Carlos F. Truan Collection (A2000-036)
Title: Carlos F. Truan Collection
Dates: 1968-2000
Abstract: Carlos F. Truan played an instrumental role in shaping the destiny of the Lone Star State, serving the citizens of South Texas with dedication and vision over the course of an impressive, and indeed unprecedented, career as a member of both the Senate and the House of Representatives. Senator Truan came from a humble, single parent home and worked hard to earn his college degree from a small South Texas college. He entered the work world in the early 1960s, before the Civil Rights movement had even hinted at including Mexican Americans in the quest for equality and justice. Through the legislation he authored and/or sponsored he worked to make government more responsive to the people it served.
Quantity: 1131 linear feet
Introduction: Biographical Note
The papers of the Honorable Carlos F. Truan are a substantial and important collection of historical documents. The Carlos Truan Collection consists of over 1100 linear feet, over 1300 archival boxes. The holdings at the South Texas Archives & Special Collections at Texas A&M University-Kingsville reveal the experience of how a young Mexican-American man grew up to be a political activist, working within the “system” to help bring equality and justice to the socially and economically disadvantaged of South Texas.
Born in Kingsville, Texas on June 9, 1935 he was a child of the “Great Depression.” His parents divorced when he was quite young and his single mother was left alone to raise Carlos and his two older brothers, a sister and a younger brother. The Truan family was among the earliest settlers in a town that had been founded in 1904 as a railroad community. From its beginning the town was segregated into three distinct communities. There were a substantial number of African-Americans who lived on the southwest side of town and worked for the railroad. The strong “Colored Trainman’s Union” assured that community of economic benefits. There was a larger community of Mexican-Americans who were generally agricultural workers or small business entrepreneurs living in the northeastern section of the town. Because of the proximity to Mexico, it was easy to maintain their culture and many often spoke Spanish as a first language. The third community was the Anglo population which lived between and around the other two groups and dominated the social and economic life of the area.
Carlos Truan attended the “Mexican School,” where he quickly learned that speaking his native language, Spanish, was an offense for which he was punished by the school administration. He learned from his mother how to work hard, to help the family, and to be successful in a world where people of color needed to learn how to compete without surrendering the beauty of their culture. His mother urged him to continue his education cautioning him: “somos muy pobres hijo, pero la educacion es my importante, y eso es algo que nadie to puede quitar. Y, no importa que, to vas a la esculea y vas limpio. Y to portaste bien y no vallas agarrar algo que no sea tuyo.” (We are poor son, but the education is very important. And that is something that nobody can take from you. And nothing matters, you go to school, and you go clean. You are good and never take what is not yours.)1
Following her advice, Carlos worked hard to finish high school, where he was elected class president for four years. With a small scholarship, he then attended Texas College of Arts and Industries. He graduated in 1959 with a Bachelor’s of Arts degree in Business.
After graduating from college he moved to the city of Corpus Christi, Texas where he pursued a career as an insurance agent ultimately joining the New York Life Insurance Company. He felt confident as a salesman and his achievements earned him status as a Life and Qualifying Member of the Million Dollar Round Table.
For professional, business and personal reasons he needed to become involved and active in his community. In 1968 he received an appointment to the Texas Advisory Committee to the United States Civil Rights Commission and traveled to Rio Grande City for hearings about discrimination, employment, education and unfair treatment of migrant farm workers by the Texas Rangers. As he continued to work for the rights of the disadvantaged he became even more sensitized to their needs and recognized that his own experiences of segregation and discrimination were not unique, but problems faced by many. It was then that he decided to run for elected office.
He began his political career when he was elected to serve in the Texas House of Representatives in 1968. Following four successful terms in the house, during which time he served as Chairman of the Committee on Human Resources, he won election to the Texas Senate. Among the major issues that he supported during his twenty-five years as a senator were public education, higher education, environmental protection, and mental health care.
Senator Truan also served as chair of the Senate Committee on International Relations, Trade and Technology. In the 69th Legislature, his colleagues elected him and reelected him to the post of Senate President Pro Tempore during the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd called sessions. With the advent of the 74th Legislature, he became the first Hispanic legislator to serve as Dean of the Texas Senate, an achievement that was applauded by his peers in both chambers and by citizens throughout the state. Senator Truan is rightfully hailed as one of the state’s most influential supporters of public education. In addition to sponsoring the Texas Bilingual Education Act (1969) and the Texas Adult Education Act (1973) he helped obtain increased funding for institutions of higher learning and successfully led to bring South Texas schools into The Texas A&M University System and The University of Texas System.
He remains active in many civic and charitable organizations in South Texas, such as Kiwanis International, Knights of Columbus, and the League of United Latin American Citizens. A member of the American G.I. Forum, he is known for his selfless work on behalf of American servicemen, and while in the Senate, he served as chairman of the Committee on Veterans Affairs and Military Installations.
The papers the Senator collected while serving in the Texas State Legislature reveal insights into the politics of South Texas and the large Hispanic community that is beginning to emerge as a political force. As Hispanics have grown into the nation’s largest minority group, with Mexican-Americans being the largest single group within this diverse group, they are a group whose votes are increasingly courted. Studying Carlos Truan’s papers will give students of history, politics and social concerns, a glimpse of how, at least, one person learned to compete in the dominate Anglo society while retaining a culture and language that he was taught to love and appreciate.
The Carlos Truan Collection is a rich resource for researchers. There are materials for research in history, political science, sociology, minority relations, biographies, environmental issues, immigation, international trade, water issues, economic development, and health and human services. The Collection contains a substantial amount of information on education at all levels—elementary education, secondary education, bilingual education, higher education, and health education.
Scope and Contents of the Collection
The materials in this collection include materials accumulated for the legislation that Carlos F. Truan authored, co-authored, sponsored, or supported during his thirty-five years serving in the Texas State House of Representatives and Texas State Senate. The documents include background for his work on legislation for International Trade, especially on NAFTA, on health care issues, veterans’ issues, and education at all levels. Files for correspondence on bills introduced into the legislature, constituent needs and concerns and special projects are included. A limited amount of materials is included that deals with Mr. Truan as a private citizen.
Acquisition, Location, and Condition of the Papers
Senator Carlos Truan donated the Carlos F. Truan Collection to Texas A&M University-Kingsville in 2000. It is housed in the South Texas Archives & Special Collections, Baugh Hall, 903 West Richard, on the Texas A&M University-Kingsville campus.
All parts of the Collection are open and can be made available to the public for research during the hours of operation of the South Texas Archives & Special Collections. Correspondence concerning the Collection should be addressed to the Archivist, South Texas Archives & Special Collections, MSC #197, Texas A&M University-Kingsville, Kingsville, Texas 78363-8202. (361) 593-2776. http://archives.tamuk.edu
The Collection is in excellent condition. There is a complete finder’s guide with an inventory available at the South Texas Archives.
The Arrangement of the Papers
The Collection is arranged chronologically in ten series and by sub series.
Series I – Achievements
Series II – Business and Consumer Services
Series III – Clippings
Series IV – Correspondence
Series V – Education
Series VI – Environments and Natural Resources
Series VII – Government
Series VIII – Health and Human Services
Series IX – Laws and Criminal Justice
Series X – Travel and Recreation
Related Material: See The Irma Lerma Rangel Collection, A1989-039, A2003-042 and the Texas A&M University-Kingsville Archives, A1992-036
Administrative Information
The material was received from Senator Carlos Flores Truan.
Accession Number: A2000-036
Preferred Citation:
Item Description, Title of folder, Accession Number including folder number
South Texas Archives and Special Collections
James C. Jernigan Library
Texas A&M University-Kingsville
Kingsville, TX 78363
Currently the papers in the Carlos Truan Collection are organized in one Record Group. Additional papers will be incorporated into one or more Record Groups in the near future.
Record Group I:
The Political Papers of Carlos F. Truan
The materials in this Record Group include achievements and awards honoring Carlos F. Truan, material on NAFTA, correspondence on bills introduced into the legislature, files about individuals, and newspaper clippings. This collection contains materials on educational programs he authored and other bills introduced into the legislature creating new government programs, information on environment issues, health issues, judiciary laws and travel opportunities. The Collection is arranged chronologically in eleven Series and by Sub-series in the original order created by the Senator’s office. The South Texas Archives has generally retained the Series titles created by the office staff of Carlos Truan.
Series I: Achievements
Boxes 1-3
Materials in this group include biographical information especially resumes, certificates, marriage record, honors and awards, and some correspondence. Documents concerning his tenure as Dean of the Senate, serving as Governor for a Day, and celebrating his 25th wedding anniversary are included.
Series II: Business and Consumer Services
Boxes 4-12
Series II contains documents about legislation for and about small and/or minority businesses, international relations, trade and border troubles and successes, and materials on the South Texas Initiative, which brought increased funding to the area in the early 1990s. Materials on the Malquilidores program and NAFTA are in sub-series.
Series III: Clippings
Boxes 13-63
News clippings, dating from 1969 to 2000, included in these containers are those sent by the Legislative News Clipping Service and also clippings of importance to the legislative activities of Carlos F. Truan. Topics of significance to him included many on/about Senator Bob Bullock, the Carrillo Impeachment in Duval County, the Hopwood Case against the University of Texas, migrant housing, prison crime and activities, and product liability. Also included are many articles from area Spanish language newspapers and clippings from South Texas communities.
Series IV: Correspondence
Boxes 64-328
Documents in these containers include appointments, schedules, agendas, and calendar of events and minutes of various legislative and committee meetings. Also included is general correspondence with considerable materials from Bob Bullock, Ann Richards and about Roloff (Evangelistic) Enterprise. Other sections include legislative correspondence, invitations to various events, Christmas greetings, mail reports, memos to/from staff members, press releases, resumes of various applicants for jobs, and letters of recommendations sent to Truan’s office or by the Senator. Copies of magazines, journals, and newsletters are filed in these containers. The newsletters include those sent by the Senator’s office to constituents.
Series V: Education
Boxes 329-407
This series contains information about education of all types and at all levels. Special attention is given to adult education and bilingual education including bills he authored and those he co-sponsored. His work on bilingual education was especially significant as he authored the first Texas Bilingual Education Act. Other files included deal with public school finances, Texas Retirement System, higher education in South Texas colleges, universities, and junior colleges in Corpus Christi, Kingsville, Harlingen, Brownsville, McAllen and Laredo. Materials also deal with the Hopwood case against the University of Texas Law School, the Edgewood Case on public school financing, and statistics about those schools and universities dealing with these cases. Files include information about the creation of a law school in Kingsville and health education in the Coastal Bend and other South Texas communities.
Series VI: Environments and Natural Resources
Boxes 408–520
Materials in this series include documents about the Texas Agriculture Experiment Stations, agricultural farm workers, toxic air emissions and the Texas Clean Air Act. Also included are materials about beaches including Mari culture program, estuary programs, erosion on the beaches of South Texas, energy reserves and mineral rights, and an Energy Policy Partnership. This series also includes information about global warming, the quality of the water in the Gulf of Mexico, and hunting, fishing and other outdoor activities. Documents contain information about natural disasters such as hurricanes and flooding. Several files are devoted to pollution, mold problems, and waste disposal. Files about plans and problems concerning water at Choke Canyon, Edwards Aquifer and the Nueces River Authority are included.
Series VII: Government
Boxes 521- 1001
This large group of documents includes documents about government and problems needing governmental attention. These materials contain information about the American G.I. Forum and its founder, Hector Garcia. Also there are files on/about veterans affairs, the bringing of the U.S.S. Lexington to Corpus Christi, the National Guard, and Citizens groups on/about the State Legislature. Files include information about colonias and substandard services and living conditions available. Organizational materials LULAC, Latino concerns, AFL-CIO/UFW, MALDEF, National Council of La Raza, and National Council for State Legislators. Files are about the Packery Channel, the South Texas Border Initiative, constitutional amendments, and copies of bills authored, sponsored, or supported by Truan. There are files about Truan serving as Governor for a Day. Staff files including memos, minutes of meetings, agendas, expenses and some job applications are located here. This series also contains committee reports, agendas, minutes, and other information. Materials about the Democratic Party and Campaigns including party rules, national conventions and the Mexican American Democratic Caucus are located here. Other files include materials about districting and redistricting, immigration policies and problems, and taxes. Senate and House resolutions and proclamations are filed here. Several files deal with the Ethics Commission, the Budget concerns of the different sessions, State Boards, Departments and Offices. There are also materials about TORT Reform and Voting and Election concerns.
Series VIII: Health and Human Services
Boxes s 1002 – 1171
The papers in this series include information about border health issues and concerns and the legislation that the Senator especially supported or advocated. Special attention is given to birth defects, various diseases found in the Rio Grande Valley, and the medical needs of South Texas. Files here deal with the South Texas Health Education Initiative and the South Texas Border Regional Professional Health Education program. Files deal with issues such as abortion, adoption, family planning, child abuse, pornography problems, family violence, and childcare and support. Care and concerns of the elderly such as nursing homes, elder care, and home health care are in these files. Services for the disabled including information about the Texas State Rehabilitation Commission are included. Other files include information about the Texas Department of Human Services, welfare programs and welfare reform, and insurance concerns and solutions. Copies of some legislation are located here.
Series IX: Laws and Criminal Justice
Boxes 1172-1180
Materials in this series include information about the Texas Department of Criminal Justice, the Civil Rights Commission and violations of civil rights, the death penalty, and crime statistics.
Series X: Travel and Recreation
Boxes 1181-1186
Files in this series deal with travel by Senator Truan and his staff including some trips that were recreational and some that were devoted to official business. Also included is information about celebrations, special events, tourism and recreation information in the state of Texas.
Series XI: Memorabilia
Boxes 1187-1258
Materials in this series include 137 videocassette tapes about such topics as the Edwards Aquifer, Truan’s swearing in ceremony in 1985, the Texas water development news clip, and other news clips about activities of interest to him. There are 292 audiocassette tapes including several of Education Committee hearings, speeches delivered by the Senator at various times, and conferences especially those about higher education and others of interest to the Senator or his staff. Some reel-to-reel audiotapes include information about Ralph Yarborough and other political campaigns and activities. Filed in a miscellaneous category are guest’s books, telephone message books, flags, a garment bag, a cap, and miscellaneous receipt books. There are also twenty-one boxes of photographs and negatives of Carlos F. Truan, legislative activities and constituents visiting with the Senator.
Note
1Oral History Interview with Carlos Truan, CMAS 84, Special Collections, University of Texas at Arlington Libraries.
http://libraries.uta.edu/tejanovoices/interview.asp?CMASNo=084