Celebrating Women’s History Month: The Mexican American Business and Professional Women’s Association of San Antonio

This blog post was written by student clerk Alesia Hoyle.

In honor of March being Women’s History Month, UTSA Special Collections staff have chosen to highlight the prominent and prolific Mexican American Business and Professional Women’s Association (MABPW) of San Antonio.  Select items from the collection are now on exhibit in the two glass cases outside Special Collections on the 4^th floor of the John Peace Library. The exhibit was curated by graduate student workers Alesia Hoyle and Mindi Gandara, and showcases the history of the organization, including its organizational values and objectives. The exhibit also gives a face to MABPW members and illustrates some of the local events the organization sponsored.

The red purses carried by MABPW members symbolize that women’s pocketbooks are always “in the red” because of the inequality of women’s pay compared to what men make.

This nonsectarian, nonpartisan, nonprofit organization was founded by Luz Escamilla…