Anna M. Canales Photograph Collection of the Creation of the Dr. Hector P. Garcia Statue and the Groundbreaking Ceremony for the Garcia Plaza at TAMU-CC
The collection includes ninety-nine black and white photographs. Most photographs concern the creation of the bronze statue of Dr. Hector P. Garcia by Roberto with his wife and assistant Ana Garcia. The remaining photos depict the groundbreaking ceremony for the Garcia Plaza at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi in 1995
Dates
- Majority of material found within 1995-1996
Language of Materials
English
Conditions Governing Access
This collection is open for research use.
Conditions Governing Use
This material is made available for use in research, teaching, and private study, pursuant to U.S. Copyright law. The user assumes full responsibility for any use of the materials, including but not limited to taking precautions against infringement of copyright and respecting the publication rights of reproduced materials. All rights are reserved and retained regardless of current or future development or laws that may apply to fair use standards. Any materials used should be fully credited with their source according to the example given in the Preferred Citation note. Requests for assistance with citations and images of publication quality should be directed to specialcollections@tamucc.edu
Extent
99 Photographic Prints (99 black/white photos in envelopes with metadata on envelope) : 99 black/white photos ; photos are 3.5 x 5 inches
Abstract
Anna Mariá Canales was the first assistant artist employed at the Falcon Foundry Studio in Ricardo, Texas by Roberto Garcia Jr., the artist of the bronze Dr. Hector P. Garcia statue now standing in the Garcia Plaza at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi. Her photographs document the step by step process of the creation of the sculpture and of the groundbreaking ceremony in 1995.
Biographical / Historical
The groundbreaking ceremony for the Hector P. Garcia Plaza, located centrally on the campus of the Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi was held in 1995. The 1,800-pound bronze statue of Dr. Hector P. Garcia, physician and civil rights leader, and the Garcia Plaza were dedicated on June 28, 1996. The colorful plaza includes a stage, covered seating, a fountain, and the statue of Dr. Garcia. President Clinton called Dr. Garcia apologizing for not being able to attend the dedication and inquiring about Dr. Garcia’s ailing health. In the following years two traditions involving the Garcia statue developed. ROTC members salute Dr. Hector P. Garcia when they go by and students believe touching the foot of the statue might give them good luck when sitting for exams. Dr. Hector P. Garcia attended both the ground-breaking ceremony and the next year the dedication ceremony of the Garcia Plaza and the bronze statue on June 28, 1996. Less than a month later, on July 26, 1996 Dr. Garcia passed away at the age of 82. President Bill Clinton presented the eulogy. At the time that artist Roberto Garcia Jr. created the Garcia statue, the artist’s studio, the Falcon Foundry Studio was in Ricardo, Texas. Today the artist and his family reside in Pagosa, Colorado. Anna Mariá Canales donated the photograph collection in 2015.
Arrangement
The photographs are organized to follow the artist’s creation of the sculpture.
Source
- Canales, Anna Mariá (Person)
- Title
- Anna M. Canales Photograph Collection of the Creation of the Dr. Hector P. Garcia Statue and the Groundbreaking Ceremony for the Garcia Plaza at TAMU-CC
- Status
- Completed
- Author
- Lori Atkins
- Date
- March 2020
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- Undetermined
- Script of description
- Code for undetermined script
- Language of description note
- English
- Edition statement
- 1st
Repository Details
Part of the Special Collections and Archives, Mary and Jeff Bell Library, Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi Repository
6300 Ocean Dr.
Unit 5702
Corpus Christi TX 78412 United States
361-825-4500
361-825-5973 (Fax)
specialcollections@tamucc.edu
