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Smithsonian Latino Museum

Smithsonian Staff

The Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Latino advances the representation, understanding and appreciation of Latino history and culture in the United States. The museum provides financial resources and collaborates with other museums to expand scholarly research, public programs, digital content, collections and more. The museum’s Molina Family Latino Gallery is the Smithsonian’s first gallery dedicated to the Latino experience. The legislation creating the National Museum of the American Latino at the Smithsonian passed Dec. 27, 2020. Connect with the museum at latino.si.edu, and follow @USLatinoMuseum on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

Smithsonian Latino Museum's collections

 

Latinas Talk Latinas, Ellen Ochoa

<p style="text-align: center;">This resource is designed to accompany the Smithsonian's National Museum of American History's and the Smithsonian's Latino Center's video <em>Latinas Talk Latinas, Ellen Ochoa: Beyond the Barrier.</em> After watching the video, which is located in the second tile of this collection, please return to this page to learn more about the assets we have in our digital collection as well as additional resources that will help you further explore the topics and themes presented in the video.</p> <p style="text-align: center;"><em>Ellen Ochoa was the first Latina astronaut</em> in space and <em>first Latina, only the second woman, </em><em>to serve as the Director of the</em> <em>Johnson Space Center</em><em>, responsible</em> <em>for</em> all astro<em>naut activities for NASA. Find out how this daring and tenacious Latina </em><em>went beyond the barrier and set new heights for young girls to reach for the stars. </em> </p>
Smithsonian Latino Museum
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Latinas Talk Latinas: Selena, Crossing Over Cultural Boundaries

<p>This Learning Lab is designed to accompany the Smithsonian's National Museum of American History and the Smithsonian's Latino Center's video <em>Latinas Talk Latinas: Selena, Crossing Over Cultural Boundaries. </em>This resource is meant to be experienced chronologically, starting with the second title. Learn more about the Smithsonian collections and additional resources on Selena. The goal is for users to 1) learn who Selena was  2) explore the assets on Selena across the Smithsonian Institution, and 3) understand why Selena is so important to Mexican-American women -- and the Latino community at large. </p> <p>Selena Quintanilla was a pioneering performer who started as a young girl within the Tejano music scene and eventually moved into several genres of Spanish-language music and crossed over into mainstream English-language music in the United States. This Learning Lab explores her legacy, across the United States and through the Smithsonian collections</p> <p>A note on the flowery aesthetic of the Lab: flowers hold a special significance for Selena and her fans. The Quintanilla family requested that everyone carry a single white rose to Selena's funeral because it was Selena's favorite flower. The flowers in the titles are also a nod to one of Selena y Los Dinos' greatest hits, "Como la Flor."</p>
Smithsonian Latino Museum
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Latino Patriots in American Military History | Patriotas Latinos en la Historia Militar Estadounidense

<p>This bilingual publication highlights ten Latino patriots and spans the American War of Independence to the Vietnam War. The heroes presented are merely a small group of the thousands of Latinos who have served in our armed forces with distinction. The publication is meant to enhance awareness among all Americans of the positive contributions that the Latino community has made and continues to make to U.S. society.</p> <p>Resources serve grades 7/8 and 9/10 social studies, U.S. History, AP Military History, Spanish Language courses and life-long learners. They include critical thinking, writing, language arts, visual arts, historical inquiry activities.  Each war era presents biographies and interesting facts on each of the patriots, a lesson plan for each era, two extension activities (one for 7/8th grade and one for 10/11th grade), and five handouts. Wars and topics covered include:</p> <ul><li>American War of Independence</li><li>Texas Revolution and the Mexican American War</li><li>Manifest Destiny</li><li>U.S. Expansionism</li><li>Civil War</li><li>World War I</li><li>World War II</li><li>Korean War</li><li>Vietnam War</li></ul> <p><br> Also included in the publication are teacher and student resources, as well as the listing of Latino Medal of Honor recipients. Please note that Captain Humbert “Rocky” Roque Versace, Jr. was erroneously omitted from this elite group of men at the time of printing (2008). Captain Versace was born on July 2, 1937. He graduated from the U.S. Military Academy and began his tour in Vietnam in May of 1962. During a mission in October 1963, he was taken Prisoner of War by the Viet Cong forces and was listed as Missing in Action. His fluency in English, French, and Vietnamese aided him during his capture. After more than two years, he was executed by his captors. He was awarded the Medal of Honor posthumously by President George W. Bush on July 8, 2002, making him the first Army POW to receive the Medal of Honor. <br></p> <p></p>
Smithsonian Latino Museum
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Marge Villa, Latinas Talk Latinas

<p>This resource is designed to accompany the Smithsonian's National Museum of American History's and the Smithsonian's Latino Center's video <em>Latinas Talk Latinas, Marge Villa: Breaking Gender Barriers.</em> After watching the video, which is located in the second tile of this collection, please return to this page to learn more about the assets we have in our digital collection as well as additional resources that will help you further explore the topics and themes presented in the video.</p> <p>Margaret (Marge) Villa was among the very few women professional baseball players and a record-setting catcher. Villa broke gender barriers in the early '40s at age 16 while playing in East Los Angeles, California.</p>
Smithsonian Latino Museum
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Nuestra América: 30 Inspiring Latinas/Latinos Who Have Shaped the United States

<p><em>Nuestra América</em> is a fully illustrated anthology from the Smithsonian Latino Center. It features the inspiring stories of thirty Latina/o/xs. It celebrates their contributions to the United States. Many are towards the nation’s cultural, social, and political character. </p> <p>Many of the stories in this book will be included in the Molina Family Latino Gallery. It is the first national gallery dedicated to Latina/o/xs at the Smithsonian. The Latino Center leads this gallery project. </p> <p>The stories in this Learning Lab are in the Smithsonian collections. They are grouped into themes for easier viewing. </p> <p>What is in a collection? It has objects that were used or worn by someone. Examples of objects include articles, photographs, artifacts, and videos. Objects can be anything from a baseball to a piece of clothing. It could even be a space shuttle! Objects help museums tell more complete stories. Museums also take care of objects. That way, future visitors can see them, too.</p> <p>Each theme includes thinking routines. They are from the Harvard Graduate School of Education's Project Zero. These questions can help create discussion around the stories and objects here. This Learning Lab can serve middle school and high school students. Especially if they are interested in Latino culture. It can help with a Spanish project exploring family traditions. </p> <p>For more information on the book, please visit:<a href="https://www.runningpress.com/titles/sabrina-vourvoulias/nuestra-am%c3%a9rica/9780762471751/"><br></a><a href="https://latino.si.edu/nuestra-america">https://latino.si.edu/nuestra-america</a><br></p> <p>An Spanish version of the book is also available. Please visit:<a href="https://www.runningpress.com/titles/sabrina-vourvoulias/nuestra-am%C2%BFrica/9780762497485/"><br></a><a href="https://latino.si.edu/es/nuestra-america">https://latino.si.edu/es/nuestra-america</a><u><br></u></p> <p><u>The themes and stories featured in this Learning Lab include:</u></p> <ul><li> Civil Rights and Activism <ul><li>César Chávez</li><li>Dolores Huerta</li><li>Sylvia Rivera</li></ul></li><li>Entrepreneurs<ul><li>C. David Molina</li><li>The Unanue Family and Goya Foods</li></ul></li><li>Fashion and Popular Culture<ul><li>Celia Cruz</li><li>Óscar de la Renta</li><li>Lin-Manuel Miranda</li><li>Rita Moreno</li></ul></li><li>Literacy and Literature<ul><li>Pura Belpré</li><li>Julia de Burgos</li><li>Sandra Cisneros</li><li>Juan Felipe Herrera</li></ul></li><li> Public Service<ul><li>Jaime Escalante</li><li>Sylvia Mendez</li><li>Ellen Ochoa</li><li>Sonia Sotomayor</li></ul></li><li>Sports<ul><li>Roberto Clemente</li><li>Dara Torres</li></ul></li></ul>
Smithsonian Latino Museum
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Nuestra América: 30 latinas/latinos que han forjado la historia de los Estados Unidos

<p><em>Nuestra América</em> es una antología completamente ilustrada que ha preparado el Centro Latino Smithsonian. En ella se presentan las inspiradoras historias de treinta latinas y latinos y se celebran sus contribuciones a los Estados Unidos. Muchos de ellos enriquecieron las características culturales, sociales y políticas de la nación. </p> <p></p> <p>Gran parte de las historias recopiladas en este libro van a formar parte de la Galería latina de la familia Molina. Se trata de la primera galería nacional dedicada a los latinos en el Smithsonian.  El Centro Latino dirige este proyecto de galería. </p> <p></p> <p>Las historias de este Learning Lab se encuentran en las colecciones de los museos Smithsonian. Para que puedan verse fácilmente, se han agrupado por temas. </p> <p>¿Cuál es el contenido de una colección? Incluye objetos que una persona utilizó o llevó puestos. Algunos ejemplos son: artículos publicados, fotografías y videos. Estos objetos pueden variar desde una pelota de béisbol hasta una prenda de vestir. ¡Hasta podría ser un transbordador espacial! Los objetos ayudan a que los museos puedan narrar historias más completas. Además, los museos se ocupan de cuidar esos objetos. De esta manera, los futuros visitantes también podrán verlos.<br></p> <p>Cada tema incluye rutinas de exploración que provienen del Proyecto Cero de la Escuela de Graduados en Educación de la Universidad de Harvard. Estas preguntas pueden ayudar a iniciar conversaciones acerca de las historias y los objetos presentados. Este Learning Lab puede ser útil para los estudiantes de la escuela intermedia y de la escuela secundaria, en especial si están interesados en la cultura latina. También podría servir de apoyo en la preparación de un proyecto en español sobre las tradiciones familiares. Para ver una versión en inglés de este Learning Lab, haga clic <a href="https://learninglab.si.edu/collections/nuestra-america-30-inspiring-latinas-latinos-who-have-shaped-the-united-states/MakuDQIEBA5UsG2P#r/">aquí.</a><br></p> <p>Si desea más información acerca del libro, por favor visite:<br></p> <p><a href="https://latino.si.edu/es/nuestra-america">https://latino.si.edu/es/nuestra-america</a></p> <p>También puede ver una versión en inglés del libro. Favor de visitar:<br></p> <p><a href="https://latino.si.edu/nuestra-america">https://latino.si.edu/nuestra-america</a></p> <p><u>Los temas y las historias presentadas en este Learning Lab son:</u><br></p> <p> Derechos civiles y activismo</p> <ul></ul> <ul><li> César Chávez</li></ul> <ul><li>Dolores Huerta</li></ul> <ul><li>Sylvia Rivera </li></ul> <p> Empresarios</p> <ul></ul> <ul><li>C. David Molina</li></ul> <ul><li>La familia Unanue y Goya Foods</li></ul> <p> Moda y cultura popular</p> <ul></ul> <ul><li>Celia Cruz</li></ul> <ul><li>Óscar de la Renta </li></ul> <ul><li>Lin-Manuel Miranda</li></ul> <ul><li>Rita Moreno</li></ul> <p>Lectura y literatura</p> <ul></ul> <ul><li>Pura Belpré</li></ul> <ul><li>Julia de Burgos</li></ul> <ul><li>Sandra Cisneros</li></ul> <ul><li>Juan Felipe Herrera</li></ul> <p> Servicio público</p> <ul></ul> <ul><li>Jaime Escalante</li></ul> <ul><li>Sylvia Méndez</li></ul> <ul><li>Ellen Ochoa</li></ul> <ul><li>Sonia Sotomayor</li></ul> <p> Deportes</p> <ul></ul> <ul><li>Roberto Clemente</li></ul> <ul><li>Dara Torres</li></ul> <p></p>
Smithsonian Latino Museum
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Nuestras Voces: Wishing on Star With Estrella

<p>This resource is designed to accompany the Smithsonian's National Museum of the American Latino's book <em><em>Wishing on a Star With Estrella </em></em>created in collaboration with Capstone and written by Vanessa Ramos and illustrated by Eugenia Nobati.<br></p> <p>Sixth grade is hard enough, but Mexican American Selena Estrella Herrera has to do it in a new town. Her family has moved to El Paso to help care for her grandfather (who seems not to want them there and insists on speaking only Spanish). One upside to being at a new school, though, is that she can finally leave behind her embarrassing obsession with musical megastar Selena—whom her parents named her after even though she can’t sing. She renames herself *Strella, avoids her grouchy grandfather, and tries to move on with her life. Then *Strella starts a National History Day project. The topic her team chooses? Selena. Can *Strella embrace her Tejano heritage and her old love of Selena and still become her own person? And will she ever discover what her own gifts are? In diary format, the <em>Nuestras Voces</em> series profiles inspiring characters from yesterday and today, and honors the joys, challenges, and outcomes of Latino experiences.</p> <p>This Learning Lab helps identify objects in the Smithsonian's collection that could be found in <em><em><em>Wishing on a Star With Estrella</em></em>.</em> They are grouped into themes for easier viewing.</p> <p>What is in a collection? It has objects that were used or worn by someone. Examples of objects include articles, photographs, artifacts, and videos. Objects can be anything from a baseball to a piece of clothing. It could even be a space shuttle! Objects help museums tell more complete stories. Museums also take care of objects. That way, future visitors can see them, too.</p> <p>Each Learning Lab includes a thinking routine. They are from the Harvard Graduate School of Education's Project Zero. These questions can help create discussion around the stories and objects here. This Learning Lab can serve middle school and high school students. Especially if they are interested in Latino culture. It can help with a Spanish project exploring family traditions.<br><br></p> <p>For more information on the <em>Nuestras Voces </em>series, please visit www.latino.si.edu.<br></p>
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Our Journeys Our Stories: Portraits of Latino Achievement | Nuestros Caminos Nuestras Historias: Retratos del Logro Latino

<p>This bilingual resource serves middle and high school teachers and students as well as lifelong learners. </p><p><i>Our Journeys/Our Stories: Portraits of Latino Achievement</i> explores the diversity of the Latino experience in its portrayal of a group of extraordinary men and women and the stories they tell. Like the exhibition, this companion book combines personal narratives, portraits, and <i>dichos</i>, or traditional sayings, to provide an inspirational, illustrated anthology of Latino accomplishments across generations.</p> <p>People of all ages and backgrounds will be engaged by these inspirational stories and portraits of Latinos who have made significant contributions to American life. By telling the stories of leaders in the Latino community who display outstanding character traits, such as dedication, discipline, perseverance, integrity, passion, responsibility, courage, and commitment, this anthology provides multiple views of achievement that will motivate many other Americans to realize their own dreams.</p><p>Este recurso bilingüe sirve a estudiantes de secundaria y preparatoria (high school) y a aprendices de todas edades.</p><p><i>Nuestros Caminos/Nuestras Historias: Retratos del Logro Latino </i>explora la diversidad de la vivencia latina al presentar de un grupo de hombres y mujeres extraordinarios y las historias que ellos nos cuentan. Así como la exhibición, esta publicación complementaria combina anécdotas personales, retratos y relatos orales tradicionales para ofrecer una antología ilustrada de inspiración sobre los logros de los latinos a través de distintas generaciones.</p> <p>Personas de todas las edades y orígenes se sentirán atraídas por estas historias y retratos de latinos que contribuyeron de manera significativa a la vida estadounidense. Al contar la historia de los líderes de la comunidad latina que demuestran características sobresalientes como dedicación, disciplina, perseverancia, integridad, pasión, responsabilidad, valor y compromiso, esta antología ofrece múltiples facetas del logro que motivará a muchos otros estadounidenses a materializar sus propios sueños. </p>
Smithsonian Latino Museum
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Pachucas, Latinas Talk Latinas

<p>This resource is designed to accompany the Smithsonian's National Museum of American History's and the Smithsonian's Latino Center's video <em>Latinas Talk Latinas, Pachucas: How Fashion Asserts Identity.</em> After watching the video, which is located in the second tile of this collection, please return to this page to learn more about the assets we have in our digital collection as well as additional resources that will help you further explore the topics and themes presented in the video.</p> <p>In this story of Pachucas we celebrate their role in the making of Pachuco culture and for the ways in which their fashion stood in defiance of Mexican gender norms, second-class citizenship, and white middle-class ideas of American womanhood.</p>
Smithsonian Latino Museum
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Sylvia Mendez, Latinas Talk Latinas

<p><strong>This resource is designed to accompany the Smithsonian's National Museum of the American Latino and National Museum of American History's video <em>Latinas Talk Latinas, <strong>Margaret Salazar-Porzio Talks About Sylvia Mendez: From Classrooms to History Books</strong>. </em>After watching the video, which is located in the second tile of this collection, please return to this page to learn more about the objects and resources we have in our digital collection as well as additional information that will help you further explore the topics and themes presented in the video.</strong></p> <p><strong>Sylvia Mendez has dedicated her life to bringing awareness of discrimination in schools. Her activism began as a young child attending school in Southern California. During the 1940s, her family joined others to fight for fair schooling for non-white children.</strong></p>
Smithsonian Latino Museum
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Sylvia Rivera, Latinas on Latinas

<p>This resource is designed to accompany the Smithsonian's National Museum of American History's and the Smithsonian's Latino Center's video <em>Latinas Talk Latinas, Sylvia Rivera: Pushing Boundaries.</em> After watching the video, which is located in the second tile of this collection, please return to this page to learn more about the assets we have in our digital collection as well as additional resources that will help you further explore the topics and themes presented in the video.</p> <p>Sylvia Rivera was a transgender woman living in New York City during the '60s and '70s. She became a fierce defender of LGBTQ+ rights, pushing the movement in the aftermath of the Stonewall riots to vigilantly protect transgender people's rights.</p>
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