Tijerina, Reies

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José Angel Gutierrez, Reies Lopez Tijerina, Rudolfo "Corky" Gonzales (L-R) In El Paso, Texas at the first National Convention of La Raza Unida Party, 1972. Part of Part of Reies Tijerina Pictorial Collection, PICT 000-654-0001-0149 (Box 1, Folder 2).

Chicano land grant activist Reies Lopez Tijerina was born September 21, 1926 in Poth, Texas, to migrant workers Antonio and Erlinda Lopez Tijerina. Tijerina enrolled in the Latin American Bible School in Saspamco, Texas in 1944. He left the seminary in 1946 to pursue religious self-discovery.

1949-1950, Tijerina spent much time in the southwest and Mexico researching land grants. He relocated his family to New Mexico in 1957, continuing his land grant research. On February 2, 1963, La Alianza Federal de Mercedes (Federal Alliance of Land Grants) was founded, largely through Tijerina's efforts. La Alianza quickly became a radical organization. Occupation of the Echo Amphitheater campground near Abiquiu, and the June 1967 armed raid on the Rio Arriba County courthouse brought national attention and intense scrutiny to La Alianza, destabilizing its membership and significantly weakening its influence upon Hispanos in New Mexico. Tijerina, facing criminal charges relating to the courthouse raid, traveled to Washington D.C. in June 1968 to head the Mexican-American contingent at the Poor People's March. He also formed his own political party, the People's Constitutional Party, and attempted to run for governor of New Mexico, but was found ineligible.

Convicted on charges of criminal assault of a federal officer and the destruction of federal property, Tijerina served time in federal prison. Released in 1971, he was ordered to sever his association with the already weakened Alianza as part of a parole agreement. He incorporated the Institute for the Research and Study of Justice (IRSJ), a non-profit group that sought to research and study all aspects of justice. In 1983, he relocated his family to Coyote, New Mexico, where he began to focus on international issues such as millennialism, nuclear armament, the Holocaust, and Middle Eastern issues, especially the Palestinian and Israeli conflict.

Trials and tribulations from La Alianza days weighed heavily on Tijerina's family life. Two failed marriages and an arson fire in 1994 which destroyed Tijerina's Coyote home and extensive library were part of the price tag for his activism. By 1995, Tijerina relocated to Michoacan, Mexico, where he continues to speak out on indigenous land issues and a variety of international issues.

From the guide to the Reies Tijerina Papers, 1888-2003, 1963-1978, (Center for Southwest Research, University of New Mexico.)

Archival Resources
Role Title Holding Repository
referencedIn Reies Tijerina Photograph Collection, 1944-2000 The University of New Mexico, University Libraries, Center for SouthwestResearch
referencedIn Steiner, Stan. Papers, ca. 1961-1987. Stanford University. Department of Special Collections and University Archives
referencedIn Gandert, Miguel A. Miguel A. Gandert photograph collection [picture]. University of New Mexico-Main Campus
creatorOf Reies Tijerina Papers, 1888-2003, 1963-1978 The University of New Mexico, University Libraries, Center for SouthwestResearch
referencedIn Montoya Chavez, Gloria. Gloria Montoya Chavez papers, 1967-1991. University of New Mexico-Main Campus
referencedIn Nabokov, Peter. Reies Tijerina photograph collection [picture]. University of New Mexico-Main Campus
referencedIn New Mexico. Governor (1971-1974 : King). Governor Bruce King papers, 1st term, 1971-1974. New Mexico State Library
referencedIn NBC News. [Reies López Tijerina news reports] University of Kansas Archives / MSS / Rare Books, Kenneth Spencer Research Library
creatorOf Records of the Forest Service. 1870 - 2008. Forest Service Public Information Films and Public Service Announcements. 1945 - 1995. Yo soy Chicano National Archives at College Park
referencedIn Karl Kernberger Pictorial Collection, 1912-1990, 1957-1977 The University of New Mexico, University Libraries, Center for SouthwestResearch
referencedIn Quintana, Frances Leon. Frances Léon Quintana papers, 1705-2012 (bulk 1960-1999) University of New Mexico-Main Campus
referencedIn Sanchez, Alfonso, 1928-. Alfonso Sanchez papers, 1856-2004 (bulk 1955-1970) University of New Mexico-Main Campus
referencedIn Frances Léon Quintana Papers, 1705-2012, 1960-1999 The University of New Mexico, University Libraries, Center for SouthwestResearch
referencedIn Knowlton, Clark S. Clark S. Knowlton papers, 1961-1979 (bulk, 1954-1977). New Mexico State Library
referencedIn Peter Nabokov Photograph Collection, 1967-1968 The University of New Mexico, University Libraries, Center for SouthwestResearch
referencedIn Inventory of the Gloria Montoya Chavez Papers, 1967-1991 The University of New Mexico, University Libraries, Center for SouthwestResearch
referencedIn Alianza Federal de Pueblos Libres collection, 1963-1979 (bulk 1967-1979). University of New Mexico-Main Campus
referencedIn Reies López Tijerina news reports, 1969 University of Kansas Kenneth Spencer Research Library Wilcox Collection, Kansas Collection
referencedIn Miguel A. Gandert Photograph Collection, 1977-1998 The University of New Mexico, University Libraries, Center for SouthwestResearch
referencedIn Van Dresser, Peter. Peter Van Dresser papers, ca. 1950-1961. New Mexico State Library
referencedIn Alianza Federal de Pueblos Libres Collection, 1963-1997 (bulk 1967-1979) The University of New Mexico, University Libraries, Center for SouthwestResearch
referencedIn Tijerina, Noe. Noe Tijerina papers, 1958-2007. University of New Mexico-Main Campus
referencedIn Peter Nabokov Papers, 1963-1977 The University of New Mexico, University Libraries, Center for SouthwestResearch
referencedIn Shames, Stephen. Stephen Shames Black Panther photograph collection [graphic]. UC Berkeley Libraries
referencedIn Kernberger, Karl. Karl Kernberger pictorial collection [picture]. University of New Mexico-Main Campus
referencedIn Alfonso Sanchez papers, 1856-2004, 1955-1970 The University of New Mexico, University Libraries, Center for SouthwestResearch
referencedIn Noe Tijerina Papers, 1958-2007 The University of New Mexico, University Libraries, Center for SouthwestResearch
referencedIn Governor Bruce King Papers, 1st Term, 1971-1974 New Mexico State Records Center and Archives
referencedIn Clark S. Knowlton Collection, 1912-1989 New Mexico State Records Center and Archives
referencedIn Nabokov, Peter. Papers, 1963-1977. University of New Mexico-Main Campus
Role Title Holding Repository
Relation Name
associatedWith Alianza Federal de las Mercedes corporateBody
associatedWith Alianza Federal de Pueblos Libres (U.S.) corporateBody
associatedWith Gandert, Miguel A. person
associatedWith Kernberger, Karl person
associatedWith Kernberger, Monica person
associatedWith Knowlton, Clark S. person
associatedWith Mexico. Treaties, etc. United States, 1848 Feb. 2 corporateBody
associatedWith Montoya Chavez, Gloria person
associatedWith Montoya Chavez, Gloria. person
associatedWith Nabokov, Peter. person
associatedWith New Mexico. Governor (1971-1974 : King) corporateBody
associatedWith People's Constitutional Party (N.M.) corporateBody
associatedWith Poor People's Campaign corporateBody
associatedWith Quintana, Frances Leon. person
associatedWith Quintana, Frances Léon person
associatedWith Sanchez, Alfonso, 1928- person
associatedWith Shames, Stephen. person
associatedWith Spanish Americans corporateBody
associatedWith Steiner, Stan. person
associatedWith Tijerina, Noe. person
associatedWith United States. Federal Bureau of Investigation corporateBody
associatedWith University of New Mexico. Center for Southwest Research. corporateBody
associatedWith Van Dresser, Peter. person
Place Name Admin Code Country
Tierra Amarilla (N.M.)
New Mexico
Subject
Civil rights movements
Land grants
Land settlement
Land tenure
Land titles
Mexican Americans
Mexican Americans
Mexican Americans
Mexican Americans
Migrant labor
Political activists
Rio Arriba County (N.M.)
Social movements
Occupation
Activity

Person

Birth 1926-09-21

English

Information

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Ark ID: w62r44tz

SNAC ID: 7323219