Title: American G.I. Forum of Wisconsin Papers
Inclusive Dates: 1982-2019

Creator:

• American G.I. Forum of Wisconsin

Call Number: UWM Manuscript Collection 361

Quantity:

• 1.2 cubic ft. (2 boxes)
• 1,543 digital files (1.34 GB)

Repository:

University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Libraries, Archives Department

Archival Location:

UW-Milwaukee Libraries, Archives / Milwaukee Area Research Ctr. (Map)

Abstract:

Collection of minutes, flyers, correspondence, photographs, ephemera and other documentation covering the history of the American G.I. Forum Wisconsin chapter from the 1980s to recent. Collection also contains items from subgroups and related groups, such as the Latino Veterans Memorial Chapter. Items were donated in both digital and physical form and duplicates of items may exist in both locations.

Language: English

URL to cite for this finding aid: http://digital.library.wisc.edu/1711.dl/wiarchives.uw-mil-uwmmss0361

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The American G.I. Forum (AGIF) is a Congressionally chartered Hispanic veterans and civil rights organization founded in 1948. Its motto is "Education is Our Freedom and Freedom should be Everybody's Business". AGIF operates chapters throughout the United States, with a focus on veterans' issues, education, and civil rights.

The organization was established in Corpus Christi, Texas, on March 26, 1948 by Dr. Hector P. Garcia to address the concerns of Mexican-American veterans, who were segregated from other veterans groups. Initially formed to request services for World War II veterans of Mexican descent who were denied medical services by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs, the AGIF soon entered into non-veteran's issues such as voting rights, jury selection, and educational desegregation, advocating for the civil rights of all Mexican Americans. In 1959, the organization claimed 25,000 members in 18 states. Today, the AGIF advocates on behalf of all Hispanic veterans.

The AGIF's first campaign was on the behalf of Felix Longoria, a Mexican-American private who was killed in the Philippines in the line of duty during World War II. Three years after the war, when Longoria's remains were returned to Texas, his family was denied funeral services by a white-owned funeral home. Dr. Garcia requested the intercession of then-Senator Lyndon B. Johnson, who secured Longoria's burial in Arlington National Cemetery. The case brought the AGIF to national attention, and chapters were opened throughout the country. A women's and youth auxiliary were also formed.

The collection includes meeting minutes from 1982-2018, membership rosters, coverage of conferences over the years (both locally and nationally), fliers and other ephemera of events hosted by the chapter, photographs of events, and founding documents of the chapter.

The files are organized alphabetically by subject, then chronologically.

Citation Guide for Primary Sources

Access Restrictions

The items in Box 2 are restricted as they contain personal address information and tax information of the chapter and it's members. A redacted version can be provided upon request for patrons by a staff member.

Use Restrictions

The researcher assumes full responsibility for conforming with the laws of libel, privacy, and copyright which may be involved in the use of this collection (Wisconsin Statutes 19.21-19.39).

Acquisition Information

Fernando Rodriguez donated the records to the Archives in April 2019 (accession 2018-029). Camila Leffel donated additional records in 2022 (accession 2022-030).

Processing Information

Lizzie Hjelle processed most of the collection in 2019. Shiraz Bhathena finished processing the collection and wrote the finding aid in 2022. Laura K. N. Jones updated the finding aid on April 13th, 2023 to integrate accession 2022-030.

Box   1 Folder   1	American G.I. Forum of Illinois, 1986-1987
Box   1 Folder   2	Articles of Incorporation, 1966-2008
	Annual Conference
Box   1 Folder   3	2010
Box   1 Folder   4	2011
Box   1 Folder   5	2012
	Board and Council Matters
Electronic Folder     \Board_and_Council_Matters\   Allied_Veterans_Council_WMC\	Allied Veterans Council WMC, 2013-2018 Physical Description: 2 digital files (51 KB)
Electronic Folder     \Board_and_Council_Matters\   Council_On_Veterans_Programs\	Council on Veterans' Programs, 2011-2017 Physical Description: 18 digital files (4.27 MB)
Electronic Folder     \Board_and_Council_Matters\   General\	General, 2009-2014, undated Physical Description: 7 digital files (1.78 MB)
Electronic Folder     \Board_and_Council_Matters\   League_of_United_Latin_American_Citizens\	League of United Latin American Citizens, 2015, undated Physical Description: 2 digital files (1.26 MB)
Electronic Folder     \Board_and_Council_Matters\   War_Memorial_Center\	War Memorial Center, 2016-2018 Physical Description: 2 digital files (555 KB)
Electronic Folder     \Board_and_Council_Matters\   Wisconsin_Department_of_Veterans_Affairs_Board\	Wisconsin Department of Veterans Affairs Board, 2009-2016 Physical Description: 3 digital files (349 KB)
	Civic Events
	Cinco de Mayo
Electronic Folder     \Civic_Events\   Cinco_de_Mayo\	Digital,2001-2013, undated Physical Description: 19 digital files (1.83 MB)
	Physical
Box   1 Folder   6	2001
Box   1 Folder   7	2002-2003
Electronic Folder     \Civic_Events\   Day_of_Honor\	Day of Honor, 2013-2016 Physical Description: 11 digital files (5.07 MB)
Electronic Folder     \Civic_Events\   Founder's_Day\	Founder's Day, 2016-2018 Physical Description: 8 digital files (682 KB)
Electronic Folder     \Civic_Events\   Fourth_of_July\	Fourth of July, 2016-2017 Physical Description: 2 digital files (90.8 KB)
Electronic Folder     \Civic_Events\   Hispanic_Heritage_Month\	Hispanic Heritage Month, 2018 Physical Description: 2 digital files (10.3 MB)
Electronic Folder     \Civic_Events\   Holiday_Brunch\	Holiday Brunch, 2009-2019 Physical Description: 10 digital files (1.66 MB)
Electronic Folder     \Civic_Events\   League_of_United_Latin_American_Citizens_Convention\	League of United Latin American Citizens Convention, 2019 Physical Description: 1 digital file (103 KB)
Electronic Folder     \Civic_Events\   Memorial_Day\	Memorial Day, 2012 Physical Description: 2 digital files (943 KB)
Electronic Folder     \Civic_Events\   Mexican_Fiesta\	Mexican Fiesta, 2008-2018, undated Physical Description: 11 digital files (2.07 MB)
Electronic Folder     \Civic_Events\   Mexican_Independence_Day\	Mexican Independence Day, 2006-2015 Physical Description: 9 digital files (6.50 MB)
Electronic Folder     \Civic_Events\   Other_Community_Events\	Other Community Events, 2001-2019 Physical Description: 22 digital files (10.8 MB)
Electronic Folder     \Civic_Events\   Veteran's_Recognition_Breakfast\	Veteran's Recognition Breakfast, 2015 Physical Description: 1 digital file (115 KB)
	Color Guard
Electronic Folder     \Color_Guard\   Cinco_de_Mayo\	Cinco de Mayo, 2008 Physical Description: 1 digital file (33.0 KB)
Electronic Folder     \Color_Guard\   Guides_and_Information\	Guides and Information, 2001-2016 Physical Description: 3 digital files (4.76 MB)
Electronic Folder     \Color_Guard\   Mexican_Fiesta\	Mexican Fiesta, 2007-2012 Physical Description: 4 digital files (680 KB)
Electronic Folder     \Commander's_Updates\	Commander's Updates, 2001-2015 Physical Description: 44 digital files (27.7 MB)
Box   1 Folder   8	Constitution Changes, 2009
	Correspondence
	Digital
Electronic Folder     \Correspondence\   Alvarez_Juan\	Alvarez, Juan, 2006-2009 Physical Description: 6 digital files (2.59 MB)
Electronic Folder     \Correspondence\   Banda_George\	Banda, George, 2010-2017 Physical Description: 36 digital files (19.8 MB)
Electronic Folder     \Correspondence\   Black_Kenneth\	Black, Kenneth, 2009-2010 Physical Description: 2 digital files (150 KB)
Electronic Folder     \Correspondence\   deMoya_Rick\	deMoya, Rick, 2011-2014 Physical Description: 7 digital files (2.66 MB)
Electronic Folder     \Correspondence\   Flores_Santiago\	Flores, Santiago, 2011 Physical Description: 1 digital file (192 KB)
Electronic Folder     \Correspondence\   Medina_Yolanda\	Medina, Yolanda, 2009 Physical Description: 1 digital file (59 KB)
Electronic Folder     \Correspondence\   Morales_Antonio\	Morales, Antonio, 2009 Physical Description: 1 digital file (48.7 KB)
Electronic Folder     \Correspondence\   Morales_Gil\	Morales, Gil, 2009 Physical Description: 1 digital file (158 KB)
Electronic Folder     \Correspondence\   Perez_Silvia\	Perez, Silvia, 2006 Physical Description: 1 digital file (25.5 KB)
Electronic Folder     \Correspondence\   Rodriguez_Fernando\	Rodriguez, Fernando, 2002-2010, undated Physical Description: 7 digital files (2.69 MB)
Electronic Folder     \Correspondence\   Ruiz_Jose\	Ruiz, Jose, 2011-2018 Physical Description: 8 digital files (1.37 MB)
Electronic Folder     \Correspondence\   Scocos_John\	Scocos, John, 2008-2013 Physical Description: 2 digital files (85.1 KB)
Electronic Folder     \Correspondence\   Vela_Victor\	Vela, Victor, 1999-2010, undated Physical Description: 49 digital files (15.6 MB)
	Physical
Box   1 Folder   9	1982-1984
Box   1 Folder   10	1987
Box   1 Folder   11	1988
Box   1 Folder   12	2002-2008
Box   1 Folder   13	Council on Veterans Programs, 2010-2018
Electronic Folder     \Eagle_Award\	Eagle Award, 1999-2010, undated Physical Description: 2 digital files (523 KB)
Box   1 Folder   14	Ephemera, 2010-2019
Electronic Folder     \Executive_Committee\	Executive Committee, 1999-2010, undated Physical Description: 26 digital files (4.50 MB)
Box   1 Folder   15	Event Flyers, 2009-2015
Box   1 Folder   16	Fort Atkinson American Legion Incident, 2006
Box   1 Folder   17	Founding Documents, 1987
Box   2 Folder   5	Garcia Founder's Chapter Account Building Fund, 2006 Access Restrictions: This folder is restricted.
Box   1 Folder   18	Hispanic Veterans, 1990-1999
Box   2 Folder   1	IRS Inc. Papers, Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws, 2009 Access Restrictions: This folder is restricted.
	Latino Veterans
Electronic Folder     \Latino_Veterans\   Biographies\	Biographies, 2003-2019, undated Physical Description: 35 digital files (5.21 MB)
Electronic Folder     \Latino_Veterans\   Events\	Events, 2014-2015 Physical Description: 2 digital files (107 KB)
Electronic Folder     \Latino_Veterans\   Expelled\	Expelled, 2016 Physical Description: 2 digital files (361 KB)
Electronic Folder     \Latino_Veterans\   General\	General, 1999-2018, undated Physical Description: 30 digital files (28.4 MB)
Electronic Folder     \Latino_Veterans_Legacy_of_Valor\	Latino Veterans Legacy of Valor, 2005-2019, undated Physical Description: 140 digital files (82.6 MB)
Box   1 Folder   46	Latino Veteran's Memorial, 1999-2007, undated
Box   1 Folder   47	Latino Veterans' Needs, 1999-2000, undated
Box   1 Folder   19	Los Hispanos, A Report on Hispanic Veterans, undated
	Meeting Minutes
Electronic Folder     \Meetings\	Digital, 1999-2019 Physical Description: 189 digital files (51.9 MB)
	Physical
Box   1 Folder   20	1982-1984
Box   1 Folder   21	1987
Box   1 Folder   22	1999-2007
Box   1 Folder   23	2008
Box   1 Folder   24	2009
Box   1 Folder   25	2010
Box   1 Folder   26	2011
Box   1 Folder   27	2012
Box   1 Folder   28	2013
Box   1 Folder   29	2014
Box   1 Folder   30	2015
Box   1 Folder   31	2016
Box   1 Folder   32	2017
Box   1 Folder   33	2018
Box   2 Folder   4	Member Contact Information, undated Access Restrictions: This folder is restricted.
Box   1 Folder   34	Membership, 2002-2003
Box   2 Folder   2	Michael Morales, 2011 Access Restrictions: This folder is restricted.
Box   1 Folder   35	Mid-Year Conference, 2011
Electronic Folder     \National\	National, 2002-2019 Physical Description: 53 digital files (15.7 MB)
Box   1 Folder   36	National Convention, 2002
Box   1 Folder   37	National and State Commander's Updates, 2001-2002
Box   1 Folder   38	Needs of the Hispanic Vietnam Era Veteran, 1983-1988
Box   1 Folder   39	Oral History of Latino Veterans, undated
	Photographs
	Digital
Electronic Folder     \Photographs\   Annual_Conference_2012\	Annual Conference, 2012 Physical Description: 10 digital files (41.6 KB)
Electronic Folder     \Photographs\   Blue_Star_Christmas_2009\	Blue Star Christmas, 2009 Physical Description: 5 digital files (7.12 MB)
Electronic Folder     \Photographs\   Cactus_Memorial\	Cactus Memorial, 2005, undated Physical Description: 6 digital files (887 KB)
Electronic Folder     \Photographs\   Color_Guard\	Color Guard, 2007-2014 Physical Description: 15 digital files (41.6 MB)
Electronic Folder     \Photographs\   Day_of_Honor_2015\	Day of Honor, 2015 Physical Description: 7 digital files (1.73 MB)
Electronic Folder     \Photographs\   Dias_de_los_Muertos_2014\	Dias de los Muertos, 2014 Physical Description: 2 digital files (998 KB)
Electronic Folder     \Photographs\   Fourth_of_July_2008\	Fourth of July, 2008 Physical Description: 22 digital files (3.14 MB)
Electronic Folder     \Photographs\   Garcia_Hector\	Garcia, Hector, 1950, undated Physical Description: 7 digital files (242 KB)
Electronic Folder     \Photographs\   Hispanic_Chamber_of_Commerce_WI\	Hispanic Chamber of Commerce WI, 2015 Physical Description: 6 digital files (2.58 MB)
Electronic Folder     \Photographs\   Holiday_Brunch\	Holiday Brunch, 2007-2012 Physical Description: 30 digital files (18.4 MB)
Electronic Folder     \Photographs\   Latino_Veterans_Pictorial_Project\	Latino Veterans Pictorial Project, 2008-2011 Physical Description: 108 digital files (220 MB)
Electronic Folder     \Photographs\   Latino_Vote_2008\	Latino Vote, 2008 Physical Description: 35 digital files (4.86 MB)
Electronic Folder     \Photographs\   League_of_United_Latin_American_Citizens_2008\	League of United Latin American Citizens, 2008 Physical Description: 2 digital files (281 KB)
Electronic Folder     \Photographs\   LZLambaeu_2010\	LZLambeau, 2010 Physical Description: 40 digital files (53.5 MB)
Electronic Folder     \Photographs\   MacArthur_Memorial_Week_2014\	MacArthur Memorial Weekend, 2014 Physical Description: 13 digital files (40.6 MB)
Electronic Folder     \Photographs\   Madison_2013\	Madison, 2013 Physical Description: 21 digital files (75.8 MB)
Electronic Folder     \Photographs\   Members\	Members, 1950-2016, undated Physical Description: 62 digital files (62 MB)
Electronic Folder     \Photographs\   Memorial_Day\	Memorial Day, 2012-2013 Physical Description: 7 digital files (12.3 MB)
Electronic Folder     \Photographs\   Mexican_Fiesta_2009\	Mexican Fiesta, 2009 Physical Description: 5 digital files (6.45 MB)
Electronic Folder     \Photographs\   Mexican_Independence_Day\	Mexican Independence Day, 2010-2013 Physical Description: 18 digital files (16 MB)
Electronic Folder     \Photographs\   Military_Seals_undated\	Military Seals, undated Physical Description: 12 digital files (376 KB)
Electronic Folder     \Photographs\   Parade\	Parade, 2006-2009 Physical Description: 113 digital files (246 MB)
Electronic Folder     \Photographs\   Puerto_Rican_Fest_undated\	Puerto Rican Fest, undated Physical Description: 1 digital files (78.1 KB)
Electronic Folder     \Photographs\   Rascon_2009\	Rascon, 2009 Physical Description: 9 digital files (13.8 MB)
Electronic Folder     \Photographs\   UMOS_Hispanic_Awards_Banquet\	UMOS Hispanic Awards Banquet, 2008-2015 Physical Description: 6 digital files (1.58 MB)
Electronic Folder     \Photographs\   Unknown_Events\	Unknown Events, 2011-2015 Physical Description: 10 digital files (25.8 MB)
Electronic Folder     \Photographs\   Veterans_Day\	Veterans Day, 2011-2013 Physical Description: 42 digital files (141 MB)
Electronic Folder     \Photographs\   War_Memorial\	War Memorial, 2008-2016 Physical Description: 8 digital files (25.8 MB)
Electronic Folder     \Photographs\   War_Memorial_Center_2012\	War Memorial Center, 2012 Physical Description: 4 digital files (19.6 KB)
Electronic Folder     \Photographs\   Wisconsin_Latino_Veterans_Memorial_Fund\	Wisconsin Latino Veterans Memorial Fund, 2009, undated Physical Description: 3 digital files (1.96 MB)
	Physical
Box   1 Folder   40	1987
Box   1 Folder   41	2016
Electronic Folder     \Racine_Chapter\	Racine Chapter, 1987-2011 Physical Description: 3 digital files (383 KB)
Electronic Folder     \Rosters -- RESTRICTED\	Rosters, 2010-2017, undated Physical Description: 8 digital files (2.95 MB)  Access Restrictions: This folder is restricted.
Box   1 Folder   42	Supermarket of Veterans Benefits, undated
	Secretarial Files
Electronic Folder     \Secretary\   Calendar_of_Events\	Calendar of Events, 2009-2019 Physical Description: 6 digital files (886 KB)
Electronic Folder     \Secretary\   Grants\	Grants, 2015-2018 Physical Description: 19 digital files (6.84 MB)
Electronic Folder     \Secretary\   History\	History, 1999-2017, undated Physical Description: 13 digital files (4.19 MB)
Electronic Folder     \Secretary\   Legal_Documents\	Legal Documents, 1999-2009, undated Physical Description: 13 digital files (1.14 MB)
Electronic Folder     \Secretary\   Secretary_Matters\	Secretary Matters, 2009-2010, undated Physical Description: 4 digital files (583 KB)
Electronic Folder     \Secretary\   SER\	SER, undated Physical Description: 1 digital file (16.1 KB)
Electronic Folder     \Secretary\   Support_Organizations\	Support Organizations, 2009-2011, undated Physical Description: 7 digital files (3.69 MB)
Electronic Folder     \State_Conference\	State Conference, 2010-2013 Physical Description: 11 digital files (1.98 MB)
Box   1 Folder   43	Treasurer's Report, 2001
Box   1 Folder   44	Veterans Summit, 2007
Box   1 Folder   45	Waukesha, 2002
Box   2 Folder   3	Wisconsin Department of Veterans Affairs (WDVA) Grant, 2015 Access Restrictions: This folder is restricted.