Dr. Lynn Stephen &

Dr. Gabriela Martinez 

University of Oregon faculty members

In 2009, University of Oregon faculty members Lynn Stephen and Gabriela Martinez were tapped to contribute material on the history of local Latinx communities to an exhibition at the Lane County Historical Museum, “Changing Demographics: The People of Lane County.” 

Following the success of the exhibit, Dr. Stephen, a member of the Department of Anthropology, and Dr. Martinez, who teaches in the School of Journalism and Communication, continued to work together, developing a sequential Latinx Roots course to provide students with greater exposure to the racial and ethnic history of Oregon. They also worked with Pineros y Campesinos Unidos del Noroeste (PCUN)—the largest Latinx labor union in Oregon—to transfer their archival papers to the UO’s Special Collections & University Archives for research and long-term preservation.   

In addition to the historical background, students enrolled in Latinx Roots produce oral histories and short documentary films that profile the stories of Latinx people in the state. Copies of all the videos, interview transcripts and supporting materials are placed in the UO Libraries’ permanent collection, ensuring that future generations always will be able to access and learn from these important historical records. Since the inaugural class in 2011, Latinx Roots students have created 62 videos that have been viewed by over 50,000 Oregonians. 

“The course is not designed for Latinx and it is not designed for Anglos,” Martinez explained. “The course is designed for anybody who wants to learn more about the history of the state of Oregon and about the Latinx experience in Oregon, and learn skills to produce video documentaries.”