Writer, teacher, and administrator. Born Aug. 23, 1926, in Blue Island, Ill., to Mexican parents; raised in Chicago and Pittsburgh. Variant forms of his name include Philip Ortego, Philip D. Ortego, Philip Darraugh Ortego, Felipe Ortego, and Felipe de Ortego y Gasca. Served in U.S. Marine Corps and Air Force. Earned B.A. and M.A. at Univ. of Texas, El Paso, and PhD. at Univ. of New Mexico. Has taught at several universities and worked as an administrator, consultant, editor, and publisher. Perhaps best known for his essays about Mexican Americans and his literary criticism, Ortego has also written plays, short stories, and poetry.
Consists of correspondence, manuscripts, resumés, reports, teaching materials, business and financial records, publications, and audiovisual materials. The collection is currently unprocessed.
Reflects Ortego y Gasca's activities and literary work from the late 1950s through 1990. Includes materials from several organizations with which Ortego was involved, including American G.I. Forum, the Hispanic Institute, LULAC, National Association of Teachers of English, National Commerce Exchange (a barter organization), National Council of La Raza, Phoenix Education Partnership, Arizona State Library Commission, and other boards and commissions. Also included are Chicano studies materials, works on Chicano literature, Chicano authors, Mexican Americans, immigration, education of Spanish-speaking children, Shakespeare, English literature, and management.
Correspondence with several Mexican American authors is included, notably Carlota Cárdenas de Dwyer and Raymond Barrio. Materials relating to La Luz magazine and three bound volumes of the periodical are included. Photographs show theatrical productions in which Ortego participated, Mexican American children, and other individuals. Sound recordings include interviews with Ortego, interviews with others conducted by Ortego, a lecture by Ernesto Galarza, and panel discussions. Videotapes show interviews, panel discussions, meetings, and unidentified subjects.
Consists of seven series: 1. Personal and biographical, 2. Correspondence, 3. Writings, 4. Activities and organizations, 5. Subject files, 6. Publications, and 7. Audiovisual materials. Correspondence arranged in reverse chronological order. Partial index available.
Unrestricted. The collection is currently unprocessed, so access is limited.
Standard copyright restrictions apply.
Cite as: Philip D. Ortego y Gasca Papers, Benson Latin American Collection, University of Texas Libraries, the University of Texas at Austin.
The Philip D. Ortego y Gasca Papers are classified under the following