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Santiago Hernandez Papers

 Collection
Identifier: Coll-181

This collection consists of a single photograph of Felix Longoria, correspondence, documents, and newspaper clippings; all related to the attempt to rename to Three Rivers Post Office after Longoria from 2003-2005.

Dates

  • 2003-2005

Conditions Governing Access

No restrictions

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

< 1 Linear Feet

Abstract

The Santiago Hernandez Papers consist of a variety of original correspondence and photocopied newspaper clippings central to the attempt to rename the Three Rivers Post Office after Pvt. Felix Z. Longoria Jr. A local resident of Three Rivers, Texas, Longoria was killed in action in the Pacific Theater during World War II. When his body was returned to Three Rivers the local funeral home declined to provide services; ostensibly because Longoria was Mexican-American and it would “upset the whites.” The resulting controversy over segregation caused a national response and helped launch the fledgling GI Forum into the national consciousness.

Biographical / Historical

Santiago Hernandez was a resident of Corpus Christi that worked for the Federal Correctional Institution in Three Rivers, Texas for over a decade. His uncle, Guillermo Luna, was the National Director of Hispanic Veterans Military History for the American GI Forum and pointed out that Hernandez worked in the town where the Longoria Affair occurred. Galvanized with this newfound information, Hernandez seized the moment to try and have the Three Rivers Post Office renamed after Longoria. Pvt. Felix Z. Longoria Jr was killed in action in the Pacific theater of World War II in 1945, however his body was not recovered until 1949. When his body was returned to Three Rivers, a racial dispute with the local funeral parlor owner Tom Kennedy and Longoria’s surviving family ensued. Tom repeated to both Hector P. Garcia and Corpus Christi Caller reporter George Groh that “the whites would not like it” if Hispanic Longoria was permitted a wake at the parlor. The small local dispute soon escalated to international news. Texan political start-up Lyndon B. Johnson intervened and was able to get Longoria a full military burial at Arlington National Cemetery.

Ultimately, a vocal group of local Three River residents were able to squash the post office renaming measure after disputing the series of events. A Texas Historical Marker was placed at the funeral parlor in 2010, and damaged in 2014 when the structure was demolished to make way for a parking lot. The marker was subsequently relocated to the town square near city hall after being repaired.

Arrangement

This collection is organized by a single series with five subcategories. The subcategories are photographs, correspondence, Longoria renaming documents, newspaper clippings, and newspapers.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

This collection was donated to Texas A&M-Corpus Christi by Santiago Hernandez on 5-20-2005.The donation was assisted by Thomas H. Kreneck.

Related Materials

Collection 5: Garcia Papers, Dr. Hector P. ; Collection 155: Rene Guzman Glover; Collection 156: Genevieve B. Gonzalez Collection

Processing Information

This collection was arranged by Eric Christensen, Archive Processing Librarian for Texas A&M – Corpus Christi’s Special Collections & Archives Department.

Title
Santiago Hernandez Papers Finding Aid
Status
Completed
Author
Eric Christensen
Date
4-2-2020
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
Second processing

Repository Details

Part of the Special Collections and Archives, Mary and Jeff Bell Library, Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi Repository

Contact:
6300 Ocean Dr.
Unit 5702
Corpus Christi TX 78412 United States
361-825-4500
361-825-5973 (Fax)