Latino Cultural Center records

Collection — Multiple Containers

Identifier: UA 185

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

The materials in this collection document the programs, activities, and community created by and surrounding the Latino Cultural Center. This includes records, publications, correspondence, and media related to the Latino Cultural Center and its goals and activities, both within Purdue University and the Greater Lafayette area and surrounding communities. This collection may be helpful to researchers interested in minority communities, student life, immigration studies, and minority women leaders.

Dates

1986 - 2019
Majority of material found within 2003 - 2016

Creator

Latino Cultural Center (Organization)

Language of Materials

Collection material is primarily in English. Spanish is also present.

Access Information

This collection is open for research.

Copyright and Use Information

Copyright held by Purdue University. Consult with Purdue University Archives and Special Collections prior to reproduction of materials.

Historical Information

The Latino Cultural Center (LCC) was established in 2003 after the Latino Student Union (LSU), with the support of the Latino Faculty and Staff (LaFaSa), demanded a physical space on campus dedicated to Latino cultures. The LCC has been recognized as a national model for other universities' Latino offices and centers. The vibrant space intentionally represents Latinx cultures, identities, histories, and accomplishments and is a place to gather, learn, share and celebrate Latinx cultures. Moreover, the LCC is a gathering place for Purdue's Latinx communities, a hub for Purdue's 17 Latinx-based student organizations, and the host for many cultural activities, scholarly lectures, and celebrations. The LCC serves as an educational and cultural foundation for all students, faculty and staff members. For many, the LCC is a home away from home and a place to find familia.

The LCC is now a department within the Division of Diversity and Inclusion (DDI), which was formed in 2009. It serves as a centralizing hub for all cultural centers at Purdue University. While each center retains autonomy as an independent entity, they report to the Vice Provost for Diversity and Inclusion for oversight of budgets, events, and functions.

In 2002, a group of students, faculty and staff gathered to discuss the establishment of a center at Purdue University dedicated to Latino cultures. The Black Cultural Center's historical presence on campus paved the way for these efforts. The vision included a physical location, a home away from home for students, faculty, staff and alumni. The LCC would also provide campus-wide programming and a space for scholarly and professional pursuits. LaFaSa and the newly formed LSU sent the Provost a proposal for Purdue University to establish a Latino Cultural Center. With enormous support, Purdue University established the LCC on April 11, 2003 at South Campus Courts, Building B on Harrison Street. The Provost's leadership and dedication enabled the LCC to open with an administrative assistant, student staff, and faculty and staff volunteers. During this year, the development of an LCC identity moved quickly. "Todos Son Bienvenidos" (All Are Welcome) was quickly adopted as a motto to emphasize to the campus community that the LCC was not just for Latinos or for people who speak Spanish, but for the entire campus community.

For almost a year, the LCC successfully functioned without a director and during this period, Día de los muertos and Latino Heritage Month were established as part of the LCC's signature programming. Representative artwork was important to the LCC and Eileen Garcia (MFA '01) was commissioned to create what would become a focal point at the LCC, a mural titled "Latin Dance, Music, Art, and Rhythm", which was completed in the Spring of 2005.

In March 2004, Maricela Alvarado joined Purdue as the inaugural LCC director. Under her tenure, many organizations were institutionalized by the university. Although the Latino Faculty and Staff Association (LaFaSA) at Purdue had been unofficially functioning since 2002, it became an official organization with executive officers in 2005. The Purdue Alumni Association recognized the Purdue Latino Alumni Organization (PLAO) in fall of 2004.

In 2006, the LCC was moved to larger, more centralized location at 600 N. Russell Street, a 2,680 square-foot house. In May of 2017, the Latino Cultural Center moved to 426 Waldron Street, a 2,777 square-foot house renovated for the LCC.

In May of 2018, a group of graduate students, led by Val Schull and supported by the LCC staff, cultivated the LCC community garden in the new home. In April of 2019, the garden was named Jardín Semillas.

Source citation: Latino Cultural Center, "About the LCC." /www.purdue.edu/lcc/about/index.php>

Extent

1.683 Cubic Feet (Two letter-size full-width manuscript boxes, two flat boxes, and one flip-top negative box) : Includes 29 small DVDs, four full-size DVDs, and three digital video cassettes

1 Websites

Additional Description

Technical Access Information

Series 5 ("Digital Cassettes and Discs") includes digital video cassettes (dvc) and digital video discs (dvd). Materials must be migrated to an accessible digital format before use. Contact Purdue University Archives and Special Collections if interested in using this material.

Physical Access Information

Access to original digital materials may be restricted for preservation purposes. Playback equipment for some digital materials may not be available. Contact Purdue University Archives and Special Collections if interested in using this material.

Acquisition Information

Collection material transferred to Purdue University Archives and Special Collections from the Latino Cultural Center. The initial accession was transferred 2019-02-28 and included a collection of records, publications, correspondence, and media related to the Latino Cultural Center. Addition 1 was transferred 2019-04-02 and included a collection of records, publications, event flyers, newspaper clippings, newsletters, magazines, and email correspondence related to the Latino Cultural Center.

Related Materials

UA 176, Purdue University Black Cultural Center Records, Purdue University Archives and Special Collections, Purdue University Libraries.

UA 164, Asian and Asian American Resource and Cultural Center records, Purdue University Archives and Special Collections, Purdue University Libraries.

UA 162, LGBTQ Center records, Purdue University Archives and Special Collections, Purdue University Libraries.

Processing Information

The original order and integrity of the materials has been retained whenever possible. When multiple copies of a material existed, a duplicate was retained in the collection and the rest of the copies were returned to the donor. Several documents with personally identifiable student information were removed from the Series 2 Administration file entitled "Latino Student Union" and were returned to the donor. Newsprint and sensitive material has been housed in archival sleeves. All materials have been rehoused in acid-free folders and boxes.

Additional copies of newsletters that had previously been housed separately were processed into the collection on July 27, 2022.