By Maria Gonzalez

RIO GRANDE VALLEY, TEXAS – OCT. 18, 2023 — Dr. Noreen Rivera, associate professor in the UTRGV Department of Literatures and Cultural Studies, was invited to present her work in Washington, D.C. at a Library of Congress Symposium titled "Rewriting America: Reconsidering the Federal Writers' Project 80 Years Later."

The invitation from the Library of Congress was in recognition of her significant scholarly research contributions to literary and folk studies.

Rivera’s presentation focused on the life and work of Mexican American writer Aurora Lucero White and her significant role in the Federal Writers' Project (FWP) during President Franklin D. Roosevelt's New Deal program in the 1930s.

Her essay, "Of Conquistadors and Corridos: Aurora Lucero White and the New Mexico Federal Writer's Project," is part of the collection titled "Rewriting America: New Essays on the Federal Writers’ Project." The FWP aimed to provide employment for writers, journalists and artists during a period of economic hardship, while documenting the diverse cultural fabric of the United States.

"I had the honor of introducing Lucero White and her contributions, shedding light on the relatively unknown fact that Mexican Americans significantly contributed their talents to the FWP,” Rivera said. 

Her hope, she said, is that Lucero White's legacy will find a permanent home in national museums, thereby reaching a broader audience and ensuring her contributions are not forgotten. 

“In the future, hopefully when the Smithsonian's National Museum of the American Latino gets its permanent home on the National Mall, I hope they'll have an exhibit on Lucero White's contributions,” she said.

Rivera's research plays a crucial role in addressing critical biographical gaps in the library’s catalog concerning Aurora Lucero White's life. During her visit to the Library of Congress, Rivera identified a gap in the Library of Congress Catalog’s information regarding the year of Lucero White's death. Initially, that information only included the author’s birth year and was listed as “1894 –  " 

But Rivera’s archival research revealed that Lucero White died in 1963.

“My research helped fill this important biographical gap,” she said. “I am proud to know that when I and others read the Catalog today, that I helped fill this important omission from her life’s story.” 

The symposium, organized by the Library of Congress American Folklife Center, featured scholars from across the United States and Canada who shared their contemporary scholarship and insights on the Federal Writer's Project.  

“Dr. Rivera's representation of UTRGV at the Library of Congress underscores UTRGV's dedication to scholarly excellence and emphasizes the vital role her research plays in preserving and promoting the contributions of Hispanic Americans,” said Dr. Can (John) Saygin, senior vice president for Research and dean of the Graduate College. “I commend Dr. Rivera for ensuring that the voices of Mexican American writers remain a vibrant and enduring part of our history.”

For more information about the symposium, visit https://guides.loc.gov/2023-federal-writers-project-symposium.