Founded in 1969, the UCLA Chicano Studies Research Center (CSRC) Press was an essential contributor to the founding and flowering of Chicano studies in the 1970s. It was one of first academic publishers to focus on matters of concern to Chicanx communities, and its journal, Aztlán: A Journal of Chicano Studies, provided opportunities for authors who could not find mainstream publishers. The premier journal in its field, Aztlán continues to provide a platform for launching the careers of young Chicanx and Latinx scholars.

The press was reorganized in 1996 under the leadership of Chon A. Noriega and Wendy Belcher. Noriega became the editor of the journal, and several book and report series were developed. Today CSRC Press is one of the most active publishing units in the University of California system, and it is recognized internationally not only for Aztlán but also for its award-winning books, books series, and exhibition catalogs.

The collection contains materials related to the press’s operations between 1970 and 2007 and includes original submissions, production process materials, promotional materials, annual reports, and correspondence. Some documents are not available to the public, including peer reviewers’ evaluations of submitted manuscripts.

Previous Names of the Press

Aztlán Publications, Chicano Studies Center, UCLA (1970) Chicano Studies Center-Publications, UCLA (1971–1979) Chicano Studies Research Center Publications, UCLA (1980-1992) UCLA Chicano Studies Research Center Publications (1992–2002)

Books

The collection includes original submissions and reviewers’ comments for books published or in development between 1970 and 2007. Among them are Chicano poet Alurista’s Floricanto (1971), illustrated by Chicana artist Judithe Hernández; Essays on La Mujer (1977), the first book in the press’s Aztlán Anthology series; the first Zapotec-English dictionary in the world (1999); and the first edition of the best-selling The Chicano Studies Reader: An Anthology of Aztlán (2001).

Journal

Established in 1970, Aztlán: A Journal of Chicano Studies publishes original research relevant to or informed by the Chicanx and Latinx experience. The interdisciplinary, refereed journal is published semi-annually. Almost all the original manuscripts submitted to the journal between 1970 and 2007 (whether accepted or rejected) are archived, along with correspondence and reviewers’ reports.

“Aztlán . . . signals the vibrancy of Chicano Studies.” —The Chronicle of Higher Education, 2000

“The preeminent scholarly journal in Chicano Studies.”—Magazines for Libraries, 1997

“This esteemed journal of record is essential for virtually all academic libraries.”— Library Journal, 1997

Former Names of the Journal

Aztlán: Chicano Journal of the Social Sciences and the Arts (1970–1974) Aztlán: International Journal of Chicano Studies Research (1975–1985) Current full name: Aztlán: A Journal of Chicano Studies (1985– )

Editors of the Journal

2016–present Charlene Villaseñor Black 1996-2016 Chon A. Noriega 1987-1995 Raymund A. Paredes, Edit E. Villarreal, Carroll B. Johnson 1985-1986 Raymund A. Paredes, Manuel Miranda, Carlos P. Otero 1975-1984 Juan Gómez-Quiñones, Reynaldo F. Macías, Teresa McKenna 1972-1974 Juan Gómez-Quiñones, Reynaldo F. Macías, Andres Chavez, Deluvina Hernandez 1970-1971 Juan Gómez-Quiñones, Roberto Sifuentes, Reynaldo F. Macías, Andres Chavez, Deluvina Hernandez 1970 Juan Gómez-Quiñones, Roberto Sifuentes, Jaime Sena, Alfredo Cuellar, Reynaldo F. Macías, Andres Chavez, Deluvina Hernandez