Hispanic Magazine Papers
1992 - (ongoing)
bulk: 1994-1997
30 boxes
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inventory
Acquisition: Gift donated by Hispanic Magazine,
2000.
Access: Direct inquiries to the Archivist,
Southwestern Writers Collection, Albert B. Alkek Library, 601 University Drive, San Marcos, Texas 78666-4604. (512) 245-2313.
Restrictions and
copyright: This material is open for research. Hispanic Magazine owns copyright for all work created for
the magazine, contact archivist for further information or for assistance with
permission to publish.
Processed
by: Georgia Ruiz Davis and Tina
Ybarra, 2001
Organizational
History:
Hispanic
Magazine was founded in 1987 in Washington D.C. by publisher, and former New
Mexico governor, Jerry Apodaca, and editor, Josˇ Armas. The first issue appeared on newsstands
in April 1988.
The magazine's
founding was aimed at portraying Hispanics in a positive manner. There had been other attempts to
target the Hispanic community by other magazines but most of them folded. Hispanic started out on a format
modeled after People magazine.
Hispanic celebrities such as Julio Iglesias and Lee Trevi–o graced the
early covers. Over the course of
time the magazine's identity has evolved and now follows themes that magazine
representatives consider more relevant.
The magazine targets educated and upwardly mobile Hispanics.
Its founders
believed that there was a wealth of information to be shared with the public
regarding the positive things with which Hispanics were involved. They also
felt there were no good role models for Hispanic youths. In addition, they wanted to do their
part to change the way Hispanics were viewed by the general public. Founders were fueled by the results of
a then recent study which found the best known Hispanic in the US to be the
cartoon character Speedy Gonzales.
In 1988 Hispanic
saw its circulation rise to 150,000.
Since then its readership has continued to increase and is expected to
reach 260 to 265,000 in 2001. The
magazine began publication on a 12-month cycle but in the mid-nineties began
combining the January/February and the July/August issues and now produces 10
issues a year.
In the
mid-nineties, two thirds of the magazine's readership was Mexican American
therefore it was decided to move the headquarters to either Texas or
California. Texas was chosen and
in 1994 the offices were relocated to Austin where they remained until 1999
when they relocated to Coral Gables, Florida. Hispanic maintains sales offices in Washington D.C., Austin,
Detroit, Chicago, and New York City in addition to the main office in Coral
Gables.
Hispanic
Magazine also owns and produces Vista Magazine, a once-a-month newspaper insert
that appears in several large newspapers in the US including the San Antonio
Express News.
Scope and
Contents:
The Hispanic
Magazine Archives are
comprised of two series: I. Editorial Files (13 lin. ft.), and II. Financial
Records (2 lin. ft.). The largest of the series is the first, which is arranged
by issue following the tables of contents for each issue, and begins with
November 1994. No files exist in these archives for the April, 1988 through
October, 1994 issues. The Editorial Files consist of annotated drafts and page
proofs, research material, correspondence, press releases, press kits,
newspaper clippings, photographs, and machine-readable diskettes. The processed papers include issues
November 1994 through December 1995 (June 1994 – December 1995).
The Financial
Records date from 1992-1997.
Series
Descriptions:
Series
1 : Editorial Files (1994- ongoing, 15 lin. ft.)
The
largest of the series, the Editorial Files, is arranged by issue, and begins
with November, 1994. No files
exist in these archives for the April 1988 through October 1994 issues. The files are arranged following the
tables of contents for each issue (feature articles and departments followed by
proofs of the issue as a whole), with individual issues ranging in size from
.25 linear feet to 1 linear foot.
The Editorial Files consist of annotated drafts and page proofs,
research material, correspondence, press releases, press kits, newspaper
clippings, photographs, and machine-readable diskettes. The research materials
consist of newspaper clippings, photocopies from other publications, and copies
of other publications. The
correspondence is primarily incoming from corporation/product representatives,
and from readers to the editor.
The press releases and press kits primarily promote products and travel
destinations.
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