Introduction
The Documented Border: An Open Access Digital Archive is an interdisciplinary effort whose goal is to advance understanding and awareness about the U.S.-Mexico borderlands and its peoples during a period of unprecedented societal change. The innovative archive focuses on untold and silenced stories and events about this transnational region. The Documented Border Archive draws from the University of Arizona Libraries Special Collections Borderlands Collections, but also acquires and makes accessible oral histories and materials that broadens our understanding of the U.S.-Mexico border.
The project was generously funded by one of five Faculty Collaboration and Innovation Grants awarded by the University of Arizona’s Confluencenter for Creative Inquiry as well as additional funding by the University of Arizona Libraries.
Currently the archive includes four collections, the Celeste Gonzalez de Bustamante and Jeannine E. Relly Oral History Collection (MS 533), the Lawrence Gipe Operation Streamline Sketches (MS 524), Tracing the Line photographs (MS 733) and the recently added Dr. Laura Lee Cummings Pachuco/Caló Oral History Project Collection (MS 592) and George C. Barker Pachuco Language Recordings (MS 610).
The Celeste Gonzalez de Bustamante and Jeannine E. Relly Oral History Collection divides into four parts: interviews with journalists from the U.S., journalist from Mexico, human rights activists, and academics. It includes oral histories of journalists from both sides of the border who cover northern Mexico, and human rights activists and academics who are working to improve freedom of expression in Mexico. Professors from the University of Arizona School of Journalism, Celeste González de Bustamante and Jeannine Relly conducted the oral histories. The oral histories help illuminate the complex and sometimes threatening environment in which journalists must work, as they negotiate between political and economic forces, and the need to inform the public.
The Lawrence Gipe Operation Streamline Sketches features illustrations of U.S. immigration policies through the documentation of “Operation Streamline.” Lawrence Gipe, University of Arizona School of Art professor, produced illustrations of court proceedings, where photography or videotaping are not allowed. Gipe’s drawings provide a unique record of the journey of undocumented migrants through this program.
Tracing the Line is the first photographic survey of the International Boundary and its landscape from the Gulf of Mexico to the Pacific Ocean, taken by Peter Goin, an American photographer best known for his work within the altered landscape. The region along the boundary supports the deserts, rugged mountains, valleys, and two major rivers -- the Rio Grande and the Colorado. There are 276 monuments along the land boundary that measures 698 miles from El Paso to the Pacific Ocean, and fifteen pair of sister cities with a population of more than 12 million when this survey was completed in 1987.
The Dr. Laura Lee Cummings Pachuco/Caló Oral History Project collection features oral history interviews conducted by Dr. Laura Lee Cummings in the 1980s-1990s about pachuco culture and language forms in Nogales, Tucson, Chihuahua, Mexico and the greater Southwest region.
The George C. Barker Pachuco Language Recordings were conducted as part of Barker's anthropological research into the Pachuco language of Hispanic youths and examples of the Pachuco language used by Tucson area gangs in the 1940s.
Harmful language statement
Our collections may contain language and content that is harmful or offensive, reflecting the society in which they were created. We strive to prevent harm through our descriptive practices while preserving the original content and context of materials.
We are dedicated to revising and updating descriptive language in our collection guides, or finding aids, and digital collections and acknowledge that this work is ongoing.