PLASENICA, “ILA” (1927- )

First president of the women’s LULAC Council #306 in Des Moines, Iowa, served on state commissions, and advocated for civil rights for Iowa’s Latino community.

• Iowa Digital Library: Ila Plasenica papers, selected material

 

GUZMAN, IRENE, AND JOSE (1943- )

Photographs and slides pertaining to the Guzman's role in the Migrant Action Program in Mason City, Iowa.

• Iowa Digital Library: Irene and Jose Guzman papers, selected material

 

O’CONNER, REV. WILLIAM T. (1922-1984)

Roman Catholic priest and labor rights advocate who taught at St. Ambrose College, Davenport, Iowa. O'Connor's career as a professor and as a priest was marked by his dedication to the causes of racial and social justice.

• Iowa Digital Library: Reverend William O'Connor oral history interview, 1980 (Iowa Labor History Oral Project) 

 

OLVERA, MARY VÁSQUEZ (1927-2016)

Political activist from Davenport, Iowa, who was involved in the Ladies Auxiliary of the Iowa chapter of the American G.I. Forum and co-founded the Quad Cities “Viva Kennedy” club with her husband.

 

RODRIGUEZ, ERNEST (1928- )

Davenport civil rights and Chicano activist, born in the predominantly Mexican settlement of Holy City in Bettendorf, Iowa.

• Iowa Digital Library: Ernest Rodriguez papers, selected material

 

RUNDQUIST, MARIA E. (1951- )

Sioux City business owner and political activist who emigrated to the United States in 1978.

 

SANDAGE, SHIRLEY M. (1927-2012)

Mason City, Iowa-born civil rights activist, United States field representative for the Christian Children's Fund and director of program development for the National Organization on Disability.

• Iowa Digital Library: Shirley M. Sandage papers, selected material

 

TERRONEZ, MARY (1918-2009)

Davenport area community activist and leader in the city’s Mexican American community.

• Iowa Digital Library: Mary Terronez papers, selected material

 

VARGAS, LUCY AND HENRY (1929- )

Mexican American activists from Davenport, Iowa. Henry Vargas was a founder and president of the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) Council 10 in Davenport. Active in the Human Relations Commission and the Davenport Catholic Interracial Council.

 

WERNER, MARTA (1906-1989) 

Native of Mexico who came to Fort Madison, Iowa in 1914. Her community activism centered on the Iowa State Penitentiary in Fort Madison.

 

LA CASA LATINA (SIOUX CITY, IOWA)

Non-profit organization that helped recent Latino immigrants and non-English speakers in the Siouxland area obtain human services, healthcare, housing, and other basic needs. The organization operated under the name La Casa Latina from 1989 until 2007 when it joined the Mary J. Treglia Community House in Sioux City.

 

LEAGUE OF UNITED LATIN AMERICAN CITIZENS (LULUC) COUNCIL 10 (DAVENPORT, IOWA)

The members of Davenport LULAC Council 10 engaged in a wide range of social and political activities including annual fiestas, civil rights, and fair housing.

• Iowa Digital Library: League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) Council 10 records, selected material

 

LULAC COUNCILS #306 AND #308 (DES MOINES, IOWA)

The League of United Latin American Citizens Councils #306 and #308 provided opportunities for educational, social, and civil rights advancement for Latinos in the area through scholarships, social events, and political activism.

• Iowa Digital Library: LULAC Councils #306 and #308 records, selected material:

 

MUSCATINE MIGRANT COMMITTEE (MMC)

Migrant agency that advocated for agricultural laborers employed temporarily on eastern Iowa farms.

• Iowa Digital Library: Muscatine Migrant Committee records, selected material