Historian To Share The Life Of LULAC Founder Alonso S. Perales
EDINBURG, Texas — The Museum of South Texas History welcomes historian and author Cynthia Orozco, Ph.D., for a book signing and presentation, “Pioneer of Mexican-American Civil Rights: Alonso S. Perales,” at 2 p.m. on Friday, Sept 23.
Orozco wrote a biographical book on the life and works of one of the most influential Mexican Americans during the 20th century: Alonso S. Perales. He was born in Alice, Texas, and became an attorney, leading civil rights activist, author and United States diplomat.
In 1929, Perales founded the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) and encouraged the empowerment of Latinos at the voting box. Perales sought to pass state and federal legislation banning racial discrimination and fought for school desegregation in Texas which initiated a movement for more and better public schools for Mexican-descent people.
Copies of the book are available for purchase at the Museum Store, which Orozco can personalize after the presentation. FRIENDS of MOSTHistory receive a discount on certain books at the Museum Store.
Orozco is a professor of history and humanities at Eastern New Mexico University, Ruidoso. She is the author of “No Mexicans, Women or Dogs Allowed, the Rise of the Mexican American Civil Rights Movement,” “Agent of Change: Adela Sloss-Vento, Mexican American Civil Rights Activist and Texas Feminist” and “Pioneer of Mexican-American Civil Rights: Alonso S. Perales.”
This program is made possible by the generous support from the Carmen C. Guerra Endowment. Mrs. Guerra was committed to educational causes in the Rio Grande Valley. This named endowment was created by her family to honor her memory and to continue providing educational opportunities for the community.
About Museum of South Texas History
The Museum of South Texas History is accredited by the American Alliance of Museums. It is located downtown Edinburg at 200 North Closner Boulevard on the Hidalgo County Courthouse square. Founded in 1967 as the Hidalgo County Historical Museum in the 1910 Hidalgo County Jail, the museum has grown over the decades through a series of expansions to occupy a full city block. In 2003, following the completion of a 22,500 square foot expansion, the museum was renamed the Museum of South Texas History to better reflect its regional scope. Today, the museum preserves and presents the borderland heritage of South Texas and Northeastern Mexico through its permanent collection and the Margaret H. McAllen Memorial Archives and exhibits spanning prehistory through the 20th century. For more information about MOSTHistory, including becoming a FRIEND, visit MOSTHistory.org, like us on Facebook and Instagram, follow on Twitter, find on YouTube or call +1-956-383-6911.