Descriptive Summary
Garcia, Arcenio A.
Arcenio A. Garcia
Papers
1967-1992Materials
are in English and Spanish.
MS 96
0.5 linear
feet (about 300 items)
University of Texas at San Antonio Libraries Special Collections
Arcenio A. Garcia was elected Mayor of Cotulla, Texas in 1972 as a
member of the Raza Unida Party, becoming the first Mexican-American to serve as
mayor of the city. He also won the 1974 election, but was removed from the
position when the city council ruled that Mr. Garcia was living outside Cotulla
at the time of the election. In 1976, Garcia was elected County Commissioner of
Precinct #3 in La Salle County, Texas. In addition to his positions as Mayor and County Commissioner, Garcia
was a member of Barrios Unidos, a public service organization, which he served
as Chairperson and Public Official on the Board. He was also editor of the
bulletin El Informador (The Informer).
The collection
documents Garcia's work as Chairperson of Barrios Unidos, Mayor of Cotulla and
County Commissioner of Precinct #3 of La Salle County. It also includes general
information related to the Raza Unida Party and Garcia as a member of the
Democratic Party of Texas.
Biographical Note
Arcenio A. Garcia was elected Mayor of Cotulla, Texas in 1972 as a
member of the Raza Unida Party, becoming the first Mexican-American to serve as
mayor of the city. He also won the 1974 election, but was removed from the
position when the city council ruled that Mr. Garcia was living outside Cotulla
at the time of the election. In 1976, Garcia was elected County Commissioner of
Precinct #3 in La Salle County, Texas.
In addition to his positions as Mayor and County Commissioner, Garcia
was a member of Barrios Unidos, a public service organization, which he served
as Chairperson and Public Official on the Board. He was also editor of the
bulletin
El Informador (The Informer).
Scope and Content Note
The collection documents Garcia's work as Chairperson of Barrios
Unidos, Mayor of Cotulla and County Commissioner of Precinct #3 of La Salle
County. It also includes general information related to the Raza Unida Party
and Garcia as a member of the Democratic Party of Texas. The collection is arranged
chronologically and covers the period 1967-1992, with the bulk of the material
dating 1973-1980.
The years 1973-1975 cover the period in which Garcia was Mayor of
Cotulla, Texas. Documentation of this period includes correspondence and
meeting minutes that provide insight into Garcia's work as Mayor. Of note are
newspaper clippings and documents related to the successful lawsuit by George
Carpenter to remove Garcia from the position of Mayor after his re-election in
1974.
Papers from 1976-1992 cover a period in which Garcia served as County
Commissioner of Precinct #3 of La Salle County. Similar to the first series,
this includes correspondence, meeting minutes and political campaign clippings.
The minutes are of Commissioners' Court meetings dated 1977-1980. There are
also records from the Democratic Party of Texas precinct meetings from
1980-1992. During this period Garcia was a member of the Democratic Party of
Texas and attended the Democratic State Convention in San Antonio in 1980.
Arcenio A. Garcia worked to improve the social and economic situation
of La Salle County through projects such as the Middle Rio Grande Railroad
Project. Garcia was president of the Middle Rio Grande Rural Rail
Transportation District, which focused on building a rail line with sufficient
business to be profitable. The collection contains the articles of
incorporation of the District. Also included is a document titled
Public Works
Economic Development Grant Application and Supporting Documentation submitted
to the Economic Development Administration on February 3, 1988.
Of note in the collection is a report dated 1967-1968 titled
La Salle
County Migrant Health Project. This document offers researchers an idea of the
medical needs and services in La Salle County, and the kind of issues that
Garcia faced as County Commissioner.
Access Restrictions
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
Permission to publish material from the Arcenio A. Garcia Papers must
be obtained from University of Texas at San Antonio Libraries Special Collections.
Preferred Citation
[Identification of item], Arcenio A. Garcia Papers, 1968-1992, MS 96, University of Texas at San Antonio Libraries Special Collections.
Acquisition Information
Received as a gift from Arcenio A. Garcia in March 2000 (Acc. 2000-012).
Processing Information
Processed by Joel A. Blanco, Summer Intern, June 2002.
Index Terms
Personal Names
Garcia, Arcenio
A.
Organizations
Democratic Party
(Tex.)
Raza Unida Party
(U.S.)
Subjects
Mayors--Texas--Cotulla.
Mexican Americans--Politics
and government.
Mexican American
mayors--Texas--Cotulla.
Locations
Cotulla (Tex.)--Politics
and government--20th century.
La Salle County
(Tex.)--Politics and government--20th century.
Genres/Formats
Clippings.
Correspondence.
Minutes.
Detailed Description of the Collection
1
1
La Salle County Migrant Health Project,
1967-1968
1
2
Barrios Unidos: Meetings Minutes,
1973
1
3
Vida Cultural de Cotulla by Raul Martinez,
September, 1973
1
Mayor of Cotulla
1
4
Correspondence,
1973-1974
1
5
Meetings and Records,
1973-1975
1
6
Political Campaign,
1974
1
7
Lawsuit: George Carpenter v. Arcenio A. Garcia,
1974-1975
1
La Salle County Commissioner
1
8
Political Campaign,
1976-1992
1
9
Elections,
1976-1980
1
10
Correspondence,
1976-1977
1
11
Correspondence,
1978-1981
1
12
Meetings and Records,
1977
1
13
Meetings and Records,
1978-1980
1
14
Bulletins, undated
1
15
El Informador,
1977
1
16
Raza Unida Party Newsletter,
October 15, 1977
1
17
County Directory,
1979, 1980
1
18
Democratic Party of Texas: Precinct Meetings and Records,
1980-1992
1
19
Certificates,
1985-1987
1
20
Middle Rio Grande Rural Rail Transportation District:
Articles of Incorporation,
1987
1
21
Middle Rio Grande Railroad Project grant application,
February 3, 1988