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News Service collection on the San Marcos 10

 File
Identifier: 2017-002

Scope and Contents

Materials in this collection were compiled mainly by T. Cay Rowe (Director of Media Relations and Publications) regarding the San Marcos 10, a group of ten students who were suspended from Southwest Texas State University in 1969 after refusing to disband their protest of the Vietnam War. In 2001 Texas State University invited the ten former students back to campus to participate in a Chautauqua event. Various members of the San Marcos 10 have reunited on campus on other occasions, including on the ten year anniversary in 1979 and the fiftieth anniversary in 2019.

This collection consists of three series. Series I consists of newspaper clippings, information regarding the court cases, and original 8x10 black and white photos from the 1969 protest. Series II consists of newspaper articles, copies of articles, and information regarding a reunion held at the university in 2001. Series III contains information regarding other San Marcos 10 reunions. Arranged chronologically within each series.

Dates

  • 1969-2019
  • Majority of material found in 2001

Creator

Conditions Governing Access

Open to researchers without restriction.

Conditions Governing Use

Copyright restrictions may apply. Special Collections and Archives owns the physical items in our collections, but copyright normally belongs to the creator of the materials or their heirs. The researcher has full responsibility for determining copyright status, obtaining permission to publish from copyright holders, and abiding by current copyright laws when publishing or displaying copies.

Historical Note

On November 13, 1969, a group of students staged a peaceful protest of the Vietnam War at the base of Anna Hyatt Huntington's Fighting Stallions statue on the campus of Southwest Texas State University. Ten students refused to leave when administrators ordered the protestors to disburse.

Known as the San Marcos 10, the students argued that their constitutional rights of free speech and assembly on campus were violated by institutional policy. The ACLU filed a civil lawsuit against the university and the case worked its way up through the court system; when the U.S. Supreme Court refused to overturn a lower court's ruling in favor of the university, the students lost all of their course credits for the year and their suspension was final.

Extent

.21 Linear Feet (1 half-size document case)

Language of Materials

English

Abstract

A group of ten students, who became known as the San Marcos 10, were suspended from Southwest Texas State University in 1969 after refusing to leave a student-led protest of the Vietnam War. Collection consists of compiled materials largely from the News Service/Media Relations and contains photographs from 1969 as well as information related to subsequent on-campus reunions.

Physical Location

Materials may be stored off-site. Advance notice may be required for use.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Transferred by T. Cay Rowe, Director of Media Relations and Publications.

Related Materials

See also book titled: The San Marcos 10 : an antiwar protest in Texas by E. R. Bills.

Title
San Marcos 10 collection
Status
Completed
Author
Laura Kennedy
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin

Revision Statements

  • 2021 June: Revised for DACS compliance, Nicole Critchley

Repository Details

Part of the Special Collections and Archives Repository

Contact:
Alkek Library Room 204
601 University Drive
San Marcos Texas 78666 USA