Johnson-Bezdek Collection on Opposition Politics in Twentieth-Century Mexico

Collection

Identifier: Coll-80

Staff Only

The Johnson-Bezdek collection contains Johnson's complete publications on Mexico, as well as books, periodicals, articles, posters, typescript interviews, manuscript notes, correspondence, and other materials, which he accumulated between 1962 and 1986 while doing field work in Mexico on opposition politcs to and political alienation toward the single-party system. The collection not only includes publications that were purchased by Johnson, but also clandestine interviews, files, and published items given by Mexican opposition political figures, scholars, and journalists. The collection includes items dealing with clandestine Mexican emigration to the United States.

Dates

Majority of material found within 1962-1986

Extent

9 Linear Feet

Abstract

The Johnson-Bezdek Collection on Opposition Politics in Twentieth-Century Mexico contains over two hundred separate titles. The collection was assembled by Kenneth F. Johnson, with the collaboration of Robert R. Bezdek.

Biographical / Historical

Born in 1933, in Lincoln, Nebraska, Kenneth F. Johnson received a bachelors degree in English and political science at the Municipal University of Omaha in 1957, a master's degree in political science at San Diego State College in 1960, and a Ph.D. from the University ofCalifornia at Los Angeles in 1963. He served as chairman of the Latin American Studies Program at the University of Southern California, 1965-1970. From 1970 to 1990, he was professor of political science at the University of Missouri-St. Louis, and was awarded Professor Emeritus from that institution.