Hispanic Magazine Archives

Collection

Identifier: SWWC-056

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

TheHispanic Magazine Archives is comprised of one series: Editorial Files. The material is arranged by issue beginning with November 1994. No files exist in these archives for the April 1988 through October 1994 issues except for letters from September and October 1994. The files are arranged following the tables of contents for each issue (feature articles and departments followed by proofs of the issue as a whole), with individual issues ranging in size from .25 linear feet to 1 linear foot. The Editorial Files consist of annotated drafts and page proofs, research material, correspondence, press releases, press kits, newspaper clippings, photographs, and machine-readable diskettes. The research materials consist of newspaper clippings, photocopies from other publications, and copies of other publications. The correspondence is primarily incoming from corporation/product representatives, and from readers to the editor. The press releases and press kits primarily promote products and travel destinations.

Dates

1994-1995

Conditions Governing Access

Collection is open for research.

Conditions Governing Use

Hispanic Magazine owns copyright for all work created for the magazine, contact the The Wittliff staff for further information or for assistance with permission to publish.

Historical Notes

Hispanic Magazine was founded in 1987 in Washington D.C. by publisher, and former New Mexico governor, Jerry Apodaca, and editor, José Armas. The first issue appeared on newsstands in April 1988. The magazine's founding was aimed at portraying Hispanics in a positive manner. There had been other attempts to target the Hispanic community by other magazines but most of them folded. Hispanic started out on a format modeled after People magazine. Hispanic celebrities such as Julio Iglesias and Lee Treviño graced the early covers. Over the course of time the magazine's identity has evolved and now follows themes that magazine representatives consider more relevant.

Its founders believed that there was a wealth of information to be shared with the public regarding the positive things with which Hispanics were involved. They also felt there were no good role models for Hispanic youths. In addition, they wanted to do their part to change the way Hispanics were viewed by the general public. Founders were fueled by the results of a then recent study, which found the best known Hispanic in the US to be the cartoon character Speedy Gonzales.

In 1988 Hispanic saw its circulation rise to 150,000. The magazine began publication on a 12-month cycle but in the mid-nineties began combining the January/February and the July/August issues and now produces 10 issues a year.

In the mid-nineties, two thirds of the magazine's readership was Mexican American therefore it was decided to move the headquarters to either Texas or California. Texas was chosen and in 1994 the offices were relocated to Austin where they remained until 1999 when they relocated to Coral Gables, Florida.

Hispanic Magazine also owned and produced Vista Magazine, a once-a-month newspaper insert that appeared in several large newspapers in the US including the San Antonio Express News.

In 2008, it was the largest English language lifestyle magazine in the U.S. Hispanic market.

Hispanic Magazine ceased publication in 2010.

Extent

15 Linear Feet

30 boxes

Language of Materials

English

Metadata Rights Declarations

The descriptive data created for this finding aid is licensed under the CC0 Creative Commons license and is free for use without restriction.

Additional Description

Abstract

The Hispanic Magazine Archives contains documents relating to the production of each issue of the magazine. Within this collection are annotated drafts, page proofs, research material, correspondence, press releases, press kits, newspaper clippings, photographs and machine-readable diskettes.