirable conditions existing for individuals of Latin American descent in the state. In 1945 the 49th Legislature passed House Bill 804, establishing the Texas Good Neighbor Commission (GNC) as a temporary state agency. The Commission was composed of nine members, each appointed by the Governor with Senate approval to two-year terms. In 1947, the 50th Legislature, through House Bill 468, made the Good Neighbor Commission a permanent state commission. The members were now appointed to six-year, overlapping terms. A chair was elected by the members. Administrative duties were carried out by an Executive Secretary, later the Executive Director. The Commission was to meet annually in Austin, and otherwise as directed by the chairman. Eventually, the Commission met quarterly.
The initial mandate of the GNC was to promote inter-American goodwill, advance inter-American relations, and improve the conditions of Mexicans and those of Latin American ancestry in the state. During the early years, the Commission largely dealt with discrimination and related problems, such as school and housing segregation, and the treatment of braceros and migrant laborers. The Mexican government refused to allow the import of Mexican nationals for labor into areas with discrimination problems. This put a strain on several areas of the state needing unskilled laborers, especially for agriculture. To combat these problems, the GNC worked with local governments to establish local good neighbor or human relations councils which could deal with all but the severe discrimination cases. When a particular city/county had successfully resolved its discrimination problems the GNC would contact Mexican officials requesting removal of the area from the blacklist. The Good Neighbor Commission also launched a public awareness campaign to make Texans aware of such situations and measures taken or needed to improve conditions.
The Good Neighbor Commission also worked for education, securing scholarships for Texan and Latin American students, encouraging and assisting with visits of Mexican teachers to Texas, promoting the teaching of Spanish in Texas schools, and sponsoring the Pan American Student Forum. In addition, it established the International Good Neighbor Council; sponsored lecturers from Latin American Republics to speak in Texas; encouraged travel in Texas and Mexico; improved press relations in Texas and Mexico; encouraged and assisted in the development of international projects, such as parks, bridges, and highways; and participated in other international affairs.
In 1965 the mandate of the Good Neighbor Commission was altered to include additional migrant labor responsibilities. The 59th Legislature, through Senate Bill 179, abolished the Texas Council of Migrant Labor (established in 1957) and transferred all of its duties and responsibilities to the Good Neighbor Commission. This Council had been responsible for coordinating the work of state agencies in improving travel and living conditions of migrant laborers. Further legislation in 1971 (Senate Bill 676) required the GNC to submit an annual report on migrant affairs to the Governor and Legislature. This bill also created a Good Neighbor Commission of Texas Fund--a repository for private donations to the GNC. In 1975, migrant responsibilities were transferred to the newly-created Governor's Office of Migrant Affairs.
In 1979 the 66th Legislature, through House Bill 1061, revised the statute of the Good Neighbor Commission. Changes included the application of the Open Meetings and Open Records Act and the Sunset Act, and changes in some responsibilities. The Commission's new duties were to assist agencies and others in the advancement of inter-American understanding and goodwill; provide language translation services to state agencies and other government bodies; support and sponsor the Pan American Student Forum; gather information, do research, and conduct investigations related to inter-American affairs; maintain contact with western hemisphere officials and act as a source of information for the Consular Corps in Texas; represent the Governor and make arrangements for state officials to appear at public events; receive foreign dignitaries; serve as protocol advisors or interpreters at meetings between state officials of western hemisphere countries; and establish and maintain offices in Mexico to provide information between Texas and Mexico.
Some specific activities undertaken by the GNC included sponsoring and arranging student exchange visits; coordinating visits of Mexican officials to Texas and a series of exchange visits between Governor William Clements and governors of bordering Mexican states; assisting in establishing a series of border conferences between U.S. and Mexican border states, and arranging meetings between the GNC and other state border commissions; continuing sponsorship of the Pan American Student Forum; and interaction with the International Good Neighbor Council.
Throughout its existence, the Good Neighbor Commission endeavored to improve relations between Texas and Latin American Republics, namely Mexico. The Commission worked with several organizations that also worked toward these goals. Two organizations closely associated with the GNC were the Pan American Student Forum of Texas (PASF) and the International Good Neighbor Council (IGNC). The PASF is composed of students who are interested in studying countries and cultures of other American Republics and fostering better relations with these countries. This organization was established in Texas in 1943. Since 1949 the Good Neighbor Commission has sponsored the PASF and provided administrative assistance. The IGNC was created in 1954 following a resolution passed by the Good Neighbor Commission. The IGNC was created as an international cooperative body formed to study border problems between Texas and its bordering Mexican states--Tamaulipas, Nuevo Leon, Coahuila, and Chihuahua. In later years, other U.S. and Mexican states have joined this organization. The Good Neighbor Commission maintained close ties with this organization as its Executive Director was an ex officio member of the IGNC Board of Directors.
In the mid 1980s, funding for the Good Neighbor Commission was not legislatively appropriated. It was funded for FY 1986 - FY 1987 through the Governor's Office. The Commission was not given any funding for FY 1988 or FY 1989, and as of September 1, 1987, had been designated as a non-functioning agency. It was due for Sunset review in 1991. The Sunset Commission recommended the agency not be continued. The Legislature took no action to continue the agency, so the Good Neighbor Commission was allowed to expire (Vernon's statutes Art. 4101-2).
Types of materials include minutes, reports, proceedings of conferences and meetings, correspondence, memorandums, financial statements, legislation, resolutions, clippings, photographs, printed materials, speeches, publications, and tape recordings. Dates covered are 1943-1987, undated. These records are fairly complete, and reflect the activities of the Texas Good Neighbor Commission and its association with other organizations. Subjects covered include discrimination, braceros, migrant laborers, health and social concerns, conferences and meetings, education, visits of Mexican teachers, exchange programs, visits of Texas and Mexican governors and other officials, consular matters, tourism, industry, joint Texas-Mexico projects, and various international issues.
To prepare this preliminary inventory, the described materials were cursorily reviewed to delineate series, to confirm the accuracy of contents lists, to provide an estimate of dates covered, and to determine record types.
These records are organized into seven series:
Laura K. Saegert, May 1989
Accession numbers: 1989/059, 1990/016
These records were transferred to the Archives and Information Services Division of the Texas State Library and Archives Commission by the Texas Governor's Office (via the Records Management Division) on December 6, 1988 and October 9, 1989.
Files of regular and special meetings of the Texas Good Neighbor Commission and committee meeting files. Files contain meeting agendas, minutes, attendance rosters, financial statements, commissioners' reports, chairman's reports, staff and topical reports, committee appointments, correspondence, clippings, memorandums, printed materials, and notes. Dates covered are 1945-1987. These materials document the activities of the Good Neighbor Commission and its committees. Meeting files contain some committee reports and other committee materials. Separate committee files exist, largely from the 1970s-1980s, and include those of the Administrative Committee, Executive Committee, Finance Committee, and Awards Committee. The last box in this series contains recordings of many of the Commission meetings from 1976-1987. Most recordings are on cassette tapes, however, some meetings from 1977-1978 are recorded on dictaphone belts or reel-to-reel tapes.
There records are arranged in chronological order.
Files contain correspondence, memorandums, biographical materials, photographs, speeches, copies of legislative resolutions and bills, and other material. Dates covered are 1943-1987. These are files of the Texas Good Neighbor Commission Commissioners, documenting their activities while serving on the Commission. Topics covered include Commission meetings, conferences, international relations, visits of state or other officials between Texas and Mexico or other Latin American countries, travel plans and arrangements of Commissioners, promotional activities, and routine affairs.
Arranged in a loose reverse chronological order, based on the date the Commissioner began serving.
General files of the Texas Good Neighbor Commission, including correspondence, subject files, speeches, clippings, photographs, and administrative files. Dates covered are 1944-1987 and undated. Subject coverage includes discrimination; braceros; migrant labor; international affairs; state visits of Mexican and Texas governors; consular matters; education, including bilingual education, exchange programs, visits of Mexican teachers, and scholarships; tourism; industry; joint Texas-Mexico projects, such as parks, bridges, and highways; meetings and conferences; foreign dignitaries at gubernatorial inaugurations; and other issues. Large collections of similar materials are grouped together and are described first, ie., correspondence, discrimination materials. Remaining files were left as received.
These records are organized into seven series:
Incoming and outgoing letters, memorandums, clippings, reports, and occasional photographs. Dates covered are 1949-1987. Topics covered include international issues and relations, migrant workers, student and teacher exchange programs, teaching of Spanish in Texas schools, tourism, meetings and conferences, and routine affairs, such as budgets, travel plans and arrangements, appointments, and requests for publications. Additional correspondence is scattered throughout the general files, including Governor's office correspondence and that of former executive directors.
Files are arranged into three groups: General correspondence, Chronological files, and Field office correspondence.
These are largely incoming and outgoing letters, some with additional materials, dating 1949-late 1950s, late 1960s-1987. No files exist for the late 1950s - mid 1960s. Files are arranged as received, largely in chronological order.
Outgoing letters and memorandums dating 1954-1987. Files are arranged chronologically.
Incoming and outgoing letters, clippings, and reports dating 1976-1979. Files are unarranged.
Correspondence, clippings, reports, occasional photographs, and other materials. Dates covered are 1945-1969. Files concern acts of discrimination, segregation, harassment, or related matters against Latin American (Hispanic) individuals, both native Texans and immigrants; the blacklisting of cities or counties in the state by the Mexican Government; and the formation and functions of the state and local Human Relations Councils. A few discrimination files are scattered throughout the general listing of files and the clippings subseries, both subdivisions in the general files series.
Files are arranged as received.
Files documenting 13 visits of Mexican teachers to Texas, containing correspondence, agendas, arrangements, photographs, press releases, clippings, and other materials. Dates covered are 1950-1963.
The files are arranged numerically by visit.
Copies of speeches delivered by Commissioners of the Texas Good Neighbor Commission, its Executive Director, or other dignitaries. Files include some program agendas, correspondence, and reference materials. Dates covered are 1950-1974.
Files are unarranged.
An assortment of prints, some contact sheets and negatives,
dating 1970s-1980s, undated. Most images are black and white, some color
snapshots. Dignitaries shown include Governors Allan Shivers, Mark White,
William Clements, several state senators and representatives, members of the
Texas Good Neighbor Commission, and Mexican dignitaries. Additional photographs
are filed throughout these records, such as in
These images are unarranged.
Notebooks of clippings concerning Good Neighbor Commission activities. Dates covered are 1944-1975. Files of clippings concerning discrimination, segregation and other topics, including clippings from Mexican newspapers. These latter files contain a few press releases and accompanying correspondence.
The files are unarranged.
The remainder of the general files, dating 1944-1987, undated.
The files are unarranged.
Initially called the Five State Good Neighbor Council, the International Good Neighbor Council (IGNC) was formed in 1954 following a resolution passed by the Texas Good Neighbor Commission. This resolution was designed to form an internationally cooperative body to study border problems and promote cooperation between Texas and its four sister states across the border--Tamaulipas, Nuevo Leon, Coahuila, and Chihuahua. In 1955 the states of California, New Mexico, and Arizona in the United States; and Sinaloa, Durango, Baja California, and other Mexican states were invited to join. The name was changed to the International Good Neighbor Council. Committees and sub-committees were created to study various problems on both sides of the border, such as health, education, and social welfare. Highway development programs were created, other issues such as employment, commerce, and youth concerns were studied, and the development of tourism on both sides of the border was pursued.
The IGNC is composed of government officials, businessmen, and other individuals in the United States and Mexico interested in promoting good-will between the United States and Mexico. The IGNC is governed by a Board of Directors, of which the Executive Director of the Good Neighbor Commission is an ex officio member. The IGNC meets twice annually, and the Board of Directors meets quarterly. Resolutions are passed by the committees, Board, and Council and passed on to government officials and others affected by the proposals or concerns set forth in the resolutions.
Materials consist of meeting files, correspondence, chronological files, administrative files, committee files, local IGNC chapter files, clippings, and a few topical files. Dates covered are 1950s-1987. These are the files of the International Good Neighbor Council.
These records are organized into three subseries:
This series contains general assembly files of the International Good Neighbor Council (IGNC), followed by the IGNC director's meeting files. Files may contain minutes, program agendas, resolutions, correspondence, brochures, magazines, clippings, photographs, memorandums, notes, or other materials. Dates covered are 1954-1987. The IGNC met in a general assembly twice a year--a spring meeting in Mexico and a fall meeting in the United States. The Board of Directors generally met quarterly.
Files are arranged in two groups: General Assembly/Meeting files and Director's meeting files. Within each group the files are arranged in reverse chronological order.
These are incoming and outgoing letters of the International Good Neighbor Council, generally sent to the Executive Director of the Texas Good Neighbor Commission, who was an ex officio member of the International Good Neighbor Council Board. Dates covered are 1954-1985. Topics discussed include meetings, health and social issues, tourism, education, employment, and other border issues.
Files are arranged into three groups--General correspondence, Membership correspondence, and Chronological files. Within each group files are arranged in reverse chronological order.
This series contains an assortment of general files of the International Good Neighbor Council, including IGNC history, bylaws, statutes, constitution, resolutions, committee files, local chapter files, awards, IGNC bulletins and newsletters, administrative files, clippings, and a few personal files. Dates covered are the 1950s to the 1980s.
The records are arranged in two groups--files from the 1950s through early 1970s, and early 1970s through the 1980s. Clippings follow these groupings. Arranged as received.
The Pan American Student Forum is an international and national
organization begun in 1927. The Pan American Student Forum of Texas (PASF) was
established in 1943. It is comprised of local chapters of students--junior
high, high school, and college--who are interested in studying countries and
cultures of other American Republics, and in fostering better relations with
these countries. Each chapter is sponsored by a teacher and may include adult
associate members. Activities of the PASF include conducting an annual state
convention, awarding student scholarships, conducting or assisting with student
programs and projects, publication of the
The Forum was initially sponsored by the Texas Department of Education. In 1949, the Texas Good Neighbor Commission took over the sponsorship. It assisted the PASF by providing office space and central coordination for activities, arranged the annual PASF state convention, and provided some financing for administrative matters. The PASF, now without the Good Neighbor Commission sponsorship, functions as an independent non-profit organization.
These are records of the Pan American Student Forum of Texas. Materials consist of correspondence, memorandums, minutes, clippings, photographs, topical files, and administrative files. Dates covered are 1951-1987.
The records are organized into three sub-series:
Incoming and outgoing letters and memorandums of the Pan American Student Forum of Texas, dating 1951-1987. Topics discussed include cultures students are studying, student programs and projects, contests and conventions involving the Forum, publications, scholarships, committee duties, campaigns for elections, starting PASF chapters, student Spanish clubs, the annual PASF state convention, and other topics.
Files are arranged into three groups: Executive Board/Board of Directors correspondence, General correspondence, and Chronological files. Within each group the files are arranged chronologically, with the latest materials filed first.
Minutes of the Pan American Student Forum of Texas Executive Board/Board of Directors quarterly meetings, dating 1960-1987.
An assortment of topical and administrative files of the Pan American Student Forum of Texas, including bylaws, PASF history, scholarships, state projects, trips to Mexico, convention contracts, correspondence, scrapbooks, and other materials. Files are dated from the 1950s to 1987. Unarranged.
The Texas Council on Migrant Labor was established in 1957 by the 55th Legislature, Senate Bill 229. It was composed of seven ex-officio members--heads or executive officers of several state agencies, including the executive director of the Good Neighbor Commission. The Council had the responsibility of coordinating the work of state agencies for improving travel and living conditions of migrant laborers. Specific duties included making surveys, holding hearings, and providing consultative services on matters affecting migrant labor, and assisting state and federal agencies with formulation and promulgation of migrant-related legislation. In 1965 the 59th Legislature, through Senate Bill 179, terminated the existence of the Council. All of its duties and powers were transferred to the Texas Good Neighbor Commission.
Files contain legislation, conference proceedings, reports, newsletters, correspondence, notes, memorandums, printed materials, and clippings of the Texas Council on Migrant Labor, dating 1955-1965, and ca. 1976. These records cover the years of the Counci's existence, 1957-1965. Following these materials is a part of a migrant report prepared by the Texas Good Neighbor Commission, dated ca. 1976.
These records are unarranged.
These are annual reports of the Texas Good Neighbor Commission for the years 1943-1945, 1947, and 1951-1986.
These records are arranged chronologically.