National Archives awards UTSA Libraries $146k to support major research collection on the Latino vote

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(Dec. 4, 2015) -- The National Archives of the United States has awarded the UTSA Libraries a $145,650 grant to process and digitize historical records from the Southwest Voter Registration Education Project (SVREP).

UTSA was selected earlier this year to house this major collection documenting Latino voter registration and political participation in the American Southwest. The materials include the records of SVREP and the William C. Velásquez Institute (WCVI).

The collection—one of the largest archival acquisitions in UTSA Libraries’ history—contains 500 linear feet of documents and 154 pieces of audiovisual material. The grant is one of the largest awarded by the National Archives this year, and will cover the additional staff needed to process the collection so it can be used for research. The work is expected to take approximately two years.

In addition to processing, grant funds will be used to digitize audiovisual materials from the collection, including public service announcements, recordings of events and radio interviews with Willie Velazquez from the 1970s and 1980s.

“This nationally significant collection represents one of the most important sources of information on the Latino vote and the political behavior of minorities,” said Amy Rushing, Head of UTSA Libraries Special Collections.

“Not only is this grant a huge honor of distinction for UTSA, but it commemorates the legacy of Willie Velásquez and recognizes the continued hard work and dedication of the Southwest Voter Registration Education Project and the William C. Velásquez Institute staff.”

The SVREP collection covers the organization’s first 20 years, from 1974 to 1994, and includes redistricting maps, voter exit surveys, GOTV campaign planning materials, pre-election surveys, office files, research files, research publications, newsletters and audiovisual materials.

Once the collection has been processed, it will be made available to researchers via the Special Collections Reading Room on the 4th floor of the John Peace Library. The audiovisual materials will be made available online for use by scholars from around the world.

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