Mexican American Voices: Primary Sources for Mexican American History

In August 2019 and January 2020, the University of Texas at Antonio hosted a series of workshops for secondary-school teachers in the San Antonio area. These workshops introduced secondary-school teachers to primary sources on Mexican American history available through the website of the Library of Congress. They provided teachers an in-person opportunity to learn about incorporating primary sources into lessons that emphasize historical thinking, inquiry-based learning, and critical thinking skills. History faculty from the University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA) and Texas A&M University – San Antonio (TAMUSA) gave presentations on various Mexican American history topics and provided instruction on the use of primary sources in the classroom. The workshops featured dynamic, interdisciplinary presentations exploring various topics in Mexican American history. Each presentation centered on the use and interpretation of primary sources and aligned with the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills Standards (TEKS) for Social Studies. Topics covered included the U.S.-Mexico War, California’s Gold Rush, World War II & the Zoot Suit Riots, acculturation and school segregation, immigration, and civil rights. Valerio-Jiménez’s presentation will describe the highlights of the workshops, reflect on the lessons learned of hosting the workshops, and explore continuing challenges for secondary-school teachers.