urn:taro:utexas.blac.00102 Raza Unida Party Records, 1969-1979 Benson Latin American Collection University of Texas Libraries, 2006 Finding aid encoded by Robert Esparza, June 2006Finding aid written inEnglish. Descriptive Summary Raza Unida Party (Tex.) Raza Unida Party Records 1969-1979 EnglishandSpanish 24005920 4 linear feet, oversize items. Benson Latin American Collection, The University of Texas at Austin Correspondence, directives, agendas, reports, memorabilia, photographs, and other materials documenting the history of the Raza Unida Party. Historical Note

The Raza Unida Party (RUP) was first established as a third political party in Crystal City, Texas, in January, 1970. As an alternative to the two-party system in Texas, Raza Unida sought social, economic, and political self-determination for Chicanos, other minorities, and the disenfranchised through local and, later, state politics. At its start, the party organized around county, local, and school district elections in south Texas; winning city council elections in Cotulla, Carrizo Springs, and Crystal City in April 1970. Also victorious in Crystal City were party founder José Angel Gutiérrez and two other candidates running on the RUP ticket for school board positions.

Meetings were held in 1971 to discuss the party?s possibilities of entering state electoral politics. The decision to place the independent party on the 1972 general election ballot was made at its first state convention on October 30, 1971, in San Antonio, Texas. Delegates from nine Texas counties representing such urban areas as San Antonio (Bexar County) and Fort Worth (Tarrant County) were in attendance. During 1972 party members conducted petition and voter registration drives, and campaigned for six state-wide candidates including Ramsey Muñiz for governor.

By November 1972, the party had not only been certified for a place on the general election ballot, but had been organized in more than forty counties, and had candidates running for district, senatorial, state representative, and school board positions on the RUP ticket. Although all of the Raza Unida candidates lost in the election, Ramsey Muñiz received 214,118 votes, winning 6 percent of the vote in the governor?s race

Raza Unida continued to organize and ran gubernatorial candidates Ramsey Muñiz in 1974 and Mario Compean in 1978 as well as other candidates for offices at all levels of government. The party also challenged an election law requiring a party to obtain 20 percent of the overall vote, instead of 2 percent of the vote needed to remain on the ballot. The law was overruled by the U.S. Department of Justice in 1976, and in the same ruling, RUP was allowed to hold primary elections without having to pay filing fees.

Despite losses in the gubernatorial elections, Raza Unida established itself as a minority third party with a liberal party platform in statewide and local politics, and became a dominant political force in some Texas communities.

 Scope and Contents Note

Comprising the records of numerous state, county, and local activities and organizations, the Raza Unida Party collection is organized into four sections: RUP state papers, county papers, other states, and oversized materials. Each section is then further divided into a number of sub-series, including foundation and early history, numerous campaigns, graphic and audio-visual materials, RUP county papers, such as Tarrant and Zavala counties, and documents originating from the New Mexico faction. Herein one will find information on the goals and platforms of the RUP, party organization, state and national conventions, and voter and voting information, including legislative bills governing election procedures. Materials include correspondence, directives, notes, agendas, minutes, press releases, memorabilia, campaign literature, audio tapes, and photographs. In addition, there are some materials on the Mexican American Youth Organization (MAYO) and the Voluntarios de Aztlán.

Contributors to this collection include Evey Chapa, Martha Cotera, Luis Guerra, María Elena Martínez, and Carlos Puente.

 Access Restrictions

Unrestricted.

 Use Restrictions

Standard copyright restrictions apply.

 Preferred Citation

Cite as: Raza Unida Party Records, 1969-1979, Benson Latin American Collection, University of Texas Libraries, the University of Texas at Austin.

 Index Terms

The Raza Unida Party Records are classified under the following Subject Headings in the University of Texas Libraries catalog:

Compean, Mario. Farenthold, Frances. Gutiérrez, Armando. Gutiérrez, José Angel Mexican American Youth Organization (Tex.) Mexican Americans--Civil rights--Texas. Mexican Americans--Texas--Politics and government. Muñiz, Ramsey, 1942- Political parties--Law and legislation--Texas. Raza Unida Party (Tex.) Raza Unida Party (U.S.)--Congresses. Voluntarios de Aztlan. Other Authors Chapa, Evey Cotera, Martha. Guerra, Luis A. Martínez, María Elena, 1941- Puente, Carlos M. Related Material

Additional materials relating to the Raza Unida Party can be found in the following collections: the Martha Cotera Papers, José Angel Gutiérrez Papers, and the Ramsey and Albina Pina Muñiz Papers. The listed collections can be found at the Benson Latin American Collection.

 Separated Material

Originally a part of the Raza Unida Party Collection, the Ramsey Muñiz Papers have been separated to make their own collection, the Ramsey and Albina Pina Muñiz Papers, 1971-1977.

 Box and Folder Inventory State RUP Papers 1Foundation and Early History

Source: Evey Chapa

 11 Memos, Notes, Resolutions, Leaflets and Minutes of the RUP State Convention - Oct. 30, 1971 12 State Convention Attendence List and List of Delegates, 1971 13 RUP Platform Committee: Typescript and Handwritten Drafts to Texas Raza Unida Party. A Political Action Program for the 70's. 14 Memos, Minutes, Drafted Material of the Platform Committee Meetings - Nov. 21, 1971 and Dec. 12, 1971 15 (1) Letters of Inquiry to Potential Candidates, (2) List of Potential Candidates (State Executive Committee), 1971-1972 16 Texas Raza Unida Party: a Political Action Program for the 70's 17 Affidavit with Corrections to Temporary Party Rules; Letter from David Hall, Attorney (State Executive Committee), 1972 18 State Executive Committee: Memos, Minutes and Temporary Rules of the RUP, 1972 19 Outgoing Memorandums from Mario Compean (State Executive Chairman), 1972 110 (1) Legal Packet II, (2)Instructions to State Chairman (State Executive Committee), 1972 111 RUP: Strategy Meeting Minutes - Dec. 1972, Candidates List, List of State Party Members, Contacts, Candidates, Out of State Mailing List, 1972-1973 112 State Raza Unida Party Directives - 11-23-72 and 12-16-72, Strategy Meeting Minutes - 12-16-72, and Report by J. A. Gutiérrez of Meeting - 1-9-73 21972 Campaign

Sources: Carlos Puente and Evey Chapa

 21 Correspondence Relating to Getting RUP on General Election Ballot, 1971-1972 22 Muñiz and Garza Letters Relating to Job Resignations - Feb. 1972 23 Raza Unida Party List of Candidates and District, County, Party and Precinct Officers, Feb. 1972 24 RUP Press Packet for State Convention, 6-10-72 - Includes Party Platform; Leaflets 25 Raza Unida Party Platform, 1972; Analysis Report on Housing 26 RUP Texas County Nominations for District Officers, May 20, 1972 27 Notes on the RUP State Convention, June 10, 1972 28 Tabulated Petition Signatures by Texas Counties; Notes,1972 29 Directives and Materials Relating to Primary Election, Voter Registration, Poll Watchers, and Expenditures, 1972 210 RUP Party Handbooks, Temporary Rules, Legal Packet II, 1972 211 (1) Texas Map with Spanish Population; (2) RUP Calendar of Events 212 Primary Expenditures - Forms and Report/Campaign Expenditures - Hogg Co. - Oct. 1972 213 RUP Press Releases: Re: Candidates and General Election, 1972. Voters Guide Questionaire, Nov. 7, 1972 214 Campaign Materials, 1972 215 RUP Circulars, Memos,1972 216 RUP Newsletters, Leaflets, Brochures, 1972 217 1972 Campaign Clippings, 1972 31972 Campaign and Convention

Sources: Carlos Puente and Evey Chapa

 31 Newsclippings, 1972 32 Newsclippings and Articles, 1972 33 General Election Results, 1966-1972 34 Reports of Texas Voting Results, 1972 35 Reports: (1) Texas Raza Unida Party; (2) Evaluating Voter Education through Political Participation, General Election Results, Texas, 1972; (3) Misc. Notes 36 Raza Unida Party: State Office Election Analysis, 1972 3Junta Nacional (National Convention, Sep. 1-4, 1972, El Paso, Tx.) 37 Delegates 38 Press Releases, Contact List, Telegram and Poems 39 Miscellaneous 4Legislative Bills and Campaigns, 1972-1974

Source: Evey Chapa

 41 Legislative Bills Regarding Elections, 1972-1973 42 Legislative Bills, 1973 43 House Bill 4 - Candidates Expenditures, 1973 44 House Bill 11 - Re: Conduct and Financing of Primary Elections in 1974 Elections, 1973 45 State Executive Committee - Memos and Notes, 1973 46 RUP State Meeting Agenda, 6-9-7; Congressional District Maps and Reports; RUP Rules 47 RUP State Meeting Agendas, Minutes and Reports - Oct. 6-7, 1973. Re: Issues: Single Member Districts; Cristal Service Center 48 Primary Research Committee - Memos and Notes, July-Aug., 1973 49 RUP State Meeting Agendas. October 6-7, 1973 410 Draft of Conducting Primaries, RUP Primary Research Committee, Oct., 1973 411 (1) Conducting Primaries, Oct. 1973; (2) Texas Voter Registration, 1973; (3) Texas Voter Registration. 51974 Campaign -- Chapa Papers

Source: Evey Chapa

 51 Mujeres por La Raza, 1973-1974 52 Letters to Evey Chapa Re: Primary vs. Convention Route, 1973 53 Letters to Evey Chapa, 1973-1974 54 Election Procedures Workshop: Directives and Forms (Sec. of State Materials), 1974 55 Muñiz File, 1974 / Letters to Evey Chapa, 1974 56 Rules and Objectives Concerning Party Primaries (Sec. of State's Office Materials), 1974 57 RUP List of Statewide Candidates, 1974; RUP Platform Resolutions; Circulars; Notes; Newsclips 58 Raza Unida Party Rules, 1974 59 (1) Handbook for Election Judges and Clerks, (2) Materials on Primary Financing (Sec. of State's Office Materials), 1974 510 RUP Political Party Structure Draft, Notes, Calendar of Important Political Events in 1974 511 Ramsey Muñiz Campaign Manual, 1974 512 Primary Election Day, a Guide to Conducting Primary Elections for RUP, 1974 513 RUP State Convention, Sept. 21-23: List of Delegates, Agenda, Brochures 514 Memoranda from Alberto Luera, Sec., State Executive Committee, March-April 1974 515 Newsclippings, 1974 61978 Campaign -- Martínez Papers

Source: María Elena Martínez

 61 Directives, Letters, Telegrams Issued by RUP State Chairperson María Elena Martínez, 1978, 1980 62 Texas Raza Unida Party: Materials Re: to María Elena Martínez, State Chairperson, 1977-1978 63 Incoming Correspondence to María Elena Martínez--Texas RUP Chairperson, 1976-1978 64 Incoming Correspondence to María Elena Martínez--Texas RUP Chairperson, 1979 65 Directives and Letters Issued by RUP State Chairperson--María Elena Martínez, 1976-1979 66-7 Raza Unida Party--Primary Election Budgets and Expeditures, 1978 68 Texas Raza Unida Party--1978 Gubernatorial Campaign: Leaflets, Memos, Newsclips 7Graphic and Audio-Visual Materials

Sources: Luis Guerra and Evey Chapa

 7 1 1/4" Tape Labled Gutiérrez Español Dubs 7 3 1/4" Tapes Labled Ramsey Muñiz Radio Spots 71 Contact Sheets and 1 Photo. 8x10 B/W 72 Raza Unida Party Photographs and Slides 73-4 Slides 75 37 Photographs 76 Raza Unida Party Paraphernalia 77 Raza Unida Party Bumper Stickers 8Miscellaneous Materials

Sources: Evey Chapa, Carlos Puente, and Martha Cotera

 81 Historical and Organizational Outline of Raza Unida Party 82 Notes Taken by Carlos Puente of the Oral Memories of J.A. Gutiérrez 83 Papers and Articles: "Raza Unida--An Alternative for Change", "Potential Voting Population in Texas: the Young and Old of It" 84 Puente, Carlos M. "Raza Unida Party Organization and Its Impact on the Vote of Seven Texas Counties." Master's thesis, University of Texas at Arlington, 1973. 85 Articles by Richard A. Santillan on RUP Published in The Black Politician: "El Partido La Raza Unida, Chicanos in Politics" (July 1971); "Third Party Politics, Old Story New Faces" (Oct. 1971); "Viva La Raza Unida" (Spring 1972) 86 Miscellaneous 87 Miscellaneous Brochures 88 Campaign Flyers, Bumper Stickers, and Buttons 89 Campaign Literature, 1971, 1972, 1974, 1977 810 Newsclippings--Ramsey Muñiz, Chicano Political Involvement, 1972-1977 811 Principles, Resolutions, Texas State RUP Conference, RUP Women, 1973, 1975 County Party Papers 9Tarrant and Zavala Counties

Sources: Evey Chapa, Carlos Puente, and Martha Cotera

 9Tarrant County Raza Unida Party,1970-1972, 1974 91 Mexican American Youth Organization (MAYO) and the Alianza 92 1971-1972 93 Newsletter, Jan.-Mar. 1974 94 Notes from County Convention, May 13, 1972; Misc. Forms and Lists 95 Precinct, County and Regional Convention Minutes, 1971, 1972 96 Voter Registration 97 Speech at Arlington Unitarian Church by Carlos Puente, 1972 98 Miscellaneous 99 Research Paper: "The Organization of Tarrant County Raza Unida Party: The Initial Probe" 910 Minutes of County Convention, 5-13-72; List of Delegates to State Convention; Registration Forms and Miscellaneous Items 911 State and Tarrant County Official Candidates Lists, Press Information, Letters 912 Newsclips, Newsletters 913 Candidates, Newsclippings, and Leaflets on Party Organizing, 1972 914 Tarrant County (Campaign), 1972 9Zavala County 915 Crystal City, Tex.: Raza Unida Party Correspondence,1970-1971 916 Sample Ballot and Invitations 1979; Carta Noticiera, 1973, Crystal City Newsletter; Economic Profile of Zavala County 917 "Voluntarios de Aztlán" (Crystal City Memorial Library). Washington State University Correspondence, 1971 918 Publications--Guiterrez, Jose Angel.The Walkout of 1969: A Diary of Events. Crystal City, Tex.: Printing Trades, C.C.I.S.D., 1979 919 "Nov. 5, 1974 Election" 10Bexar and Travis Counties

Sources: Martha Cotera, Evey Chapa, María Elena Martínez and Crystal City files.

 10Bexar County 101 Bexar County, 1972 102 RUP, 1972 10Travis County 103 Raza Unida Party 104 Raza Unida Party, 1973-1974 105 Leaflets and Brochures, 1974, 1976-1978 106 Travis County (Campaign), 1974, 1977 11Other Counties

Source: Martha Cotera

 111 Caldwell County, 1972 112 Victoria County 113 Webb County, 1972 114 Wichita County, 1972 115 McLennan County, 1972 116 Waco City Council, 1974 11 La Salle County 117 RUP in Cotulla, 1970, 1972 Other States 12New Mexico 12 Partido De La Raza Unida De Nuevo Mexico

Source: María Elena Martínez

 12 Peña, Juan José, State Chairman 121 "The Chicano Movement, the Southwest, and the Role of the National and State Partido De La Raza Unida in the Southwest an Economic, Social and Political Profile from 1890 to the Early 2000's", 1977 122 "The Politics of San Miguel County and the Tasks of the Partido De La Raza Unida of San Miguel County", 1978 123 "The Anglo Question", 1979 124 "The Partido De La Raza Unida De Nuevo Mexico on the Socialist Workers Party Question", (1979) 125 "On the Question of the Chicano Family", 1979 126 "On the Question of Christian Theology", 1979 127 "The Socialist Workers Party Question" (Rewrite), 1979 128 "Raza Unida on Youth", (1979) 129 "A Study and Scenario on the Chicano National Question: The Secession and Autonomy Movements and Debate and Some Possible Implications", 1979 12 Eichwald, Chris 1210 "Analysis of the "Marxist-Leninist" Left" (Preliminary Draft), 1980 12 Vigil, Maurilio E. 1211 "Reapportionment and the Emergence of the Mama Lucy Faction in the New Mexico Legislature", 1977 1212 Raza Unida de Nuevo México: A Manual and Political Program Oversize Materials D15Oversized Materials

Armando Gutiérrez Campaign, Graphic Materials

Graphic Materials, Logo for Political Campaigns

Newspapers (La Verdad, Echo)

Posters

Ramsey Muñiz Campaign, Graphic Materials

Voting Materials