Papers of Herman Baca, prolific Chicano activist, political organizer, printer, and longtime chairman and one of several founders of the Committee on Chicano Rights (CCR). Baca is known for his community-based grassroots organizing, especially for civil rights and political and judicial equality. Formed and based in National City, California, CCR operates by volunteer membership and was organized to strive for human, civil, and constitutional rights for the Chicano community. CCR has also organized several events and community protests, including the Chicano National Immigration Tribunal (1981). Baca was an organizer for the Mexican-American Political Association (1968-1974) and La Raza Unida Political Party, among others. He is also the founder and owner of Aztec Printing, a print shop in National City. The papers contain a biographical series that includes newspaper articles of interviews, quotes, editorial writings, and written pieces about Baca and the Baca family, in addition to several community recognitions awarded to Baca. The papers contain subject files, research materials, and newspaper clippings (1964-2004) related to current issues on immigration, border conflicts, police brutality, discrimination, and community events; conference materials both attended and organized by Herman Baca, in and around the Southern California/Tijuana area; court litigation case documentation; and writings of others on issues of immigration, citizenship, social economics, and migration analysis. The collection also contains a large visual component including videorecordings of testimonies of the Chicano National Immigration Tribunal; posters of events; Chicano artworks including original illustrations by David Avalos and working production files of Aztec Printing related to Baca's activism. The photograhs series contains black-and-white and color photographs of individuals such as César Chávez, Bert Corona, and Herman Baca, and CCR organized events: Chicano National Immigration Tribunal (1981), Unity March Against the KKK (1977) and the National Protest March Against the Carter Curtain (1979).

Herman Baca was born to Nicholas and Eloisa Carrasco Baca on April 5, 1943, in Albuquerque, New Mexico, and was raised in Los Lentes, New Mexico, a small agricultural community outside of Los Lunas. When he was eleven years old, his family moved to National City, California, where Baca attended Sweetwater Union School District schools through high school. Starting in the printing trade business after high school, he worked in a few local shops before opening his own private business, Aztec Printing, in 1969.

38.00 linear feet (65 archives boxes, 6 records cartons, 1 card file box, 26 oversize folders, 4 art bin items)

Publication Rights Publication rights are held by the creator of the collection.