 Dr. Clotilde
P. Garcia Book Collection
Longtime Corpus Christi physician, community
advocate, and younger sister of the eminent Dr. Hector
P. Garcia, Dr. Clotilde P. Garcia (1917-2003) was
also well known for her leading role in promoting
Hispanic genealogy and history. Dr. Cleo (as she is
affectionately known) became perhaps the most productive
advocate of Hispanic genealogy in the United States.
In addition to researching her own family history,
especially her roots in Camargo and other parts of
Nuevo Santander and Northern Mexico, she initiated
efforts during the 1980s to make Corpus Christi a
center for people researching their family trees.
In 1987, Dr. Cleo, with the assistance of her
sister Dr. Dalia P. Garcia and fellow enthusiasts Herbert G. Canales, Elvira Garcia,
Minerva Overstreet, and Mira Smithwick, founded the Spanish American Genealogical
Association (SAGA). The organization had as its object to promote the research,
collection, and development of genealogical data on Spanish/Mexican settlers of South
Texas. Dr. Cleo led SAGA as its president for its first several years, ensuring that it
would become a force in genealogy circles. In addition to building the Hispanic
genealogical resources of the Corpus Christi Public Library, Dr. Cleo and SAGA completed
compilation projects which provided previously unavailable Hispanic-related data to the
public. Over the years, Dr. Cleo inspired legions of people to study their own ancestry.
Retiring from her medical practice and many other activities in 1994,
Dr. Cleo also donated her personal Genealogy and History
Library to Special Collections & Archives of the
Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi Bell Library.
In this manner, Dr. Cleo continues to instruct people
about the Hispanic past. The Dr. Clotilde P. Garcia
Book Collection contains approximately one thousand
volumes that formed the bedrock of Dr. Cleo's genealogical
endeavors. Among these titles are books she authored
on Camargo, Padre Jose Nicolas Balli, Captain Alonso
Alvarez De Pineda, Captain Blas Maria de la Garza Falcon,
and Captain Enrique Villarreal and his Rincon Del Oso
Land Grant. Her collection likewise includes multi-volume
sets such as Francisco Zambrano, S.J., Diccionario Bio-Bibliografico
de la Compania de Jesus en Mexico; the Boletin Del Archivo
General de la Nacion (Mexico); the classic volumes of Bancroft's
Works dealing with the history of Mexico,
the Northern Mexican states, and Texas; and the important
compilation by SAGA of early death, birth, baptism,
and marriage records from Mier, Guerrero, Camargo, Cerralvo,
and Matamoros. The collection includes many other single-volume
works relevant to South Texas and Northern Mexican genealogy,
history, and culture.
We invite questions and/or comments and look forward
to hearing from you. Contact Jan Weaver at Jan.Weaver@tamucc.edu.
Webpage revised on
08/10/2007
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