Early Works 1920s-30sEarly Works 1920s-30s

An Illustrated History of New Mexico by An Illustrated History of New Mexico by Benjamin ReadBenjamin Read

Writing regional history and folkloreWriting regional history and folklore

George I. Sanchez, Adelina Otero, and George I. Sanchez, Adelina Otero, and Nellie Van de Grift de Sanchez Nellie Van de Grift de Sanchez

Published in 1949, Published in 1949, Carey McWilliams's Carey McWilliams's North from Mexico North from Mexico was the first general was the first general history of Mexican history of Mexican Americans in the Americans in the United StatesUnited States

After World War II and the Korean War, After World War II and the Korean War, the GI Bill provided significant numbers of the GI Bill provided significant numbers of Mexican Americans some access to Mexican Americans some access to universities many of whom would go onto universities many of whom would go onto establish Mexican American and Chicanoestablish Mexican American and Chicano

Scholars from this generation, include Scholars from this generation, include Manuel P. Servin, Ramon Eduardo Ruiz, Manuel P. Servin, Ramon Eduardo Ruiz, and, slightly later, Rodolfo Acunaand, slightly later, Rodolfo Acuna

1960s1960s

In the 1960's, the field of Chicano history arose In the 1960's, the field of Chicano history arose as a result of the rise of a new social history and as a result of the rise of a new social history and the influence of the Chicano Movement of the the influence of the Chicano Movement of the 1960's and 1970's.1960's and 1970's.

The first courses in Chicano/a history were The first courses in Chicano/a history were established in the 1970's, and by the 1980's established in the 1970's, and by the 1980's courses were created in Chicana history, labor courses were created in Chicana history, labor history, and historiography, as well as Texas, history, and historiography, as well as Texas, New Mexico, and California Mexican American New Mexico, and California Mexican American history.history.

Early contributors to the Early contributors to the development of Chicano history in development of Chicano history in the 1960's included Servin of the the 1960's included Servin of the University of Southern California and University of Southern California and folklorist Americo Paredes at the folklorist Americo Paredes at the University of Texas, Austin.University of Texas, Austin.

At the very end of the 1960's they At the very end of the 1960's they were joined by Acuna at California were joined by Acuna at California State University, Northridge; State University, Northridge;

Juan Gomez Quiones Feliciano Juan Gomez Quiones Feliciano Rivera at the University of California, Rivera at the University of California, Los Angeles; Los Angeles;

Matt Meier University of Santa Clara Matt Meier University of Santa Clara and Feliciano Rivera of San Jose and Feliciano Rivera of San Jose State UniversityState University

Americo ParedesAmerico Paredes 1915-1999 1915-1999

The immediate context in the 1960's was The immediate context in the 1960's was the rise of social history as a major the rise of social history as a major catalyst in the legitimization of histories of catalyst in the legitimization of histories of American peoples of color, including American peoples of color, including Chicanos. Chicanos.

Other influences were the developing Other influences were the developing revisionist perspectives in Spanish revisionist perspectives in Spanish Borderlands history, United States Borderlands history, United States immigration history, and Mexican history.immigration history, and Mexican history.

WomenWomen

Prior to 1970 there Prior to 1970 there was not a single was not a single Chicana with a Ph.D. Chicana with a Ph.D. in history who was in history who was primarily engaged in primarily engaged in teaching and teaching and research on research on Chicana/Mexicana Chicana/Mexicana history history

TheoryTheory

By the end of the 1970's, By the end of the 1970's, Chicano/a/Mexican-American history had Chicano/a/Mexican-American history had developed several theoretical and developed several theoretical and philosophical clusters.philosophical clusters.

These can be characterized as internal These can be characterized as internal colonial, colonial and labor resistance, colonial, colonial and labor resistance, Chicana feminist, labor assimilation, Chicana feminist, labor assimilation, liberal, and conservativeliberal, and conservative

Internal ColonialInternal Colonial

The internal colonial The internal colonial perspective was perspective was defined by the work of defined by the work of sociologists Tomas sociologists Tomas Almaguer and Mario Almaguer and Mario Barrera, and the Barrera, and the major historian who major historian who employed it was employed it was Rodolfo Acuna in Rodolfo Acuna in Occupied AmericaOccupied America

Rodolfo AcunaRodolfo Acuna

Colonial and labor resistanceColonial and labor resistance

Colonial and labor resistance had been Colonial and labor resistance had been defined in part by Carey McWilliams and defined in part by Carey McWilliams and culturally enriched by Americo Paredes. culturally enriched by Americo Paredes. The major historian associated with this The major historian associated with this perspective was Juan Gomez Quiones , perspective was Juan Gomez Quiones , who was also the most prolific who was also the most prolific historiographic essayist historiographic essayist

Chicana feministChicana feminist

The Chicana feminist perspective was The Chicana feminist perspective was initially defined by nonhistorians Martha P. initially defined by nonhistorians Martha P. Cotera and Rosaura Sanchez, and later by Cotera and Rosaura Sanchez, and later by historian Louise Ano Nuevo Kerr and historian Louise Ano Nuevo Kerr and sociologist Ana Nieto Gomez.sociologist Ana Nieto Gomez.

Chicano labor assimilationChicano labor assimilation The Chicano labor The Chicano labor

assimilation perspective was assimilation perspective was defined by historian Mario T. defined by historian Mario T. Garcia and influenced by U.S. Garcia and influenced by U.S. immigration and labor immigration and labor historians. historians.

The liberal perspective was The liberal perspective was best represented by Matt best represented by Matt Meier and Feliciano RiveraMeier and Feliciano Rivera

A conservative tendency was A conservative tendency was vocally represented by vocally represented by Manuel A. Machado, whose Manuel A. Machado, whose book Listen Chicano! opened book Listen Chicano! opened with a preface written by Barry with a preface written by Barry Goldwater.Goldwater.

Mario GarciaMario Garcia

Matt MeierMatt Meier

postmodernist perspectivepostmodernist perspective

Ramon A. Gutierrez, a self-described early Ramon A. Gutierrez, a self-described early proponent of the internal colonial perspective, proponent of the internal colonial perspective, emerged as the first and leading Chicano emerged as the first and leading Chicano historian proponent of a postmodernist historian proponent of a postmodernist perspective. perspective.

The postmodernist perspective has been much The postmodernist perspective has been much enriched by scholars in cultural studies, enriched by scholars in cultural studies, comparative literature, and sociology, too comparative literature, and sociology, too numerous to be mentioned here. Key figures numerous to be mentioned here. Key figures include Tomas Almaguer, Bruce Novoa, Ramon include Tomas Almaguer, Bruce Novoa, Ramon Saldivar, Genaro Garcia, and Nicolas Kanellos Saldivar, Genaro Garcia, and Nicolas Kanellos

Finally, the Finally, the underdeveloped underdeveloped conservative position has conservative position has shifted to a shifted to a neoconservatism and neoconservatism and received a real voice from received a real voice from cultural commentator cultural commentator Richard Rodriguez.Richard Rodriguez.

Richard Garcia, who has Richard Garcia, who has been influenced by been influenced by Rodriguez, appears to Rodriguez, appears to represent a recent move represent a recent move in this direction by some in this direction by some Chicano historians.Chicano historians.

Richard RodriguezRichard Rodriguez

Major issues in Chicano history Major issues in Chicano history

(1)(1) the periodization and degree of historical continuity between the periodization and degree of historical continuity between pre-twentieth-century Mexicans and twentieth-century pre-twentieth-century Mexicans and twentieth-century Mexican Americans; Mexican Americans;

(2)(2) the stagnation or decline perspective of nineteenth-century the stagnation or decline perspective of nineteenth-century Mexican society in the Southwest; Mexican society in the Southwest;

(3)(3) the origins of Mexican labor organizations and the influence the origins of Mexican labor organizations and the influence on them of the American labor movement; on them of the American labor movement;

(4)(4) the role of women in the reproduction of Chicano/a identity the role of women in the reproduction of Chicano/a identity and culture, and the lives and struggles of Mexican women as and culture, and the lives and struggles of Mexican women as central in Chicano/a history; central in Chicano/a history;

(5)(5) the imagining of and changes in identities i.e., national, the imagining of and changes in identities i.e., national, ethnic, regional, local, gender; and ethnic, regional, local, gender; and

(6)(6) organization, politics, and political ideology.organization, politics, and political ideology.

There is an ever-increasing number of There is an ever-increasing number of theoretical and thematic approaches and theoretical and thematic approaches and sub fields of Chicano history sub fields of Chicano history

Community studiesCommunity studies Immigration HistoryImmigration History Urban Rural HistoryUrban Rural History Chicana HistoryChicana History Regional HistoryRegional History Border HistoryBorder History Mexican/Mexican-American RelationsMexican/Mexican-American Relations Intellectual HistoryIntellectual History Political HistoryPolitical History Gender and Family HistoryGender and Family History Postmodern and Cultural StudiesPostmodern and Cultural Studies Oral HistoryOral History Family History and GenealogyFamily History and Genealogy Religious HistoryReligious History Educational HistoryEducational History PsychohistoryPsychohistory EthnohistoryEthnohistory FilmFilm Chicano/a Art HistoryChicano/a Art History

ParadigmsParadigms Several powerful paradigms have emerged within Several powerful paradigms have emerged within

Chicano historiography.Chicano historiography. The first of these are Mexican Americans as natives of The first of these are Mexican Americans as natives of

the land and Mexican Americans as twentieth-century the land and Mexican Americans as twentieth-century immigrants.immigrants.

While often presented as opposites, the two While often presented as opposites, the two perspectives can be integrated in a new synthesis perspectives can be integrated in a new synthesis combining and recognizing both processes.combining and recognizing both processes.

Developing paradigms include world systems, gender, Developing paradigms include world systems, gender, and postmodernism. These include critiques of gender, and postmodernism. These include critiques of gender, patriarchal, and nationalist components of the first two patriarchal, and nationalist components of the first two decades of Chicano historiography.decades of Chicano historiography.

Native of the Land ParadigmNative of the Land Paradigm

Indigenous Meso-American perspective Indigenous Meso-American perspective Spanish Myth perspective Spanish Myth perspective Resistance perspective Resistance perspective Internal colonial perspective Internal colonial perspective Resistance, persistence, and Resistance, persistence, and

accommodation model accommodation model Social change and world systems Social change and world systems

perspective. perspective.

Immigrant ParadigmsImmigrant Paradigms

The Mexican Americans as twentieth-The Mexican Americans as twentieth-century immigrants perspective often century immigrants perspective often denies continuity with the eighteenth and denies continuity with the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries and holds that no nineteenth centuries and holds that no significant influence survived except in significant influence survived except in New Mexico. The immigrant perspective New Mexico. The immigrant perspective includes the following submodels:includes the following submodels:

Immigrant ParadigmsImmigrant Paradigms

Assimilation perspective Assimilation perspective Cultural persistence/racial exclusion Cultural persistence/racial exclusion

perspective perspective Immigration labor perspective Immigration labor perspective Ethnic assimilation perspective Ethnic assimilation perspective Pluralist/multicultural model. Pluralist/multicultural model.

Mexicana/Chicana ParadigmsMexicana/Chicana Paradigms

Chicana scholars were stimulated by Chicana scholars were stimulated by advances in European, American, and advances in European, American, and Latin American women's history Latin American women's history

Postmodernist ParadigmPostmodernist Paradigm

Postmodernist and cultural studies reexamine Postmodernist and cultural studies reexamine gender, patriarchal, and national components of gender, patriarchal, and national components of the first phase of Chicano historiography. the first phase of Chicano historiography.

Gender analysis and postmodern theories of Gender analysis and postmodern theories of despair and social decomposition are critical of despair and social decomposition are critical of earlier historiography.earlier historiography.

Major perspectives, especially the critique of Major perspectives, especially the critique of patriarchy, can be integrated into a new patriarchy, can be integrated into a new synthesis for Chicano/a historiography. synthesis for Chicano/a historiography.

General HistoriesGeneral Histories

Comprehensive general histories, as opposed to regional Comprehensive general histories, as opposed to regional works, begin with Carey McWilliams's North from Mexico works, begin with Carey McWilliams's North from Mexico (1949).(1949).

In 1990, a revised version appeared with an update by In 1990, a revised version appeared with an update by Matt S. Meier. Matt S. Meier.

Rodolfo Acuna's Occupied America: The Chicanos Rodolfo Acuna's Occupied America: The Chicanos Struggle Toward Liberation (1972), which has gone Struggle Toward Liberation (1972), which has gone through two complete rewrites: Occupied America: A through two complete rewrites: Occupied America: A History of Chicanos, second edition (1981) and third History of Chicanos, second edition (1981) and third edition (1988). edition (1988).

Matt S. Meier and Feliciano Rivera's The Chicanos: A Matt S. Meier and Feliciano Rivera's The Chicanos: A History of Mexican Americans (1972) History of Mexican Americans (1972)

F. Arturo Rosales's Chicano: The History of the Mexican F. Arturo Rosales's Chicano: The History of the Mexican American Civil Rights Movement (1996). American Civil Rights Movement (1996).

JournalsJournals publishing major historiographic essays have included publishing major historiographic essays have included The Journal of Mexican-American History;The Journal of Mexican-American History; Aztlan;Aztlan; Pacific Historical Review; Pacific Historical Review; Western Historical Review;Western Historical Review; Ethnic Affairs;Ethnic Affairs; Journal of Ethnic Studies; Journal of Ethnic Studies; Journal of American Studies; Journal of American Studies; Fronteras/ Frontiers; Fronteras/ Frontiers; American Quarterly;American Quarterly; Latin American Studies Perspectives; Latin American Studies Perspectives; Annals of the Association of American Geographers; Annals of the Association of American Geographers; The New Scholar.The New Scholar.

centers for research and graduate centers for research and graduate trainingtraining

Important centers for research and graduate training include Important centers for research and graduate training include or have included the University of California (Los Angeles, or have included the University of California (Los Angeles, San Diego, Berkeley, and Santa Barbara campuses); San Diego, Berkeley, and Santa Barbara campuses);

Stanford University; Stanford University; the University of Southern California;the University of Southern California; the University of Texas at Austin;the University of Texas at Austin; Michigan State University; Michigan State University; the University of Michigan;the University of Michigan; the University of New Mexico; the University of New Mexico; the University of Arizona;the University of Arizona; and Arizona State University. and Arizona State University. Many other universities offer graduate courses but have Many other universities offer graduate courses but have

produced few Ph.D's in Chicano(a) history.produced few Ph.D's in Chicano(a) history.

Future Complexity of Chicano/a Future Complexity of Chicano/a HistoryHistory

The Chicano history field is part of the great wave of social and The Chicano history field is part of the great wave of social and ethnic history that impacted the U.S. historical profession beginning ethnic history that impacted the U.S. historical profession beginning in the late 1960's.in the late 1960's.

The establishment of social, women's, and ethnic histories occurred The establishment of social, women's, and ethnic histories occurred in the face of open hostilityin the face of open hostility

Despite the difficulties, women's history and ethnic histories, Despite the difficulties, women's history and ethnic histories, including Chicano/a, achieved formal professional recognition in the including Chicano/a, achieved formal professional recognition in the 1990's.1990's.

The field of Chicano/a history was established, underwent, and is The field of Chicano/a history was established, underwent, and is undergoing great intellectual change. undergoing great intellectual change.

An academic cadre of Chicano/a historians can be found in many An academic cadre of Chicano/a historians can be found in many American universities and colleges; courses in Chicano/a history American universities and colleges; courses in Chicano/a history now exist; and undergraduate and graduate degrees are being now exist; and undergraduate and graduate degrees are being granted. granted.

The development of Chicana history, Chicana The development of Chicana history, Chicana historiography, and a Chicana critique of patriarchy mark historiography, and a Chicana critique of patriarchy mark a fundamental change in the field. Today much more a fundamental change in the field. Today much more remains to be accomplished in introducing new remains to be accomplished in introducing new historiographic interpretations where teaching occurs, historiographic interpretations where teaching occurs, not only in the universities and community colleges but not only in the universities and community colleges but especially in the secondary and elementary schools.especially in the secondary and elementary schools.

The increasing size and complexity of Mexican-The increasing size and complexity of Mexican-American/ Chicano/a history reflects the intellectual American/ Chicano/a history reflects the intellectual vitality of the field. Multiple perspectives, theories, vitality of the field. Multiple perspectives, theories, periodizations, methodologies, and proliferating texts periodizations, methodologies, and proliferating texts contribute to a richer dialogue and promise exciting contribute to a richer dialogue and promise exciting debates.debates.

CITATIONCITATION

Ríos-Bustamante, Antonio. A General Ríos-Bustamante, Antonio. A General Survey of Chicano(a) Historiography, JSRI Survey of Chicano(a) Historiography, JSRI Occasional Paper #25, The Julian Samora Occasional Paper #25, The Julian Samora Research Institute, Michigan State Research Institute, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan, 2000.University, East Lansing, Michigan, 2000.