Ohio Hispanic Institute of Opportunity records

Collection

Identifier: MS-0584

Staff Only

Collection Overview

Abstract

The Ohio Hispanic Institute of Opportunity (OHIO) records date from 1966-1987 and include proceedings, correspondence, subject files, reports, literary productions, legal documents, financial documents printed material, scrapbook materials, and photographic material documenting OHIO's efforts to assist underrepresented Spanish-speaking populations in the state of Ohio.

Dates

Creation: 1966-1987
Creation: Majority of material found within 1979-1987

Extent

17 Cubic Feet (44 letter manuscript boxes, 1 flat box, 1 flat file folder)

Creator

Ohio Hispanic Institute of Opportunity (Organization)

Scope and Contents

The Ohio Hispanic Institute of Opportunity Collections spans 1966 – 1987, with the majority of materials dating from 1979 – 1987. The earlier years of the organization are not as well documented and gaps do exist throughout the entire span. Regardless, the collection is a valuable resource for researchers, particularly those in areas affiliated with Cultural, Ethnic, Latino/a, and Chicano/a Studies.

As a whole, the collection displays the everyday realities of a relief and training organization. The minutes, correspondence, legal documents, and much of the subject files demonstrate the routine fight for federal funding and for migrant workers’ rights. Throughout its existence, The Ohio Hispanic Institute of Opportunity struggled to maintain proper funding levels, supplementing state and federal grants with private grants and funding drives.

The subject files also reveal the connections between local, regional, state, and national/federal organizations and offices. They include paperwork related to various government grants, other Hispanic organizations, farm worker relief organizations, advocacy groups, charities, state and federal government offices, religious organizations, and support organizations.

Organizations represented include but are not limited to the Farm Labor Organizing Committee, the Midwest Association of Farmworker Organizations, the National Association of Farmworker Organizations, the National Council of La Raza, the Ohio Council of Churches, and the Perrysburg Heights Project. Federal grant funding programs and affiliated state and federal departments under the Comprehensive Employment and Training Act, the Community Services Block Grant, and the Job Training Partnership Act make up large portions of the subject files.

Of particular interest to local researchers, the collection includes the files of the offshoot “Viva Toledo Project,” an initiative created to develop a “Hispanic town” small business, shopping, and arts district on St. Clair Street in Toledo. While the project ultimately did not come to fruition, they made great strides in highlighting and celebrating Hispanic culture in Toledo.

The remaining legal documents, financial documents, printed materials, and photographic material add additional context to the collection, the organization, and the plight of migrant farm workers through the 1980s.

Biographical / Historical

The Ohio Hispanic Institute of Opportunity arose from the efforts of the Spanish-speaking members of the Ohio Council of Churches. The initial mission of the organization was to assist underrepresented Spanish-speaking populations in the state of Ohio. La Raza Unida de Ohio, the first iteration of the agency was founded and incorporated as a non-profit in 1970. At the time of its founding, La Raza Unida was comprised of fourteen chapters and separated into eight divisions, all devoted to various aspects of service for local Latino/a communities throughout Ohio.

Throughout the 1970s, the focal point of the organization narrowed. From the late 1970s through the 1980s, the agency was dedicated to assisting and supporting migrant farm workers with housing, funding, education, job training and placement, and advocacy. As the client base narrowed, so did the breadth of the organization. The number of offices throughout Ohio gradually decreased until they were centralized to Northwestern Ohio by the time the organization was dissolved in 1987 due to the loss of federal funding and subsequent budgetary concerns.

Conditions Governing Access

No known access restrictions.

Conditions Governing Use

Researchers using this collection assume full responsibility for conforming to the laws of libel, privacy, and copyright, and are responsible for securing permissions necessary for publication or reproduction.

Language of Materials

English

Spanish; Castilian

Additional Description

Arrangement

The collection is arranged into the following series:

Proceedings, 1970-1987, undated
Correspondence, 1970-1987, undated
Subject files, 1966-1987, undated
Reports, 1973-1986, undated
Literary productions, 1981, 1985, undated
Legal documents, 1970-1987, undated
Financial documents, 1973-1986, undated
Scrapbook materials, 1980-1987, undated
Printed materials, 1980-1986, undated
Photographic material, 1980-1981, undated
Audio recordings, 1985, undated

Immediate Source of Acquisition

The Ohio Hispanic Institute of Opportunity records were transferred to the Center for Archival Collections in the late 1980s following the dissolution of the non-profit corporation.

Processing Information

The initial finding aid was completed by graduate student Matthew Kilmer in July 2014. The collection was completed and arranged by Archives Assistant Rebecca Denes in April 2016.