Descriptive SummaryMexican American Democrats of Texas.Mexican American Democrats of Texas Records, 1962-1987
Materials are in English.9.6 linear feet (approximately 7,200 items)
MS 29
University of Texas at San Antonio Libraries Special CollectionsIn December 1975 Mexican American Democrats of Texas was formed to provide a formal structure to make gains for Mexican Americans in the Democratic Party. The records of the Mexican American Democrats of Texas (MAD) contain correspondence, minutes, clippings and other materials relating to the political and social activism of Eugene and Sylvia Rodriguez, charter members of MAD.
Preferred Citation
[Identification of item], Mexican American Democrats of Texas Records, 1962-1987, University of Texas at San Antonio Libraries Special Collections.
Historical Note
Eugene (Gene) and Sylvia Rodriguez were both charter members of the Mexican American Democrats of Texas (MAD) and prominent political and social activists from San Antonio, Texas. They both served on the Democratic National Committee (DNC) and the Hispanic Caucus of the DNC. Mrs. Rodriguez first served on the DNC in 1978 and Mr. Rodriguez was elected in 1984. They also held a variety of positions in local and regional political groups. Mr. and Mrs. Rodriguez were active in support of Democratic candidates including Henry B. Gonzalez, Henry Cisneros and Jimmy Carter. Mr. and Mrs. Rodriguez worked tirelessly to advance the interests of Hispanics, both within the Democratic Party and the community, . Their interests included immigration, housing, employment and education. They also helped to found the TEJANOS Political Action Committee.
In December 1975 MAD was formed to provide a formal structure to make gains for Mexican Americans in the Democratic Party. The group grew out of a conflict over the selection of state delegates to the 1974 Democratic Mini-Convention in Kansas City. Only four of the ninety-six Texas delegates were Hispanic. DNC member Joe Bernal and other Mexican-Americans described this as an act of discrimination and asked for five anglo (caucasian) delegates to be replaced with Mexican-Americans. Starting in 1976, MAD held annual conventions and lobbied for pro-Mexican-American positions to be adopted by the larger Democratic Party.
In addition to their political activities, Mr. and Mrs. Rodriguez had connections to a variety of civic and community development groups. Mr. Rodriguez was Executive Director of the Economic Opportunities Development Corporation of Bexar County and the Director of the Department of Economic and Employment Development. In these capacities, he worked to improve the position of Hispanics and other minority groups particularly in the areas of employment and housing. He also worked with United Way and other charity efforts to help the poor of Bexar County. Mrs. Rodriguez was an officer in the YWCA and Parent Child, Inc., a non-profit organization that administered daycare programs in San Antonio.
Mr. Rodriguez received a Bachelors and a Masters degree in political science from St. Mary's University. He also earned another Masters degree in Environmental Management from the University of Texas at San Antonio. He held several positions at UTSA, including the head of the Center for Studies in Business, Economics and Human Resources.
Scope and Content Note
The Mexican American Democrats of Texas (MAD) collection contains material dating from 1962 to 1987. It contains correspondence, minutes, clippings and other materials relating to the political and social activism of Eugene and Sylvia Rodriguez, charter members of MAD. The collection is divided into seven series documenting the varied areas of this activism.
The official activities of Mr. and Mrs. Rodriguez in the Democratic party are found in the Campaigns series, Elections series, and the Democratic National Committee series. These records document the efforts to create the policies of the Democratic Party and the actions of the party in support of candidates. The work of Mr. and Mrs. Rodriguez with the Mexican-American Democrats of Texas and other political interest groups is located in the Local Political Groups series. Most of the groups in this series concern the rights of Hispanics, women and other minority groups.
Mr. and Mrs. Rodriguez were also involved with a number of civic and development groups that worked with minorities such as National Urban Coalition and the Alamo Area Council of Governments. The Community and Development Groups series contain reports and other material from these types of groups. Some are based locally and others are national groups. The Equal Opportunity Development Corporation (EODC) series documents Mr. Rodriguez's work as Executive Director of the EODC and this group's work to increase the employment of minorities in the San Antonio area. The status of Hispanics and other minority groups is further documented in Employment Publications. These publications also provide background information on the type of concerns that the EODC and the Community and Development groups dealt with.
A small amount of personal information relating to Mr. and Mrs. Rodriguez is located in the Rodriguez series. It contains some correspondence as well notes from Mr. Rodriguez's academic career.
Acquisition Information
This collection was donated in 1994.
Access RestrictionsThis 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.
Use Restrictions
Permission to publish material from the collection must be obtained from University of Texas at San Antonio Libraries Special Collections.
Processing InformationProcessed by Eric Hartmann, Processing Archivist, December 1998.
ArrangementThe collection is arranged as follows:
- Campaigns and Elections, 1971-1986
- Democratic National Committee, 1973-1986
- Local Political Groups, 1968-1985
- Equal Opportunity Development Corporation, 1962-1981
- Community and Development Groups, 1968-1986
- Employment Publications, 1965-1985
- Rodriguez, 1963-1987
Index Terms
PersonsRodriguez, Eugene, 1941-
Rodriguez, Sylvia.
OrganizationsMexican American Democrats of Texas.
Democratic National Committee (U.S.)
Democratic Party (Tex.)
TopicsMexican Americans--Texas--Political activity.
Mexican Americans--Texas--San Antonio--Political activity.
LocationsTexas--Politics and government.
United States--Politics and government.
Genres/formatsClippings.Correspondence.Minutes.
Campaigns and Elections
This series contains information about Mr. and Mrs. Rodriguez's support for Democratic candidates. The majority of this material concerns the 1980 presidential election. Unless otherwise noted, the material is dated the same year as the election.
Organized by year of election and arranged alphabetically.
1
1
1971
1
1972
1
2
Briscoe, Dolph
1
3
Citizens for McGovern
1
4
Clippings
1
Conventions
1
5
State
1
6
National
1
7
State Senatorial District 26
1
8
1974
1
1975
1
9-10
Clippings, 1975-1976
1
Convention, state
1
11
1974
1
12
1976
2
Precincts
2
1
100-150
2
2
151-300
2
3
301-400
2
4
401-450
2
5
451-500
2
1978
2
6
Briscoe, Dolph
2
7
Clements, Bill
2
8
Clippings, 1977-1978
2
9
Convention, state
2
10
Democratic Mid Year Conference
3
1
Precincts
3
1980
3
Clippings
3
2
Undated
3
3
1979-June 1980
3
4
July-August 1980
3
5
September 1980
3
6
October-November 1980
3
Texas
3
7
Convention
3
8
House Statistics
3
Precincts
3
9
General
3
10
19th Senate District
3
11
21st Senate District
3
12
26th Senate District
3
13
Supreme Court
3
National
3
14
Administrative
4
1
Anderson, John
4
2
Bexar County Democratic Executive Committee
4
3
Carter, Rosaline
4
4
Convention
4
5
Correspondence
4
6
Hispanic Campaign Committee
4
7
Invitations
4
8
Kennedy, Edward
4
9
Key Contacts
4
10
Larouche, Lyndon
5
Media
5
1
Campaign Literature
5
Press Releases
5
2
General
5
3
Local
5
4
Radio
5
5
Television
5
6
Phone Bank
5
7
Platform
5
8
Reagan, Ronald
5
9
Re-election Committee
5
10
Staff
5
11
State Headquarters
5
12
Voter Registration
5
13
Voting History
5
14
White House on Women
6
1982
6
1
Clippings, 1981-1982
6
2
White, Mark
6
1984
6
3
Cisneros, Henry, 1982-1984
6
Clippings
6
4
Undated
6
5
January-October 1984
6
6
November 1984
6
7
Convention, State
6
8
Ferraro, Gearldine
6
9
Glenn, John, 1982-1984
6
10
Hart, Gary, 1982-1984
6
11
Miscellaneous Candidates, 1982-1984
6
12
Mondale, Walter 1982-1984
7
1
Platform
7
2
US Senate
7
3
1985/1986
7
4
Paraphernalia, 1972-1984
Democratic National Committee
This series contains correspondence and other material regarding the operation of the Democratic National Committee during the tenures of Mr. and Mrs. Rodriguez.
Organized by topic and arranged alphabetically.
7
Conferences
7
5
1982
7
6
1982
7
Correspondence
7
7
1973-1980
7
8
1985
7
9
Fairness Commission, 1985
7
10
Hispanic Caucus, 1985
7
11
Meetings, 1984-1986
8
1
Miscellaneous, 1985
8
2
Rodriguez, Eugene, undated
8
3
Rodriguez, Sylvia 1978-1985
8
4
Tape of Gonzalez, undated
Local Political Groups
This series contains material about political groups such as the Mexican American Democrats of Texas and Democratic Women of Bexar County in which Mr. and Mrs. Rodriguez were active.
Organized by name of group and arranged alphabetically.
8
5
Alliance for Women's Appointments, 1982-1985
8
6
Amistad Civic Organization, 1979
8
7
Coalition of National Hispanic Women, 1980
8
8
Democratic Women of Bexar County, 1968-1980
8
9
Democratic Party of Bexar County, 1972
8
10
Hispanic American Democrats, 1976-1981
8
11
Democratic Women of Bexar County, clippings, 1972-1975
9
Mexican American Democrats
9
1
Carter, Jimmy, 1980
9
2
Challenge Delegates, 1974
9
Clippings
9
3
1974-1982
9
4
1984
9
5
Conventions, 1977-1984
9
6
Executive Committee, 1980-1985
9
7
Hispanic Issues, 1983-1984
9
8
Photographs, undated
9
9
Miscellaneous, 1971-1976 and undated
9
10
One City, Many Cultures, 1981-1982
9
11
Rosters, undated
9
12
San Antonio Independent School District, 1973-1975
9
13
Southwest Voter Registration Project, 1980-1985
10
1
Tejano, 1975-1976
10
2
Tejanos for Texas, 1980
10
3
Texas Democratic Party, undated
10
4
US Commission on Civil Rights, 1974-1977
Equal Opportunity Development Corporation
This series contains information concerning the activities of the Equal Opportunity Development Corporation. Minority employment issues such as affirmative action were the main concern of the corporation.
Organized by topic and arranged alphabetically.
10
Affirmative Action
10
5
Equal Opportunity Affirmative Action of the City of San Antonio, 1974
10
6
Preparing for Affirmative Action, 1978
10
7
City of San Antonio, 1973-1974
10
Clippings
10
8
Undated
10
9
1973-1974
10
10
1975
10
11
1976
10
12
1977-1980
10
13
1981-1985
11
Concentrated Employment Program
11
1
General, 1969-1971
11
2
Director's Files, 1970-1971
11
3
Conferences, 1974
11
4
GED, undated
11
5
Grants, undated
11
6
Guidelines, 1978-1979
11
7
Miscellaneous, 1962-1981
12
Reports
12
1
General, 1972-1977
12
2
Mexican Americans and Manpower Training, undated
12
3
Poverty in Texas, 1972
12
4
Regional Environment for Small Business and Entrepreneurship, 1979
13
1
SMSA, 1977
13
2
A Systemized Approach to Using Job Seeker Information as a Means of maintaining A Localized Job Search Database, 1974
13
3
Year in Review, 1971
13
4
Taft Rehabilitation Assistance Program, 1975
13
Legislation
13
5
Budget, 1981
13
Home Mortgage Disclosure Act
13
6
General, 1975
13
7
Bomar, Thomas, 1975
13
Committee on Small Business
13
8
US House, 1975
14
1
US House, 1978
14
2
US Senate, 1979
14
3
Labor Law Reports, 1975
Community and Development Groups
This series contains information about national and local development groups with which Mr. and Mrs. Rodriguez worked. These development groups were largely concerned with issues such as minority education, employment and housing.
Organized by type of group and arranged alphabetically.
14
National
14
4
Joint Center for Political Studies, 1973-1975
15
National Urban Coalition
15
1
1971-1973
15
2
1974-1977
15
3
Small Business Administration, 1977
15
4
Task Force on Southern Rural Development, 1975
15
5
Urban Institute, 1977-1978
15
6
Wendell and Reed, undated
15
7
Wolfpac Corporation, undated
16
Local
16
Alamo Area Council of Governments
16
1
General, 1972-1974
16
2
Public Personnel Systems, 1975
16
Regional Development Studies
16
3
Economic Social and Institutional Factors Affecting the Development of the San Antonio Economic Area, 1972
16
4
The Economy of the Redevelopment Area, 1972
16
5
Forecasting the Population in thee Alamo Region, 1973
16
6
A Handbook on Land Use Classification and Base Mapping in the AACOG Region, 1972
16
7
Major Market Centers and Market Areas of Portions of Central, South and West Texas
17
1
Bexar County Historical Commission, 1976
17
2
Community Food and Nutrition Project, 1975
17
3
Dewey Master Plan, undated
17
4
Fourth of July Celebration, 1981
17
5
Greater San Antonio Chamber of Commerce, 1973-1975
17
6
HemisFair 1968, 1968
17
7
Jimenez Thanksgiving Dinner, 1981-1986
17
8
Child Abuse Council, 1975
18
1
Miscellaneous, 1973-1981
18
2
North San Antonio Chamber of Commerce, 1975
18
3
San Antonio Economic Foundation, undated
18
4
Texas Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development, 1974
18
Texas Observer
18
5
1974-1975
18
6
1976-1980
Employment Publications
This series contains commercial, non-profit and government publications concerning business and employment. Most concern Hispanic or minority employment issues.
Organized by type of publication and arranged alphabetically.
18
7
Articles, 1978-1983
19
Commercial
19
General
19
1
1971-1975
19
2
1976-1981
19
3
American Sociological Review, 1976
19
4
Business Information Service, 1975
19
Non Profit
19
5
1971-1975
20
1
1976-1979
20
Government
20
Texas Employment Commission
20
2
1977-1979
20
3
1985
20
4
1985
20
United States
20
Department of Commerce
20
5
General, 1972-1976
21
1
Bureau of the Census, 1972-1978
21
2
Department of Commerce, 1977
21
3
Department of Housing and Urban Development, 1973-1975
21
Department of Labor
21
4
General, 1974-1979
21
5
Bureau of Labor Statistics, 1974-1977
21
6
Manpower Administration, 1965-1973
22
1
Miscellaneous, 1973-1979 and undated
Rodriguez
This series contains notes from Eugene Rodriguez's graduate studies and correspondence of Mr. and Mrs. Rodriguez. There is also a selection of clippings concerning Mr. and Mrs. Rodriguez.
Organized by person and arranged alphabetically.
22
2
Clippings, 1975-1980 and undated
22
Eugene Rodriguez
22
3
BA Political Science Notes, 1963-1965
22
MA Political Science
22
4
Notes, 1965-1967
22
5
Thesis, Henry B. Gonzalez: A Political Profile, 1965
22
MA Environmental Management Notes
22
6
1975
23
1
1975
23
2
Miscellaneous, 1966 and undated
23
Sylvia Rodriguez
23
3
Correspondence, 1979-1987
23
4
Miscellaneous, 1983-1984