Eleuterio Escobar Papers, 1906-1971

Biographical Sketch

Eleuterio Escobar was a businessman and community leader in San Antonio, Texas. Born in Laredo, Texas, September 11, 1894, he served in World War I, became a salesman in south Texas, and then started his own business in San Antonio. During his career, Mr. Escobar owned and operated various businesses, including a furniture company, a leather and importing company, and a music business. His philanthropic activities centered on advocating improved school facilites for Mexican American children in San Antonio, where he also founded the School Improvement League (Liga Defensa Escolar), an organization dedicated to improving schools on the city's west side. Mr. Escoabr was a member of several community organizations such as the League of United Latin American Citizens and the Knights of America. He died in 1970.

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Scope and Contents Note

Includes legal papers, correspondence, autobiography drafts, business and financial records, agendas, and photographs from Eleuterio Escobar. The papers are organized in five series: 1. Personal and biographical materials, 2. Organizations, 3. Financial and business records, 4. External Publications, and 5. Photographs. Over half of the papers are business and financial records, and the bulk of the rest of the materials relate to activities and organizations. The photographs and glass slides depict mainly School Improvement League activities, although three images are of Escobar and his wife.

Some materials from the Eleuterio Escobar Collection are available in an online exhibit. A few images from the online exhibit are included in this finding aid.

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Restrictions

Access Restrictions

Unrestricted.

Use Restrictions

Standard copyright restrictions apply.

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Administrative Information

Preferred Citation

Cite as: Eleuterio Escobar Papers, Benson Latin American Collection, University of Texas Libraries, the University of Texas at Austin.

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Box and Folder Inventory

1. Personal and Biographical Materials
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1	1		Autobiographical notes. 42 pages, handwritten tablet.
	2		Autobiographical notes. Click here to enlarge 15 pages.
	3		1st autobiography draft. 13 pages, typescript.
	4		Revised autobiography draft.
	5		Final autobiography draft, 1894-1958.
	6		Tributes to Eleuterio Escobar.
	7		Legal documents and petitions.
	8		Escobar vs. Leo Paller (New York Bakery), 1954.
	9		Funeral arrangements and estate settlement.
	10		Papers relating to Pablo Escobar, Administrator of Escobar Estate.
	11		Miscellaneous letters.
	12		Miscellaneous outgoing mail, 1930-1970, n.d.
	13		Miscellaneous incoming mail and telegrams, 1921-1969, n.d.
	14		Miscellaneous personal notes.
	15		Miscellaneous handwritten notes.
	16		Notes and ephemera.
	17		Personal notes.
	18		Diploma, Cecilia Escobar.
	19		Baptismal certificate.
			Loose items:
				Address book.
				4 small note pads.
				Daily calendar, 1955.
				Business cards.

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2. Organizations and Activities
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2	1		Assn. of Independent Voters.
	2		LULAC Committe on Public School Buildings and Playgrounds. Click here to enlarge
	3		Law briefs and notes on schools and school districts.
			School Improvement League/Liga Pro Defensor Escolar:
	4			School Improvement League, 1934, minutes and list of founding members and organizations.
	5			School Improvement League, Acta Primordial 1934.
	6			Speeches and notes regarding League, Oct. 3, 1934-1936.
	7			School and building sites in San Antonio, 1938.
	8			P.A.P.A., Political campaigns, etc.
				Loose items:
					Constitucíon de la Liga Pro-Defensa Escolar, 1934. 6 copies.
					Liga Pro-Defensa Escolar?Membership and affiliation cards.
					Receipt books.
					Letterpress engraving on wooden block with Liga letterhead.
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3	1			Correspondence: Commission on Schoolgrounds and Facilites, 1934, and School Improvement League.
	2			Correspondence: School Improvement League and Augustín Lara's visit to San Antonio.
	3			Correspondence: Augustín Lara's visit to San Antonio, 1935.
	4			Correspondence: School Improvement League (SIL), 1947.
	5			Correspondence: SIL, 1948.
	6			Correspondence: SIL, 1949-1953.
	6a			Organizational activites, SIL.
	7			Undated and incomplete letters relating to SIL and school problems.
	8			Invitations, letters, telegrams of congratulations and correspondence: Dedication of Escolar Jr. High School and graduation 1958-1959.
	9			SIL stationary and addressed envelopes.
	10			Liga-SIL addressed envelopes.
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4	1			SIL-Articles of Incorporation, 1947.
	2			Briefs, summaries, petitions, recomm., leaflets for 1934, 1947, 1949, 1950.
	3			Memorandums 1 and 2 relating to fire inspections of school buildings, 1947, and fire prevention code of San Antonio.
	4			SIL's Plan of Suggestions and Recommendations made to San Antonio School Board, 1947.
	5			SIL petitions to San Antonio School Board, 1948.
	6			SIL petitions to San Antonio School Board, 1949.
	7			SIL petitions to San Antonio School Board, 1950-1951.
	8			SIL petitions to San Antonio School Board and suggestions, undated.
	9			Lists of league members, affiliates; community, religious, civic, and social organizations and leaders; and radio stations and newspapers.
	10			SIL minutes, 1947-1949, undated.
	11			Financial records: receipts, lists of contributors, rental contract re:SIL and records of money collected for advertising, 1935, 1947-1948, 1950, 1962-1966, 1970, undated.
	12			ABC Revista Mensual: Organo Oficial de la Liga Pro Defensa Escolar, 1947.
	13			SIL brochures, blank petitions, broadsides, and programs.
				Click here to enlarge
	14			SIL circulars, press releases, postcards, 1947-1950, 1955, undated.
	15			SIL miscellaneous materials.
	16			Incomplete materials re: San Antonio schools and SIL.
	17			Postal material addressed to Manuel G. Castañeda (SIL spokesman).
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5	1			SIL notes, speeches, letters, 1948, 1950, 1966-1967, undated.
	2			Notes, speeches, undated.
	3			SIL speeches, 1947-1948.
	4			SIL speeches and reports, undated.
	5			Radio speeches, July 15-December 29, 1947, spot announcements, programs, and informal reports on KIWW, KITE, KCOR.
	6			Radio speeches, 1948.
	7			Radio speeches, 1949.
	8			Radio speeches, 1950.
	9			Radio speeches and programs, undated.
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6	1			[Missing or non-existent].
	2			Statistical reports of San Antonio school enrollments, 1923-1950.
	3			Statistical tables relating to school buildings, costs, pupils, and teachers.
	4			San Antonio school statistics and reports, 1945-1949.
	5			Statistical notes, reports, circulars (undated) re: San Antonio schools and the SIL.
	6			Report: Citizen's School Survey Comm. to the Board of Education of SAISD.
	7			SIL's analysis in response to the CItizen's Survey Comm. Report, 1950.
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7	1			School Improvement League Survey, questionnaires 2-191.
	2			SIL survey, questionnaires 1-157.
	3			SIL survey, questionnaires 1-91.
	4			SIL survey, questionnaires 1-99.
	5			SIL survey, questionnaires 100-201.
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32				Oversized School Improvement Leage Materials:
	5				Plaque: Liga Pro Defenson Escolar, N.d.
	6				El Defensor de la Juventud, Organo de la Liga de Defensa Pro-Escuelas, 1935 [Vol. 1, Nos. 1-3, incomplete?]
	7				Research Statistics, 1933, N.d.
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8	1		SAISD items for board agenda, 1/14/48-12/22/48.
	2		SAISD items for board agenda, 1/12/49-12/14/49.
	3		SAISD items for board agenda, 1/25/50-6/28/50.
	4		SAISD items for board agenda, 7/12/50-12/13/50.
	5		SAISD items for board agenda, 1/10/51-4/25/51.
	6		SAISD items for board agenda, 12/12/51.
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9	1		SAISD items for board agenda, 1/9/52-5/28/52.
	2		SAISD items for board agenda, 6/11/52-12/10/52.
	3		SAISD items for board agenda, 1/12/53-5/27/53 (#1-4).
	4		SAISD items for board agenda, 6/10/53-8/26/53.
	5		Materials on other school districts.
			Loose items:
				Budget estimates (SAISD), 1963-1964, 1964-1965.
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10			Budget estimates (SAISD), 1947-1963, seven volumes.
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10a			Wooden box card file (3x5 cards): "List of names of persons who are invited to attend the meetings for the Betterment of San Antonio."

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3. Business and Financial Records

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11

1

Escobar Furniture Co.: Financial report 1929, 1924 receipt, and cancelled checks.

Click here to enlarge

2

International Leather and Importing Co.: Correspondence, Purchase orders, invoices, packing slips, commercial license 1936-37, 1939-42, 1947-49.

3

Music business transactions 1930-34.

4

Corridos.

5

Song sheets and lyrics.

6

EECO Silvercraft Manufacturers Co. 1940, 1942, 1948-50, 1953.

7

EECO Silver Co.

8

Correspondence, telegrams re: business transactions with Mexico 1943-47 and boxing match 1933.

9

Letters in response to ad in La Prensa 5/8-5/12/39 re: employment.

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12

1

Real estate 1926-27.

2

Real estate 1930-32.

3

Real estate and EECO 1940-45.

4

Real estate, San Antonio vs. Cantu et.al.

5

Real estate 1950-52.

6

Real estate 1953-55.

7

Real estate 1956-59.

8

Real estate 1960-68.

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13

1

Real estate license application, notes, and letter.

2

Real estate property taxes.

3

Real estate.

4

Real estate.

5

Real estate papers: tax statements, classified ads, insurance claims, receipts for house improvement, bank.

Loose items:

Pamphlet: Mortgage payment calculator.

Pamphlet: Real estate ad phrasebook.

3x5 notecards (legal information).

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14

1

Tax statements, 1952-58.

2

Bills and statements, 1959-62.

3

Bills and statements, 1960.

4

Bills and statements, 1960.

5

Bills and statements, 1964, doctor and hospital.

6

Bills and statements, 1964, doctor and hospital.

7

Paid bills, 1966 (Jan.-Dec.).

8

Paid bills, 1966 (Jan.-Dec.).

9

Statements and bills paid, 1967.

10

Statements and bills paid, 1967.

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15

Financial records, 1931, 1938-1958: Receipts; cancelled checks; tax, insurance, and bank statements; Earnest Money Receipts; property sales documents.

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16

Financial records, 1958-1962, 1964-1965: EECO bank statements and cancelled checks, other tax statements, bank statements, and water bills.

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17

Financial records, 1958, 1960-1969: Bills; bank, insurance, and tax statements; miscellaneous receipts, notices, and cancelled checks.

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18

Financial records, 1964-1969: Bills; bank and insurance statements, cancelled checks, deposit tickets, receipts, and notes.

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19

Loose items:

Rent receipt book, 1969-1970.

Order book, 1954-65.

Unused receipt book, International Leather and Importing Co.

Receipt book, 1957-65.

Social security ledger notebook, 1939-47.

Financial journal, 1923-24.

Ledger, 1941.

Metal telephone/address book, 1959-60.

Sales book, 1939-40, 1953.

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20

Checkbook stubs, 1951-1968.

Unused checkbook for Escobar Furniture Co., 1930's.

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21

Cancelled checks, 1945, 1947-49, 1957.

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22

Cancelled checks, 1960-61.

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23

Cancelled checks, 1962-63.

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24

Cancelled checks, 1966.

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25

Tax statements, 1969-71.

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26

1

Oversized ledger sheets.

2

Sheet music.

Loose items:

Ledger, installment payments, 1923-.

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5. Photographs

Some photographs from the Eleuterio Escobar Papers can be viewed in an online exhibit.

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28

1

Photographs of Eleuterio Escobar.

2

Photographs of Others.

3

Gran Junta de la Liga Pro-Defensa Escolar.

4

Photographs of Schools and School Children.

5

Aftermath of Building Fire, Lorenzo de Zavala Elementary School, 1950.

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29

1

Business Property (Real Estate).

2

Postcards, State of Puebla, Mexico.

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31

31 Glass slides (School Improvement League).

1. Andrea García, La Prensa, Hija de Marca San Fernando. (glass negative)

2. Carlos Castañeda. Click here to enlarge (glass negative)

3. Señorita Estela Ramírez. (glass negative)

4. Gran Junta (Aug. 31, 1948) Broadside — folder 13.

5. Dupl. of #4.

6. Dupl. of #4.

7. González School, San Antonio, 7-22-48. (broken glass slide, print, negative)

8. Burbank School, San Antonio, 7-22-48. (broken glass slide, print, negative)

9. Children next to school building. (glass slide, negative)

10. 4 buildings with children standing in front of the 2nd building; school crossing sign. (glass slide, negative)

11. Building with child standing next to water trough. (glass slide, negative)

12. Back of building with open door. (glass slide, negative)

13. Children in front of school building, 11-30-47. (glass slide, negative, print)

14. Children in front of school building next to large tree. (glass slide, negative)

15. Children in classroom next to furnace. (glass slide, negative)

16. Children between two buildings. (glass slide, negative)

17. Building with bookcase in front. (glass slide, negative)

18. Sidney Lanier students attend classes in a former pecan shelling facility.

19. Children standing behind school building. (glass slide, negative)

20. Two tables.

21. Rear end view of a West Side school building.

22. Children sitting on lawn next to school building. (glass slide, negative)

23. Building exterior with child by front steps, dead animal in street. (glass slide, negative, print)

24. Child playing an oboe next to a toilet.

25. Bulletin board with various scenes of children. (glass slide, negative, print)

26. Knox School, San Antonio, 9 (7?)-22-48. (glass slide, negative, print)

27. Dead dog in front of school.

28. Students standing in line outside school cafeteria. (cracked glass slide)

29. Old church used for classroom.

30. McKingley School, San Antonio, 7-22-48. (glass slide, negative, print)

31. Laura Steel School, San Antonio, 7-22-48. (glass slide, negative, print)

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32

Large format photographs

1

Portrait of Escobar (head and shoulders). (b/w; oval)

2

1. Escobar in military uniform with U.S. flag and eagle in background. (1940s?; tinted, oval)

3

Escobar with wife (head and shoulders). (tinted; oval)

4

Various:

1. Two Hispanics in military uniform with U.S. flag in background (head and shoulders). (tinted; oval; approx. 9-5/8 in. x 16 in.)

2. Gustavo Díaz Ordaz, President of Mexico, and Richard Nixon, President of the United States, embracing at the dedication of La Amistad Dam (Texas), Sept. 8, 1969, with their wives, Guadalupe Borja de Díaz Ordaz and Pat Nixon looking on. (b/w; 10-3/8 in. x 14 in.)

3. Horseman on rearing stallion in corral. (color; approx. 11 x 14 in.)

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