Skip to main content

Barelas Community Project Records

 Collection
Identifier: MSS-315-BC

Scope and Content

This collection consists of the research materials, collected data, publications and reports used and generated in conjunction with the Barelas Community Project. Video and audio taped interviews, questionnaires, sociometric surveys, and information secured from informants are included in the collection.

Box 1 contains most of the printed data and research, including the project proposal, surveys, and reports. A copy of Los Bareleños de Albuquerque, as well as the galleys for the publication are also included in this box. The first 23 folders in this box were the original collection. The rest of the collection was subsequently added in 1998.

Box 2 consists of index research cards, most of which profile the people who were interviewed for the project.

Box 3 contains publications, including some from Albuquerque Public Schools, and patron use copies of audio and video taped interviews, performances, and street scenes.

Dates

  • 1877-1985
  • Majority of material found in 1973-1974

Creator

Language of Materials

English.

Access Restrictions

The collection is open for research.

Copy Restrictions

Limited duplication of CSWR material is allowed for research purposes. User is responsible for compliance with all copyright, privacy, and libel laws.

Project History

The Barelas Community Project was designed to study the relationship between the predominantly Chicano neighborhood of Barelas in Albuquerque, and Washington Junior High School, an area school with a large Chicano population. The project was carried out between 1973 and 1974. At the time of the study, the school dropout rate for Chicanos was second only to that of Native Americans. In some communities, the Chicano dropout rate was as high as 65% by the end of the 8th grade.

The five primary objectives of the project were:
  1. to determine the perceived educational values of the members of the Chicano community in relation to the student community;
  2. to determine the junior high school needs and interests of the members of a predominantly Chicano community;
  3. to determine how the junior high school is administered and how it functions in a predominantly Chicano community;
  4. to determine teachers' perceptions of the Chicano community and the students they instruct;
  5. to determine how the barrio students perceive themselves in relation to their home, community, and the school.
A variety of research methods were used for the project, including participant observers, informants within the school system, including E. R. Harrington, video and audio tape interviews with old Albuquerque and Barelas residents, and questionnaires. Three reports were to be written for the project. The first report would be a description of the Barelas barrio, the second would describe Washington Junior High School (WJH), which is also known as Washington Middle School, and the third and final report (which does not appear in the collection) would combine the data from the first 2 reports.

Rodolfo G. Serrano, Assistant Professor of Anthropology and Education in the Department of Educational Foundations at the University of New Mexico (UNM) was the principal investigator for the project. The project was sponsored by the UNM's College of Education, funded by the National Institute of Education, and endorsed by the Albuquerque Public Schools (Albuquerque Public Schools).

Extent

3 boxes (2.35 cu. ft.)

Related Archival Material

E. R. Harrington Papers Center for Southwest Research, University Libraries, University of New Mexico.

Emma Moya collection on the History of Old Town Albuquerque and related Communities, Center for Southwest Research, University Libraries, University of New Mexico. Vertical file: Albuquerque Neighborhoods--Barelas Vertical file: Albuquerque Neighborhoods--Barelas

Separated Material

Photographs have been transferred to Barelas Community Project Pictorial Collection

Master audio and video tapes are located in B3.
Title
Finding Aid of the Barelas Community Project Records, 1877-1985 (bulk 1973-1974)
Author
Processed by P.B.K
Date
©2000
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin
Language of description note
Finding aid is in English

Revision Statements

  • June 28, 2004: PUBLIC "-//University of New Mexico::Center for Southwest Research//TEXT (US::NmU::MSS 315 BC::Barelas Community Project Records)//EN" "nmu1mss315bc.sgml" converted from EAD 1.0 to 2002 by v1to02.xsl (sy2003-10-15).
  • Monday, 20210524: Attribute normal is missing or blank.

Repository Details

Part of the UNM Center for Southwest Research & Special Collections Repository

Contact:
University of New Mexico Center for Southwest Research & Special Collections
University Libraries, MSC05 3020
1 University of New Mexico
Albuquerque NM 87131
505-277-6451