Mexican American Studies Digital Archives

Supporting the Innovative Teaching of Mexican American Studies Content in K-12 Classrooms

View some of ITC’s digitized collections created for a MAS workshop held in Summer 2021, a Smithsonian Learning Lab event hosted by Dr. Lilliana Saldana, UTSA Associate Professor and Mexican American Studies Program Coordinator, Aurelio M. Montemayor, M. Ed, Intercultural Development Research Association Family Engagement Coordinator, and Gilbert Flores, Master Teacher, Brackenridge High School, San Antonio Independent School District. The workshop was sponsored by the Smithsonian Center for Learning and Digital Access and UTSA Institute of Texan Cultures.

Take a look at the ITC’s Curator of Education Smithsonian Learning Lab collection.

  • Struggles for Inclusion ExhibitLearn More
    Struggles for Inclusion Exhibit
    The Tejano experience includes working to create a more just society, and among these struggles education has been a major battleground.
  • Battle of Matamoros Photographic Postcards circa 1913Learn More
    Battle of Matamoros Photographic Postcards circa 1913
    These images were created circa 1913 during the Mexican Revolution of 1910.
  • AFL-CIO Union Lapel PinLearn More
    AFL-CIO Union Lapel Pin
    This lapel pin was created by the American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations as well as the Union Label and Service Trades Department in support of a workers strike against Farah Manufacturing Company during the mid-1970s.
  • Maria Antonietta Berriozabal Lapel PinLearn More
    Maria Antonietta Berriozabal Lapel Pin
    This lapel pin is from Maria A. Berriozabal’s campaign for mayor of San Antonio, Texas in 1991. Berriozabal was the first Mexican American woman to serve on the city council of a major U.S. city.
  • Benito Juarez Fraternal RibbonLearn More
    Benito Juarez Fraternal Ribbon
    This is a black fraternal ribbon with silver letters and a picture of Benito Juarez backed by blue ribbon, gold letter, "Sociedad Benito Juarez, Pearsall, Texas, Marzo, 27, de 1902."
  • Arboles de la VidaLearn More
    Arboles de la Vida
    This figure, known as a “Tree of life” (Arboles de la Vida) is a papier mache religious sculpture.
  • Ritual MaskLearn More
    Ritual Mask
    This ritual mask is made out of wood and is pink and black and has a crown shape.
  • Florencia L. de Garcia Funeral AnnouncementLearn More
    Florencia L. de Garcia Funeral Announcement
    This pictorial cloth is a funeral announcement and obituary dating January 4, 1894.
  • Papel PicadoLearn More
    Papel Picado
    These tissue cut-outs, known as “papel picado” (punched paper) are made from fine colored tissue paper cut into various shapes, possibly related to the Dios de los Muertos celebrations.
  • Branding IronLearn More
    Branding Iron
    This Mexican branding Iron from La Sirena. "La Sirena" is Spanish for "The Mermaid" and may indicate the name of the ranch from which this brand originated.
  • Fuerza Unida FlagLearn More
    Fuerza Unida Flag
    Yellow flag with the the words "Fuerza Unida", (“United Force”), printed in black.
  • Henry B. Gonzalez Rally PosterLearn More
    Henry B. Gonzalez Rally Poster
    This item is a Henry B. Gonzalez poster that reads in printed black ink, "GIGANTIC DEMOCRATIC 'NO' ON PROP. 18...AND...CIVIL RIGHTS RALLY *** Hear Senator Henry T. Gonzalez! Texas Champion of Civil Rights *** EMBASSY AUD. 9th & GRAND FRIDAY.