University of California, Santa Barbara
Davidson Library

Department of Special Collections

Californian Ethnic and Multicultural Archives

 

 

GUIDE TO
CORONA, BERT ORAL HISTORY COLLECTION,
1937-1995

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Collection Number:  CEMA 51   Size Collection:  5 linear feet. 11 boxes including 85 audio tapes.   Acquisition Information: Donated by Bert Corona and Mario T. Garcia.   Access restrictions: None   Use Restriction: Copyright has not been assigned to the Department of Special Collections, UCSB.  All requests for permission to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the Head of Special Collections.  Permission for publication is given on behalf of the Department of Special Collections as the owner of the physical items and is not intended to include or imply permission of the copyright holder, which also must be obtained.   Processing Information: Processed by Alexander Hauschild, March 2002.   Location: Del Norte.

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Collection Background

 

In early 1980 Mario García began work on a seminal biographical piece of American history, to illuminate the life history of Bert N. Corona, a Mexican American labor leader whose life and work embody the remarkable character of Mexican American communities in the United States from the 1930’s and beyond. The career and experience of this pioneer were documented through a series of interviews, then transcribed into what García calls an autobiographical testimonio. The project eventually culminated in the autobiography Memories of Chicano History The Life and Narrative of Bert Corona. This collection documents that work, it’s process and evolution.

 

BIOGRAPHY

 

Bert Corona was a political activist, union organizer and professor, born in May 1918 in El Paso Texas. He grew up in Southern California, attended the University of Southern California and it was during his college years working as a stevedore that he first became active in a union. Between 1936 and 1942 he was heavily involved in union organizing for the Congress of Industrial Organization (CIO) and its affiliate, the United Cannery, Agricultural, Packing and Allied Workers of America.

 

In 1938, Corona campaigned for the election of Latino politician Eduardo Quevedo and later Edward Roybal. By 1950 he was regional organizer for the National Association of Mexican Americans and was passionately involved in opposing the McCarran-Walter Immigration act. In 1959, he and Quevedo among other activists gathered to organize the Mexican American Political Association (MAPA) and in 1960 he served on the national Viva Kennedy campaign committees and then on the Viva “Pat” Brown and then again in 1964 on the Viva Johnson campaigns. In 1967 he was appointed to the U.S. Civil Rights Commission. During the mid 1960s Corona was deeply involved in the immigration issue as a consultant to the Labor Department. He continued that leadership through the 1970’s and 1980s. In addition to the groups listed above Corona organized or helped to organize the Hermandad General de Trabajadores, the national Congress of Spanish-speaking People, the Community Service Organization, and the Mexican Youth Conference. In many cases he served in an authoritative role in each of these organizations. As a Professor he has lectured at Stanford, San Diego State University at Northridge, California State University, Los Angeles, and was President of the Association of California School Administrators.

 

Scope Note

 

The Bert Corona Oral History Collection is unique.  By definition it is an oral history that was then transcribed into an autobiography by Mario T. Garcia. As a collection it is archived as a manuscript while still preserving the fidelity of the oral history itself. In order to do this, the transcription of the interviews has been preserved as if it were a draft of the manuscript rather a complete and finished oral history in and of itself.

 

Series Descriptions

 

Beginning with Series I Author’s Preparation: occupying one box, the series has been arranged chronologically from most recent to earliest according to its original order. Series I includes papers related to the death of and subsequent tribute to Blanche Corona who was also a dedicated political activist. The second series entitled. Series II Oral History and its Transcription contains both the oral history transcripts as would normally be included with any oral history, and edited revised drafts of those transcripts as the author prepared them for use in his autobiography of Corona. The series ends with the copies of the manuscript for Memories of Chicano History The Life and Narrative of Bert Corona the product of the oral history itself. The entire series is arranged chronologically according to its order of creation. Series III Photographs. One box. The photographs are numbered on the back and any annotations found on the photographs are listed in this guide. Series IV Recordings; contains the taped interviews with Bert and Blanche Corona which would be used as the foundation for the autobiography. They have been arranged chronologically from the beginning interviews in 1980 to the final interviews with Bert Corona’s wife Blanche in 1991 that were done as background research for the book. These originals are preserved for future reformatting. Listener copies will be made upon request. There is a single videotape in the collection.

 

Container List

 

Series I Author’s Preparation

 

Box            Folder                 Contents

                            

1                 1                                     Articles, announcements and reviews, 1994-1995

1                 2                                     Correspondence, 1990-1994

1                 3                                     Papers about Corona by Mario T Garcia, 1991

1                 4                                     Materials related to interview with Blanche Corona and tribute to                                                                 Blanche Corona

(Compiled as background research for Bert Corona interviews)

1                 5                                     Notes by Mario Garcia, 1989

 

Series II Oral History and its Transcription

 

Box            Folder                 Contents

 

                                                Transcripts of Interview

2                 1                                     July 8, 1988

2                 2                                     July 15,1988

2                 3                                     July 28, 1988

2                 4                                     July 29, 1988

2                 5                                     August 3, 17, 1988

2                 6                                     August 24, 1988

 

3                 1                                     July 14, 1989

3                 2                                     July 21, 1989

3                 3                                     July 25, 1989

3                 4                                     August 8 & 9 1989

3                 5                                     August 16, 1989

3                  6                                     August 24, 1989

3                 7                                     September 7, 1989

3                 8                                     October 18, 1989

3                 9                                     October 27, 1989

3                 10                                   November 1, 1989

3                 11                                   November 10, 1989

 

                                                Manuscript drafts

4                 1-3                                 Introduction

4                 4                                     Chapter 1

4                 5                                     Chapter 2

4                 6                                     Chapter 3

5                 1-2                                 Chapter 4

5                 3                                     Chapter 5

5                 4-5                                 Chapter 6 

6                 1-2                                 Chapter 7

6                 3                                     Chapter 8

6                 4-5                                 Chapter 9

6                 6-7                                 Chapter 10

7                 1-2                                 Chapter 11

7                 3                                     Chapter 12

7                 4-5                                 Chapter 13

8                 6                                     Chapter 14

8                 1-3                                 Chapter 15

8                 4-5                                 Chapter 16

 

Memories of Chicano History The Life and Narrative of Bert Corona Draft

9                 1                                     Correspondence on footnotes, structural discussion notes.

9                 2                                     Acknowledgements

9                 3                                     Introduction- Chapter 3

9                 4                                     Chapter 4-7

9                 5                                     Chapter 8-11

9                  6                                     Chapter 12-14

9                 7                                     Chapter 15-16 afterward

9                 8                                     Miscellaneous Loose Papers,

 

10               1                                     Incomplete Copying manuscript

10               2-3                                 Memories of Chicano History The Life and Narrative of Bert Corona

Copy of Completed Manuscript

 

11                                            Floppy Disks

                                                          17 5.5 inch floppy disks have been retained for future electronic                                                                 preservation. Their contents have been printed out and provided in                                                                 the manuscripts above. Currently stored at off campus annex.

 

SERIES III PHOTOGRAPHS

 

12               1                                     Xerox copies of photos of Corona with Christian endeavor Group, 1937                                                                 (19 photos)

12                2                                    #1.  Bert Corona making opening statement at National Chicano                                                                 Political Caucus press conference at Lee Mathson School.  San Jose                                                                 April 23,1972. On right is Arturo Vasquez of Mid-West delegation                                                                 (Chicago). Photo by Steve Ramirez.
                                                                #2. Bert Corona as a member of the Longshoremen’s Local 26                                                                 basketball team.  Los Angeles, 1939.
                                                                #3.  Members of the Mexican American Movement (MAM).  Left to                                                                 right: Bert Corona, David Morales, Charlie Pẽna, unidentified, and                                                                 Chief Carrasco.  Los Angeles, 1939.
                                                                #4. Bert Corona and his mother, Los Angeles, 1943
                                                                #5. Members of International Longshoremen’s and Warehouse                                                                 Union, Local 26: Bert Corona, second from left, back row, Lloyd                                                                 Seeliger, fourth from left, back row. Los Angeles, 1940.
                                                                #6. Bert Corona and César Chávez. 1968.
                                                                #7. Bert Corona’s father, Noe Corona. Ciudad Juárez, 1916.
                                                                #8. Bert Corona’s mother, Margarita Escápite De Salayandía. Ciudad                                                                 Juárez, 1912.
                                                                #9. Ynes Salayandía De Escápite, Bert Corona’s grandmother.                                                                 Chihuahua, 1907.
                                                                #10. Bert Corona, at the age of 1 year. El Paso, Texas, 1919.
                                                                #11.  Standing, Aurora Corona.  Left to right, Orlando Corona,                                                                 Horacio Corona, and Humberto (Bert) Corona.  El Paso, Texas, 1924.
                                                                #12. Bert Corona (left) and his cousin Kiko Fonseca. Los Angeles,                                                                 April 4, 1937.
                                                                #13.  Luisa Moreno, California, 1940.
                                                                #14. Josefina Fierro, California, 1940.
                                                                #15.  Wedding picture of Burt and Blanche Taff Corona, 1941.
                                                                #16.  Bert Corona. Los Angeles, 1942.
                                                                #17.  Bert Corona with Margo and David. Orinda, California, 1950.
                                                                #18.  Blanche Corona, David, Margo and Frank (Panchito?). Orinda,                                                                 California, 1953.
                                                                #19. Left to right, Jose Gordillo, Frida Kahlo, Bert Corona, and Diego                                                                 Rivera. Mexico City, 1951.
                                                                #20. Organización Mexicana.  Left to right: Miguel Camberos                                                                 (Treasurer), J.P Fernández (President), and Bert Corona (Secretary).                                                                  San Francisco, 1957.
                                                                #21. MAPA rally at San Francisco State College with Senator                                                                 Robert F. Kennedy, middle of photo; from Kennedy’s left to the                                                                 right of the photo: Eduardo Quevedo, Bert Corona, Herman                                                                 Gallegos, and Lino López.  San Francisco, December 1967.
                                                                #22. Soledad “Chole” Alatarre, Hermandad Mexicana Nacional/                                                                 C.A.S.A. Los Angeles, early 1970’s.
                                                                #23. Bert Corona, Cuauhtémoc, and Blanche Corona at an American                                                                 for Democratic Action banquet.  Santa Monica, California, May                                                                 1990.
                                                                #24. Bert Corona, Josefina Fierro, and Blanche Corona.  Los                                                                 Angeles, 1991.
                                                                #25. Bert Corona, Chloe Alatorre, Josefina Fierro, and Mario T.                                                                 Garcia.  Los Angeles, 1991.
                                                                #26. Photo by Ross Rivera- Bert Corona is honored at a MAPA                                                                 banquet. Los Angeles, September 9, 1992.
                                                                #27. Bert Corona and Mario T. García conducting an interview in                                                                 Corona’s home. Los Angeles, July 1989.
                                                                #28. Bert Corona.
                                                                #29. No description.

 

SERIES IV RECORDINGS

                                                Bert Corona Audio Tapes

A4334/CS                                        Side A: #1, March 7, 1980

A4335/CS                                        Side A: #3, July 15, 1980,

A4336/CS                                        Side A: August 13, 1983, Side B: Cengur Ruiz & ANMA

A4337/CS                                        Side A: #1, July 8, 1988, Side B: #2, July 8, 1988

A4338/CS                                        Side A: #1, July 8, 1988, Side B: #2, July 8, 1988

A4339/CS                                        Side A: #3, July 8, 1988

A4340/CS                                        Side A: #3, July 8, 1988

A4341/CS                                        Side A: #1, July 15, 1988, Side B: #2, July 15, 1988

A4342/CS                                        Side A: #1, July 15, 1988

A4343/CS                                        Side A: #3, July 15, 1988 , Side B: #4, July 15, 1988

A4344/CS                                        Side A: #5, July 15, 1988

A4345/CS                                        Side A: #5, July 15, 1988

A4346/CS                                        Side A: #5, July 24, 1988, Side B: #6, July 24, 1988

A4347/CS                                        Side A: #3, July 28, 1988, Side B: #4, July 28, 1988

 

A4350/CS                                        Side A: #3, July 28, 1988, Side B: #4, July 28, 1988

A4351/CS                                        Side A: #5, July 28, 1988, Side B: #1, #2, July 29, 1988

A4352/CS                                        Side A: #5, July 28, 1988 & #1, July 29, 1988- Jorlena #4

A4353/CS                                        Side A: #3, July 29, 1988, Side B: #4

A4354/CS                                        Side A: #3, July 29, 1988, Side B: #4, July 29, 1988

A4355/CS                                        Side A: #5, July 29, 1988, Side B: #6

A4356/CS                                        #1, August 3, 1988 #2, August 3, 1988

A4357/CS                                        Side A: #1, August 3, 1988, Side B: #2,Chicano Studies #3012

A4358/CS                                        #3, August 3, 1988

A4359/CS                                         Side A: #3, August 3, 1988, Side B: #4, Chicano Studies #3012

A4360/CS                                        Side A: #5, August 3, 1988, Side B: #6, Chicano Studies #3012

A4361/CS                                        #5, August 3, 1988k, #6, August 3, 1988

A4362/CS                                        #1, August 17, 1988, #2, August17, 1988

A4363/CS                                         Side A: #1, August 17, 1988, Side B: #2, Chicano Studies #3012

A4364/CS                                        Side A: #3, August 17, 1988, Side B: #4, Chicano Studies #3012    

A4365/CS                                        #3, August 17, 1988, #4, August 17, 1988

A4366/CS                                        #1 August 24, 1988, (in box 3) #1 Jim Vietl

A4367/CS                                        Side A: #1, August 24, 1988, Side B: #2, Chicano Studies #3012

 

A4368/CS                                        #3, August 24, 1988, #4, Jim Vieth

A4369/CS                                        Side A: #3, August 24, 1988, Side B: #4, Chicano Studies #3012

A4370/CS                                        #5, August 24, 1988, #6, Jim Vieth

A4371/CS                                        Side A: #5, August 24, 1988, Side B: #6, Jim Vieth  #3012

A4372/CS                                        Side A: #7, August 24, 1988, Side B: Jim Vieth  #3012

A4373/CS                                        #7, August 24, 1988, Jim Vieth  #3012

A4374/CS                                        Side A: #3, July 25, 1989

A4375/CS                                        Side A: July 14, 1989, #3 & #4 July 21, 1989

A4376/CS                                        Side A: #5, July 21, 1989, Side B: #6, July 21, 1989/July 25, 1989

A4377/CS                                        Side A: #1, July 25, 1989, Side B: #2, July 25, 1989

A4378/CS                                        Side A: #1, July 14, 1989, Side B: #2, July 14, 1989

A4379/CS                                        Side A: #1, August 8, 1989, Side B: #2, August 8, 1989

A4380/CS                                        Side A: #3, August 8 & 9, 1989 Side B: #4, August 9, 1989

A4381/CS                                        #5, August 9, 1989 (in box 4) #6 August 9, 1989

A4382/CS                                        Side A: #1, August 16, 1989, Side B: #2

A4383/CS                                        Side A: #3, August 16, 1989, Side B: #4

A4384/CS                                        Side A: #1, August 24, 1989, Side B: #2, August 24, 1989

 

A4385/CS                                        Side A: #3, Aug. 24, 1989, Side B: #4

A4386/CS                                        Side A: #5, Aug. 24, 1989

A4387/CS                                        Side A: #1, Sep. 7, 1989, Side B: #2

A4388/CS                                        Side A: #1, Oct. 18, 1989, Side B: #2, Oct.18, 1989

A4389/CS                                        Side A: #3, Oct. 18, 1989, Side B: #4, Oct.18, 1989

A4390/CS                                        Side A: #1, Oct. 27, 1989, Side B: #2, Oct.27, 1989

A4391/CS                                        Side A: #3, Oct. 27, 1989, Side B: #4, Oct.27, 1989

A4392/CS                                        Side A: #1, Nov.1, 1989, Side B: #2

A4393/CS                                        Side A: #3, Nov.1, 1989

A4394/CS                                        Side A: #1, Nov.10, 1989, Side B: #2, Nov. 10, 1989

A4395/CS                                        Side A: #3, Nov.10, 1989, Side B: #4, Nov. 10, 1989

A4396/CS                                        Side A: #1, Dec. 13, 1989, Side B: #2, Dec.13, 1989

A4397/CS                                        Side A: #3, Dec. 13, 1989, Side B: #4, Dec.20, 1989

A4398/CS                                        Dec.20, 1989, #1&2

A4399/CS                                        Feb.14, 1990, #1&2

A4400/CS                                        Mar.7, 1990, #1&2

A4401/CS                                        April 10, 1990, #1&2

 

A4402/CS                                        April 10, 1990, #3

A4403/CS                                        June 13, 1990, #1&2

A4404/CS                                        June 22, 1990, #1&2

A4405/CS                                        Interview, July 16, 1990

A4406/CS                                        July 16, 1990

A4407/CS                                        August 8, 1990

A4408/CS                                        Side A: #1, July26, 1991, Side B: #2, July 27, 1991

A4409/CS                                        Side A: #4, July27, 1991, Side B: #3, July 27, 1991

 

A4410/CS                                        Side A: #5, July27, 1991, Side B: #6, July 27, 1991

A4411/CS                                        Side A: #7, July27, 1991, Side B: #8, July 27, 1991

A4412/CS                                        Side A: #9, July27, 1991

 

                             Blanche Corona

A4413/CS                                        #1, 1&2 July 17, 1991

A4414/CS                                        #2, 3&4 July 17, 1991

A4415/CS                                        #3, 5      July 17, 1991

 

A4416/CS                                        Longhorn Radio Network, Latino USA Airing October 29 1993

(Segment one profiles Bert Corona)

 

V0504/VHS                                    CEMA 51 Corona (Bert) Association Nacional Mexico Americana                                                                 (ANMA) 1952

                                                                17:00 film transfer