Rios, Jr. (Sam) papers
Scope and Contents
The collection consists of the professional papers of professor and Director of Chicano Studies, Sam Rios, Jr. Materials concerning the Chicano and Ethnic Studies departments/programs at Sacramento State and collaborative community projects with the faculty of the Chicano and Ethnic Studies departments/programs are contained in these papers. Topics include departmental/program institutional records, and projects such as the Mexican American Education Project, Breakfast for Niños, Chicanito Youth Science Project, Concilio ESL Program, and the Mesa Directiva.
This collection contains documents, correspondence, memos, flyers, handwritten notes, newspaper articles, and publications. The languages of the materials included in these papers is English and Spanish. The collection consists of 2 cartons (2.5 linear feet). 1965-1991
There are 5 main series pertaining to the Sam Rios, Jr. papers. Included are the following: Series 1. Academic Departments/Programs files, Series 2. Faculty Related files, Series 3. Correspondence, Memos, and Notes, Series 4. Community Outreach and Programs, and Series 5. Publications.
Dates
- Creation: 1965 - 1996
Language of Materials
English and Spanish.
Conditions Governing Access
Collection is open for research. Some restrictions may apply.
Conditions Governing Use
Copyright is protected by the copyright law, Chapter 17 of the U.S. Code. Requests for permission to publish, quote, or reproduce from collections must be submitted in writing to the Head of the Department of Special Collections and University Archives. Permission for publication is given on the behalf of the Department of Special Collections and University Archives, Library, California State University, Sacramento as the owner of the physical item and is not intended to include permission of the copyright holder, which must also be obtained by the researcher.
Biographical / Historical
Sam Rios Jr. was born March 4, 1931 in San Francisco, California. He graduated from Mission High School in San Francisco (1950), joined the United State Air Force (1952-1956), and then went on to earn college degrees from the City College of San Francisco (A.A. in Electronic Technology, 1958), and California State University, Sacramento (B.A. Anthropology, minor in Social Science, 1971; M.A in Social Science, concentration in Anthropology, 1972).
Sam Rios, Jr. began his teaching career at California State University, Sacramento in 1972 in the Anthropology Department as a lecturer. In 1974, he continued to teach and also became the Director of the Chicano Studies program, within the Ethnic Studies department. This was a role in which he continued for nearly 30 years (with a break from 1976-78 when he was pursuing his Ph.D. degree), and where he earned the nickname “El Prof” from his students. He retired in May of 2011. On campus he was the Faculty sponsor for the MECHA student organization, Director of the Chicanito Science Project, consultant in the Cross Cultural Research Center, among other campus committees and projects. In the community, he participated as the Director for the Breakfast for Niños program, was a board member for the Washington Community Council, Alkali Flats Cultural Programs Committee, and part of the Royal Chicano Air Force (RCAF). Sam Rios, Jr. passed away on March 16, 2018.
The Chicano Studies program (originally named the Mexican American Studies, now called the Chicanx and Latinx Studies) began in 1969/1970. The current program offers core courses through the Ethnic Studies Department. These courses examine the Chicanx and Latinx experience and focus on the historical/cultural contributions of Chicanxs and Latinxs in the U.S. Courses also analyze the impact of colonialism, class, racism, color, and culture conflicts in such areas as art, music, education, social science, literature, business, and human services fields.
Full Extent
2.5 Linear Feet (2 record cartons)
Abstract
These papers consist of materials collected by Sam Rios, Jr., Sacramento State professor and Director of Chicano Studies. Materials concerning the Chicano and Ethnic Studies departments/programs at Sacramento State and collaborative community projects in the Sacramento area with the faculty of the Chicano and Ethnic Studies departments/programs are found in these papers. Some projects include the Mexican American Education Project, Breakfast for Niños, Chicanito Youth Science Project, Concilio ESL Program, and the Mesa Directiva. Material types include documents, correspondence, memos, flyers, handwritten notes, newspaper articles, and publications. The languages of the materials included in these papers is English and Spanish. The collection consists of 2 cartons (2.5 linear feet). 1965-1996
Immediate Source of Acquisition
The Sam Rios, Jr. papers were transferred to the CSUS Gerth Special Collections and University Archives in 2001 by Sam Rios, Jr. (donor) and David Leon (depositor).
Accruals
No additions are expected.
Processing Information
Processed by Lynn Sanborn, University Archivist, January 2025.
- Title
- Guide to the Sam Rios, Jr. papers
- Author
- Finding Aid written by Lynn Sanborn, University Archivist.
- Date
- January 30, 2025
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Code for undetermined script
Repository Details
Part of the University Records Repository
University Library, MS 6039
6000 J Street
Sacramento CA 95819 USA
916-278-6144
lib-scua@csus.edu