Texas Archival Resources Online

TABLE OF CONTENTS


Descriptive Summary

Biographical Note

Scope and Content Note

Restrictions

Index Terms

Administrative Information

Description of Series

University of Texas San Antonio

A Guide to the Arcenio A. Garcia Papers, 1967-1992



Descriptive Summary

Creator:Garcia, Arcenio A.
Title:Arcenio A. Garcia Papers
Dates:1967-1992
Creator Abstract: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).
Content Abstract: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.
Identification:MS 96
Extent:0.5 linear feet (about 300 items)
Language:Materials are in English and Spanish.
Repository:Archives, The University of Texas at San Antonio Library

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).

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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.

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Restrictions

Access Restrictions

There are no restrictions on these materials.

Usage Restrictions

Permission to publish material from the Arcenio A. Garcia Papers must be obtained from the UTSA Library, Archives.

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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.

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Administrative Information

Preferred Citation

[Identification of item], Arcenio A. Garcia Papers, 1968-1992, MS 96, Archives and Special Collections, University of Texas at San Antonio Library.

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.

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Detailed Description of the Collection

 

BoxFolder
11La Salle County Migrant Health Project, 1967, 1968
2Barrios Unidos: Meetings Minutes, 1973
3Article: "Vida Cultural de Cotulla" by Raul Martinez, September, 1973
Mayor of Cotulla
4Correspondence, 1973-1974
5Meetings and Records, 1973-1975
6Political Campaign, 1974
7Lawsuit: George Carpenter v. Arcenio A. Garcia, 1974-1975
La Salle County Commissioner
8Political Campaign, 1976-1992
9Elections, 1976-1980
10Correspondence, 1976-1977
11Correspondence, 1978-1981
12Meetings and Records, 1977
13Meetings and Records, 1978, 1980
14Bulletins, undated
15El Informador, 1977
16Raza Unida Party Newsletter, October 15, 1977
17County Directory, 1979, 1980
18Democratic Party of Texas: Precinct Meetings and Records, 1980-1992
19Certificates, 1985-1987
20Middle Rio Grande Rural Rail Transportation District: Articles of Incorporation, 1987
21Middle Rio Grande Railroad Project, 1988

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