UMAS exhibitThe University Libraries are proud to host a panel exhibit celebrating 50 years of UMAS y MEChA de CU Boulder. UMAS is a student organization that empowers Latinx through education and activism. The exhibit is arranged into four themes: Solidarity, Education, Activism, and Expression. In Spanish these slogans refer to the founding values of UMAS: El Pueblo Unido Jamas Sera Vencido, (a house united shall never be divided) La Educación es Nuestra Fuerza (education is our strength) Activismo (Activism) and La Voz de la Gente (voice of the people.)

The University of Colorado Boulder Archives is proud to collaborate with UMAS y MEChA de CU Boulder to create this exhibit celebrating the 50th anniversary of the United Mexican American Students organization on campus.  The Archives holds over 50,000 linear feet of unique primary source materials documenting the history of the CU Boulder campus, among other topics.  Among these is a small collection of photographs, memos, programs, notes, and other materials that document UMAS’s vibrant presence on campus since 1968.

During the 2018-2019 academic year, the CU Boulder Archives is working with UMAS y MEChA to broaden the Archives’ collections on UMAS and the history of the Chicano experience on campus.  We are actively reaching out to alumni and current students to collect one-of-a kind materials to document this important story in CU’s history. These collections will be preserved in perpetuity in the Archives to help future generations of students, faculty, and staff understand the role that CU’s Chicanx community has played and continues to play in shaping our campus.  If you are interested in donating materials relating to this topic, the Archives would love to hear from you!

Please contact Megan Friedel, Head of Archives at: megan.k.friedel@colorado.edu

Thank you to UMAS alumni and community supporters Juan Espinosa, Lorenzo Trujillo, and Sarah Navarro for lending photographs that appear in this exhibit.  Other photographs and iconography comes from the United Mexican Students Association records (COU:3673) in the CU Boulder Archives and from historical records held by UMAS y MEChA.

Ventana Gallery, Norlin Library, 3rd floor.