Collection Guide
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Research Guide to the Records of Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund,
1968-1983
Special Collections M0673
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Table of contents
Description
Administrative records, litigation files, and special program files.
Background
The Mexican American Legal Defense and Eudcational Fund was incorporated in 1967 by Pete Tijerina, following a meeting convened
by Jack Greenberg of the NAACP Legal Defense Fund, between Tijerina, San Antonians Albert Peña and Roy Padilla, and Bill Pincus,
a Ford Foundation representative. When Pincus said that the Foundation would be willing to consider a proposal for funding
a Mexican American legal organization, Tijerina filed the papers for incorporation, conducted research for writing the proposal,
and made an organizing tour of five southwestern states. Tijerina organized MALDEF committees in California, Colorado, Arizona,
and New Mexico, as well as his native Texas. In May 1968, MALDEF received a 2.2 million dollar grant from the Ford Foundation
to be used over five years, and in August 1968 MALDEF began work.
Extent
1,200 linear ft.
Restrictions
Property rights reside with the repository. Literary rights reside with the creators of the documents or their heirs. To obtain
permission to publish or reproduce, please contact the Public Services Librarian of the Dept. of Special Collections.
Availability
Collection is open for research. Materials must be paged at least 24 hours in advance of intended use.