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Chicano and Mexican Calendar Art collection

 Collection
Identifier: MSS 459 large

Scope and Contents

This collection of calendar art consists of materials acquired as a purchase by the MSU Libraries or items separated from the papers of Juana and Jesse Gonzales, Julio Cesar Guerrero and Pedro and Diana Rivera. The items in the collection are as early as 1972 and the bulk in the first decade of 2000.

Dates

  • Creation: 1972 - 2009

Language of Materials

The content is in both English and Spanish.

Conditions Governing Access

The collection is open for research.

Conditions Governing Access

The material is stored offsite in Remote Storage. Please contact Special Collections 3 working days in advance if you wish to use it.

Conditions Governing Use

Copyright is retained by the authors of the items in this collection, or their descendants, as stipulated by United States copyright law. For photocopy and duplication requests, please contact the Stephen O. Murray and Keelung Hong Special Collections, Michigan State University Libraries.

Biographical / Historical

Mexican calendar art grew in popularity in post- Revolution Mexico around the 1930s for commercial advertising purposes and were often freely distributed providing a source of free art in the home. Art historian Carlos Monsivais has identified popular Mexican icons that represented Mexican life and culture, national identity, celebrations, customs and traditions that were painted by key Mexican artists. Some of the iconography includes the Virgin of Guadalupe, patron saint of Mexico; the national coat of arms depicting the eagle and serpent on the red, green and white Mexican flag; and the rebozo (shawl) and sarape both representing the femininity and masculinity of the people of Mexico.

The most popular pictures on Mexican art calendars are identified as painted in the 1940s and '50s by Jesus Helguera (see item 24). His idealized images captured the pride and romanticism of the Mexican people in the same way that 20th-century American painter and illustrator Norman Rockwell idealized American life. Although Mexico had a primarily indigenous population, Helguera and others continued to illustrate Mexicans with European features.

According to independent curator and scholar Tere Romo, Chicano calendar art became part of the art and culture reclamation process of the Chicano Movement often using the previously stated Mexican iconography. Chicanos, however inverted the European features illustrated in Mexican calendars and reclaimed their indigeneity and asserted socio-political content. Nonetheless, 20th century Mexican calendars and their imagery and messages linked Chicanos and Latinos to 21st century calendars and content. Still found are religious, historical and cultural content and images such as important feast days, national days of celebration and observance and imagery linking tradition of the past to continuing customs and social, political and economic situations.

Extent

2 Linear Feet (2 boxes) ; 34 x 8 x 46 cm

Immediate Source of Acquisition

The collection was acquired by purchase and donations incrementally from 1998.

General

This collection is part of the José Treviño Chicano/Latino Activism Collections at MSU.

Processing Information

Diana Rivera processed this collection in July 2015. Andrea McMillan updated the finding aid and processed Box 2 in September 2021.

Title
Finding Aid for the Chicano and Mexican Calendar Art collection
Status
4 Published And Cataloged
Author
Diana Rivera and Andrea McMillan
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
Undetermined
Script of description
Code for undetermined script

Repository Details

Part of the Stephen O. Murray and Keelung Hong Special Collections Repository

Contact:
MSU Libraries
366 W. Circle Drive
East Lansing MI 48823 USA