American G.I. Forum of New Mexico Records
Collection
Identifier: MSS-1018-BC
Scope and Content
The collection, amassed at the AGIF of New Mexico Albuquerque office, documents the activities and advocacy of the AGIF of the United States and the AGIF of New Mexico from 1948-2009. Charters, constitutions, correspondence, meeting minutes, annual and mid-year conventions/conferences, newsletters, press and publicity comprise the bulk of materials in the collection. National and New Mexico files are generally interfiled.
The collection begins with organizational and background documents for the National and New Mexico organizations. Next, general files are arranged by decade. Subject specific series include Education; SER Jobs for Progress; Kirtland Air Force Base. These series span the decades. The final series contains oversize materials.
Prominent themes throughout the collection parallel the organization’s main objectives. Education (literacy dropout rates, English only, scholarships), civil and human rights (voting rights, equal opportunity, discrimination), employment, legislative action, women, and youth
Records of the Hispanic Education Foundation and SER/Jobs for Progress, founded by AGIF, are contained in the collection. There is a plethora of materials relating to discriminatory practices at Kirtland Air Force Base, prominently, the death of Theresa Maxine Trujillo-Lucero.
The collection begins with organizational and background documents for the National and New Mexico organizations. Next, general files are arranged by decade. Subject specific series include Education; SER Jobs for Progress; Kirtland Air Force Base. These series span the decades. The final series contains oversize materials.
Prominent themes throughout the collection parallel the organization’s main objectives. Education (literacy dropout rates, English only, scholarships), civil and human rights (voting rights, equal opportunity, discrimination), employment, legislative action, women, and youth
Records of the Hispanic Education Foundation and SER/Jobs for Progress, founded by AGIF, are contained in the collection. There is a plethora of materials relating to discriminatory practices at Kirtland Air Force Base, prominently, the death of Theresa Maxine Trujillo-Lucero.
Dates
- 1948-2009
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. Permission is required for publication or distribution.
Institutional History
The American GI Forum (AGIF) of the United States is a congressionally chartered national veterans’ family organization, composed primarily of Mexican-American veterans or active duty service members. The Forum was initially formed in Corpus Christi, TX, in 1948, under the leadership of Dr. Hector Garcia, who had served as a doctor in the Army Medical Corps. The AGIF's mission was to advocate for justice for Mexican American veterans experiencing discrimination in education, employment, medical attention, and housing.
The Forum’s success in Corpus Christi led to the formation of more than 100 additional Forums in Texas within a year, followed by the establishment of Forums in New Mexico and Colorado. AGIF of New Mexico was founded in 1948, and officially granted its charter in 1951. Vicente Ximenez served as the first chair of the AGIF of NM. Isabelle Ogaz Tellez was involved with the NM chapter from the start. She married Louis Tellez in 1955. They and others worked together for nearly 6 decades to continue the work of the AGIF, serving in leadership roles at the State and National levels. Louis Tellez passed away in 2015 at the age of 92.
The AGIF expanded to more than 500 chapters across the United States and Puerto Rico. Women and Youth chapters of AGIF followed the establishment of primary chapters. The organization began with an emphasis on veterans’ affairs and problems, but expanded to include a range of social and economic concerns:
The Forum’s success in Corpus Christi led to the formation of more than 100 additional Forums in Texas within a year, followed by the establishment of Forums in New Mexico and Colorado. AGIF of New Mexico was founded in 1948, and officially granted its charter in 1951. Vicente Ximenez served as the first chair of the AGIF of NM. Isabelle Ogaz Tellez was involved with the NM chapter from the start. She married Louis Tellez in 1955. They and others worked together for nearly 6 decades to continue the work of the AGIF, serving in leadership roles at the State and National levels. Louis Tellez passed away in 2015 at the age of 92.
The AGIF expanded to more than 500 chapters across the United States and Puerto Rico. Women and Youth chapters of AGIF followed the establishment of primary chapters. The organization began with an emphasis on veterans’ affairs and problems, but expanded to include a range of social and economic concerns:
- Education - AGIFs motto, “Education is our Freedom, and Freedom should be everybody’s business" is the backbone of much of their advocacy work, including providing scholarships and educational opportunities. The Hispanic Education Foundation (HEF) was founded in 1971 to provide Hispanic veterans, their children, and other Hispanics financial support for higher education.
- Employment - AGIF became a founder and national co-sponsor of SER Jobs for Progress, Inc., helping to provide training, referrals, and job placement services for Hispanics, African-Americans, women, single heads of household, teen parents, and other under/unemployed groups.
- Civil Rights - AGIF educates and advocates for the protection and defense of civil and human rights for Hispanics, women, and other minorities.
- Legislation - AGIF provides input for legislation affecting education, veterans, affirmative action, social programs. Civil rights is a key objective.
- Communication - AGIF provides a viable channel of communication between local and national AGIF chapters, and between the Hispanic community and the private, public, and government sectors.
- Veterans’ Outreach - AGIF provides assistance to veterans in the area of employment, training, medical and health programs.
Extent
6 boxes (5.35 cu. ft.)
Abstract
The collection documents the American G.I. Forum (AGIF) of New Mexico and its advocacy work. AGIF New Mexico files include records of the national AGIF organization.
Arrangement
For the most part, AGIF of New Mexico and AGIF of the United States materials are interfiled.
Series are:
Series are:
- Organizational and background documents
- Chronological files, by decade
- Specific subjects
- Oversize
Separated Material
The following have been catalogued for CSWR general collection:
- News Bulletin
- Forumeer
- Justice for My People (video)
- A People Forgotten, A Dream Pursued: The History of the American G.I. Forum
Photographs and pictorial material have been transferred to American G.I. Forum of New Mexico pictorial collection
Processing Information
Arrangement is mostly imposed as materials were unorganized and unfoldered.
- Albuquerque (N.M.)
- American G.I. Forum
- American GI Forum Women
- Clippings
- Correspondence
- Forumeer
- Garcia, Hector P., 1914-1996
- Hispanic American veterans -- Societies, etc. -- History -- 20th century
- Hispanic Americans -- Civil rights -- History -- 20th century
- Hispanic Americans -- Societies, etc. -- History -- 20th century
- Hispanic Education Foundation
- Kirtland Air Force Base (N.M.)
- Mexican Americans -- Civil rights -- History -- 20th century
- Mexican Americans -- Societies, etc. -- History -- 20th century
- News Bulletin
- Newsletters
- Proclamations
- Programs
- SER-Jobs for Progress, Inc
- Tellez, Isabelle Ogaz
- Tellez, Louis
- Title
- Finding Aid of the American G.I. Forum of New Mexico Records, 1948-2009
- Status
- Completed
- Author
- B. Silbergleit
- Date
- © 2019
- 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
- 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
cswrref@unm.edu
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
cswrref@unm.edu