Subject and Course Guides: Social Change: Social Change History

Archival Material from UTA Special Collections

Betty Andujar Papers (AR254) Abstract: Betty Andujar was the first woman and also the first Republican from Tarrant County to be elected to the Texas Senate. She served Senate District 12 from 1973-1982. The papers are office files from Senator Andujar's Fort Worth and Austin offices and include correspondence, bills, clippings, photographs, and printed material. They chronicle her activities during the 64th, 65th, and the first half of the 66th legislative sessions.
Chris Miller Papers (AR381) Abstract: Chris Miller served three terms in the Texas House of Representatives, from 1972 to 1978, as the Democratic representative for Tarrant County, District 32-1. She was known for her interests in women’s issues, water quality control, prison reform, constitutional revision, extension of the homestead exemption for singles, and state-funded assistance for hemophiliacs. Miller’s interest in social justice was reflected in her accomplishments as a state legislator and her participation in many civic organizations. She also served as moderator for the television production "Voter’s Digest", in 1965; was advertising manager of the Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce, 1967-1968; coordinator of neighborhood services and community health for the Tarrant County Community Action Agency, 1968-1969; and owner of a public relations and advertising agency, Chris Public Relations, 1969-1972. The papers are comprised of correspondence, photographs, press releases, newsletters, speeches, reports, bills and amendments, newspaper articles, statistics, questionnaires, and certificates. Included are materials for the period preceding her election to the Texas legislature; campaign materials, 1972-1976; legislative files for the 63rd through the 64th sessions; and files for the many women’s organizations of which she was a member. These include the American Women in Radio and Television, Institute for Women, League of Women Voters, Mayor’s Committee on the Status of Women, National Organization for Women, Texas Commission on the Status of Women, Texas Federation of Business and Professional Women’s Clubs, Texas Women’s Equity Action League, Texas Women’s Political Caucus, Women in Communications, Women’s Haven, and Zonta. This collection would be of value to students and researchers who are interested in Texas politics in the 1970's. It also contains useful information for anyone researching women's organizations or women's issues during that decade.
Donald W. Cantwell Papers (AR249) Abstract: Donald W. Cantwell was an Associate Professor in the School of Business at The University of Texas at Arlington. He also served as chairman of the UTA Tenure and Academic Freedom and Responsibilities Committee, the Rules and Elections Committee, the Teaching Effectiveness Committee, and of the Arlington State College Board on Student Organizations (1964-1974). Papers contain correspondence, minutes, reports, constitutions, newspaper clippings, and printed material. Included are materials on the Students for a Democratic Society (SDS) organization's attempts to gain approval from the Board on Student Organizations to form a chaper on the UTA campus. Printed material is included relating to campus unrest, draft resisters, civil liberties of students, the SDS, the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee, and related topics.
Ed Watson Papers (AR432) Abstract: Ed Watson was a member of the Texas House of Representatives from 1972 to 1988. He was a Democrat and served from District 17, which includes Deer Park, a city near Houston. He served on the Labor Committee, the Natural Resources Committee, and others. He was also a delegate to the unsuccessful Texas Constitutional Convention of 1974. This was an attempt to modernize and revise the Texas State Constitution. A long-time member of the Oil, Chemical, and Atomic Workers International, Local 3-467, Ed Watson was friendly to union activity and issues within the Legislature. The collection includes official and unofficial correspondence (including constituent concerns), newspaper clippings, reports, proposed legislation, photographs, and a scrapbook. The bulk of the collection is constituent correspondence, 1973-1979, and Ed Watson’s answers to their concerns. There is also correspondence and newsletters from the failed Texas Constitutional Convention of 1974. The newspaper clippings are primarily concerned with activities of both Ed Watson and issues before the Texas Legislature. The photographs are of Ed Watson and associated state politicians with some national Democratic politicians. The scrapbook, 1986-1988, contains Ed Watson memorabilia, such as snapshots, letters, and pamphlets.
Elizabeth Kimmel Papers (Unprocessed mss. 2009-73) Abstract: Elizabeth Kimmel was born in 1915. She was a union organizer for over 60 year, serving with the International Ladies Garment Workers Union from 1938 until 1963 and with The American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees from 1963 until her retirement in 1986. Liz was an early champion for the civil rights of women and minorities, and furthered those causes through her work with the Democratic Party. She was the Treasurer of the Harris County Chapter of the AFL-CIO Retirees at the time of her death. She was the first women inducted into the Texas Labor Hall of Fame. She died at the age of 86 in 2001. She was the wife of Alexander Hieken. This collection of Elizabeth Kimmel’s personal papers includes correspondence, news-clippings, labor-related essays and statements, newsletters, programs, and photographs related to her labor activities.
Emerson Emory Papers (AR466) Abstract: Emerson Emory, M.D., was born in Dallas, Texas, on January 29, 1925, to Corry Bates Emory and Louise Emory. A 1940 graduate of Booker T. Washington High School in Dallas, Emory enrolled in Prairie View College to follow his dream of becoming a physician. On his eighteenth birthday, Emory enlisted in the U.S. Army and served in quartermaster truck companies until his 1946 discharge. He earned his bachelors degree at Lincoln University in Pennsylvania in 1948, and medical degree from Meharry Medical College in Nashville in 1952. During this time, he was commissioned as an ensign in the U.S. Navy Reserve. Dr. Emory returned home where he became the first African-American intern at St. Paul Hospital in Dallas. After serving two residencies in California, Emory returned again to Dallas in 1956 to be staff physician at the Veterans Administration Medical Center. He began private practice in internal medicine in 1960. Emory was an advocate for civil rights and helped other doctors find healthcare for families in need. Memberships were maintained in the United Service Organization, Black Citizens for Justice and the Sons of Confederate Veterans, among others. In his free time, Dr. Emory enjoyed writing about important social and political issues and his life experiences. Dr. Emory died in Dallas on January 28, 2003. Dr. Emory's papers document his personal life, his career as a physician, and his time in the military. Comprised of correspondence, photographs
George and Latane Lambert Papers (AR127) Abstract: The Lamberts devoted a lifetime to working in the labor movement and liberal politics in Texas. George Lambert was an organizer for the United Cannery, Agricultural, Packing, and Allied Workers, the Amalgamated Clothing Workers of America, and the International Ladies’ Garment Workers’ Union. Latane Lambert was a representative for the Amalgamated Clothing Workers of America and the CIO as well as a leader in the Democratic Party of Texas. The records consist of correspondence, minutes, activity reports, newsletters, photographs, financial documents, legal documents, resumes, speeches, charts, newspaper clippings, constitutions, certificates, manuals, booklets, leaflets, maps, lists, programs, notes, 16mm film, and audio cassette recordings.
George Clifton Edwards Collection (AR165) Abstract: George Clifton Edwards (1878-1961) was a Dallas lawyer, educator, and humanitarian that supported civil rights and labor causes throughout his life. This collection contains an autobiography, speeches, articles, certificate, clippings, and printed material. Materials pertain to the legal profession and civil rights and include a firsthand account of a public lynching by an angry mob in Dallas.
International Ladies Garment Workers Union Local 180 (AR30) Abstract: Records document the activities of the International Ladies' Garment Workers' Union, Local 180 of San Antonio, Texas and include clippings, photographs, flyers, printed material, reports, correspondence, and financial ledgers. Many materials pertain to the strike of the Tex-Son factory by Local 180 in 1959. The strike was marked by violent episodes and supporters from across Texas rallied to support the strikers.
Ivory Davis Civil Rights Case Papers (AR637) Abstract: Ivory Davis was a member of the Independent Metal Workers Union (IMWU), Local 2, the Jim Crow (African American) local in Houston, Texas. While working at Hughes Tool Company in Houston in 1959, an apprenticeship was made available to which Davis applied. Davis was rejected due to his race. With the help from Local 2 leader, Columbus Henry, Davis fought the discrimination. After much struggle, Davis was finally accepted into the program in 1964. As an outcome of the case, the Independent Metal Workers Union was decertified as the bargaining agent for Hughes Tool due to its discriminatory practices. The materials relate to Davis’s attempt in 1959 and the early-1960s to secure an apprenticeship at Hughes Tool Company. The collection includes documents related to Davis and the IMWU Local 2 case against IMWU Local 1 (the white union local) and Hughes Tool Company.
Lee A. Lewis Papers (AR154) Abstract: Lee Lewis (1902-1972) was a member of the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees and Moving Picture Machine Operators of the United States and Canada, Local 279A, an all-black local in Dallas, Texas. In 1947, he and other black unionists organized the Texas Federation Club to protest discrimination experienced by blacks at Texas State Federation of Labor conventions. This collection contains correspondence, minutes, printed material, and photographs pertaining to the Texas Federation Club.
Mexican American Farm Workers Collection (AR408) Abstract: The collection consists of correspondence, photographs, newsletters, newspaper clippings, material on noncitizens, migrant workers, farm workers, farm worker ministries, the Teamsters, Cesar Chavez, the United Farm Workers, the United Farm Workers Organizing Committee, and the various strikes and boycotts conducted by the union. It would be of value to students and researchers who are interested in fledgling unions and in farm workers, particularly Mexican American farm workers.
Migrant Farm Workers Organizing Movement Collection (AR46) Abstract: The Independent Workers Association was organized by Eugene Nelson in the Rio Grande Valley in 1966. The Migrant Farm Workers Organizing Movement Collection consists of correspondence, newsletters, newspaper clippings, speeches, reports, map, ballots, booklets, leaflets, brochures, reprinted articles, tape recordings, photographs, and a scrapbook.
Pancho Medrano Papers (AR55) Abstract: Francisco F. Medrano (1920-2002), better known as Pancho Medrano, was a prominent figure in local labor and civil rights movements beginning in 1960. Medrano's papers document his labor, civil rights, and political activities and contain correspondence, newspapers, newspaper clippings, photographs, leaflets, flyers, newsletters, articles, and booklets.
Tarrant County LGBTQ+ Collection (AR794) Abstract: The Tarrant County LGBTQ+ Collection was established in April 2022. It grew out of a collecting gap at UTA Libraries Special Collections related to queer history. It is an ongoing collection comprised of numerous accessions. Materials in the collection consist of publications ranging from 1983-2022, ephemera related to Fort Worth’s LGBTQ+ community, and materials related to Tarrant County’s pride events.
Tejano Voices Oral History collection Tejano Voices presents the personal recollections of 173 Tejanos and Tejanas and their struggle against racial discrimination in post-World War II Texas. Listen to the stories of Tejano community leaders Read transcripts of their stories See their photos and learn about their lives and about Texas history From research conducted by Professor José Angel Gutiérrez with the UTA Center for Mexican American Studies.

Fort Worth/Dallas/Texas Civil Liberties Union Records

Carl Brannin Papers (AR91) Abstract: Carl Brannin (1888-1985) was a lifelong social activist and civil libertarian active in politics, labor organizing, and the civil rights movement. Papers contain biographical information, correspondence, clippings, photographs, recordings, and printed material. Materials pertain to a wide range of topics including: the Dallas Educational Film Committee, the First Unitarian Church of Dallas, the Ford Motor Company strike in Dallas, the House Un-American Activities Committee, housing, civil rights, school integration, welfare, and elections at local, state, and national levels.
Carl P. Brannin Papers (AR285) Abstract: Brannin was a journalist and social activist and was active in politics, labor union organizing, and the civil rights movement. He was a charter member of the American Civil Liberties Union and an organizer of the Dallas Civil Liberties Union. Brannin’s papers focus on the Dallas Civil Liberties Union but also include personal materials, records of the Texas Civil Liberties Union, and records of the American Civil Liberties Union.
Dallas Civil Liberties Union Records (AR82) Abstract: The Dallas Chapter of the Texas Civil Liberties Union was organized in 1962 as a local affiliate of the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU). Records consist of correspondence, reports, clippings, newsletters, and other materials documenting the activities of the Dallas Chapter, the Texas Civil Liberties Union, and the American Civil Liberties Union. Most of the materials pertain to cases regarding civil liberties and rights. There are many items including clippings, correspondence, and a report pertaining to Lee Harvey Oswald.
Fort Worth Civil Liberties Union Records (1945-1981) (AR330) Abstract: The Fort Worth Civil Liberties Union, a chapter of the Texas Civil Liberties Union, was established in 1964. The records include correspondence, memoranda, annual reports, financial statements, legal documents, minutes, case summaries, news releases, reports, newspaper clippings, and newsletters.
Fort Worth Civil Liberties Union Records (1957-1974) (AR108) Abstract: The Fort Worth Civil Liberties Union, a chapter of the Texas Civil Liberties Union, was established in 1964. The records consist of correspondence, minutes, financial records, constitution, membership lists, reports, statistics, bulletins, maps, newspaper clippings, court cases, depositions, notes, photographs, pamphlets, lists, and manuals.
Fort Worth Civil Liberties Union Records (AR666) Abstract: The Fort Worth Civil Liberties Union, a chapter of the Texas Civil Liberties Union, was established in 1964. The Texas Civil Liberties Union is a part of the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), which was established in 1920. Each chapter is governed by an elected volunteer board of directors, who hire an executive director and other paid staff.
Robert Lichten Papers (AR283) Abstract: Robert Lichten served as vice president of the Texas Civil Liberties Union and president of the Dallas Civil Liberties Union. Papers contain correspondence, minutes, financial statements, speeches, newspaper clippings, lists, articles, and printed material pertaining to the Dallas Civil Liberties Union, the Texas Civil Liberties Union, and the American Civil Liberties Union.
Texas Civil Liberties Union Records (AR121) Abstract: The Texas Civil Liberties Union is an affiliate of the American Civil Liberties Union headquartered in Austin. The records consist of correspondence, minutes, financial documents, reports, news releases, lists, constitutions, newsletters, clippings, notes, handbooks, biographical data, booklets, and pamphlets.
Texas Civil Liberties Union Records (AR287) Abstract: The Texas Civil Liberties Union is an affiliate of the American Civil Liberties Union headquartered in Austin. The records include minutes of the Board of Directors and the Executive Committee, financial records, press releases, statements, correspondence, legal documents, and biennial conference material. In addition, the collection contains files on topics such as flag burning, marijuana, prisoner's rights, Selective Service, urban renewal, and wiretapping.
Texas Civil Liberties Union Records (AR301) Abstract: The Texas Civil Liberties Union, an affiliate of the American Civil Liberties Union, was established in 1964 to insure the protection of civil liberties within the state and to initiate legal action, if necessary, to support these goals. Records contain legal documents, correspondence including mail from inmates, prisoner case files, country jail inspection reports, newspaper clippings, membership lists, financial data, and expense claim forms.

Texas Civil Rights Project Records

Donald W. Cantwell Papers (AR249) Abstract: George Clifton Edwards (1878-1961) was a Dallas lawyer, educator, and humanitarian that supported civil rights and labor causes throughout his life. This collection contains an autobiography, speeches, articles, certificate, clippings, and printed material. Materials pertain to the legal profession and civil rights and include a firsthand account of a public lynching by an angry mob in Dallas.
Elizabeth Kimmel Papers (Unprocessed mss. 2009-73) Abstract: Elizabeth Kimmel was born in 1915. She was a union organizer for over 60 year, serving with the International Ladies Garment Workers Union from 1938 until 1963 and with The American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees from 1963 until her retirement in 1986. Liz was an early champion for the civil rights of women and minorities, and furthered those causes through her work with the Democratic Party. She was the Treasurer of the Harris County Chapter of the AFL-CIO Retirees at the time of her death. She was the first women inducted into the Texas Labor Hall of Fame. She died at the age of 86 in 2001. She was the wife of Alexander Hieken. This collection of Elizabeth Kimmel’s personal papers includes correspondence, news-clippings, labor-related essays and statements, newsletters, programs, and photographs related to her labor activities.
Emerson Emory Papers (AR466) Abstract: Emerson Emory, M.D., was born in Dallas, Texas, on January 29, 1925, to Corry Bates Emory and Louise Emory. A 1940 graduate of Booker T. Washington High School in Dallas, Emory enrolled in Prairie View College to follow his dream of becoming a physician. On his eighteenth birthday, Emory enlisted in the U.S. Army and served in quartermaster truck companies until his 1946 discharge. He earned his bachelors degree at Lincoln University in Pennsylvania in 1948, and medical degree from Meharry Medical College in Nashville in 1952. During this time, he was commissioned as an ensign in the U.S. Navy Reserve. Dr. Emory returned home where he became the first African-American intern at St. Paul Hospital in Dallas. After serving two residencies in California, Emory returned again to Dallas in 1956 to be staff physician at the Veterans Administration Medical Center. He began private practice in internal medicine in 1960. Emory was an advocate for civil rights and helped other doctors find healthcare for families in need. Memberships were maintained in the United Service Organization, Black Citizens for Justice and the Sons of Confederate Veterans, among others. In his free time, Dr. Emory enjoyed writing about important social and political issues and his life experiences. Dr. Emory died in Dallas on January 28, 2003. Dr. Emory's papers document his personal life, his career as a physician, and his time in the military. Comprised of correspondence, photographs
George Clifton Edwards Collection (AR165) Abstract: George Clifton Edwards (1878-1961) was a Dallas lawyer, educator, and humanitarian that supported civil rights and labor causes throughout his life. This collection contains an autobiography, speeches, articles, certificate, clippings, and printed material. Materials pertain to the legal profession and civil rights and include a firsthand account of a public lynching by an angry mob in Dallas.
Ivory Davis Civil Rights Case Papers (AR637) Abstract: Ivory Davis was a member of the Independent Metal Workers Union (IMWU), Local 2, the Jim Crow (African American) local in Houston, Texas. While working at Hughes Tool Company in Houston in 1959, an apprenticeship was made available to which Davis applied. Davis was rejected due to his race. With the help from Local 2 leader, Columbus Henry, Davis fought the discrimination. After much struggle, Davis was finally accepted into the program in 1964. As an outcome of the case, the Independent Metal Workers Union was decertified as the bargaining agent for Hughes Tool due to its discriminatory practices. The materials relate to Davis’s attempt in 1959 and the early-1960s to secure an apprenticeship at Hughes Tool Company. The collection includes documents related to Davis and the IMWU Local 2 case against IMWU Local 1 (the white union local) and Hughes Tool Company.
Lee A. Lewis Papers (AR154) Abstract: Lee Lewis (1902-1972) was a member of the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees and Moving Picture Machine Operators of the United States and Canada, Local 279A, an all-black local in Dallas, Texas. In 1947, he and other black unionists organized the Texas Federation Club to protest discrimination experienced by blacks at Texas State Federation of Labor conventions. This collection contains correspondence, minutes, printed material, and photographs pertaining to the Texas Federation Club.
Pancho Medrano Papers (AR55) Abstract: Francisco F. Medrano (1920-2002), better known as Pancho Medrano, was a prominent figure in local labor and civil rights movements beginning in 1960. Medrano's papers document his labor, civil rights, and political activities and contain correspondence, newspapers, newspaper clippings, photographs, leaflets, flyers, newsletters, articles, and booklets.
Tarrant County LGBTQ+ Collection (AR794) Abstract: The Tarrant County LGBTQ+ Collection was established in April 2022. It grew out of a collecting gap at UTA Libraries Special Collections related to queer history. It is an ongoing collection comprised of numerous accessions. Materials in the collection consist of publications ranging from 1983-2022, ephemera related to Fort Worth’s LGBTQ+ community, and materials related to Tarrant County’s pride events.