Miguel Díaz Barriga Collection of Ernesto Licona Photographs of Mexico City
(Collection 44)
The Miguel Díaz Barriga Collection of Ernesto Licona Photographs contains 43 8" x 10" black and white documentary photographs taken in 1988 as part of Díaz Barriga's anthropology dissertation fieldwork on independent urban organizations in Mexico City. The photographs focus graphically on everyday life in low-income settlements and grassroots political mobilization to improve conditions. Two events receive special attention--a march for the victims of the September 19, 1985 earthquake and a march protesting the October 2, 1968 massacre at Tlatelolco. Organizations of the urban poor participated in both marches.
The collection also contains Díaz Barriga's manuscript, "Urban Popular Culture and Political Symbols, a photo essay on low income settlements in Mexico City," which includes a well-organized inventory (see below) and explanation of the purpose of the project and a description of the photographs. Also included are maps and newspaper clippings related to events recorded in the photographs.
Ernesto Licona, a professor of anthropology at the Universidad Autónoma de Puebla, is also the author of numerous articles on urban popular culture.
Collection Inventory
I. A Converted Warehouse: Poverty in the City Center
1. Meeting of residents.
2-4. A young mother and child.
5. Mother and baby.
6. Displaying an orange.
7. Hallway.
8. "Apartment" space.
II. Political Protest: Asamblea de Barrios y Organizaciones Vecinales
9. Protest banner.
10. Children studying.
11. Men playing cards.
III. Irregular Settlements on the Southern Fringes of the City.
12. A church.
13-15. A first communion ceremony.
16. Party preparations.
17. Family life.
18. Autoconstrucción.
19-21. Children playing.
22. Anthropologist and informant.
23. Anthropologist learning self-construction.
24. Playing dominoes.
25. Resting.
26. A birthday party.
IV. La Coalición Popular Independiente
27. A political celebration.
28. A new generation.
29-30. A footrace.
31-32. Children at the celebration.
33. Political effigies.
34. Political graffiti.
V. Political Protests at Tlatelolco
35. Destroyed buildings in Tlatelolco.
36. "Por Una Ciudad Nueva."
37. Marching to the Zócalo.
38. A day of protest.
39. FNCR.
40. CONAMUP.
VI. Political Organizing in Iztapalapa
41. Painting a wall.
42. Children painting desks.
43. Waiting.
