Judge and Mrs. Lorenzo Rojas Papers

Collection — Multiple Containers

Identifier: Coll-116

Staff Only

Contains Texas newspapers: Chicano Times, Caracol, El Cuhamil from San Juan, Realidades of Robstown, La Verdad from Crystal City, Para La Gente, Noticiero, and La Lomita from Robstown. Also includes several issues of Magazin, and pamphlets of Texas Farm Workers Union and Raza Unida Party.

Dates

1970-1996
Majority of material found within 1973 - 1982

Language of Materials

Largely Spanish.

Extent

2 Linear Feet

Abstract

The bulk of the items are connected with Chicano movement struggles and activities chiefly in South Texas but also give glimpses to the larger fight for equality by Chicano groups in the rest of the United States. Rojas was a migrant worker before he was elected to be the Justice of the Peace in Robstown, Texas. He was prominent in founding the grassroots organization, FAMILIAS UNIDAS.

Biographical / Historical

Judge Lorenzo Rojas was born April 30th, 1936 in Robstown, Texas. An early life filled with the toil of migrant work, Judge Rojas became an activist in the 1970s by first joining the Unity Party and then splitting off and helping to create the grassroots organization Familias Unidas. In both groups he fought for local and national Hispanic civil rights issues and was often linked to leading members of the Chicano Movement such as Cezar Chavez with the United Farm Workers and Antonio Tony Orandain with the Texas Farm Workers. In 1985, Rojas became the first Hispanic elected Justice of the Peace in Robstown, Texas after a humble campaign of handing out handmade flyers and cards. Judge Lorenzo Rojas served the community of Robstown for 16 years before retiring.

Arrangement

The Judge and Mrs. Lorenzo Rojas Papers are organized into two series which are housed into three flat boxes and 1 document box: Series I: Correspondence Series II: Printed Material Sub-Series 1: Pamphlets Sub-Series 2: Magazines Sub-Series 3: Newspapers While the printed material was donated in no discernable order, the newspapers have been sorted and arranged by the size of the collection of issues and then the issues themselves were further arranged chronologically.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

First donations from Judge and Mrs. Lorenzo Rojas in May 1997 through daughter, Maria Rojas, who was a student at TAMU-CC. Two more donations were made in June of 1997 and December of 1999.