Meeting of Local No. 8 (Tucson) & Local No. 5 (Phoenix) of La Liga Protectora Latina
Datec. 1917
MediumPaper
Dimensions3 3/4 x 2 1/2 in. (9.5 x 6.4 cm)
ClassificationsAdornment
Catalog number1999.28.234
DescriptionMembers of Arizona's Liga Protectora Latina stand for a photo at an unidentified public building in Tucson or Phoenix, ca. 1917. The Tucson branch of the Liga Protectora Latina is Local No.8 (in Spanish "Sucursal Num.8" - note the banner at left) and the Phoenix branch is Local No. 5 ("Sucursal Num.5" - note banner at right). Although the date on the Tucson Local's banner at left clearly shows a date of July 25, 1916, it is probably not the date that the photo was taken - that date probably has some other significance (perhaps the anniverary of the Tucson Local's founding, which was late July 1915). The Phoenix Local's banner has a date of 1917 (the year and month could not be determined). Like the Tucson branch, the Phoenix Local was founded in 1915 (or even 1914). It is likely that this meeting took place either in 1917 or perhaps as late as the early 1920s.
This photo represents delegates from at least three - and likely more - Locals of the Liga Protectora Latina. The three Locals known to be represented are Tucson, Phoenix, and Tempe (the banners identify the Tucson & Phoenix Locals, and at least one individual represents the Tempe Local).
Although it will likely be possible to identify most - if not all - of the people in this photo at some point in the future, the only person currently identified is the man in the center right of the first row - he is Chris Sigala (in dark suit and holding his hat in one hand and a gavel in the other). Mr. Sigala represents Tempe Local No. 1). At the time of the photo, he may have been the Liga's president (he did in fact serve as the organization's president and the gavel suggests that he held that position at the time of this photo). Although most of these people are unidentified, they represent the early Mexican pioneers of the Territorial period in Arizona (and many likely have roots in Tucson or southern Arizona that go back much further than that).
The Liga Protectora Latina was established in 1915 (perhaps even as early as 1914). Although Phoenix is usually noted as the location where the Liga began, key members of the organization at its inception were Tempe residents (Tempe was the organization's Local No.1). The Liga was a benevolent, protective organization that was heavily involved in politics. The goal of the Liga ultimately was to serve the Mexican immigrant/Mexican American community through advocacy, education, guidence, self-help, and direct assistance as needed. It was a period when residents and immigrants of Mexican ancestry were especially targeted by powerful white residents (Euro-Anglo ancestry) for disenfranchisement, loss of many basic rights, and with severe discrimination and more-or-less racist & zenophobic attacks. The Tempe Local was especially active in the Liga, and Mr. Sigala and many other Hispanic leaders in Tempe took on leadership roles in the organization. Little is known about the Liga from the mid-1920s and after, but they were involved in a number of key issues in the 1910s and 1920s (including elections, legal cases, workers' rights issues, etc.).
Related Item - No. 1999.28.208 - Chris Sigala's badge/ribbon for Tempe Local No. 1 of the Liga Protectora Latina.
Related Item - No. 1999.28.33 - group photo of men of Liga Protectora Latina, ca.1915
Caption from the Tempe 150th Anniversary exhibit:
Chris Sigala--at center with hat and gavel--joined other pioneers of Mexican ancestry to promote La Liga Protectora Latina, seen here around 1917.
Status
Not on view
March 26, 1915
c. 1898
October 1984
October 1984
