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League of United Latin American Citizens. Council 10 (Davenport, Iowa)

 Organization

Biography

LULAC Council 10 received its charter in Davenport on February 16, 1959. It was the fifth LULAC council to be formed in Iowa and its officers were sworn in at the second annual Iowa state LULAC convention, held in Fort Madison on May 30, 1959. The national LULAC organization was founded in Texas in 1929 to promote the rights of Mexican American citizens of the United States and to preserve the rich traditions and cultural heritage of its members. LULAC expanded into the Midwest during the late 1950s under the leadership of Felix Tijerina who served as president of the national organization from 1956 to 1960. Prior to the formation of LULAC Council 10, four other councils were formed in Iowa: LULAC Council 304 (Fort Madison, 1957); LULAC Council 306 (Des Moines, 1957); Des Moines Ladies Council 308 (1957); LULAC Council 319 (Mason City, 1958).   The members of Davenport LULAC Council 10 engaged in a wide range of social and political activities. They held annual fiestas and queen competitions and participated in the national LULAC scholarship program to fund educational opportunities for Mexican American students to pursue college education. The council maintained a rigorous civil rights agenda and, during the 1960s, collaborated with other activists to secure fair housing legislation and the appointment of a full-time director to the Davenport Human Relations Commission in 1970. Council 10 actively supported the boycott of California table grapes during the late 1960s when they formed the Quad City Grape Boycott Committee. They promoted bilingual education in Iowa schools and successfully lobbied the state legislature to form the Iowa Spanish Speaking Peoples Commission, which was signed into law by Governor Ray in 1976.

Found in 1 Collection or Record:

Merle Ramirez papers

 Collection
Identifier: IWA0809
Abstract

Educator, activist, and musician from Davenport, Iowa, who held leadership positions in UAW Local 858 and League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC).

Dates: 1987 - 2016

Filtered By

  • Subject: 1991-2000 X