William Gutierrez Papers
Scope and Contents
The William Gutierrez Papers includes handwritten notes, letters, memorandums, reports, and proposals as well as newspaper clippings, event programs, discrimination claims, voter registrations, student questionnaires, city records, political campaigns, and publications. In addition to papers, this collection includes 35 photographs, two 8-track audio tapes, a personal planner, a nametag, and a book of commemoration.
Dates
- 1966-1980
- Majority of material found within 1970-1979
Conditions Governing Access
This collection is open for research.
Conditions Governing Use
Permission to publish or reproduce materials from the MSS 0237 William Gutierrez Collection must be obtained from the Houston Metropolitan Research Center or the appropriate copyright holder.
Biographical / Historical
In 1970, William “Bill” Gutierrez was the first Mexican American to be appointed to direct the Wesley Community Center and would later earn a position as the Coordinator of Community Activities for the Mayor’s Citizens Action Office. Gutierrez was an active member of the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) and secured positions working for historic LULAC efforts such as the Little School of 400 and Project SER. The Little School of 400, a precursor to project "Head Start" aimed to teach 400 English words to help Spanish-speaking children manage instruction given in English in the regular public educational system and therefore help them achieve higher levels of schooling. Project SER was a federally funded, grant project aimed at developing Hispanic citizens into competitive work candidates by offering job training and education. This experience and network led Gutierrez to become involved in the council against the Houston Independent School District’s (HISD) Desegregation Task Force. In December of 1979 Gutierrez suffered a heart attack and passed away suddenly at the age of 35.
Extent
5.5 Linear Feet (11 boxes)
Language of Materials
English
Spanish; Castilian
Arrangement
The William Gutierrez Papers is arranged into three series. These are Personal Papers, Professional Papers, and Photographs. The Personal Papers series contains biographical documents pertaining specifically to Gutierrez, while the Professional Papers are organized into sub-series that pertain to the jobs he held, his political involvement, and his community involvement. This was determined to be the most logical order as the scope of his work was similar and overlapped throughout his career. Furthermore, the folders within each subseries have been arranged in chronological order. Folders without dates were either placed at the end of the subseries or maintained original order as needed (i.e. whenever an undated folder lost relevance without its previously corresponding dated neighbor).
Series 1 Personal Papers
Series 2 Professional Papers
Series 2.1 Executive Director of SER ; 1968-1970, 1974-1975
Series 2.2 Coordinator of Community Activities – Office of the Mayor ; 1975-1979
Series 2.3 Political Involvement
Series 2.4 Community and Organizational Involvement
Series 3 Photographs
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Donated by Linda F. Gutierrez in 1983.
- CETA (The Comprehensive Employment and Training Act) Subject Source: Local sources
- Houston (Tex.) Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- League of United Latin American Citizens Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Mexican Americans -- Texas -- Houston Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Voter Registration -- Texas -- Houston Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Wesley Community Center --Houston (Tex.) Subject Source: Local sources
- Author
- Victoria Ferro
- Date
- May 2020
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
Repository Details
Part of the Houston Metropolitan Research Center Repository
