Ohio Hispanic Institute of Opportunity records

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.

MEETING MINUTES; 1970 – 1987; Fifteen folders, arranged chronologically by type. Agendas and minutes of meetings held by the Board of Directors, Board of Trustees, and various committees.

ROSTERS; 1979 – 1986; Three folders, arranged chronologically by type. Name and contact information for members of the Board of Trustees, committee membership information, and active status.

DECLARATION OF PRINCIPLES; 1973, 1980 – 1983, undated; One folder, arranged chronologically. Various permutations and updates of the organization by-laws and operating principles.

CORRESPONDENCE; 1970 – 1987, undated; Twenty-two folders, arranged chronologically by recipient/sender. Incoming and outgoing correspondence general to the organization and specific to various employees including three executive directors, board members, and component coordinators.

INTERNAL MEMORANDA; 1981 – 1987, undated; Eight folders, arranged chronologically. Internal memos covering a variety of issues related to the operation and functions of the agency as well as various affiliated programs and entities.

TELEGRAMS; 1979 – 1985; One folder, arranged chronologically. Telegrams sent to and by the agency, often concerning urgent matters.

SUBJECT FILES – A-Z; 1966 - 1987; Two hundred and seventy-four folders, arranged alphabetically by subject. Files made up of various record groups that pertain to organizations, groups, churches, charities, and local, state, and federal entities with which the agency held or pursued partnerships. Additional subject files include advocacy areas, internal office files, and affiliated programs and events. The arrangement of the subject files includes four subcategories.

SUBJECT FILES – GENERAL; 1966 – 1987, undated; Seven folders, arranged alphabetically by subject. Materials related to the advocacy areas in which the agency participated or pursued.

SUBJECT FILES – OHIO HISPANIC INSTITUTE OF OPPORTUNITY; 1978 – 1987, undated; Twenty-nine folders, arranged alphabetically by subject. Internal files connected to various branches and internal structures of the agency, programs and events developed by the agency, journal and newsletter creation and distribution, and the offshoot Viva Toledo Project.

SUBJECT FILES – STATE OF OHIO; 1972, 1977 – 1987, undated; Twenty folders, arranged alphabetically by subject. Materials related to affiliated state departments, offices, organizations, and governing bodies.

SUBJECT FILES – UNITED STATES; Seventeen folders, arranged alphabetically by subject. Materials related to affiliated federal departments, offices, organizations, and governing bodies.

ANNUAL REPORTS; 1974, 1976 – 1978, 1980; Three folders, arranged chronologically. Select copies of the yearly reports of the agency’s activities. Four printed and bound final drafts, one working draft.

AREA OFFICE NARRATIVE REPORTS; 1979 – 1981; Twelve folders, arranged chronologically by location. Select monthly reports of the activities of the area offices throughout the state.

BOARD OF TRUSTEES REPORTS; 1979 – 1985, undated; One folder, arranged chronologically. Select reports of the activities of the Board of Trustees.

MISCELLANEOUS REPORTS; 1973 – 1986, undated; Eight folders, arranged alphabetically by creator/department. Select reports of the activities of the agency’s components, projects, committees, and Executive Directors.

Transcripts of speeches and testimonies given by employees of the agency.

BOASBERG, KLORES, FELDESMAN, AND TUCKER LAW FIRM FILES; 1982 – 1986; One folder, arranged chronologically. Documents related to the primary law firm employed by the agency.

AGREEMENTS; 1977 - 1981; Six folders, arranged chronologically by type. Legal agreements, including leases, between the agency and various public and private entities.

BRIEFS; 1983 – 1987; Eight folders, arranged chronologically by case number. Legal briefs filed on behalf of the agency for cases primarily related to the disbursement and use of federal funds under the Comprehensive Employment and Training Act.

CONTRACTS; 1980 – 1987; Two folders, arranged chronologically by type. Assorted contracts between the agency and public and private entities, including the AFSCME labor union.

DEEDS; 1981 – 1987; One folder, arranged chronologically. Deeds for property purchased and/or transferred by and from the agency.

DEPOSITIONS; 1982; Two folders, arranged chronologically. Depositions of multiple individuals taken for a case before the Office of Administrative Law Judges, United States Department of Labor.

ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION; 1970 – 1979, 1985, undated; One folder, arranged chronologically. Original application and subsequent updates to the agency’s incorporation.

Documentation of the agency’s financial accounting, including ledgers, reports, and audits.

NEWSCLIPPINGS; 1980 – 1987; One folder, arranged chronologically. Clipped articles related to the agency and its activities from local and regional newspapers, primarily from northwestern Ohio.

PRESS RELEASES; 1981 – 1986, undated; One folder, arranged chronologically. Press releases created by the agency and distributed to local and regional media outlets.

CERTIFICATES; 1981 – 1983; Two folders, arranged chronologically by type. Certificates issues to the agency and to Executive Director Miguel Ornelas.

BROCHURES; 1982, undated; Two folders, arranged chronologically by type. Brochures created to promote the agency and select programs and events.

FLYERS; undated; One folder, arranged by type. Flyers created to promote the agency and select programs and events

PROGRAMS; 1984 – 1986; Two folders, arranged chronologically by type. Programs for assorted events created or sponsored by the agency.

NEWSLETTERS; 1980 – 1981, 1985; Three folders, arranged chronologically by type. Select issues of three newsletters produced by the agency.

POSITIVE PRINTS; 1981, undated; Four folders, arranged by subject. Photographs of Executive Director Miguel Ornelas, agency office spaces and events, and local areas.

SLIDES; 1980 – 1981, undated; Four folders, arranged chronologically by subject. Slide presentations and photographic slides of agency office spaces and events.

Cassette recordings of select agency staff meetings.