Latinas in the United States A Historical Encyclopedia

Latinas in the United States: A Historical Encyclopedia records the contribution of women of Latin American birth or heritage to the economic and cultural development of the United States. The encyclopedia, edited by Vicki L. Ruiz and Virginia Sánchez-Korrol, is the first comprehensive gathering of scholarship on Latinas. This encyclopedia will serve as an essential reference for decades to come.

In more than 580 entries, the historical and cultural narratives of Latinas come to life. From mestizo settlement, pioneer life, and diasporic communities, the encyclopedia details the contributions of women as settlers, comadres, and landowners, as organizers and nuns. More than 200 scholars explore the experiences of Latinas during and after EuroAmerican colonization and conquest; the early-19th-century migration of Puerto Ricans and Cubans; 20th-century issues of migration, cultural tradition, labor, gender roles, community organization, and politics; and much more. Individual biographical entries profile women who have left their mark on the historical and cultural landscape.

With more than 300 photographs, Latinas in the United States offers a mosaic of historical experiences, detailing how Latinas have shaped their own lives, cultures, and communities through mutual assistance and collective action, while confronting the pressures of colonialism, racism, discrimination, sexism, and poverty.

"Meant for scholars and general readers, this is a great resource on Latinas and historical topics connected with them."--curledup.com

"Every so often there is a book or encyclopedia that appears in print that is an absolute goldmine. This three-volume encyclopedia is just such a goldmine." --American Catholic Studies, Spring 2009 Indiana University Press

"This three-volume set records the contribution of women of Latin American birth or heritage to the economic and cultural development of the U.S." --Hispanic Outlook in Higher Education

"Recommended. Lower--/upper--level undergraduates; general readers." --Choice Indiana University Press

"The encyclopedia is an important contribution to Latino and women's studies. It is a valuable resource and a recommended addition to reference collections in high school, community college, and college and university libraries." --American Reference Books Annual 2007

"[T]his groundbreaking work provides up-to-date, accurate, and comprehensive coverage of Latinas only, making it valuable for all libraries." --Library Journal Indiana University Press

Vicki L. Ruiz is Professor of History and Chicano/Latino Studies at the University of California, Irvine. Her many publications include From Out of the Shadows and Cannery Women, Cannery Lives. She and Virginia Sánchez-Korrol were honored with a "21 Leaders for the 21st Century" award by Women's eNews. Ruiz is president of the Organization of American Historians.

Virginia Sánchez-Korrol is a historian and Professor in the Department of Puerto Rican and Latino Studies at Brooklyn College, City University of New York. Among her many publications, she is co-editor with Vicki L. Ruiz of Latina Legacies: Identity, Biography and Community; co-author of Women in Latin America and the Caribbean (IUP, 1999); and author of From Colonia to Community.

Acknowledgments

Preface

Introduction

A Historical and Regional Overview

1. Latinas in the Southwest (Vicki L. Ruiz)

2.Latinas in the Northeast (Virginia Sanchez-Korrol)

3. Latinas in the Midwest (Lilia Fernández)

4. Latinas in the Southeast (María Cristina García)

5. Latinas in the Pacific Northwest (Elizabeth Salas)

Alphabetical Entries

Bibliography

Index