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University of California, Santa Barbara Department of Special Collections California Ethnic and Multicultural Archives
GUIDE TO THE 1969-2001
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH
José Montoya is one of the premiere cultural activists in the Chicano movement. Born in New Mexico but having grown up in central California, he witnessed the struggle for migrant farm workers rights first hand. His involvement with organized labor, his collaboration with Cesar Chavez and the United Farm Workers movement, was only the beginning of Montoya’s lifelong commitment to artistic inquiry and an unwavering dedication to artistic activism. Montoya co-founded one of the ground-breaking Chicano Art Collections in 1970, a group that came to be known as the Royal Chicano Air Force. The RCAF set the standard for using art as a tool of Chicano historical exposition and education for young people. Although recently retired, he continues his involvement with the movement and its artists.
A multi faceted artist, Montoya is the author of three collections of poetry, including the highly acclaimed In Formation: 20 Years of Joda. He is featured in over 40 anthologies.
Making his start soon after the Korean War when he entered San Diego City College as an art student, Montoya later transferred to the California College of Arts & Crafts in Oakland California. He graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in 1962. He began his career by teaching High School until he earned his MA in 1971, at California State University of Sacramento. He then taught for 25 years in the Department of Art Education at CSUS.
Montoya is also a noted painter, muralist, musician and graphic artist. He has exhibited internationally in Cuba, Mexico & Paris, as well as all over the United States. Montoya is known most famously for his works as a poet, and has given readings at top universities around the United States and abroad. Montoya’s influence over several generations of Chicano poets cannot be underestimated. His use of Spanish, English and barrio slang poetry can be seen in the styles of countless Chicano writers who followed him.
Montoya is also known as a founding member of the musical group, Trio Casindio, and for his involvement in the 1974 program called Art in the Barrios. As part of the program, he worked with young and old to create art in the form of posters and murals.
SCOPE NOTE
The José Montoya Collection is rich in manuscript drafts, free write work, and extensive draft poetry material. The collection is currently housed in eleven boxes but will grow over time. . Additional series may be created as more materials are added to the collection. An initial series, Series I Personal and Biographical, will contain information relating to Montoya’s life as well as his career. At the time of this writing series one spans a single folder including a detailed resume from 2001. Series II Personal Writings, spans 3 boxes and begins with the sub-series College Papers, a collection of Montoya’s College and high school papers, arranged chronologically whenever possible. The second group of writings is the Poetry section, arranged by date and title. There are multiple drafts of many of the poems. The third sub series Speeches, statements and position papers includes several important pieces from Montoya’s professional life. The fourth sub series Publications is arranged chronologically and provides multiple examples of Montoya’s work through the period of 1972 through 1985. Many more examples of his published work can be found in the Davidson Libraries Ethnic and Gender Studies Library through some of which help to describe his feelings and attitudes about art and the cultural movement. The fifth sub series Includes drafts of Montoya’s book “In Formation: 20 years of Joda”. There are multiple drafts of many of the poems. Funding fell through on this promising edition to Montoya’s career but its draft is preserved here.
An important part of the Writings section is Montoya’s miscellaneous writings and free writes. Many of the pages included are simply thoughts on various issues or free form creative exercises, allowing us insight into his methodology and in some cases his outlook on the Chicano Movement, art, and his place in both. Other pieces included in the miscellaneous section are drafts of poems and notes by Montoya otherwise not related to poems or writings found elsewhere in the collection.
Series III Barrio Art Program, spans one box and is focused on Montoya’s famous Barrio Art Program. It begins with a history of the Program written by Montoya in 1997 and also contains papers written by students about the program one entitled “My experience at the Washington Neighborhood Center.” These documents are rich in newspaper articles and historical documentation concerning the Barrio Art Program. This Series is expected to grow over time.. Series IV: Photographs is made up of two sub series. The first sub series Photographs spans one box and contains mostly personal and biographic images arranged according to the donor’s creation. The second sub series Jose Montoya’s Pachuco Art a Historical Update February 14-March 14 1977 is a detailed, photographically rich exhibit of the Pachuco Spirit from the 40s and 50’s. At present the exhibit is arranged according to subjects until the exhibit order itself can be more perfectly established. The sub series spans five boxes
Series V Oversize, spans one box and houses the collection’s larger format content. This box can be found in the oversize racks in del Norte. This series is expected to expand over time. These photographs are arranged according to the order they are received. At the beginning of box 2 is an original “Famous Artist Course” sketch book from Famous Artist School Inc. ca. 1960, monogrammed “Jose Montoya”, and including a critique of Montoya’s architectural drawing style by one of his instructors. Additional audio and video pieces and artifacts are arranged at the end of the collection as they arrive in a series called Series VI Audio and Video. We expect this portion of the collection to expand over time. Playable copies will be made available with advance notice through the Special Collections Department unit of Performing Arts.
RELATED COLLECTIONS.
Because José Montoya has been such a prolific artist his works can be found in several of the CEMA collections. First and foremost is his graphic work with the RCAF (Royal Chicano Air Force). However, Montoya has works included in the Self Help Graphics and Art Archives, the Galeria de la Raza Archives, the Ralph Maradiaga Collection, the Centro Cultural de la Raza Archives, and the Teatro Campesino Archives. CONTAINER LIST SERIES I: Personal Biographical
Box Folder Contents 1 1 Resume and selected exhibitions through 2001. Correspondence 15 1 Correspondence [Jan. 1980- Jan.82] 15 2 Correspondence [Feb. 1982- May 1982] 15 3 Correspondence [n.d] 15 4 Correspondence [1980, 1983-85] 15 5 Correspondence [n.d] 15 6 Correspondence and Poetry [1983-85] 15 7 Correspondence [n.d] 15 8 Correspondence Letters and Articles [1980,1983,1984,1990] 15 9 Correspondence
[1989-1990] 16 1 Correspondence [1989- June 1999] 16 2 Correspondence [July 1999- March 1999] 16 3 Correspondence [May 1999- Dec. 1999] 16 4 Correspondence [n.d] 16 5 Poetry [n.d] 16 6 Poetry [n.d] 16 7 Poetry [n.d] 16 8 Mecha- Movimiento Estudiantil Chicano [June 1998, July 1999] 16 9 Events [1979-1988, 1990-1992, May-Aug. 1998] 16 10 Events [Dec. 1998- Sept. 1998] 16 11 Events [Sept. 1998- Jan. 1999] 16 12 Events [Feb. 1999- May 1999] 16 13 Events [June 1999- Sept. 1999] 16 14 Events [Sept.-Oct.1999] 16 15 Events [Nov. 1999- Dec. 1999] 16 16 Events [n.d] 16 17 Events [n.d] 16 18 Event Announcements and Souvenirs [2002] SERIES II: PERSONAL WRITINGS
College papers 1 2 Commercial
art as a career psychology 1 San Diego Junior College, 1957 Poetry
Speeches, statements and position papers 2 14 Rupert
Garcia at the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, 1978 Publications (Draft manuscripts, first publishing attempted by Mango press) 3 1 In Formation 20 years of Joda acknowledgements 3 2 El
Billy Billy Militante
Series III: Barrio Art Program
4 1 A History of art 138: the Barrio Art Program by David Mario Mendez 1988 4 2 History of the Barrio Art Program and the Washington Center, 1997 4 3 My Experience at the Washington Neighborhood Center 1999
Series IV: Photographs Photographs 5 (1-10)
Personal pictures of José Montoya, (11-35) Protest photographs of La
José Montoya’s Pachuco Art a Historical Update February 14-March 14 1977 (originally
shown at Galeria de la Raza) 7 Zoot
Suit era photographs continued (38 photographs)
SERIES V: OVERSIZEFamous Artist’s course (OVER SIZE BOX) 11 Instruction book and sketches with letter from instructor. 11 1 Miscellaneous writings (oversize taken from box 1 folder 10) 11 2 News clipping, photo of Rudy Cuellar, 1970 11 3 Posters
for José Montoya’s Pachuco Art a Historical Update, 1977 11 6 Prints,
multiple versions of a wood cut. (8 versions)
SERIES VI AUDIO AND VIDEOAudio Cassettes
Temp label
1 Chicano Art Conference (side 1) 1971. Chicano Art Symposium (side 2) (really bad recordings) 1971. 2 Interview with Rupert Garcia (side 1) Interview with “Nina” (Artist, Playwrite, Filmaker) 1974 3 Continued Interview with “Nina” (side 1) Music 4 Rene Cardena (Discussion about Chicano films. Side 1) 1974. Dorinda Moreno (Discussion about Chicano films) 5 Montoya reading at San Jaun Bautista. 1992
Box 12 12 1 Smithsonian Institution Traveling Service Update catalogue [2001-2002] 12 2 Correspondence [2001-2002] 12 3 The National Latino Fatherhood and Family Institute [2002] 12 4 Culture Clash (See Box 27 Oversized Children of Chiapas Advertisement L.A. Weekly June 23-29, 1995) [1994-95, 2000-02]) 12 5 Miscellaneous [1995] 12 6 Miscellaneous [1994-95] 12 7 Expression Nuestra Revista [1995] 12 8 Poetry (See oversized El Andar Bilingual Paper March 1994) [1990, 1994-95, 2000-01] 12 9 Miscellaneous [1995] 12 10 RCAF [1992-1993] 12 11 Next Stop: Vietnam California, the Vietnam War and the Nation [1999] 12 12 Miscellaneous [2001] 12 13 Soy/ Smaos Exhibit [2001] 12 14 La Transformacion Nigrosa of Oscar Shumaker [1992] 12 15 Miscellaneous [2002] 12 16 Miscellaneous [1998, 2000-01] 12 17 Miscellaneous [1976, 2001] 12 18 American Indian Institution [1995] 12 19 Miscellaneous [1994-95]
Box 13 13 1 Articles, “Topil” [1983-84] 13 2 Articles, poetry readings and Events [1980-83] 13 3 Univ. California of Sacramento and UCLA [1980-83] 13 4 Univ. of Calif., UC Mexus News and Events [1982-83] 13 5 Journal writings and Poetry readings/ Events [1981-82] 13 6 Special Events/ Announcements [1981] 13 7 Poetry Series, Art and New York Times [1971,1977,1980-83] 13 8 Articles and California State University, Sacramento [1981,1983,1985] 13 9 Univ. of Texas Press, “The Sacramento” [1971-1979] 13 10 Chicano Literature theories/ Articles [1979-80] 13 11 Yale Univ. and “Chicano Authors” [1979] 13 12 Poetry and Poetry readings [1980] 13 13 Letters, Art, and Articles [1978-1979] 13 14 Articles and Planner [1980-83] 13 15 Articles, Art, and Letters [1977-78] 13 16 “El Corazon de Aztlan” and the “Taller Newspaper” [1978] 13 17 Letters, California State University, Sacramento [1980-84] 13 18 Events [1984] 13 19 Articles [1992] 13 20 Art blocks [No yr] 13 21 American Educator Journal & Events [1977-78,1981] 13 22 Murals & Pachuco readings- Journals [1977] 13 23 Articles
Box 14 14 1 Articles and Art Journals (See oversized Literary Quarterly The Tule Fall & Winter 1994-1995) [1993-95] 14 2 Events and Mural postcards [1994-96] 14 3 News and Grant Letter [1986-87] 14 4 Barrio Logon [No yr.] 14 5 Wight Gallery, UCLA/ Articles [1985-86] 14 6 Essays- Notes [1985-87] 14 7 UCLA: Defining Chicano Art and Essays [1986] 14 8 Letters and Journals [1985-87,1989] 14 9 LA County Museum [1989] 14 10 Univ. of Calif. Sacramento [1986] 14 11 News, Articles, and Art readings (See oversized Siqueiros, Mexico’s Revolutionary master muralist Sundancer April 1974) [1979, 1993] 14 12 Third World Women publication [1979] 14 13 Events and Articles [1990-92] 14 14 Calendar and Articles [1987, 1992-94] 14 15 DQ University/ brief history/ postcard [1970, 1982, 1992-95] 14 16 Music: Bass string and “La Voz” headline [1982]
Box 16
Box 17 17 1 Articles [1973-1979, 1989-1993, 1997] 17 2 Articles [June 1998- April 1999] 17 3 Articles [June 1999-Sept. 1999] 17 4 Articles [Nov. 1999] 17 5 Articles [Nov. 1999] 17 6 Jacinto Quirarte [1996] Oral History 17 7 La Raza Media Network 17 8 The National Latino Fatherhood & Family Institute 17 9 Research Children’s Issues [Nov. 6-Nov. 23, 1998] 17 10 Zine Projects [n.d]
Box 18 18 1 Correspondence (See Oversized Box 27, Affirmative Action poster) [1995-96] 18 2 Articles [1996] 18 3 Correspondence and Articles [1996] 18 4 Articles and Correspondence [1994-96] 18 5 Misc. [1996] 18 6 Articles and Correspondence [1992, 1995-96] 18 7 Correspondence [1996] 18 8 Headlines and Articles (See Oversized Box 26 , The Sacramento Bee, September 12, 2001 [2001] 18 9 Articles and Headlines [2001] 18 10 Misc. Mostly Articles [2001] 18 11 Articles & Misc. [2001] 18 12 Articles [2001] 18 13 Articles (See Oversize Box 26, The Fresno Bee, The Los Angeles Times) [2001] 18 14 Books of poetry and Art [1999-2000] 18 15 Art and Articles [1995-96] 18 16 Misc. [2001] 18 17 Misc. (See Oversized Box 27, The Sacramento Bee, January 27, 2001 [2001] 18 18 Correspondence (See Oversize Box, The State Hornet) [1996]
Box 19 19 1 Misc. (See Oversize Box 26, The Sacramento Bee, Capital University) [1996] 19 2 Misc. [2000] 19 3 Articles [2001] 19 4 CSUS Art copy of
illustrations, Chicano/ Latino Graduation Committee Book 19 5 Misc. [1996, 2000] 19 6 Misc. (See Oversized Box 25, Center For the Arts Magazine, January, 1996) [1996-99] 19 7 Misc. [1999] 19 8 Art and Articles of Events [2001] 19 9 Correspondence and
events invitation, flyers for events, poetry journal, and 19 10-11 “Hall of Fame” [1995] 19 12 Flyers and Correspondents [1996, 2000] 19 13 Art and Poetry [1996] 19 14 Correspondence [1996] 19 15 Correspondence and Poetry readings [1995]
Box 20 20 1 Articles and Events [No yr] 20 2 Miscellaneous [1996] 20 3 Letters and Poetry packet [1996] 20 4 Correspondence and Articles [1997] 20 5 Event Announcements and correspondence [1997] 20 6 Events [1996,1999,2000] 20 7 Articles [1997] 20 8 “Arte Latino” calendar [1996]
Box 21 21 1 Art and Poetry [2002] 21 2 Articles [2003] 21 3 Correspondence [2003] 21 4 Correspondence and Events [2002] 21 5 Miscellaneous [2001] 21 6 Correspondence and Other [2002] 21 7 Misc. [2003] 21 8 Correspondence [2002] 21 9 Poetry and the “Beat generation”[2002] 21 10 Correspondence [2002] 21 11 Correspondence [2002] 21 12 Misc. [2002] 21 13 Letters and Articles [2003] 21 14 Misc. [2002] 21 15 Correspondence [2002] 21 16 Articles and Other [2001-02] 21 17 Magazines and Other articles [2001]
Box 22 22 1 Miscellaneous (See oversized Artists Reunite Chicano Mural The Sacramento Bee October 21, 2001, Ethnic Studies at SCC The Sacramento Bee October 14, 2001, District plans survey The Sacramento Bee) [2001] 22 2 Correspondence [2001] 22 3 Miscellaneous [2001] 22 4 Correspondence [2001] 22 5 Correspondence/ Misc. [2000-02] 22 6 Misc. [2000] 22 7 Articles (See
oversized Profiles of Northern California Artist The Sacramento Bee January 14, 2001, Culture
Cache:Galeria Posada reveals Chicano art The 2000) [2000] 22 9 Misc. [2000] 22 10 Misc. [2000] 22 11 Misc. [No yr.] 22 12 Misc. [2000] 22 13 Misc./ Correspondence [1999, 2000] 22 14 Misc./ Correspondence [1996, 2000] 22 15 Fourth Annual Radio Aztlan Music Festival [No yr] 22 16 Misc. Articles [No yr]
Oversized Box 23 23 1 El Andar [March 1990, November 1994, December 1996] 23 2 Art Lines [October 1986] 23 3 Because People Matter Progressive News and Views [November/December 1998, August 1996] 23 4 Boca [April-May 1999, June-July 1999] 23 5 California Indian Storytelling Festival [September 29, 2001] 23 6 Capital University Journal [Spring 1996] 23 7 Center for the Arts Magazine [January/February 1996 23 8 Chicano Poetry Flyer [February 23, 1979] 23 9 Class! [December 1998, April 1999] 23 10 Comunicacion [March 1996, October 15 1996 23 11 Community Murals [Fall 1981] 23 12 CSUS Bulletin [March 1996, January 2000] 23 13 Culturadoor Enero [1996] 23 14 Datebook [January 2000, March 5, 2000] 23 15 La Gente [May 2, 1978] 23 16 El
Hispano [April 1, 1975, April 22, 1975, May 20, 1975, June 24, 1975, July
18,
BOX 24 24 1 El Hispano [September 8, December 29, 1999, October 4, 2000, March 28, 2001] 24 2 Kubo Ondas [September/October 1984] 24 3 The Mexican Heritage Plaza [September 5, 1999] 24 4 More Voices Advertisement [May 13, 1983] 24 5 The Network [Summer 1995, Spring 1996] 24 6 Nuestra Costa [April 1997] 24 7 La Palalera n.d. 24 8 Que Nuevas [March 17, 2000] 24 9 Revolutionary Worker [July 21, 1996, August 4, 1996] 24 10 The Sacramento Bee Forum [May 26, 1996] 24 11 The Sacramento Bee [January 17, 2001, January 18, 2001, September 11, 2001, 2 September 12, 2001, September 13, 2001] 24 12 Sammies, Sacramento News and Reviews [1996] 24 13 San Francisco Chronicle [September 23, 2001] 24 14 SN & R [November 22, 1995] 24 15 El Sol 2000 [December 1995] 24 16 The State Hornet [October 6, 1999, December 8, 1999]
BOX 25 25 1 El Tecolote [July 1987] 25 2 Tin Tan [Fall 1977] 25 3 La Verdad [November 1997-April 1998, January-August 1999] 25 4 The Vermillion [September 15, 1995] 25 5 Visiting Chicano Lecturers Program Flyer [1980-81] 25 6 Vistas [February 1990] 25 7 Voces Zapatistas [September 1996, May 2000] 25 8 Voz
Fronteriza [May 1982, November 1997, Winter 1999, December 1999, 25 9 La Voz [November 11, 1999, November 18, 1999]
Box 26 Periodicals-Original
News Clippings (these articles have been copied and the copies 26 1 Sundancer April 1974, The State Hornet December 13, 1977, La Prensa San Diego Nov 7, 1980, Evening Tribune Nov 11, 1980, An Historical Victory Celebration program June 4, 1987, On the Wing April 1983, More Voices poster May 13, 1983, The Fresno Bee Sun Oct 11, 1987, Vivan Los Muertos! Oct 11-Nov 8, 1987, El Paso Times Aug 21, 1992, The Tule Review, A Literary Quarterly, Fall & Winter, 1994-1995, Culture Clash June 23-June 29, 1995, The Sacramento Bee Fri April 25, 1997, SF Chronicle Book Review Nov 21, 1999, MetroGuide Feb 3-9, 2000, Enlace October 20-26, 2000, Vista September 21, 2000, La Prensa San Diego September 22, 2000, Enlace September 22-28, 2000, San Diego Reader Sept 27, 2000, The Independent Jan 11, 2001, The Sacramento Bee Sun Jan 14, 2001, The Daily Democrat Fri Jan 26, 2001, The Davis Enterprise Wed March 7, 2001, Sacramento News & Review Feb 23, 2001, The Sacramento Bee July 7, 2001, The State Hornet August 29, 2001, The Daily Democrat March 31, 2001, The Sacramento Bee Oct 14, 2001, The Sacramento Bee Sun Oct 21, 2001, The Sacramento Bee February 9, 2002, San Francisco Chronicle Book Review Jan 27, 2002, Inside the City- Central Edition July 2002
Box 27 Original Artwork |
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All graphic images on this web page are copyrighted and should not be reproduced without permission. Design; Alexander Hauschild, 2006 |
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