Hector Torres Papers
Collection
Identifier: MSS-891-BC
Scope and Content
The Autobiographical series contains personal correspondence, memorabilia, vitae, and notebooks. The notebooks contain Torres’ thoughts on history, politics, and theory, including notes on grammar, French language, and notes to self, along with poetry. The Professional Work series contains correspondence, research, literary works, lectures, manuscripts, book proposals, conference material, written lectures, and a copy of Torres' dissertation, "Bilingualism in Medieval England: The Old French and Middle English Versions of the Arcene Wisse". The third series Audio Recordings contains audio interviews with Chicano/a authors for Torres’ book Conversations with Contemporary Chicana and Chicano Writers. Interviewees include authors Gloria Anzaldúa, Ana Castillo, Alma Cervantes, Sandra Cisneros, Erlinda Gonzales, Rolando Hinojosa Smith, Arturo Islas, Demetria Martinez, Pat Mora, Lourdes Portillo, Naomi Quiñones, Richard Rodriguez, and Gary Soto.Interviews include biographical information and examination of the writings of each author. Recordings also include poetry readings, Torres’ lectures on English grammar, and a radio interview in which Torres discusses his book. The last series, University of New Mexico, contains correspondence and contracts with UNM and the UNM English Department, as well as student correspondence, evaluations, course materials including text notes, course syllabi and outlines, and lecture outlines.
Dates
- 1978-2010
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.
Biography / History
Hector A. Torres was born in Tijuana, Mexico, in 1955 and lived with his grandparents in a small ranch town in Chihuahua. At age ten he was adopted and moved to El Paso, Texas. He earned all his degrees, including a doctorate in English language and literature from the University of Texas at Austin. Professor Torres was on faculty at the University of New Mexico, Department of English from 1986 to March 2010, when, at the time of his untimely death, he was teaching a course on Chicano culture, a theory course and was directing an independent study. He regularly taught courses in literary and critical theory, postmodernism, and contemporary Chicana and Chicano literary discourse and film, English syntax and discourse analysis, as well as courses on writing about film. Torres has written several articles about language, poetry and Chicano/a literature. His book Conversations with Contemporary Chicana and Chicano Writers, published in 2007, is a collection of interviews and biographies of popular Chicano/a writers.
Source: Torres, Hector, Conversations with Contemporary Chicana and Chicano Writers, University of New Mexico Press, Albuquerque, 2007.
Source: Torres, Hector, Conversations with Contemporary Chicana and Chicano Writers, University of New Mexico Press, Albuquerque, 2007.
Extent
4 boxes (1.7 cu. ft.)
Abstract
This collection contains material generated and collected by Hector Torres during his career as a writer and professor of English. The collection contains research for his books, class lectures, and university correspondence. There is also material related to his undergraduate and graduate student work and personal notebook writings.
Separated Material
Monographs transferred to University Libraries book collection.
- American literature -- Hispanic American authors
- American literature -- Mexican American authors
- Anzaldúa, Gloria, 1942-2004
- Authors, American -- 20th century -- Interviews
- Castillo, Ana
- Cervantes, Alma E.
- Cisneros, Sandra
- Gonzales-Berry, Erlinda, 1942-
- Hinojosa, Rolando
- Hispanic American college teachers
- Islas, Arturo, 1938-1991
- Letters
- Literature -- Study and teaching
- Martínez, Demetria, 1960-
- Mexican American authors -- Interviews
- Mora, Pat
- Portillo, Lourdes
- Quiñonez, Naomi Helena
- Rodriguez, Richard
- Soto, Gary
- Sound recordings
- Torres, Hector Avalos, 1955-2010
- Title
- Finding Aid of the Hector Torres Papers, 1978-2010
- Status
- Edited Full Draft
- Date
- © 2012
- 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