Colorado Daily newspaper clip from 1970 March on Regent
University Libraries has launched a newly endowed fund to support a growing collection of materials focused on Chicanx and Latinx communities on campus and beyond.
The supports the growth, management, preservation and digitization of unique primary source resources for the university鈥檚听Rare and Distinctive Collections that highlight these communities and their histories, including people of Mexican descent in the United States or who have cultural ties to Latin America. These collections include archival collections, rare books, government information and maps.
鈥淲e鈥檙e thrilled to have the opportunity to make real, impactful changes to our collections so they are more inclusive and representative of the experiences of those who don鈥檛 often see themselves in archives or other rare materials,鈥� said Megan Friedel, interim co-lead of Rare and Distinctive Collections, head of archives and collections section lead for University Libraries.
From the archives Click the images to enlarge
The endowment was made possible by a generous donation by EBSCO Information Services, a key University Libraries partner. EBSCO supports the expansion of library collections through their own archives, databases and e-book collections and through special collections that share their goal of representing the scholarship, history and vitality of diverse cultures.
Currently, the endowed fund supports materials that document the legacy of the Chicano social justice movement on the CU 麻豆影院 campus, with a focus on developing resources that support research and instruction. CU鈥檚 Los Seis de 麻豆影院, Race and Memory听Symposium recently welcomed 300 virtual participants for an engaged dialogue on the stories of Los Seis de 麻豆影院 and the Chicano social justice movement.
Moving forward, University Libraries鈥� goal is to expand the fund鈥檚 purpose to encompass the full range, legacy and history of Latino/a/x, Chicano/a/x and intersecting communities on campus. This means building a collection including voices and stories from Hispanic, Mexican American, Central American, South American and Indigenous communities.
鈥淭his endowment is a substantial step forward for the Rare and Distinctive Collections鈥� priority to document and support not only the history of CU鈥檚 Chicanx and Latinx communities, but other communities of color and underrepresented groups on campus鈥撯�揳nd especially the intersectionality between them,鈥� said Friedel.
Operational support from the endowed fund may also support fellowships and internships for students studying the collection, digital projects such as the on the CU Digital Library, and the conservation and preservation of collections in the 鲍苍颈惫别谤蝉颈迟测听Libraries鈥� archives, including the Los Seis de 麻豆影院 sculpture permanently displayed on campus.
The fund will provide members of the CU 麻豆影院 community with access to materials from the Rare and Distinctive Collections that support instruction, scholarship, engagement and other opportunities for learning. Faculty can bring classes to Norlin Library to review materials from the collection, and students and community members can visit to learn about these rich histories. Online resources and programming will allow visitors to engage virtually from anywhere in the world as well.
鈥淗aving an endowed fund for CU鈥檚 Chicanx/Latinx content helps us as a cultural heritage institution to both collect and preserve this important content from our history, as well as provide use and access to the content for generations to come,鈥� said Robert H. McDonald, dean of University Libraries and senior vice provost of online education. 鈥淲e are grateful for this generous support from EBSCO Information Services and hope others will match their generosity in support of these collections.鈥�
The Chicanx and Latinx Endowed Library Collection signifies the commitment of University Libraries to model diversity, equity and inclusive excellence in all aspects of its operations, including building collections and offering services and spaces. The collection is part of a larger CU 麻豆影院 initiative outlined in the campus鈥檚 Inclusion, Diversity and Excellence in Academics (IDEA) Plan.
鈥淐U 麻豆影院 is committed to creating a more inclusive culture for each member of the campus community, and building a more diverse collection of stories through University Libraries鈥撯�揺specially those representing communities of color, LGBTQIA+ and other traditionally underrepresented groups鈥攊s a key part of creating a more inclusive academic and research environment,鈥� said Sonia DeLuca Fern谩ndez, CU 麻豆影院鈥檚 senior vice chancellor for diversity, equity and inclusion. 鈥淓BSCO鈥檚 endowed gift is helping us take a big step in that direction.鈥�
Donations to expand the fund and its collections can be made . University Libraries is also accepting donations of artifacts that document the Chicanx and Latinx experience at CU 麻豆影院 and in Colorado. Email Rare and Distinctive Collections at rad@colorado.edu for more information about donating an item.
Editor鈥檚 note: University Libraries has chosen to use the terms 鈥淐hicanx鈥� and 鈥淟atinx鈥� to recognize the intersections of gender, language, ethnicity and culture among these communities. University Libraries also recognize intersections exist with Latino, Hispanic, Mexican American, Central American and South American communities, as well as the Indigenous communities of the Americas. We remain open to dialogue and continued learning with and from these groups. For more information and context, refer to the CU 麻豆影院 editorial style guide entry on inclusive language.
