In 1973, Mt. Angel College lost its accreditation from Northwest Association of Schools and Colleges because of its lack of financial stability. Two faculty members, Sonny Montes, Director of Ethnic Affairs, and Ernesto Lopez, Dean of Admissions, proposed that the institution redirect the focus of the college to be a Chicano serving institution.
On December 12, 1973 Mt. Angel College officially became Colegio César Chávez. College founders and students considered a number of names but chose the farm labor activist César Chávez as their namesake.
As the first and only independent Chicano-oriented and managed four-year college to emerge in the nation, Colegio César Chávez occupies an unparalleled place in Chicano history. According to the Chicano scholar Carlos Maldonado, "Colegio César Chávez was a product of converging social and educational forces of the Chicano movement and innovation in higher education". The mission of the Colegio was to provide educational opportunities for people who were denied access to higher education, to create a "college without walls" that emphasized collaboration between students, staff, administrators, their families, and the greater community. The Colegio also sought to provide an educational setting that was completely bilingual and bicultural. Students were required to take 15 credits in each of the four core areas: social science; the humanities; natural sciences/mathematics; and oral/written bilingual communications. In addition, life experience was also recognized as learning and students received credits for this as well.
Colegio César Chávez also served as a source of Chicano culture and activism in Oregon; this was accomplished through performances, lectures and guest speakers at the college. Among the significant Chicano leaders that visited and supported the Colegio were César Chávez, Rodolfo "Corky" Gonzales, José Ángel Gutiérrez, and Chicano poets Alurista and Abelardo "Lalo" Delgado.
Constantly plagued by financial difficulties, administrative instability, and lack of support from the external community, Colegio César Chávez lost its accreditation in 1981. The last classes were held in 1982 and the Colegio officially closed their doors in June 1983. The campus was abandoned and their main creditor, HUD, foreclosed on the property. HUD was set to auction off the campus when an anonymous donor interceded. The ownership of the land and the buildings occupied by the college reverted back to the Benedictine Sisters of Mt. Angel in 1985.
For more information about the history of the Colegio, read the book
The initial date the collection was acquired was 2006; the bulk of the collection was received in 2006 and then in 2009 from Andrew Parodi. In December 2016, additional materials, including posters and a 1979 calendar, were donated and incorporated as part of the collection; the donor was Herbert L Everett. The negatives from the 1972 La Raza event were donated by the photographer Milt Johnson in 2021.
Collection is open for research.
Colegio César Chávez Collection (MSS Colegio), Oregon State University Special Collections and Archives Research Center, Corvallis, Oregon.
This collection is a component of the
The collection includes two series: Series 1: Colegio César Chávez Materials, 1965-1982 and Series 2: Photographic Materials, 1972-1982
The
The collection also includes a 1980 letter to Arthur Olivo from Oregon Governor Victor Atiyeh and a certificate documenting Olivo's appointment to the Oregon Occupational Information Coordinating Committee. A 1980 photograph of Olivo, Governor Atiyeh, and others (probably members of the Committee) is also part of the collection.
In addition, the collection also includes two large posters, one by the artist Desiga, and another, a recruitment poster, by the artist Carlos Manriquez. Manriquez is also the artist of a 1979 Colegio calendar. The calendar, consisting of four sheets plus a cover sheet, includes a timeline of significant events in Chicano history along with full color imagery depicting “jalapeño power.”
The most recent acquisition includes the negatives from the 1972 La Raza event that were donated by the photographer Milt Johnson in 2021.
The majority of the items from this collection have been digitized and are available upon request.
Lastly, there is a July 2012
This series contains materials related to the Colegio César Chávez as well as materials related to the life and career of Arthur Olivo and his connection to the Colegio as a student and the campus groundskeeper. Arthur and Karen Olivo, along with Karen's young son Andrew Parodi, lived on the grounds of the college campus.
All materials in this series, except for the 1965 Yearbook, have been digitized and are available upon request.
Included is a bilingual mailer / recruitment flyer / donation form for the Colegio César Chávez; it documents the 1980-1981 academic calendar and information about the program for the year. Also included is a full copy of the September 11, 1980,
The
Two large posters, one by the artist Desiga, and another, a recruitment poster, by the artist Carlos Manriquez. Manriquez is also the artist of a 1979 Colegio calendar. The calendar, consisting of four sheets plus a cover sheet, includes a timeline of significant events in Chicano history along with full color imagery depicting “jalapeño power.”
Correspondence between the Colegio César Chávez and Arthur Olivo documents Olivo's admission to the Colegio, a description of the 1980 Support Group Class, an agreement and position description for Olivo to hold a position as a custodian and groundskeeper for the Colegio, Olivo's permanent record for fall term 1980, a letter dismissing Olivo from his position, and a letter in response to that dismissal.
The biographical materials include a handwritten 1980 autobiography by Arthur Olivo, an evaluation for the Fall Term 1980 Colegio course Introductory Seminar, a 1980 letter and accompanying executive order from Governor Victor Atiyeh regarding Olivo's appointment to the Oregon Occupational Information Coordinating Committee, Volume 1 No.4 Training Report, a publication by the Oregon Human Development Corporation Center for Employment Training, and Arthur Olivo's resume as of his position gained in 1982.
A certificate to Arthur Olivo from Governor Victor Atiyeh regarding Olivo's appointment to the Oregon Occupational Information Coordinating Committee, 1980-1982.
This series contains photos of the events and grounds of the Colegio César Chávez as well as photos of the Olivo family while living there.
All materials in this series have been digitized and are available upon request.
The poet Alurista's book reading and book signing at Huelga Hall. In addition to the images is a note from the collection donor, Andrew Parodi, describing the event.
César Chávez spoke at Huelga Hall on the Colegio grounds regarding local housing and urban development issues.
Images of Andrew Parodi's June 1982 First Communion reception held at Huelga Hall; of note is the Colegio artwork on the interior walls of the building. In addition to the images is a note from the collection donor, Andrew Parodi, describing the event
Posters from the Colegio César Chávez used to decorate a Colegio student's apartment in downtown Mt. Angel (not on Colegio grounds). In addition to the images is a note from the collection donor, Andrew Parodi, describing the photographs.
Exterior images of buildings and the surrounding foliage; also included is an image of a Mt. Angel College seal on the ground.
Images of the life of the family while they lived on the Colegio grounds. Further descriptions of each photograph were given by Andrew Parodi in 2012, and those can be found in this folder as well.
November 10-11, 1972 event photographs taken by Milt Johnson, who was associated with the school during the late 1960s and early 1970s when it was Mt. Angel College. The images include event speakers, participants, and activities.
Arthur Olivo served on Governor Victor Atiyeh's Oregon Occupational Information Coordinating Committee; this image is of the Committee.