ponsored by the Chicano Studies Research Center, UCLA Library Special Collections, and Fowler Museum of Cultural History, this symposium commemorates, examines, and evaluates the Sleepy Lagoon case and reflects upon parallels with current events.

The goals of the panels and discussions are:

• to inform the public about the Mexican American youth who were denied their constitutional rights;


• to highlight how people from different racial and ethnic backgrounds have worked together to make the United States truly democratic;


• to honor those whose efforts freed the defendants and hear their stories;


• to encourage dialogue about the case and its relevance for Chicana/o studies;


• to demonstrate how similar injustices involving denial of constitutional rights and racial profiling are occurring today.

The presentations and discussions will draw from the past to inform current efforts being made to support constitutional and human rights.

The symposium begins on Friday, May 20th at the Chicano Studies Research Center with scholarly presentations regarding zoot suit culture, and a screening of the film, "Zoot Suit" at the Fowler Museum of Cultural History. On Saturday, May 21st, scholars, lawyers, civil rights advocates and witnesses to the events surrounding the Sleepy Lagoon case will be brought together in a series of presentations and panel discussions. For complete details, see Conference Program.

UCLA Library Collections

The Charles E. Young Research Library Department of Special Collections houses, preserves, and provides access to the research collections and personal papers of Carey McWilliams, who served as chair of the Sleepy Lagoon Defense Committee; Alice Greenfield McGrath, its executive secretary; and author Guy Endore, a member of the committee who contributed published works on its behalf. UCLA oral history interviews with McWilliams, McGrath, and Endore provide further insight into the Sleepy Lagoon case. The department also serves as the repository for the Los Angeles Times (ca. 1918-90) and Los Angeles Daily News (1923-54) photographic archives, providing historic images of the events published in the press.

The department will present an exhibition of materials drawn from its collections related to the trial and the work of the Sleepy Lagoon Defense Committee, on view from May through August 2005.

An online exhibit is also available.