Latino/Chicano, Lowrider and Gangbanger T-Shirt Art collection
Scope and Contents
The collection consists of display samples of Latino, Chicano, lowrider and gangbanger t-shirt designs, decals, patches, and cards from the 1980s to the 1990s. The display samples are printed on off-white or black tyvek and heat transfer sheets; many of the tyvek samples are in the shape of t-shirts. Also included are heat transfer patches, decals, and greeting cards. The samples and items are in both color and black and white. Some of the designs were supplied by Francisco's Exotic T's, Photo-Lith International, and SSI. Only two designs have identified illustrators: "Zaraic" and "Clapez". Many of the designs draw on gang-related street art forms--tattoo flash and graffiti placas. There are also designs inspired by Christian iconography; album cover design; and lowrider artwork. Some designs reference Latin music; others are targeted to Latinas, children and military veterans. There are designs emphasizing Central and South American countries, as well as some U.S. cities and states. A few designs reference Chicano Power and Mojado Power.
Dates
- Creation: 1980-1995, undated
Conditions Governing Access
Advance notice required for access.
Conditions Governing Use
All requests for permission to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the Boeckmann Center Librarian. Permission for publication is given on behalf of Special Collections as the owner of the physical items and is not intended to include or imply permission of the copyright holder, which must also be obtained.
Historical note
The items included in the collection were originally displayed in a now-defunct store in San Francisco's Mission District, and customers would select illustrations that would be heat-transferred onto their own clothing or onto t-shirts sold by the shop.
Extent
6.4 Linear Feet (5 boxes)
Language of Materials
English
Abstract
The collection consists of display samples of Latino, Chicano, lowrider and gangbanger t-shirt designs, decals, patches, and cards from the 1980s to the 1990s. Some of the designs were supplied by Francisco's Exotic T's, Photo-Lith International, and SSI. Many of the designs draw on gang-related street art forms--tattoo flash and graffiti placas. There are also designs inspired by Christian iconography; album cover design; and lowrider artwork. Some designs reference Latin music; others are targeted to Latinas, children and military veterans. There are designs emphasizing Central and South American countries, as well as some U.S. cities and states. A few designs reference Chicano Power and Mojado Power. The items included in the collection were originally displayed in a now-defunct store in San Francisco's Mission District, and customers would select illustrations that would be heat-transferred onto their own clothing or onto t-shirts sold by the shop
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Purchased from Bolerium Books, May 4, 2011.
Genre / Form
Topical
- Chicano movement -- Archival resources
- Gangs -- California -- 20th century -- Archival resources
- Hispanic American art -- California -- 20th century -- Archival resources
- Lowriders -- Archival resources
- Mexican American art -- California -- 20th century -- Archival resources
- Mexican Americans -- Ethnic identity -- Archival resources
- Popular culture -- California -- 20th century -- Archival resources
- Social movements in art -- Archival resources
- T-shirt industry -- Archival resources
- Wearable art -- California -- 20th century -- Archival resources
- Title
- Finding aid for the Latino/Chicano, Lowrider and Gangbanger T-Shirt Art collection
- Status
- Completed
- Author
- Sue Luftschein
- Date
- 2019 July
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
Repository Details
Part of the USC Libraries Special Collections Repository
Doheny Memorial Library 206
3550 Trousdale Parkway
Los Angeles California 90089-0189 United States
specol@usc.edu