Rudy Lozano papers, 1950-2003

Rodolfo “Rudy” Lozano, (1951 to 1983) was an activist and a community organizer in Chicago. On June 8, 1983, Lozano was shot to death in his home, and multiple Chicago institutions now carry his name in memory of his life and career.

Lozano was born in Harlingen, Texas, and he was raised in Chicago’s Pilsen neighborhood.

Lozano attended Cooper Elementary, Harrison High School, and the University of Illinois at Chicago Circle. At UICC, Lozano organized students to advocate for courses on Mexican history and for the University to hire more Latino/a faculty.

Lozano’s career including projects with many organizations including: National Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression; Centro de la Causa; Midwest Coalition for the Defense of Immigrants; Hispanic American Labor Council; Coalition for Labor Union Women; Latin American Council for Labor Union Advancement; Por Un Barrio Mejor; Citizen’s Information Service; Operation PUSH; Chicago Urban League; Chicago Peace Council. Lozano was a Midwest organizer for the International Ladies Garments Workers Union (I.L.G.W.U.).

In 1982, Lozano unsuccessfully ran for alderman in the 22nd Ward in the City’s 1983 elections. During this time, Lozano organized Latino/a voting campaigns for both himself, Juan Soliz’s campaign as a state representative in the Illinois General Assembly, and Harold Washington’s campaign as mayor of the City of Chicago.

After his death, the Pilsen branch of the Chicago Public Library and the Rudy Lozano Leadership Academy of the Instituto Del Progreso Latino were named after him.

This is a collection of Rudy Lozano’s personal papers related to his career and his work as a Mexican American activist and community organizer living in Chicago. This collection includes video and audio recordings, posters, books, correspondence, meeting notes, newspaper clippings, photographs, and ephemera from his funeral. Some of these items were written, typed, or collected by Rudy Lozano.

This collection includes some film reels, audio reels, VHS and Beta cassettes, and other audio-visual or electronic-based media. The library might not have the resources to permit viewing these materials. Patrons interested in seeing those media should call ahead to inquire on whether or how they might view these materials.

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Rudy Lozano papers, Special Collections and University Archives, University of Illinois at Chicago

• Names
  • Lozano, Guadalupe
  • Lozano, Rudy, 1951-1983 -- Archives
• Subject
  • Chicago Community Organizations.
  • Chicago Ethnic Groups.
  • Chicago Political and Civic Life.
  • Mexican Americans.
  • Political activists.
• Geographic CoverageIllinois--Chicago.