37 linear feet, 2 linear inches, 85 containers

The material in this collection consists of papers created by Esteban Torres, Special Assistant to the President for Hispanic Affairs and five of his staff members. The files include correspondence, memoranda, notes, speeches, reports, schedules, telephone messages, miscellaneous printed material, newspaper clippings, and travel vouchers. The files document the office’s attempts to represent the Hispanic community at the federal government level.

The Office of Hispanic Affairs was created in the summer of 1979 to increase Hispanic representation in the federal government and its programs; provide information about the government to Hispanics; and respond to the needs of the Hispanic community. Due to the daily demands on the office in addressing these issues, long range policy planning was not developed.

The Office of Hispanic Affairs’ activities included monitoring the progress of affirmative action policies; providing information relating to housing, education, economic development, and employment; and helping the Hispanic community receive federal resources. One of the special projects developed by this office included the first major farm worker consultation program to collaborate with the Office of Intergovernmental Affairs. The office also initiated the first national bilingual Hispanic consumer education project by the White House. Through the publication of a newsletter, the office promoted bilingual education legislation in cooperation with the Department of Education, Congressional offices, and various interest groups.

On September 13, 1979, Esteban Edward Torres was appointed special assistant to the President for Hispanic Affairs by President Jimmy Carter. Torres continued in this capacity until the end of the Carter administration. In this position, he had direct access to the President and was the highest ranking Mexican-American in the administration. Gilbert Colon served as deputy assistant to the President for Hispanic Affairs from October 1979 until the end of the Carter administration. As second-in-command to Ambassador Esteban Torres, Colon was in charge of the day-to-day activities. Raul Robert Tapia served as deputy assistant to the President for Hispanic Affairs from 1979- 1981, and his duties consisted of representing the interests of the Hispanic community in the areas of education, community outreach, economic development, housing, and employment. Miriam Cruz was appointed deputy assistant to the President for Hispanic Affairs from 1980-1981. She was responsible for advocating on behalf of Hispanic women and community outreach within the office. Armando Rendon and Hilda Solis also worked in the office assisting Torres and his deputy assistants with the daily functions of the office.

Biographical information on key office personnel is located at the end of the finding aid.

Textual

The records of the Office of Hispanic Affairs are divided into nine series

Esteban Edward Torres’ Chronological Files

Scope and Content: Containers 1-11. This series was opened in October 1991. This series contains correspondence, memoranda, invitations, telephone messages, schedules, and travel vouchers. Arranged by type of materials and there under chronologically.

 

Esteban Edward Torres’ Subject Files

Scope and Content: Containers 12-44. This series was opened in October 1991. This series contains correspondence, memoranda, notes, speeches, reports, newspaper clippings, and miscellaneous printed material. These files contain material related to Hispanic concerns including economics, bilingual education, politics, housing, and immigration. Arranged alphabetically by folder title.

 

Gilbert Colon’s Subject Files

Scope and Content: Containers 1-14. This series was opened in October 1991. This series contains correspondence, memoranda, notes, press releases, reports, printed materials and speeches. These files contain information relating to the Hispanic Newsletter and a bilingual consumer's guide. This material also contains background information on several court case files relating to alleged police brutality, discrimination, unemployment, and bilingual education. Arranged alphabetically by folder title.

 

Gilbert Colon’s Chronological Files

Scope and Content: Containers 15-17. This series was opened in October 1991.This series contains general correspondence and memoranda as well as a 1980 appointment calendar and a telephone log book. Arranged chronologically.

 

Gilbert Colon’s Resume Files

Scope and Content: Containers 18-20. This series was opened in October 1991. This series contains resumes, SF171’s, and letters of recommendation. Arranged alphabetically by applicant’s name. This series is closed under donor deed restrictions.

 

Raul Robert Tapia’s Files

Scope and Content: Containers 1-9. This series was opened in October 1991. The series contains correspondence, memoranda, notes, newspaper clippings, press releases, reports, printed material, speeches, and resumes. The material highlights subjects of vital interest to Hispanic leaders during the Carter administration. This series contains correspondence between Tapia and influential leaders to affect policies of interest to the Hispanic population including immigration laws, law enforcement, alleged police brutality, discrimination, employment, bilingual education, and urban renewal. In addition, the files include information on the Hanigan case, the American GI Forum, the National Economic Development Association (NEDA), the National Coalition of Hispanic Mental Health and Human Services (COSSMHO) and the La Raza Alliance. Arranged alphabetically by folder title.

 

Miriam Cruz’s Files

Scope and Content: Containers 1-3. This series was opened in October 1991. This series consists of memoranda, correspondence, key contact lists, speeches, and newspaper clippings. The series includes material on the Cuban refugee crisis and the administration's policies on Hispanic issues. Included in the clippings files are two oversized blueprints of the layout of the Fort Allen Cuban Refugee Center. Arranged alphabetically by folder title and there under chronologically.

 

Armando Rendon’s Files

Scope and Content: Containers 1-3. This series was opened in October 1991. This series contains memoranda, notes, press releases, correspondence, reports, and printed materials. Some of these items are written in Spanish. The material in this series contains information generated for the Office of Hispanic Affairs and census information related to Hispanics and other minorities. In addition, these files contain staff meeting agendas and minutes, monthly activity and correspondence tracking sheets, and inter-office memos. Also included are transcripts of press conferences dealing with Cuban and Haitian refugees. Arranged alphabetically by folder title.

 

Hilda Solis’ Files

Scope and Content: Containers 1-6. This series was opened in October 1991.This series contains background material that was used in the Office of Hispanic Affairs’ newsletter, News on Hispanic Affairs including photographs, press releases, resumes, speech drafts, newspaper articles, and publications. This newsletter publicized the administration's policies and initiatives directed towards the Hispanic population, including appointments of Hispanics to positions in the federal government and the need for Hispanic participation in the 1980 census. A portion of the four issues published between January and June 1980 are in Spanish. Arranged alphabetically by folder title, with exception of newsletter files which are arranged by date of the publication.

These papers contain documents restricted in accordance with applicable executive order(s), which governs National Security policies, applicable statutes/agency restrictions, and material which has been closed in accordance with the donor’s deed of gift.

Copyright interest in these papers has been donated to the United States Government. Some of the records may be subject to copyright restrictions (i.e. newspapers, publications, etc.). Researchers should contact the publisher for further information.

The Jimmy Carter Presidential Library and Museum

441 Freedom Parkway NE Atlanta, GA 30307

Hispanic affairs

Housing

Education

Economic development

Employment

Hispanic women

Community outreach

Esteban Edward Torres

Gilbert Colon

Raul Robert Tapia

Miriam Cruz

Armando Rendon

Hilda Solis

American GI Forum

National Economic Development Association (NEDA)

National Coalition of Hispanic Mental Health and Human Services Organization (COSSMHO)

La Raza Alliance

The collection was opened in October 1991.

1977-1981

Related materials in this repository: Domestic Policy Staff (Civil Rights and Justice Cluster); White House Central File (Immigration/Naturalization Category)

Separated material: Photographs, slides, audio tapes, books

Esteban Edward Torres’ Chronological Files

Chron File – Correspondence and Memoranda

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Chron File -Invitations/Regrets

 

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Esteban Edward Torres’ Subject Files

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Gilbert Colon’s Subject Files

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Gilbert Colon’s Chronological Files

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Gilbert Colon’s Resume Files

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  • [Hispanic Action and Correspondence Tracking Sheets-Computer Printouts] (Transferred from box 6)

 

Raul Robert Tapia’s Files

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Miriam Cruz’s Files

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Armando Rendon’s Files

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Hilda Solis’ Files

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