Highlights from the Archives: The Francisco "Pancho" Medrano Papers

The purpose of The Compass Rose is to raise awareness of Special Collections' resources and to foster the use of these resources. The blog series also reports significant new programs, initiatives, and acquisitions of Special Collections. 

Francisco "Pancho" Medrano was born on August 2, 1920, in the Dallas Mexican-American barrio of Little Mexico, and died on April 4, 2002, in Dallas. He identified as Chicano and, as recorded in White Metropolis: Race, Ethnicity, and Religion in Dallas, 1841–2001, he was critical of contemporary Mexican-American organizations for not coordinating protests supporting Chicano and Mexican-American rights and for not working with Black, Brown, and Indigenous communities. He became one of the leaders of the burgeoning Chicano community of Dallas. 

Medrano helped organize and participated in marches throughout Texas, from the Rio Grande City farmworkers protests to the Santos Rodriguez protests of Dallas. He served as a representative in the United Automobile Workers (UAW) union, and worked with the American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL–CIO). He filed a suit against the Texas Rangers in 1968 in response to mistreatment of strikers and marchers by the Texas Rangers. This suit, Medrano v. A. Y. Allee, resulted in overturning Texas Civil Statutes and Articles that were found to violate the civil rights of protesters and marchers. His life's work was dedicated to Civil Rights and Labor Rights activism, and this dedication is carried on to this day by his children and grandchildren.

The Pancho Medrano Papers at the UTA Special Collections includes materials relating to Medrano's membership in the UAW, news clippings, and his work in Civil Rights and Labor Rights movements. 

Medrano was introduced to both union work and boxing during his time at the North American Aviation Plant in Dallas. Here's a picture of him during his time as a local light heavyweight: 

His boxing skills would later be used during his campaign for Sergeant at Arms for UAW Local 645. 

The first image is of a campaign leaflet urging union members to vote for Pancho Medrano. On the background is a blue print of Medrano mid-boxing match with an opponent. The text reads: 

I have devoted much time and effort - a good number of years of my life and through the years I have been active in many phases of the labor movement. Frankly, I have been militant when duty and honor called, humanitarian at all times. I have always, in a Christian-like manner planned and executed voluntary - or required honorable Union duties or deeds.

I have proves as Sergeant-At-Arms through successful accomplishments in the past that I am qualified - ready, willing and able!

My opponent cannot, in all truth, claim any of these things. How many times have you heard his name mentioned in connection with important Union activities???

This is the time of decision.....for truth and honor and we all have a moral obligation for our Local 390 and to dignity as a whole to vote honestly for the best qualified candidate...without a doubt...my record speaks for itself. 

One of my favorites.....

"Almighty God, Thou who made Thy concern for the laboring man known in the form of a Carpenter, who, though He joined no local, organized the first International. 

Grant us that we may not forget the presence of that Carpenter among us. Help us to care, as Thou didst care, for those who sorely need justice and for the little people who have no lobbyists. In our desire for justice, keep us from crossing the picket lines of truth, that we not end up as spiritual scabs. Make us wise to seek the common good but not at the expense of integrity and principles, lest we find that we are striking against truth and wind up with larger income and smaller lives. Give tongue to those who plead for the weak and the oppressed, who whisper hope to the despairing who work for decency in our common life and promote understanding among men.

Amen."

The second image is of another campaign leaflet: Vote for Pancho Medrano on May 5th! On the left and lower right of this leaflet are images of Medrano that depict qualities that Medrano felt proved his worthiness to be elected Sergeant at Arms. The first image on the left is of Medrano in a heavy coat and gloves carrying a sign that states: On Strike, Lone Star Boat Unfair, Local 732 UAW. This image was titled "Militant". The next image is of Medrano once again mid-boxing match, titled "Qualified". The last image is of Medrano standing with four protestors holding a sign urging people to not buy Tex-Son products. This image is titled "Cooperative". The last image is on the lower right corner of this page and is titles "Humanitarian". Medrano is pictured with a group of children, and in the background a mountain range can be seen. The leaflet was donated by friends and supporters of Medrano, and printed by Joseph R. Landin, member of the International Printing Pressman and Assistants' Union of North America - AFL-CIO.

The text reads:

Vote for a qualified man - a man who is a Union man the year around - and who will do the very best job. Our coming October crucial negotiations with the Company makes it imperative for Pancho to be elected Sergeant-at-Arms, since he has shown, through the years, how militant he is in time of need. Pancho Medrano always treats everyone courteously and in a diplomatic manner - always with the interests of our Union at heart.

Between the last image on the left and the lower right image is the Peace Prayer of Saint Francis titled as "Medrano's Prayer". It reads:

Lord, make me an instrument of your peace; Where there is hatred, let me sow love; where there is injury, pardon; where there is doubt, faith; where there is despair, hope; where there is darkness, light; and where there is sadness, joy. O Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek to be understood as to understand; to be loved as to love; for it is in giving that we receive; it is in pardoning that we are pardoned; and it is in dying to ourselves that we are born to eternal life.

Medrano often stated: "In America, everything is politics, from the day you are born, until the day you die." He was a fighter from the boxing ring to the picket line, and his legacy reverberates throughout Texas. 

To see more images from this collection, check out the Photo highlights from the Texas Labor Archives blog. To listen (or read) from Medrano himself, check out our Tejano Voices oral history interview that he gave in 1997.