La sociedad : guardians of Hispanic culture along the Râio Grande

In 1900 Celedonio Mondragón and several other San Luis valley residents formed the Sociedad Protección Mútua de Trabajadores Unidos (SPMDTU) to help prevent the usurpation of Hispanic land ownership and to combat discrimination against wage laborers. The SPMDTU rapidly grew into a tristate organization with sixty-five local concilios (lodges) in New Mexico, Colorado, and Utah. Hispanic mutual aid societies proliferated at the turn of the twentieth century, providing such services as religious aid, burial funding, low-cost insurance, and fraternal support. The SPMDTU consolidated relief and support services and became a powerful force in helping families survive the transformations wrought by the influx of Anglos, the federal government, and new technologies. In the early twentieth century, the federal government became the primary welfare service provider for rural communities, but the SPMDTU has survived in the Southwest, continuing its traditions of fellowship and support. Beginning with the social and economic conditions that gave rise to La Sociedad and culminating with its centennial anniversary in 2000, José Rivera examines the SPMDTU as a case study of collective action in the context of a pluralistic American society, rapid social change, and the dynamics of mobilization for cultural survival. Rivera's study explores the core values that have bonded SPMDTU members across generations and have sustained the organization for more than a century and addresses the question of whether or not La Sociedad will survive in the twenty-first century. (society For The Mutual Protection Of United Workers) Was One Of Hundreds Of Hispanic Mutual Aid Societies That Flourished In The American Southwest Between 1880 And 1930, A Period Of Rural Industrialization That Coincided With Significant Changes In The Region's Political Economy And In The Competition For The Control Of Natural Resources. This Book Examines La Sociedad As A Case Study Of Collective Action In A Pluralistic American Society Marked By Rapid Social Change. In 1900 Celedonio Mondragon And Several Other Residents Of The San Luis Valley In Southern Colorado Formed La Sociedad To Help Prevent The Usurpation Of Hispanic Land Ownership And To Combat Discrimination Against Wage Laborers. The Organization Rapidly Grew To Include Sixty-five Local Concilios (lodges) In Colorado, New Mexico, And Utah. Hispanic Mutual Aid Societies Provided Such Services As Financial Aid, Low-cost Insurance, Burial Funding, And Fraternal Support. La Sociedad Consolidated These Relief And Support Services And Became A Powerful Force In Helping Families Survive The Transformations Wrought By The Influx Of Anglos, The Federal Government, And New Technologies. In The Early Twentieth Century, The Federal Government Became The Primary Welfare Service Provider For Rural Communities, But La Sociedad Has Survived In The Southwest, Continuing Its Traditions Of Fellowship And Support. Beginning With The Social And Economic Conditions That Gave Rise To La Sociedad, Jose Rivera Traces The Organization's Activities Through Its Centennial In 2000. His Study Explores The Values That Have Bonded Spmdtu Members Across Generations And Have Sustained The Organization For More Than A Century And Addresses The Question Of Whether Or Not La Sociedad Will Survive In The Twenty-first Century. --book Jacket. Machine Generated Contents Note: Themes Of The Book -- The Bonds Of Solidarity -- Immigrant Societies In The United States -- Mutualism In The Hispanic Southwest -- Ch. One A Cultural And Economic History Of The Upper Rio Grande -- Community Land Grants -- Competition For Natural Resources -- Land Struggles And Resistance -- The Culture Of Mutual Help -- Ch. Two The Rise And Expansion Of La Sociedad -- The Founders And Early Constitutions -- Mutual Aid Benefits And Acts Of Charity -- Superior Hall, Local Council Halls -- Hardships Of The Great Depression -- Women's Auxiliaries -- Life Insurance Programs -- Ch. Three Challenges In The New Century -- Centennial Anniversary -- Restoration Of The Superior Council Meeting Hall -- General Conventions 2006 And 2008 -- Ch. Four Conclusions And The Future -- Cultural Endurance -- New Directions -- Appendix One Selected Oral Histories -- Memories Of The Founder: James Perea -- Values Of The Society: Esequiel Salazar -- The Women's Auxiliaries And Grandfather Ortiz: Michael Atencio The Story Of Manuel Jesus Trujillo: Ruth Salazar -- Multigenerational Spmdtu Family: Juan De Vargas -- From The Nambe Council To The State Legislature: Ben Lujan -- Appendix Two Records And Documents -- Oracion De Apertura (opening Prayer) -- Oracion De Clausura (closing Prayer) -- Spmdtu Preambulo (preamble) Of 1911 -- Beneficios De Funeral (funeral Benefits And Services) 1922 -- Ceremonia De Difuntos (ceremony For The Deceased) -- Minutes Of Superior Council Special Meeting 1917 -- Petition To Indigence Fund 1923: San Miguel Council No. 10 -- Treasurer's Ledger 1931: Arroyo Seco Council No. 42 -- Carta Circular (circular Letter) 1970: Ogden Council No. 61 -- Himno Oficial (official Hymn) Of The Spmdtu -- Constitucion Y Reglamento (constitution And Regulations) Of La Sociedad Amb 1937, Revised 1964 -- Himno Oficial (official Hymn) Of La Sociedad Amb -- Himno Oficial (official Hymn) Of La Sociedad Femenil De Proteccion -- Cantico Nacional (national Song) Of La Sociedad Protectora Cooperativa -- Appendix Three Spmdtu Superior Presidents -- Appendix Four Geography Of Local Councils. Text By José A. Rivera ; With The Assistance Of Rogelio Briones, Michael Atencio, And Daniel Salazar ; Photographs By Daniel Salazar. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. Contents Foreword Preface Acknowledgments Introduction Themes of the Book The Bonds of Solidarity Immigrant Societies in the United States Mutualism in the Hispanic Southwest Chapter One: A Cultural and Economic History of the Upper Río Grande Community Land Grants Competition for Natural Resources Land Struggles and Resistance The Culture of Mutual Help Chapter Two: The Rise and Expansion of La Sociedad The Founders and Early Constitutions Mutual Aid Benefits and Acts of Charity Superior Hall, Local Council Halls Hardships of the Great Depression Women's Auxiliaries Life Insurance Programs Chapter Three: Challenges in the New Century Centennial Anniversary Restoration of the Superior Council Meeting Hall General Conventions 2006 and 2008 Chapter Four: Conclusions and the Future Cultural Endurance New Directions Appendix One: Selected Oral Histories Memories of the Founder: James Perea Values of the Society: Esequiel Salazar The Women's Auxiliaries and Grandfather Ortiz: Michael Atencio The Story of Manuel Jesús Trujillo: Ruth Salazar Multigenerational SPMDTU Family: Juan de Vargas From the Nambé Council to the State Legislature: Ben Luján Appendix Two: Records and Documents Oración de Apertura (Opening Prayer) Oración de Clausura (Closing Prayer) SPMDTU Preámbulo (Preamble) of 1911 Beneficios de Funeral (Funeral Benefits and Services) 1922 Ceremonia de Difuntos (Ceremony for the Deceased) Minutes of Superior Council Special Meeting 1917 Petition to Indigence Fund 1923: San Miguel Council No. 10 Treasurer's Ledger 1931: Arroyo Seco Council No. 42 Carta Circular (Circular Letter) 1970: Ogden Council No. 61 Himno Oficial (Official Hymn) of the SPMDTU Constitución y Reglamento (Constitution and Regulations) of La Sociedad AMB 1937, Revised 1964 Himno Oficial (Official Hymn) of La Sociedad AMB Himno Oficial (Official Hymn) of La Sociedad Femenil de Protección Cántico Nacional ( National Song) of La Sociedad Protectora Cooperativa Appendix Three: SPMDTU Superior Presidents Appendix Four: Geography of Local Councils Notes Glossary Bibliography Index Back Cover In 1900 Celedonio Mondragón and several other San Luis valley residents formed the Sociedad Protección Mútua de Trabajadores Unidos (SPMDTU) to help prevent the usurpation of Hispanic land ownership and to combat discrimination against wage laborers. The SPMDTU rapidly grew into a tristate organization with sixty-five local concilios (lodges) in Colorado, New Mexico, and Utah. Hispanic mutual aid societies proliferated at the turn of the twentieth century, providing such services as financial aid, burial funding, low-cost insurance, and fraternal support. The SPMDTU consolidated relief and support services and became a powerful force in helping families survive the transformations wrought by the influx of Anglos, the federal government, and new technologies. In the early twentieth century, the federal government became the primary welfare service provider for rural communities, but the SPMDTU has survived in the Southwest, continuing its traditions of fellowship and support. Beginning with the social and economic conditions that gave rise to La Sociedad and culminating with its centennial anniversary in 2000, José Rivera examines the SPMDTU as a case study of collective action in the context of a pluralistic American society, rapid social change, and the dynamics of mobilization for cultural survival. Rivera's study explores the core values that have bonded SPMDTU members across generations and have sustained the organization for more than a century and addresses the question of whether or not La Sociedad will survive in the twenty-first century.