Hispanic Heritage Month Resources, 2005
"In 1968, Congress authorized President Lyndon B. Johnson to proclaim a week in September as National Hispanic Heritage Week. The observance was expanded in 1988 to a monthlong celebration (Sept. 15-Oct. 15). During this month, America celebrates the culture and traditions of U.S. residents who trace their roots to Spain, Mexico and the Spanish-speaking nations of Central America, South America and the Caribbean. Sept. 15 was chosen as the starting point for the celebration because it is the anniversary of independence of five Latin American countries: Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua. In addition, Mexico and Chile celebrate their independence days on Sept. 16 and Sept. 18, respectively." (from Census Bureau. Hispanic Heritage Month 2005)
Quick Links: Biographical Information | Education-Related Sites (Lesson Plans, Teacher Resources) | Government Agencies, Non-governmental Organizations | News, Business, etc. | Research / Primary Sources | Statistics (Facts & Figures) | Subject Choices in RamCat
Biographical Information
Three biographies from Texas Treasures > Giants of Texas History (Texas State Library and Archives Commission)
Celebrate
Hispanic Heritage (Scholastic)
This comprehensive Web site includes activities for students in grades 4
through 7. Sections include "Meet Famous Latinos" and "Latinos in History."
Celebrating
Hispanic Heritage at your Library or School (Thomson Gale)
The Consulta and ¡Informe! databases from Thomson Gale
will be available free and accessible from any Internet-connected computer during Hispanic Heritage
Month, Sept. 15 - Oct. 15, 2005. Includes an extensive list of online biographies, with an emphasis on
Hispanics in the arts.
Handbook
of Texas Online
Search the Handbook for many more biographies of Hispanic Texans.
Hispanic
Americans in Congress 1822-1995
This site gives biographical information on 61 Congressmen, their
accomplishments during their terms, and a history of their political lives. Often includes
photographs. The introduction outlines the history of the role of Hispanics in the federal
government.
Las Mujeres
Profiles of U.S. and Latin American Women of distinction, historical and
present day. The information in each entry is not standardized, so the coverage is uneven,
but still worthwhile. Click on the Celia Cruz commemorative picture to enter the site.
Notable
Hispanic Americans (infoplease.com)
Short biographical sketches of Hispanic-Americans from all walks of life.
Our
Journeys/Our Stories: Portraits of Latino Achievement (From the
Smithsonian Center for Latino Initiatives)
Twenty-five portraits depict outstanding Latinos including Nobel laureates,
scientists, artists, athletes, entrepreneurs, politicians, and community activists. Stories of
achievement, self-discovery, roots, and traditions are celebrated in 25 narratives.
SACNAS Biography
Project
Highlights the life stories and professional contributions of Chicano and
Latino scientists, mathematicians, and engineers. Designed as a resource for K-12 educators who
are interested in teaching their students about the accomplishments of Chicano/Latino and
Native American scientists. Profiles of scientists, mathematicians and engineers have been
written at the middle school and high school levels. SACNAS is the Society for Advancement of
Chicanos and Native Americans in Science.
Education-Related Sites (Lesson Plans, Teacher Resources)
Hispanic Americans: Strong and Colorful Threads in the
American Fabric, September 15-October 15 ("Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month with
the National Register of Historic Places")
This site highlights various publications, properties listed in the National
Register, and National Parks that deal directly with the ingenuity, creativity, cultural, and
political experiences of Hispanic Americans. It includes a link to the program
Teaching with Historic Places which offers
a series of lesson plans that use places listed in the National Register to examine subjects
that are part of history and social studies curricula. Included among the many lessons now
available on-line are eight that focus on Hispanic History.
Teaching with Historic Places: Hispanic American History
Celebrate
Hispanic Heritage (Scholastic)
This comprehensive Web site includes activities for students in grades 4 through 7.
Sections include "Hispanic History in the America's," "Meet Famous Latinos," and
"Latinos in History."
Celebrate
Hispanic Heritage Month! (Lesson planning article - from Education World)
Includes list of additional links under "Hispanic Heritage on the
Internet"
Concepts Across the Curriculum: September 2000: Hispanic Heritage (from PBS Teacher Source, updated September, 2004)
Concepts Across the Curriculum: April 2001: Hispanic Heritage, for Older Students (from PBS Teacher Source)
Concepts Across the Curriculum: October 2001: Hispanic Heritage, for Younger Students (from PBS Teacher Source)
Digital History
("using new technology to enhance teaching and research")
This is an educational and non-commercial site designed specifically for
history teachers and their students, grades K-12 and college. Includes primary sources, an online
textbook, historical maps, an interactive timeline, resource guides, and more. It is supported by
the Department of History and the College of Education at the University of Houston.
Great Sites for Teaching About ... Hispanic Heritage Month (Education World) (links last updated 9/12/05)
Hispanic Heritage Month on A&E Television Networks > Teaching Materials (The History Channel)
SACNAS Biography
Project
Highlights the life stories and professional contributions of Chicano and
Latino scientists, mathematicians, and engineers. Designed as a resource for K-12 educators who
are interested in teaching their students about the accomplishments of Chicano/Latino and
Native American scientists. Profiles of scientists, mathematicians and engineers have been
written at the middle school and high school levels. SACNAS is the Society for Advancement of
Chicanos and Native Americans in Science.
Smithsonian Education - Hispanic Heritage Month > Hispanic Heritage Teaching Resources
Government Agencies, Non-governmental Organizations
Hispanic Americans: Strong and Colorful Threads in the
American Fabric, September 15-October 15 ("Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month with
the National Register of Historic Places")
This site highlights various publications, properties listed in the National
Register, and National Parks that deal directly with the ingenuity, creativity, cultural, and
political experiences of Hispanic Americans.
"Exploring Hispanic History and Culture -- a Dynamic Field" (CRM Online [Cultural Resource Management] v.20, no.11, 1997)
Hispanic Heritage Parks:
an Iberian Connection (National Park Service)
The National Park Service preserves and interprets the heritage of our nation.
This heritage includes the history of the Spanish Colonial Period, which is highlighted throughout
this site. Information on parks with Hispanic heritage. Requires Flash Player to view the site.
(Alternate access to the same information via About.com's "Hispanic
Heritage National Parks")
Pew Hispanic Center
The Pew Hispanic Center's mission is to improve understanding of the diverse
Hispanic population in the United States and to chronicle Latinos' growing impact on the nation.
The Center strives to inform debate on critical issues through dissemination of its research to
policymakers, business leaders, academic institutions and the media. Includes political surveys
and education and labor reports. The Center is a project of the Pew Research Center.
Smithsonian Center for Latino Initiatives
Our Journeys/Our Stories: Portraits of Latino Achievement
Twenty-five portraits depict outstanding Latinos including Nobel laureates, scientists, artists, athletes, entrepreneurs, politicians, and community activists. Stories of achievement, self-discovery, roots, and traditions are celebrated in 25 narratives.
News, Business, etc.
HispanicBusiness.com
A megasite with an emphasis on business. Following the "Research" link gives many charts about
Hispanic owned companies.
HispanicOnline.com
The mission of Hispanic Online is to offer more news, resources and
entertainment options that are relevant to Latinos than any other site. If you are looking for
news, events, and issues of interest to the Hispanic community, the site you need is Hispanic
Online. This is the official website of Hispanic Magazine. Their Hispanic Heritage Plaza has Latino history,
a calendar of events, and links to websites about Spain, Central and South America, and the
Caribbean.
The Latino Coalition
The Coalition researches and develops policies that are relevant to Latinos'
overall economic, cultural and social development while empowering individuals through the
promotion of self-reliance and personal responsibility. Closely monitors public policy at the
federal, state and local levels to determine its impact on the Latino communities throughout the
U.S., and engages in public education campaigns when warranted. TLCF also will analyze and report
to the public about the impact of Federal, State and local legislation, and government regulations,
has on the Latino communities.
Research / Primary Sources
American
Women's History: Hispanic American Women
Part of a comprehensive website on women's history compiled by Ken Middleton,
reference/microforms librarian at Middle Tennessee State University Library. This site covers not
only web resources about Hispanic American women, but print and electronic sources as well.
Digital History
("using new technology to enhance teaching and research")
This is an educational and non-commercial site designed specifically for
history teachers and their students, grades K-12 and college. It is supported by the Department
of History and the College of Education at the University of Houston.
Handbook of Latin American
Studies Online (Library of Congress)
The Handbook is a bibliography on Latin America
consisting of works selected and annotated by scholars.
Handbook
of Texas Online
Search the Handbook for many more biographies of Hispanic Texans.
Hispanic
Heritage Month (from Infoplease)
Sections include "Features" (such as "Spanish place names"
and "Hispanics in Congress"), Statistics (population and economic), and "Fun
Stuff" (crossword and quizzes).
Hispanic
Heritage Month Web Resources (Montgomery County Public Libraries, Rockville, MD)
Extensive collection of links covering such topics as Facts & Figures;
Literature, Art & Music; Genealogy; Primary Resources; and Where We Come From. The
"Primary Resources" and "Important Events & Places" sections are particularly
useful.
Latin American Network Information
Center (University of Texas at Austin)
LANIC facilitates access to Internet-based information to, from, or on Latin
America. Covers areas such as the social sciences, economy, governments, and history. Includes
a Castro Speech Database. See the "Hispanic/Latino"
links for topics such as academic resources; arts, literature & humanities; business & economy,
professional organizations; food; gender and sexuality; humor; and popular culture.
National
Hispanic Heritage Month (Newsbank)
(Find link under "Special Reports." Note: The link from Newsbank
opens the page in a new window.)
Includes articles in both English and Spanish. This site is designed to support the
study of National Hispanic Heritage Month, September 15-October 15. It contains both
current and historical information organized into topical areas on:
- Culture / Cultura
- Historical figures and leaders / Lideres y figuras historicas
- Important issues and events / Eventos y temas importantes
- Global culture and perspectives / Cultura global y perspectives
Statistics (Facts & Figures)
Facts
on the Hispanic or Latino Population (Census Bureau)
Includes information from the decennial censuses and the American Community
Survey. Topics also cover social and economic characteristics, profiles, and news releases
& multimedia.
Hispanic
Heritage Month 2005: September 15-October 15
(Census Bureau, Facts for Features)
[PDF]
[Spanish
version]
Compiles statistics from multiple resources on the Hispanic population, Hispanic families, Spanish language spoken in the
home, foreign-born population, income and poverty, education, jobs, and veteran and active-duty
personnel.
Hispanic
Heritage Month (from Infoplease)
Sections include "Economic statistics" and "Population
statistics."
The
Hispanic Population of the United States (Census Bureau)
"The statistics found herein refer only to the Hispanic population of the
United States; the population of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico is not included in the data,
but Puerto Ricans residing in the United States are included." This web page includes links
to numerous Census Bureau publications: Current Population Surveys, Estimates and Projections, Census,
Census Briefs and Statistical Briefs, and Population Division Working Papers.
Subject Choices in RamCat
In Library of Congress subject headings, the phrase "Hispanic American" is used as an adjective or a descriptor (for example: Hispanic American actors, Hispanic American authors, Hispanic American women). The plural form of the phrase -- "Hispanic Americans" -- is used for works on United States citizens of Latin American descent (e.g., Hispanic Americans--Education, Hispanic Americans in literature, or Hispanic Americans--History).
Performing a "Subject Browse" search on "Hispanic American" retrieves a list of subjects which begin with that phrase.
The same type of search, on "Hispanic Americans", will retrieve a list of subjects beginning with that phrase.
Use the "Guided Keyword Search" option to search for the phrases "Hispanic American" or "Hispanic Americans" which appear anywhere in the subject fields in RamCat, not just at the beginning (e.g., "American drama--Hispanic American authors"). The results from such a search will be a list of titles, not organized in any way by subject.
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Compiled: September 2004. Revised September 2005, by Janetta Paschal, Government Documents/Reference Librarian |