Skip to main content

Sabine R. Ulibarrí Papers

 Collection
Identifier: MSS-561-BC

Scope and Content

The collection contains material collected by Sabine Ulibarri and others and includes typescripts of Ulibarrí's short stories, correspondence, news clippings, educational program brochures and photos that highlight Sabine Ulibarrí's writting, projects, achievements and awards. Events represented include Ulibarrí's founding of the University of New Mexico's Andean Center in Ecuador (1967-68), a poetry recital in Guadalajara, Mexico (1971), and the Sabine R. Ulibarrí Symposium and tertulia at the University of New Mexico (1988). The collection also documents Sabine Ulibarrí receiving the 1987 Governor's Award for Excellence and Achievement in the Arts. Materials relating to various miscellaneous events and projects can also be found in this collection.

Collection is divided into five series grouped by donor's name with subseries related to type of materials.

Sabine Ulibarri Material, (1950-1988) Contains material collected by Sabine Ulibarri (Original accession)

Carlos Ulibarri Material, (1950-2009) Carlos Ulibarri is Sabine Ulibarri's son. (Added to collection November 2014).

Cecile Turrieta Material, (1970-1994) As a UNM student, Cecile worked extensively with Dr. Ulibarri and became a close friend of his. He collaborated with her on several projects and over the decades gave her many of his papers and momentos, as reflected in this series. Also in this series is the only known copy of the screenplay written and directed by Cecile Turrietta for the celebrated video documentary on his life and works titled “Ulibarri: Ese Señor de Voz Hispana” (alternate English title: “Ulibarri: Speaking of Hispanics”). This series also includes CDs of interviews conducted by Turrieta for a project (sponsored by Ulibarri) to interview some of the first Hispanics in their generation to break the Anglo- American career barrier and become faculty and administrators at the University. (Added to collection November 2014)

Teresa Marquez Material, (1961-2006) Teresa Marquez, acquired material from Maria I. Duke dos Santos, Spanish Department, Texas A & M University, who obtained most of this material from Ulibarri while preparing her book about him. (Added to collection November 2014)

Sabine Ulibarri Lectures, (1963-1974) Audio recorded lectures collected by UNM Language Learning Center. (Added to collection Feb. 2015)

Dates

  • 1950-2009

Language of Materials

English Spanish

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. Permission is required for publications or distribution.

Biographical Information

Photo of Sabine Ulibarrí taken as part of "The Writers of the Southwest Project" by Cynthia Farah. Part of Writers of the Southwest Collection PICT 986-008.

Dr. Sabine R. Ulibarrí was born September 21, 1919 in Tierra Amarilla, New Mexico. His long career as educator, writer, poet, essayist, critic, and statesman began in the Rio Arriba County Schools in 1938, where he taught for two years before going on to teach at the El Rito Normal School from 1940 to 1942. After receiving the Distinguished Flying Cross for having flown thirty-five combat missions over Europe during World War II, Ulibarrí returned to study under the G.I. Bill at the University of New Mexico, graduating with majors in English and Spanish in 1947. The following year he received an assistantship to teach Spanish and earned an M.A. degree. His thesis was on the works of Spanish novelist Benito Pérez Galdós. In 1949, he began teaching full time at the University of New Mexico, and later took a leave of absence for three years in order to pursue a Ph.D. in Spanish at the University of California--Los Angeles.Ulibarrí returned to full-time teaching at the University of New Mexico after receiving his doctorate in 1958. His dissertation, on the works of Spanish poet Juan Ramón Jiménez was published in 1962, in Madrid Spain.

Ulibarrí's first book, Al Cielo Se Sube a Pie (One Gets to Heaven on Foot), was published in 1961 in Mexico. A second book of poetry, Amor y Ecuador (Love and Ecuador) was published in Spain in 1966. Ulibarrí lived in Ecuador in the 1960s. He was given the Distinguished Citizen Award and Honorary Citizen Award from the city of Quito in 1963 and 1964.

Sabine Ulibarrí founded the University of New Mexico Andean Center in Quito, Ecuador in 1968 and coordinated the program for one year. Ulibarrí became the President of the American Association of Teachers of Spanish and Portuguese in 1969, and served as executive council member from 1970 to 1975. He served as chair of the Department of Modern and Classical Languages at the University of New Mexico for ten years beginning in 1973. Since 1985, Sabine Ulibarrí received prestigious awards for his writings, service, and contribution to the promotion of better cultural understanding in multi-ethnic societies: Honoree, Albuquerque Feria Artesana (1985); Mexican Government Award for Promotion of Hispanic Culture (1986); New Mexico Governor's Award MSS 561 BC Ulibarrí Page for Excellence and Achievement in Literature (1987); University of New Mexico Symposium Dedicated to the Works of Sabine R. Ulibarrí (1988); and Honoree, The American Association of Teachers of Spanish and Portuguese (1990).

Ulibarrí retired from the University of New Mexico in 1988, and received the University of New Mexico Regents Meritorious Service Medal in 1989. He continued to teach courses on Spanish literature during the 1990s. Dr. Ulibarri died in 2003 at his home in Albuquerque.

Extent

3 boxes (2.15 cu. ft.), plus oversize folder

Relevant Secondary Sources

  • Gerdes, Dick, ed. The Best of Sabine R. Ulibarrí. Albuquerque: University of New Mexico Press, 1993.
  • Lomeli, Francisco A. and Shirley, Carl R., eds. Chicano Writers: First Series. Detroit: Gale Research, Inc., 1989.
  • Rodriguez, Alfred and Rowana A. Rivera. Sabine Ulibarrí Symposium, April 29, 1988. Albuquerque: University of New Mexico, 1988. Videotape.
  • Gizzard, Mary (producer). Ulibarrí Speaking on Hispanics. Albuquerque: Educational Television Division, IDEA Center, University of New Mexico, 1988.
Title
Finding Aid of the Sabine R. Ulibarrí Papers, 1950-2009
Status
Completed
Author
Processed by Staff
Date
©2000, 2014, 2015
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 561 BC::Sabine R. Ulibarrí Papers)//EN" "nmu1mss561bc.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