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Casa de Unidad Newsletters, Chapbooks, and Flyers

 Collection
Identifier: MSS 716

Scope and Contents

This collection consists primarily of Casa de Unidad publications related to its activities and support of the arts in Detroit. Includes copies of Casa's bimonthly publication, El Barrio which was dedicated to the celebration of different topics related to Latino culture heritage; Notas de El Barrio, Herencia del Barrio and Calendario del Barrio, newsletters that announce upcoming and ongoing events in the community; a few other Casa de Unidad publications such as copies of "The Sounds of Poetry" and books like "Tradiciones del Pueblo: Traditions of Three Mexican Feast Days in Southwest Detroit" introducing Mexican traditions, and a handful of flyers advertising the visual, performing, and literary art events. Also included is a copy of Casa de Unidad's articles of incorporation.

Dates

  • Creation: 1981 - 2003

Creator

Conditions Governing Access

The collection is open for research.

Conditions Governing Access

The material is stored off site. Please request 3 working days in advance if you wish to use it.

Biographical / Historical

Founded in 1980 as Casa de Unidad Cultural Arts and Media Center, Casa de Unidad was devoted to developing and promoting the Hispanic/Latino cultural heritage of Detroit and surrounding communities. Among the organization's activities were educational workshops aimed at cultivating interest in the arts, gallery space for artists to exhibit their work, and sponsorship of an annual two-day festival, Unity in the Community. One significant contribution took the form of a published monograph, "Tradiciones del Pueblo: Traditions of Three Mexican Feast Days in Southwest Detroit", which resulted from a project undertaken to document the cultural history of the local community through interviews about observance of traditions such as Posadas and Día de los Muertos.

Extent

.5 Linear Feet (1 box)

Language of Materials

English

Abstract

This collection consist almost exclusively of Casa de Unidad publications, from monographs to it serial publications "El Barrio" and its newslettertype accompaniments "Notas del Barrio", "Herencia del Barrio", and "Calendario del Barrio". Also includes poetry chapbooks like the Coffee House Series all dated from the early 1980s to the 1990s. Other items include flyers and announcements for cultural events to cultivate and promote interests in Latino cultural heritage in the Detroit area. Materials reflect an at times broad scope of the organization to include other non-Latino Detroit culture in its publications and events (snippets of Arabic surface, for example). Includes the monograph "Tradiciones del Pueblo: Traditions of Three Mexican Feast Days in Southwest Detroit".

Arrangement

This collection is arranged alphabetically by publication and subject.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

The collection was transferred from the Julian Samora Library at the Institute for Latino Studies, University of Norte Dame in 2019.

Related Materials

The Bentley Historical Library at the University of Michigan holds a more comprehensive collection of materials related to Casa de Unidad. The Library web site can be accessed at: http://bentley.umich.edu/

Related Materials

Other items that relate to Casa de Unidad's activities in Michigan can be found in the Ana Cardona Papers (MSS 722), as Ana Cardona was an active member and regular contributor to the publication El Barrio.

Processing Information

Chiayi Tsui and Tracy Grimm processed this collection in 2012 at the University of Norte Dame. The original collection identifier was MS.2007.1. Andrea McMillan imported the collection inventory in 2021.

Title
Finding Aid for the Casa de Unidad Newsletters, Chapbooks, and Flyers
Status
4 Published And Cataloged
Author
Chiayi Tsui, Tracy Grimm, and Andrea McMillan
Date
2021
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin
Language of description note
English

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