Sandra Robbie Mendez v. Westminster records

Collection — Multiple Containers

Identifier: 2009-029-r

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

This collection consists of materials donated by Sandra Robbie related to the Mendez v. Westminster case of 1946-1947. This includes a color photograph showing the signage on the Gonzalo and Felicitas Mendez Memorial Library; copies of photographs of the Mendez family, including photos with the Mendez children's cousins (the Vidaurri); a photograph of Jerome Mendez, the youngest son of Gonzalo and Felicitas Mendez, from the 1960s; two DVD copies of "Mendez v. Westminster: A Civil Rights Curriculum for Primary and Secondary Teachers" from 2009; a program from the memorial service held at Riverside Church, New York City on March 1, 2012, for Hon. Robert L. Carter, who passed away in January of 2012; the paperwork and application for a National Historic Landmark status for the courthouse named U.S. Court House and Post Office (U.S. District Court House for the Southern District of California), located at 312 North Spring Street, where the Mendez case was held, and decided in 1946; digital photo CDs, DVDs and one Mini DV videocassette; a copy on James Kent's master thesis used in the trial; a copy of Christopher Arriola's thesis about the trial; El Modena School Board reports; two copies of For All the Children/Para Todos Los Niños DVDs; documents related to Judge McCormick; a court transcript of the Mendez v. Westminster trial; and various articles about the trial and related events.

Dates

c. 1930s – 2014

Conditions Governing Access

This collection is open for research.

Conditions Governing Use

There are no restrictions on the use of this material except where previously copyrighted material is concerned. It is the responsibility of the researcher to obtain all permissions. For further copyright information, please contact the archivist.

Extent

0.8 Linear Feet (22 folders)

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Abstract

This collection consists of materials donated by Sandra Robbie related to the Mendez v. Westminster case and includes a photograph of the Gonzalo and Felicitas Mendez Memorial Library, photographs of the Mendez family, various DVD and CD copies, a program from the memorial service of Robert L. Carter, documents for a National Historic Landmark status for the courthouse where the Mendez case was held, copies of theses related to the trial and its legacy, El Modena School Board reports, documents related to Judge McCormick, a court transcript of the Mendez v. Westminster trial; and articles about the trial and its legacy.

Arrangement

Series 1: Mendez Family Photographs – Series 2: Luis M. Acosta Papers – Series 3: Digital Materials – Series 4: Publications – Series 5: Theses – Series 6: Miscellaneous Records

Physical Location

Leatherby Libraries, Frank Mt. Pleasant Library of Special Collections and Archives

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Gift of Sandra Robbie

Processing Information

Collection boxes and folders were incorrectly labeled in processing with the identifier 2009-067-r. They have been relabeled with the correct identifier 2009-029-r. Processed by Lauren Abel in 2012. Subsequently processed by Special Collections and Archives staff, including but not limited to: Annie Tang and Lauren McDaniel. Last updated in October 2022.