Sánchez, George Isidore, 1906-1972

Variant names

Hide Profile

George I. Sánchez, writer, educator, and civil rights advocate, was born Jorge Isidoro Sánchez y Sánchez on October 4, 1906, in Albuquerque, New Mexico. The son of Telésforo and Juliana Sánchez, he attended elementary and secondary public schools in New Mexico and worked as a school teacher, principal, and superintendent while earning his BA from the University of New Mexico (1930). Sánchez received his Master of Science degree in Educational Psychology and Spanish from the University of Texas in 1931, and his Doctor of Education degree from the University of California, Berkeley, in 1934. During his graduate studies Sánchez also served as Director of the Division of Information and Statistics in the New Mexico State Department of Education. Sánchez was married to Virginia Romero, with whom he had two children, in 1925, and to Luisa G. Guerrero in 1947.

In 1940 Sánchez moved to Texas where he would stay as professor in the Department of History and Philosophy of Education and consultant in Latin American Education at the University of Texas until his death in 1972. A noted academic, activist, and prolific writer, Sánchez served as Asesor Técnico General of the Ministerio de Educación Nacional of Venezuela in 1937-1938, president of the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) from 1941-1942, president of the Council on Education of Spanish-speaking People in the Southwest from 1945 to 1950, and director of the American Council of Spanish-speaking People from 1951 to 1959. He was closely involved with the Central Texas Affiliate of the American Civil Liberties Union, John F. Kennedy's Citizens' Committee for a New Frontier Policy in the Americas, the Migrant Children's Fund, the National Council of Agricultural Life and Labor, the Texas Council on Human Relations, the United States Peace Corps, and the U.S. Bureau of Indian Affairs among many other organizations. Sánchez also served as an expert witness in many legal cases regarding segregation in education, notably the Delgado v. Bastrop Independent School District case. He was the author of numerous articles, reviews, and monographs, and is most well known for his book Forgotten People: A Study of New Mexicans published in 1940.

George I. Sánchez died on April 5, 1972. Among many honors in his memory, the National Education Association sponsored the George I. Sánchez Memorial Award to recognize him as the "father of the movement for quality education for Mexican-Americans"; the United States Office of Education named a work section and a room in the new United States Office of Education Building for him; schools in Houston, San Antonio, and Austin, Texas, were named for him; and in 1995 the University of Texas rededicated its Education Building as the George I. Sánchez Building.

From the guide to the George I. Sánchez Papers 1983-30. 23866736., 1919-1986, (Benson Latin American Collection, The University of Texas at Austin)

Writer and educator; advocate for educational and legal rights of Mexican Americans and other minorities in the United States.

Born Oct. 4, 1906, in Albuquerque, N.M. Teacher and administrator in rural New Mexico schools (1923-1930). Attended Univ. of N.M. (A.B. 1930), Univ. of Texas (M.S. 1931), and Univ. of Calif. (Ed. D. 1934). Taught at Univ. of N.M. (1938-1940) and Univ. of Texas (1940-1972). Worked as a researcher and educational consultant for numerous private and governmental agencies. Was active in many academic, political, and civil rights organizations. As a writer, Sánchez is best known for his Forgotten people (a study of New Mexicans of Spanish descent).

From the description of George I. Sánchez papers, 1892-1972, bulk 1920-1972. (University of Texas Libraries). WorldCat record id: 23866736

Archival Resources
Role Title Holding Repository
referencedIn Romo, Ricardo. Ricardo Romo papers, 1967- University of Texas Libraries
referencedIn Galarza, Ernesto, 1905-1984. Ernesto Galarza papers, 1936-1993. Stanford University. Department of Special Collections and University Archives
referencedIn Oral history interview with Vicente Ximenes, 2004 University of Texas at Arlington, Central Library
referencedIn Richard Martin Page Papers, 1931-1968 (bulk 1933) The University of New Mexico, University Libraries, Center for SouthwestResearch
referencedIn Carlos E. Castañeda Papers 23587615., 1497-1958 (bulk 1924-1958) Benson Latin American Collection, General Libraries, The University of Texas at Austin
creatorOf Sánchez, George Isidore, 1906-1972. George I. Sánchez papers, 1892-1972, bulk 1920-1972. University of Texas Libraries
referencedIn John J. Herrera Papers MSS 0160., 1940-1980 Houston Metropolitan Research Center, Houston Public Libary
referencedIn Sedillo, Antonio A. Papers, 1932-1937. University of New Mexico-Main Campus
referencedIn Ricardo Romo Papers BENSON-MS ROMO, RICARDO. 24321982., 1967- Benson Latin American Collection, General Libraries, The University of Texas at Austin
creatorOf Sánchez, George. Artist file : miscellaneous uncataloged material. Museum of Modern Art (MOMA)
creatorOf Castañeda, Carlos Eduardo, 1896-1958. Carlos Castañeda papers, ca. 1520-1960 (bulk 1920-1958). University of Texas Libraries
referencedIn Collection of papers on Taos County, New Mexico, 1937-1953 (bulk 1940-1944). University of New Mexico-Main Campus
referencedIn Good Neighbor Commission Records 80-112., 1949-1950 Dolph Briscoe Center for American History
creatorOf George I. Sánchez Papers 1983-30. 23866736., 1919-1986 Benson Latin American Collection, General Libraries, The University of Texas at Austin
referencedIn Good Neighbor Commission. Good Neighbor Commission Records, 1949-1950 University of Texas Libraries
referencedIn Antonio A. Sedillo Papers, 1932-1937 The University of New Mexico, University Libraries, Center for SouthwestResearch
Role Title Holding Repository
Relation Name
associatedWith Aldrete, Cristobal person
associatedWith Aldrete, Cristóbal. person
associatedWith American Civil Liberties Union corporateBody
associatedWith American Council of Spanish-Speaking People corporateBody
associatedWith American Council of Spanish-Speaking People. corporateBody
associatedWith American G.I. Forum corporateBody
associatedWith Baldwin, Roger Nash, 1884- person
associatedWith Campa, Arthur L. (Arthur Leon), 1905-1978 person
associatedWith Castañeda, Carlos Eduardo, 1896-1958 person
associatedWith Cebollero, Pedro Angel, 1896- person
associatedWith Cebollero, Pedro Angel, b. 1896. person
associatedWith Galarza, Ernesto, 1905- person
associatedWith Garcia, Hector P., d. 1996 person
associatedWith García, Héctor Pérez. person
associatedWith Good Neighbor Commission corporateBody
associatedWith Herrera, John J. person
associatedWith Idar, Eduardo person
associatedWith Idar, Eduardo. person
associatedWith Jones, Robert C. person
associatedWith League of United Latin American Citizens corporateBody
correspondedWith Page, Richard Martin, 1898-1975 person
associatedWith Peace Corps (U.S.) corporateBody
associatedWith Romo, Ricardo person
associatedWith Romo, Ricardo. person
associatedWith Samora, Julian, 1920- person
associatedWith Saunders, Lyle, 1907- person
associatedWith Sedillo, Antonio A. person
associatedWith Sedillo, Antonio A. person
associatedWith Sewell, Brice H. person
associatedWith Southwest Council on Education of Spanish-Speaking People corporateBody
associatedWith Southwest Council on Education of Spanish-Speaking People. corporateBody
associatedWith Texas Council on Human Relations corporateBody
associatedWith University of Texas. College of Education corporateBody
associatedWith University of Texas. Institute of Latin-American Studies corporateBody
associatedWith Whittenburg, Clarice person
associatedWith Whittenburg, Clarice. person
associatedWith Wirin, Arthur L. person
associatedWith Wirin, Arthur L. person
associatedWith Ximenes, Vicente 1919- person
associatedWith Yarborough, Ralph Webster, 1903- person
Place Name Admin Code Country
Texas
United States
Southwest, New
Latin America
Subject
Education
Education
Illegal aliens
Illegal aliens
Education, Bilingual
Education, Bilingual
Discrimination in education
Discrimination in education
Discrimination in education
Mexican Americans
Navajo Indians
Occupation
Activity

Person

Birth 1906

Death 1972

English,

Spanish; Castilian

Information

Permalink: http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w62v55m3

Ark ID: w62v55m3

SNAC ID: 7654472