A Guide to the Albert A. Peña, Jr. Papers, 1952-1977

Biographical Sketch

Albert A. Peña was born on the west side of San Antonio on December 15, 1917. He attended St. Mary's University and graduated from the South Texas School of Law in Houston. He passed he Texas State bar in 1950 and in 1956 became the first Mexican-American to be elected to the Bexar County Commission. He represented his home district of Precinct 1 on the Commissioner's Court for sixteen years until he was defeated for reelection in 1972. In 1977 he was appointed Municipal Court Judge by the San Antonio City Council and served as Presiding Judge over the Municipal Court from 1982 until his retirement in 1992. A self-proclaimed "Chicano Activist," Judge Peña has been actively involved in a wide range of liberal social causes, particularly in defending and advancing the rights of Mexican-Americans, throughout his legal and political career.

Scope and Content Note

This collection of papers reflects many of Judge Peña's interests and his involvement in local and national Democratic party politics. Although the collection dates from 1952-1977, the bulk of the materials cover Peña's tenure as Bexar County Commissioner from 1956-1972. This collection is comprised of nine different series of records. The largest series, seventeen Boxes of alphabetical subject files, makes up almost half of the collection. These files represent Judge Peña's concerns with such social causes as discrimination, poverty, hunger and education. The other series deals with his activities in several political organizations; Judge Peña was actively involved in a number of organizations including the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC), the Political Association of Spanish-Speaking Organizations (PASO), the Mexican-American Legal Defense and Educational Fund (MALDEF), the; Mexican-American Unity Council (MAUC), the Southwest Council of La Raza and the Alamo Area Council of Governments (AACOG). Other materials in the collection include: speeches and addresses, writings, case files from Peña's private legal practice, printed materials, photographs, appointment calendars and audio tape recordings.

Restrictions

Access Restrictions

Case files (Boxes 29-34) are restricted.

This collection is housed at UTSA's Main Campus and must be accessed via the John Peace Library Special Collections reading room. To request access, please use the Collections Request Form.

Usage Restrictions

Please contact University of Texas at San Antonio Libraries Special Collections for further information about copyright issues and permission to publish items from this collection.

Administrative Information

Preferred Citation

[Identification of item], Albert A. Peña, Jr. Papers, MS 37, University of Texas at San Antonio Libraries Special Collections.

Acquisition Information

Materials in this collection were donated by Albert Peña, 1995.

Processing Information

Processed by T. Matthew De Waelsche. Updates by Gerrianne Schaad and Traci JoLeigh Drummond, May 2004.

Detailed Description of the collection

Audio Tapes

Note to Researchers

In spring of 2004, thanks to the generous efforts of Dr. Jose Angel Gutierrez, these analog audiotapes (some reel-to-reel, some in cassette form) were digitized to improve access to users and to preserve the content. Previously, there were only a listing and notes regarding the subject matter and date of each audiotape. These proved partially inaccurate.

The following is the information available from the tape itself. Some of the original reel-to-reel and cassette tapes carried no signal when reformatting was attempted. This either indicates that nothing was ever recorded on the audiotape, or that the signal had deteriorated over time and was no longer readable. A chronological list and brief descriptions of each recording follow.

Both Paul Thompson tapes were labeled with the same date, and are labeled so here (in brackets). One of the Paul Thompson tapes was listed as a rebuttal by Commissioner Peña to Thompson, but neither recording reflects this label, and Commissioner Peña is on neither tape.

Box

39

1969

Henry B. Gonzalez on KCOR Radio [Speech By Henry B. Gonzalez (in Spanish). Gonzalez mentions Albert Peña and Jose Angel Gutierrez (4:50)], April 26, 1969 View Contents

Paul Thompson broadcast on KITE [Thompson’s negative commentary regarding Peña's handling of the press after murder of a prisoner (Mike Perkins) by other inmates (1:53)], [August 27, 1969] View Contents

Paul Thompson Broadcast on KITE [Broadcast regarding shooting of Loy Videl by a detective Teal (1:45)], [August 27, 1969?] View Contents

One Man’s Opinion, Mexican American Participation in Vietnam [Peña discusses how Americans “surrender their responsibility” to government, suggesting they should educate themselves on facts of Vietnam War and how the Draft System in U.S. discriminates against Mexicanos (4:08)], November 24, 1969 View Contents

One Man’s Opinion, (Military) Draft System in Texas [Peña discusses the draft system in U.S. discriminating against Mexicanos (4:02)], Tuesday, November 25, 1969 View Contents

One Man’s Opinion, Crystal City, Student Boycott of High School [Peña discusses a speech he gave to Crystal City students who were boycotting school (3:53)], Tuesday, December 23, 1969 View Contents

One Man’s Opinion, Voter Registration [Peña discusses the meaning of Christmas and about deadline for voter registration (2:46)], Wednesday, December 24, 1969 View Contents

1970

One Man’s Opinion, Part 3 of the "History of Farm Labor Organizing: The Filipino and South experience," [discussion of Mexicans replacing Filipinos in farm labor and about Southern sharecropper cotton strikes (3:40)], April 9, 1970 View Contents

One Man’s Opinion, Part 4 of the "History of Farm Labor Organizing: Hawaii," [Discussion of Hawaiian farm labor history and strikes (4:18)], [April 13, 1970] View Contents

One Man’s Opinion, Part 5 of the "History of Farm Labor Organizing: The Beginning of the Present Struggle," [discussion of the history of farm labor and the use of braceros in breaking strikes (4:00)], [April 14, 1970] View Contents

One Man’s Opinion, Mexican American Contributions to the Southwest series [discussion of Mexican contributions to mining, and the Mexican experience in California Gold Rush and silver mining. (4:40)], April 21, 1970 View Contents

"The Year of the Chicano," speech [mentions the La Raza Unida Party (5:26)], 1970 View Contents

1971

Harris County/Voter Registration, at El Tropicano, Part One [Group at Harris County (La Raza Unida?) discusses how they promote voter registration in Harris County, and how they do fundraising for voter registration drives. Peña talks about redistricting voter areas and implementing the restructuring of PASO Redistricting Committee. They also discuss policies and politics of redistricting and voter rights, minority voting (1:01:23)], January 9, 1971 View Contents

Harris County/Voter Registration, at El Tropicano, Part Two [Part two mentions voter registration coordinators in Texas Counties, PASO in Bexar, Harris, Tarrant, Hidalgo, Comal, Hondo counties, and how support is needed from the Chicano community to successfully redistrict areas of Texas (24:41)], January 9, 1971 View Contents

Council Meeting [Peña discusses bill proposed by Lynn Kaufmann to help the San Antonio southside. Peña describes specific proposed bills, which propose using public water areas to dispose of raw sewage, and encourages council to support the bills (45:42)], ca. 1971 View Contents

Undated

One Man’s Opinion, Mexican American Contributions to the Southwest series [Peña discusses Spanish and Mexican origins of the language of the U.S. cattle industry(05:10)], undated View Contents

NBC Radio clip [Ray Sherrer discussing Texas politics; mentions: Judge Bean, El Paso Texas, Claude Hooten, Jr., General Edwin Walker and John Connolly(03:55)], undated. View Contents

Peña’s Early Life Interview [Peña is asked about his childhood through young adulthood, and his answers are scattered. Discusses discrimination in school, and not learning Spanish refers to himself as an “Anglicized Mexican”, and how he was encouraged to learn a trade instead of attending college. Also Peña discusses his neighborhood, and joining a gang when in his teens. Interview questions often unintelligible (31:05)], undated View Contents

Bible Verses [Tape begins with “Mexican American viewpoint not acknowledges by the National Democratic Party, LULAC and the American GI forum (?),” but then abruptly switches to Bible verses (the remainder of the recording) (19:43)], undated View Contents

Selections from Shakespeare [Hamlet featured (5:08)], undated View Contents

Politics, Civil Rights and Mexican Americans in Texas [Discusses Texas being the only state not signing the minority report and other political issues in Texas, including problems of Mexican American. Mentions Governor Price Daniel, Sam (Rayburn?), Adlai Stevenson, Ronnie Dugger, John Peace, Lyndon B. Johnson, Jimmy Knight, Jack Martin. This is a taping session for the John Rogers/Albert Peña book (13:09)], undated View Contents

KONO Meet the Candidates: Felix Trevino, Part 1 [Panel, made up of Tony Dramburger, W.T. Conley, Louis Cardenas, Col. Ed Stoley (all spellings of these names are questionable), interviews Felix Trevino, candidate for county commissioner Precinct 1. Trevino introduces members of panel and speaks about his plans if he is elected county commissioner for Precinct 1. Panel speaks about problems in the area and promotes Trevino on the show. Calls on Jimmy Flores and others to answer questions, and takes questions from callers (29:46)], undated View Contents

KONO Meet the Candidates: Felix Trevino, Part 2 [Panel speaks about problems in the area and promotes, more questions from callers, discusses Peña, who is Trevino’s opponent (19:33)], undated View Contents

KONO Meet the Candidates: Felix Trevino, Part 3 [Questions and notes from callers, more talk of Peña, seems like there may be sections of missing tape, i.e. a question is asked about Peña, but there is no answer (8:38)], undated View Contents

Peña discusses Lyndon B. Johnson [Peña discusses Johnson wanting the "favorite son" endorsement for President of the United States (1959). Johnson thought the only problems would come from Bexar County, the only liberal county in Texas. A meeting was called by Johnson for Peña, Jack Martin, Jimmy Knight and D. J. Sutton (the Bexar County Coalition) to meet with Johnson at the same time. The Coalition was made up of the "four legs" (?) Anglo Liberal, Labor, Blacks, Chicanos. Peña talks about how all members of the Coalition got the "Johnson treatment" during the meeting, and how Johnson said that he did not feel that he could help the Coalition if they did not support him. Discusses the meeting in-depth, and lack of Mexican-Americans in Washington DC (47:40)], undated View Contents

Peña discusses Mexican-American Civil Rights in Schools [The Mexican-American Legal Defense fund is discussed, and discriminations against Mexican-Americans in schools in Texas (specifically mentions Hondo and Lytle) (21:15)], undated View Contents