Has any one done a comprehensive research on the UFW movement in Tejas?

The Documentation Project knows of no comprehensive research about the UFW movement in Texas. Several former UFW volunteers who worked in Texas have written essays for this Website about their experience there. Should an academic wish to undertake research about this aspect of the farmworker movement, the Documentation Project is well-placed to connect that person to the major UFW players involved.

I have posted my impressions regarding Tony Orendein's efforts in Texas, and Cesar's firing of Tony, within my essay--just posted (December 13, 05). My impressions derive from memory not from research, but I had followed the Texas drive closely at the time. ms

I actually wrote my Master's Thesis on Antonio Orendain and his split with the union in 1975, and his subsequent founding of the Texas Farm Workers' Union. I finished the thesis last year, and Mr. Orendain and some of his children were kind enough to grant me oral interviews as I completed the project. I have a lot of respect for Mr. Orendain and for Chavez, so their split was kind of difficult for me to handle. Anyways, feel free to correspond with me if you're interested--Orendain's is a great story unto itself.

I would like to see a copy of your thesis. I worked for Orendain from 1976 through 1977 - editor of El Cuhamil, organizer, etc. From the UFW's attempts to bounce the TFW out of the building at Morningside and 83, through the subsequent trial, and then through the march to Austin. I was a most incredible jouney for me. And along the way I came to realize that Chavez was human, had his own feet of clay, and a rather distinctive rogue's gallery of toughs working out the issues while he remained peaceful. Tony Orendain is one of the most interesting, intellectually challenging, and unusual people I have ever known.

Sharon Peters

Dear Sharon,

I thank you kindly for your response, as well as for your fine work as editor of El Cuhamil! A goodly librarian at the University of Texas at Arlington gave me access to a fairly complete run of the paper, without which my study would not have been possible. I would be happy to share a copy of the thesis with you. All of the extra "hard copies" are with Mr. Orendain and his family down in the Valley, but if you would like an electronic copy I could email it to you. I'm hoping to have it published as a short book (I've had some interest from a professor in Texas but nothing's happened yet), so any feedback you would be willing to give me would be much appreciated. Mr. Orendain is indeed a very intersting, complicated, and highly admirable person. I would be fascinated to hear about your experiences in the building controversy, protests, and whether you participated in the march from Austin to Washington, D.C. in '77.

Best Wishes,
Tim

Please, please e-mail me a copy. I would love to talk with you. Somewhere I have b/w photos of strikes in the Valley and of the march to Austin. I have especially deep memories of making the rounds of the lege to pitch for support of the legislation. Including a rather nasty encounter with the house sponsor of the bill - Gonzalo Barrientos - who had been donated over to the UFW opposition. Since I did the English translations of Solo Vino for El Cuhamil, I have long wanted to gather them and put them out as a book.

Saludos,

Sharon

i just recently met the legend. Mr. Antonio Orendain is still a strong willed man with excellent character and advice....

I am currently studying the role my father had in the March of 1966 in Texas. He was Father Antonio Gonzales and I have devoted the last two years of my life to this research. I have found some interesting pictures along the way and I also met with Dolores Huerta. It is amazing when you meet these icons and how they can affect your life.