Rodolfo "Corky" Gonzales papers, 1930-2006.

Gonzales, Rodolfo, 1928-2005.

C MSS WH1971

Finding aid online and in repository.

14.5 linear ft. (16 boxes), 6 oversize boxes, 1 oversize folio, 2 oversize file folders, 2 photo boxes, 2 ovesize photo boxes, 6 audio-visual boxes, 1 audio-visual envelope

Organized into 13 series: 1. Boxing, 1946-1986 (box1). 2. Bars, bailbonds, 1965-1982 (box1). 3. Politics-City and County of Denver, 1954-1968 (box1). 4. Crusade for Justice, 1966-2000 (box1-3). 5. Writings, 1955-2004 (box3-4). 6. Activism, 1966-2004 (box4-6). 7. Personal, (1848), 1946-2006 (box7-12). 8. Restricted, 1956-1975 (box13). 9. Ephemera, 1950-1999 (box14). 10. Oversize, 1946-2007 (OVBox1-6, OVFolio1, OVFF1-2). 11. Photographs, 1930-2005 (PhotoBox1-2, OVPhotoBox1-2). 12. Audio-Visual, 1969-1997, n.d. (AVBox1-2). 13. Restricted, 1969-1984 (box15-16).

Denver, Colo. based Chicano leader, nicknamed "Corky," in the movement for justice and equality for Mexican-Americans in the Southwest. Credited with raising national awareness of the plight of urban Chicanos. Founded an urban civil rights and cultural movement called the Crusade for Justice which advocated Chicano nationalism. Organized walkouts, demonstrations against police brutality and marches against the Vietnam War. In 1968, led a Chicano contingent to the Poor People's March on Washington D.C and issued a "plan of the Barrio" which demanded better housing, education and restitution of pueblo lands. Organizer of the Annual Chicano Youth Liberation Conference, which sought to create unity among Chicano youth. Advocated for increased political representation for Chicanos. Keynote speaker in 1972 at the newly formed La Raza Unida Party national convention in El Paso, Tex. Best known for his poem "I am Joaquin/Yo Soy Joaquin." Wrote the epic poem in 1965 and it is one of the most important literary works to emerge from the Chicano movement. Poem tells of the historic struggles faced by Mexican Americans in the United States.

Collection includes Crusade for Justice information and correspondence, legal material both personal and from various court cases and proceedings, Colorado Sports Hall of Fame material, copies and drafts of poems including "I am Joaquin", newspaper clippings, correspondence, DU college information, personal daily agendas, handwritten notes, petitions, photographs, personal documents, posters, blueprints of home, audio-visual materials, boxing materials, awards and manuscript material.

Gonzales, Rodolpho, 1928-2005 -- Archives.

Crusade for Justice.

Mexican American authors -- Colorado -- Denver.

Mexican American poets -- Colorado -- Denver.

Mexican American leadership -- Colorado.

Civil rights movements -- Colorado.

Political activists -- Colorado.

Hispanic Americans -- Civil rights -- West (U.S.)

Chicano movement -- West (U.S.)

Mexican Americans -- Civil rights -- West (U.S.)

Hispanic Americans -- West (U.S.) -- Ethnic identity.

Audiovisual materials.

Awards.

Blueprints (reprographic copies)

Clippings (information artifacts)

Correspondence.

Manuscripts for publication.

Personal papers.

Photographs.

Corky Gonzales papers

First name spelling variants include: Rodolpho, Rodolfo, Rudolpho and Rudolph.

Contact Special Collections and Archives Dept., Denver Public Library, Denver, Colo.

Restrictions: materials in box 13 cannot be copied or reproduced in any form; boxes 15 and 16 are closed until 2040.

Gift; Geraldine Romero Gonzales; 2007, 2008.

Gift; David and Bertha Portales; 2013.