Descriptive Summary
Cavazos, Lauro
Lauro F. Cavazos Papers,
1982-2000
Papers of former Texas
Tech Universiy president and U. S. Secretary of Education Lauro F. Cavazos from
1982-2000.
U 286.1
Southwest Collection/Special Collections
Library, Texas Tech University
3 boxes and 1
oversized folder (4.0 linear feet)
English.
Biographical Sketch
A sixth generation Texan, Lauro Fred Cavazos was born on January 4,
1927 on the vast King Ranch in South Texas, where his father was the foreman of
the showcase Santa Gertrudis Division. He earned his B.A. and M.A. in zoology
at Texas Tech University and a doctoral degree in physiology from Iowa State
University. In addition, he received honorary degrees from several universities
and colleges. He married the former Peggy Murdock, and together they had ten
children.
Dr. Cavazos served in various professional and administrative
positions. He taught at the Medical College of Virginia and at Tufts University
School of Medicine in Boston, where he was also Dean from 1975 to 1980. He
returned to Texas Tech University in 1980 to become its tenth president, and
the first Hispanic and first graduate of the school to hold the office.
A recognized expert in both the field of medicine and the field of
education, Cavazos was a consultant to national and international health
organizations, including the World Health Organization and a variety of
inter-American health groups. He authored or co-authored approximately 75
publications in the areas of physiology and reproduction, fine structure of
cells and tissues, and medical education. Cavazos also received a number of
awards recognizing his efforts in education. In 1984 President Ronald Reagan
presented him with an award for Outstanding Leadership in the Field of
Education. In 1985 he was awarded the Distinguished Service Medal from the
Uniformed Services University for the Health Sciences, and in 1987 he accepted
an award designed in his honor from the Texas Tech University Ex- Student
Association. The next year he received the National Hispanic Leadership Award
in the field of education from the League of United Latin American
Citizens.
On August 9, 1988 President Reagan nominated Cavazos for Secretary of
Education, and on September 20, 1988 he was unanimously confirmed by the United
States Senate. President George Bush asked him to continue as Secretary
following the November 1988 election. He remained in the position until
resigning in December 1990. As Secretary, Cavazos concentrated on reforming
American Education through raising the expectations of students, teachers, and
parents. He also targeted federal resources to improve opportunities for those
most in need, and initiated special programs to combat drug and alcohol use. As
a strong advocate of parental involvement in education, he provided leadership
to encourage parental and community participation in education reform.
Scope and Content
The collection consists of materials relating to Cavazos's career in
education, particularly his presentations at various conferences and
symposiums. Included are calendar schedules, certificates, correspondence,
miscellaneous invitations and cards, plaques, presentation drafts, and
photographs.
Organization
The collection is arranged into 5 series:
- manuscripts
- sound recording
- oversized materials
- plaques
- videos
Conservation Note: Overall, the collection is in good condition,
though there are several signs of damage by insects along the edges of some
correspondence and envelopes.
Index Terms
The subject headings used by the Southwest Collection/Special
Collections Library are derived from the Library of Congress and/or locally
developed.
Subjects (Persons)
Cavazos, Lauro
Cavazos,
Lauro--Archives
Cavazos,
Lauro--Awards
Cavazos,
Lauro--Correspondence
Subjects (Organizations)
Texas Technological
College
Texas Tech
University
United States. Dept. of
Education
Places
United States--Politics
and government
Subjects
College
presidents--Texas
Education and state--United
States
Education--United
States
Mexican
Americans--Texas
Minorities--Education
Speeches, addresses, etc.
American
Collection accession #(s):
2001-0282-B
Gift, 2001
Access Restrictions
Open for research
Processed by
Lynn Whitfield, 2003
Preferred Citation
Lauro F. Cavazos Papers, 1982-2000, Southwest Collection/Special
Collections Library, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, Texas
Additional Sources
Cavazos, Lauro F.
Educating Our Children: Parents and Schools
Together: a Report to the President.Washington, D.C. : Dept. of
Education, 1989.
Cavazos, Lauro F.
Choice in Education.Washington, D.C. :
Dept. of Education, 1989.
Related Materials in the Southwest Collection/Special Collections
Library:
Lauro Cavazos Papers, 1932-1994
Lauro F. Cavazos oral history interview [sound recording], 1984
Lauro F. Cavazos oral history interview [sound recording], 1991
Lauro F. Cavazos oral history interview [sound recording], 1994
Peggy Cavazos oral history interview [sound recording], 1991
President's Office Records, 1968-1988 and undated
Collection Inventory
I. Manuscripts
1
1
Alliance for the Progress of Hispanic Americans (ALPHA),
1995
1
2
Biographical Information on Lauro F. Cavazos,
1994-1999
1
3
Business Cards for Lauro F. Cavazos (8 items),
undated
1
4
Calendar Pages,
1994
1
5
Calendar Pages,
1995
1
6
Calendar Pages,
1995-1997
1
7
Calendar Pages,
1997-1999
1
7
Calendar Pages,
1997-1999
1
8
Calendar Pages,
1998-1999
1
9
Cavazos Junior High Dedication Ceremony (41 prints),
November 7, 1993
1
10
Cavazos Junior High School,
1995
1
11
Certificates,
1994
1
12
Conference: Cross-Cultural Curriculum Development in
Medicine,
1996
1
13
Conference: Cross-Cultural Curriculum Development in
Medicine- presentation drafts,
1996
1
14
Conference: Cultural Leadership,
September 1996
1
15
Conference: National AHEC Workshop,
1999
1
16
Correspondence,
undated
1
17
Correspondence,
1992
1
18
Correspondence,
1993
1
19
Correspondence,
1994
1
20
Correspondence,
1995
1
21
Correspondence,
1996
1
22
Correspondence,
1997
1
23
Correspondence,
1998
1
24
Correspondence,
1999
1
25
Correspondence between the Cavazos Family,
undated
1
26
Correspondence from Heidl, Sarah and Anne,
1999
1
27
Correspondence: Requests for Cavazo's Autograph,
1988-1998
1
28
Correspondence: Thank You Cards,
1982-1999
1
29
Diamond Shamrock,
1993-1999
1
30
Education Class Day Leadership San Antonio,
1994
1
31
George Bush Presidential Library Foundation,
1994-1997
1
32
Harvard University,
1995-1996
1
33
Henrietta M. King High School Reunion Program for the
Class of 1944,
1994
1
34
Hispanic Center of Excellence Faculty Development
Conference for Underrepresented Minority Faculty,
1995
1
35
Invitations: National Wildlife Research Center,
1995-1999
2
1
Invitations and Cards (Folder 1 of 2),
1996-1999
2
2
Invitations and Cards (Folder 2 of 2),
1996-1999
2
3
Luby's Cafeteria, Inc.,
1993-1998
2
4
Monument Square Association,
1994
2
5
Mount Sinai School of Medicine,
1995
2
6
Name Tags and Identification Cards,
undated
2
7
National Symposium on Testing and Training,
1998
2
8
Nellie Mae,
1995
2
9
News Clippings on Cavazos,
1994-1999
2
10
Newsletters: Miscellaneous,
1995-1997
2
11
Phone Messages,
1998
2
12
Photographs,
1995-1998
Alliance for the Progress of Hispanic Americans
(ALPHA, 2 prints),
1995
Army War College (5 prints),
April 1997
Army War College (10 prints),
Spring 1998
Army War College (1 matted print),
April 6, 1998
2
13
Petroleum Industry Security Council Meeting,
1995
2
14
Proclamation by the Mayor of Deer Park, Texas,
1995
2
15
The Quest for Excellence in the Education of Hispanics,
1985
2
16
Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation,
1998-1999
2
17
San Antonio Youth Literacy,
1996
2
18
Senate of the State of Texas,
1998
2
19
Settlement of Tomasa Cavazos's Estate,
1987-1998
2
20
Tech Prep of the Rio Grande Valley's Third Annual CEO's
Dinner,
1998
2
21
Texas Tech Ex-Students Association,
1994-1998
2
22
Texas Tech University,
1984-1999
2
23
Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center: Summer
Premedical Academy,
1999
2
24
Tufts University School of Medicine,
1993-1999
2
25
Tufts University School of Medicine: Bulletins and
Brochures,
1993-1997
3
1
Tufts University School of Medicine: Bulletins and
Brochures,
1997-1998
3
2
U. S. Army War College,
1997-1999
3
3
Worth Brochure Sent by Claudia Nugent,
1999
II. Sound Recordings
1
Sound Recording: Cavazos interview with the Windmeyer
Group (7.5 minutes),
September 27, 1995
III. Oversized Materials
1
City of Harlingen Proclamation for Dr. Lauro F. Cavazos
Day,
September 22, 1998
2
Limited edition calendar of the Ronald Reagan
Presidential Foundation (unopened),
1999
3
Limited edition calendar of the Ronald Reagan
Presidential Foundation,
2000
4
Oversized Card, "Grulla Middle School Students Welcome
Mr. L. Cavazos,"
undated
5
Oversized town planner [written in by Cavazos],
1999
6
Texas Tech University poster for "Great Degree
Programs!",
undated
IV. Plaques
1
Green and gold plaque present to Lauro F. Cavazos by the
Board of Directors of Diamond Shamrock Inc.,
1996
2
Wood and metal plaque present to Lauro F. Cavazos by the
University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston for participation in the
Hispanic Center of Excellence Faculty Development Conference for
Underrepresented Minority Faculty,
May 5-6, 1995
3
Wood and metal plaque in appreciation to Dr. Lauro F.
Cavazos, keynote speaker, by Omega Delta Phi,
November 12, 1994
4
Wood and metal plaque present to Dr. Lauro F. Cavazos in
appreciation for serving as guest speaker for the Hispanic Heritage Month
Command Program,
October 8, 1997
V. Videos
1
Video: The Eighth Annual Report of the Secretaries of
Defense,
1994
2
Video: The Ninth Annual Report of the Secretaries of
Defense,
1995
3
Video: The Twelfth Annual Report of the Secretaries of
State,
1994
4
Video: The Thirteenth Annual Report of the Secretaries
of State,
1995
5
Video: The Fifteenth Annual Report of the Secretaries of
State,
1998