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Mexican Studies: Primary Sources at UCSD

Guide to Resources for Research on Mexico at UCSD and the greater San Diego-Baja Region and beyond

Zeta

Tijuana's Independent Newspaper  Zeta known for its critical political and cultural commentary and its cultural supplements is microfilmed at UCSD.

The microfilm for 1984-2011 is available on Geisel's 2nd Floor West Wing (in the microfilm drawer -- call # XF 1865)

Recent print editions are available in the Current Newspapers area also on Geisel's 2nd Floor West Wing

For other editions, ask at the Research Assistance Desk to see issues in the Bindery.  These are for in-library use only.

UCSD Digital Collections

Digitization has made many of UCSD’s special collections more widely accessible through UCSD Digital Collections.  See the UC San Diego Library Digital Collections Research Guide for tips on how to search.

Digital Collections including materials from San Diego or parts of Mexico bordering the US include:

  • American Friends Service Committee (Redacted abuse and compliant files from the records of the American Friends Service Commitee -- U.S.-Mexico Border Program, 1977-2001
  • Baja California (Images of Baja California digitized from original photographs by Harry Crosby, Howard Gulick, and Marquis McDonald)
  • Harry Crosby Photographs (Includes photographs of Baja California, 1967-1962 and Sonora, Mexico, 1958-1986).
  • Marquis McDonald Photographs (Photographs by Marquis McDonald during a 1949-1950 overland trip down the Baja California Peninsula)
  • The inSite Archive.  InSite produced collaborative contemporary public art projects in the San Diego-Tijuana region. The archive includes publications, administrative files, audio and video materials, and digital materials which document the numerous projects created by inSite artists, as well as the daily functions of the organization between 1992 and 2006.
  • Herman Baca (A selection of documents illustrating the work and activities of Chicano activist Herman Baca and the Committee on Chicano Rights, 1964-2006)

Using Special Collections at UCSD

All Special Collections and Archives (SC&A) materials are cataloged in UC Library Search and finding aids for manuscript collections are available on our website, along with our policies and more information about our collections: https://library.ucsd.edu/collections/sca/

For tips on searching Roger, consult the page "How to Find and Request Special Collections Materials."

All Special Collections & Archives materials are stored in an environmentally controlled, secured area and all users must register and place requests to see the materials. If the items are located onsite, we will pull on demand when you arrive at the library. Keep an eye out for materials that are located offsite (it will say so in Roger), as delivery times for these items may be up to a week.

Register online to use Special Collections & Archives: https://spcoll-request.ucsd.edu/logon. Once registered, you can place requests online directly from the catalog and finding aids, or log in to your account to queue requests for a future visit and to view previous requests.

In addition to registering you will also need to show your photo ID when you visit Special Collections.

California Digital Resources Including Material on the Border Region

UCSD Special Collections with content on San Diego or Mexican areas borderng the U.S.

Encompassing UC San Diego's Mandeville Special Collections and the Scripps Institution of Oceanography Archives, UCSD's Special Collections & Archives houses a wide range of rare books, manuscripts, maps, photographs, artworks, recordings, and archives. These primary source materials support UCSD's instructional and research programs, and distinguish UCSD's library collections from all other research universities.  These special collections include significant holdings related to Mexico, including regions bordering the US (especially San Diego).  See especially the:

A very interesting border-specific collection UCSD collection is:

  • The inSite Archive.  InSite produced collaborative contemporary public art projects in the San Diego-Tijuana region. The archive includes publications, administrative files, audio and video materials, and digital materials which document the numerous projects created by inSite artists, as well as the daily functions of the organization between 1992 and 2006.

Primary Source Databases Specializing in Content for Study of US-Mexican Border Studies