Valley Friends of the Farm Workers Photographs

Collection

Identifier: MP MPC 329

Scope and Content Note

This collection contains 153 photographs documenting Arizona farm worker history in 1972 and 1984. Photographs 1-70 document Cesar Chavez's Fast of Love in response to Arizona House Bill 2134 and farm worker meetings and protests. Photographs 71-153 highlight farm worker living and working conditions as well as the Valley Friends of the Farm Workers' efforts to help this community.

Dates

Creation: 1972 May-July, 1984 June

Language of Materials

Material in English

Access Restrictions

To view this collection, make an appointment at least five business days prior to your visit by contacting Ask an Archivist or calling (480) 965-4932. Appointments in the Wurzburger Reading Room at Hayden Library (rm. 138) on the Tempe campus are available Monday through Friday. Check the ASU Library Hours page for current availability.

Copyright

Arizona State University does not own copyright to this collection. Distinctive Collections recognizes that it is incumbent upon the researcher to procure permission to publish information from this collection from the owner of the copyright.

Historical Note

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In 1972, Cesar Chavez participated in the Fast of Love in response to Arizona House Bill 2134. This controversial bill outlawed the formation of unions, collective bargaining, boycotts, and strikes. The fast was held at Santa Rita Hall and lasted 24 days. It included nightly masses and was attended by local community members, Senator George McGovern, and Coretta Scott King. This event physically weakened Chavez but strengthened the growing farm worker movement in Arizona. Farm workers also led an effort to recall Governor Jack Williams with protests at the Arizona State Capitol in Phoenix.

In 1977 and 1978, farm workers established the Maricopa County Organizing Project (MCOP) and Arizona Farm Workers Union (AFWU) in El Mirage, Arizona. Under the leadership of Gustavo Gutierrez, they fought for the human rights of farm workers and unionized undocumented and Mexican American laborers. They organized several local strikes including the Goldmar Strike, one of the largest undocumented worker strikes in Arizona history.

In the 1980s, MCOP, AFWU, the Arizona Industrial Commission, and Valley Friends of the Farm Workers helped to eliminate the use of the short handle hoe in the fields because it forced farm workers to work in the bent over position, causing serious health problems. They also helped to adopt field sanitation regulations that required growers to provide clean drinking water and toilets for workers.