The collection is divided into six series, based chronologically on decades: the undated materials, 1970-1979, 1980-1989, 1990-1999, 2000-2009, and 2010-2013.
Composed of materials pertaining to the career of Dr. Gloria Contreras and materials she collected on teaching social studies through a multicultural and global perspective.
Dr. Gloria Contreras, Professor Emeritus, was recruited to the University of North Texas in 1987 for her strong background in multicultural and social studies education. In 1989 she was appointed the first Director of the Office of Minority Affairs (now the Office of Multicultural Affairs) by President Alfred F. Hurley, where she was charged with creating and implementing a 5-year plan for the recruitment, retention, and graduation of minority students and faculty. As a result of her successful initiatives, over 20 student organizations are actively operating across campus today.
Dr. Contreras' defining passion has been teaching social studies through a multicultural and global perspective. Her major contributions to her field include her work co-authoring the leading K-6 social studies textbook series (published by Macmillan/McGraw-Hill) and serving as Executive Editor of The Social Science, a nationally peer-reviewed journal aimed at educators at all levels.
In 1990, as Professor of Secondary Education and Director of Minority Affairs, Dr. Contreras was awarded the International Education Committee Distinguished Service Citation at the University's Honors Day celebration.
In 2002 she was honored as a Latina Living Legend by the Hispanic 50, an organization that serves as a catalyst for increased participation of Hispanic women in employment, procurement, and social issues.
Rights: Reproduction and publication of materials in this collection are subject to the policies of the UNT Special Collections department. Copyright restrictions may apply.
Access Notes: This collection is stored off-site and requires a minimum of 24 hours notice prior to use.
Acquisition Note: Source: Gloria Contreras. Gift.
Preferred Citation: Gloria Contreras Papers, University of North Texas Special Collections
Finding Aid Revisions: This finding aid was revised in September 2017 by Hailey LaRock to clarify the collection content, amend spelling errors and dates, and add other missing information.
Scope and Contents: The professional archive of Gloria Contreras spans a 40-year career in teaching, research and administration. The earliest materials in the collection consist of documents and photographs during her days as a PhD student at the University of Georgia from 1973-74. Information in the collection includes, but it is not limited to, materials she used for teaching, research notes (and the publications produced from them), awards and honors bestowed on her, photographs of trips she took to study education systems including Vietnam, Korea, and Bolivia, conference proceedings, correspondence from colleagues and former students, brochures from campus groups she founded, copies of The Social Science (a journal she edited), and notes from studies she conducted on bilingual and immigrant education.
| University of North Texas Special Collections
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