This collection includes University of Arizona materials, photographs from Sotomayor’s time as a Arizona Daily Wildcat
journalist, materials related to the Maynard Institute, newspaper clippings, copies of The Verde Independent independently
run by students from Cottonwood, Arizona, and other student run newspapers. Materials also include some of Mr. Sotomayor’s awards, his scholastic endeavors, and
other publications. Included is a copy of Southern California’s Latino Community: A Series of Articles Reprinted from the Los Angeles Times,
the series of articles that won his team the Pulitzer Prize in 1984.
Collection Number
MS 599
Language:
Materials are in English.
Repository
University of Arizona Libraries, Special Collections
University of Arizona
PO Box 210055
Tucson, AZ 85721-0055
Phone: 520-621-6423
Fax: 520-621-9733
URL: http://speccoll.library.arizona.edu/
E-Mail: LBRY-askspcoll@email.arizona.edu
Biographical Note
UA Alum and Tucson High School Class of 1962 graduate, Frank Sotomayor is a Pulitzer Prize winning journalist for the Los Angeles
Times.
Sotomayor grew up in Barrio Hollywood and attended Davis Elementary and John Spring Junior High prior to attending Tucson High School. At Tucson High, he worked on the
Cactus Chronicle and served as a sports editor. During his senior year, he worked as a sports correspondent for the
Arizona Daily Star while continuing his work with the Cactus Chronicle.
During his time at the University of Arizona, Mr. Sotomayor worked for the Arizona Daily Wildcat as a reporter and from 1965-66 was the
Editor in Chief, during the last year that the paper was linked to the journalism department. He also received the Donald Still Award for service to the
Arizona Daily Wildcat. Upon graduation, he received a degree in journalism and was named outstanding male graduate of the Class of 1966.
In 1966, Sotomayor received the Robert Nugent Award. He was inducted into the Arizona Daily Wildcat Hall of Fame in 1971.
Sotomayor earned a fellowship to Stanford University and received a master’s in communication in 1967. During his time at Stanford, he worked as a reporter and copy
editor at the Philadelphia Inquirer. In August 1968 he married Meri Finnerty Sotomayor, a 1967 graduate of the UA journalism program.
From 1985-86, he worked closely with the Harvard University upon winning the Neiman Fellowship. Sotomayor then did a tour with the Army where he was the editor and a
reporter with the Pacific Starts and Stripes in Tokyo. Upon his return in 1970, he began working with the Los
Angeles Times.
In 1974, Sotomayor and his wife Meri Finnerty co-authored “Para Los Ninos: Mejorando la Educacion para los Mexicoamericanos” (“For the Children: Improving Education for
Mexican Americans”), a report about education for Mexican-Americans. The title was published by the US Commission for Civil Rights.
Sotomayor co-founded the California Chicano News Media Association (CCNMA) in 1976. The CCNMA is a non-profit, professional organization that promotes diversity in
news media by providing encouragement, scholarships, and educational programs for Latinos pursuing careers in journalism. The group provides education and financial
assistance, helps with job placement for journalism students, offers professional training, and monitors coverage of communities of color to ensure it is accurate and
fair.
One year later in 1977, Sotomayor co-founded the Robert C. Maynard Institute for Journalism Education, which promotes diversity in the news media through improved
coverage, hiring, business practices and training programs. The institute began as a volunteer project with only nine working journalists.
In 1978, Sotomayor worked alongside the Friends of Journalism, which sought to keep the UA Journalism Department from closing. The group successfully helped to keep the
Journalism Department open. Sotomayor also served on the board of advisors at the UC Berkeley Graduate School of Journalism for two years.
In 1983, Sotomayor was a writer and co-editor, alongside Frank del Olmo and George Ramos, that produced a 278-part series on Latinos in Southern California.
The series urged readers to see Latinos as more than just stereotypes. The series won the 1984 Pulitzer Prize for Public Service.
In 1998, Sotomayor received the Centennial Achievement Award from the University of Arizona, followed by induction into the Hall of Fame in 2002. That
same year, he was named to the Hall of Fame of the National Association of Hispanic Journalists.
Scope and Content Note
This collection includes University of Arizona materials, photographs from Sotomayor’s time as an Arizona Daily Wildcat journalist,
materials related to the Maynard Institute, newspaper clippings, copies of The Verde Independent independently run by students from
Cottonwood, Arizona, and other student run newspapers. Materials also include some of Mr. Sotomayor’s awards, his scholastic endeavors, and other publications.
Included is a copy of Southern California’s Latino Community: A Series of Articles Reprinted from the Los Angeles Times, the series of
articles that won his team the Pulitzer Prize in 1984. The materials in this collection have been divided into nine series, which includes eight subseries of different
newspapers Sotomayor worked with prior to his time at the Los Angeles Times.
It is the responsibility of the user to obtain permission to publish
from the owner of the copyright (the institution, the creator of the record,
the author or his/her transferees, heirs, legates, or literary executors). The
user agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Arizona Board of Regents for the
University of Arizona, its officers, employees, and agents from and against all
claims made by any person asserting that he or she is an owner of
copyright.
Access Terms
Personal Name(s)
Olmo, Frank del.
Ramos, George.
Sotomayor, Frank.
Corporate Name(s)
Los Angeles Times (Firm).
Tucson High School (Tucson, Ariz.).
University of Arizona.
Geographic Name(s)
Los Angeles (Cali.).
Tucson (Ariz.).
Subject(s)
California, Southern -- Social life and customs.
College student newspapers and periodicals.
Hispanic Americans -- California -- Los Angeles -- Social conditions -- 20th century.
This series includes childhood souvenir Valentine’s Day cards from the 2nd-3rd grade and a photograph of Frank Sotomayor’s 3rd grade class
at Davis School.
box
folder
1
1
Photocopy of Frank Sotomayor’s 3rd grade class, Davis Elementary, 1953
1
2
Valentine’s Day souvenir cards from 2nd-3rd grade at Davis Elementary, undated
This series includes a certificate of merit from the High School Fine Arts Summer Session hosted by the University of Arizona in 1958 and one
pamphlet from the program. Frank Sotomayor attended with a scholarship from John Springs Faculty. The series also includes souvenir booklets and pamphlets from
events Sotomayor attended as a high school reporter.
box
folder
1
4
Miscellaneous souvenir booklet and letter from Triangle Y Camp, undated
1
5
Santa Margarita Church souvenir dedication pamphlet, January 20th, 1957
This series includes materials collected by Frank Sotomayor during his time at the University of Arizona. Items include programs, personal notebooks,
ephemera, sports tickets, registration information, and convocation and commencement announcements.
box
folder
1
7
UA Orientation Week Program, September 10-15th, 1962
1
8
UA Visitor’s Guide, undated
1
9
UA ROTC personal notebook, 1962
1
10
UA Student Handbooks for Academic Years, 1962-63, 1965-66, 1966-67
1
11
UA Regular Session Course Offerings, First semester, 1962-1963
1
12
UA Campus Calendar, First semester, 1962-1963
1
13
UA Student Union Memorial Building pamphlet, 1962-1963
1
14
UA postcard, sticker decal, and Kitten Klues pamphlet , 1965-1966
1
15
UA Student Schedule receipts and tickets issued, 1962-1964
1
16
UA Track and Field Meet schedule vs. Los Angeles State, April 5th, 1963
1
17
UA Sports tickets to UA vs. ASU football, November 27th, 1965
1
18
UA springs sports program, 1971
1
19
UA sports “Traditions 108” button pin, undated
1
20
UA Arizona Daily Wildcat market pamphlet, 1965-1966
1
21
UA Arizona Daily Wildcat Editor files, 1965-1966
1
22
UA City of Tucson statement of earnings and deductions, July 1965
1
23
UA Honors Convocation Programs, December 1st, 1965
1
24
UA Commencement ceremonies announcement, June 1966
This series includes one publication, “History of Maynard Institute,” authored by Frank Sotomayor. Some of the photographs in the
publication are attributed to Sotomayor’s wife, Meri.
box
folder
1
25
“History of Maynard Institute” by Frank O. Sotomayor, ca. 2008
This series includes newspaper clippings from Sotomayor’s career prior to his work with the Los Angeles
Times. These newspapers have been organized chronologically and are divided into separate subseries.
A UA Journalism class on community newspapers would produce a weekly paper in the spring. In 1965, Sotomayor was part of the class that wrote
and edited the Verde Independent in Cottonwood, Arizona.
Includes articles and editorial pieces from Frank Sotomayor during his time at the Arizona Daily Wildcat, which
at the time was house within the UA Journalism Department.
While attending the University of Arizona, Sotomayor contributed to the Tucson Daily Citizen as a correspondent.
This subseries includes some of his published work.
While attending the University of Arizona, Sotomayor contributed to the Arizona Daily Star as a correspondent.
This subseries includes some of his published work.
The Institute for Journalism and the University of Arizona announced a program to prepare minority journalists for editing jobs in the daily
newspaper industry. The program was conducted at the University of Arizona’s Journalism Department and enrolled ten minority journalism professionals in an
intense practical course of training for seven weeks from June through August. The faculty included experienced editors from daily papers throughout the
country and also operated a summer program for minority journalists through the University of California and a nation job network for minority journalists
in Washington. The program became known as the Editing Program for Minority Journalists, which helped to edit both El
Independiente and Headline.
box
folder
1
37
Editing Program for Minority Journalists, miscellaneous documents, 1980-1999
This series includes photographs taken by Frank Sotomayor and others for his early journalism work. Photographs have been separated by date, subject,
and title where applicable.
box
folder
1
40
Undated photographs from the Arizona Daily Wildcat, undated
1
41
Photos taken at Old Tucson of Frank and Meri, 1959-1960
1
42
Tucson Rodeo Parade, 1960
1
43
Wildcat backfield, 1962
1
44
UA basketball players ready to travel, 1964-1965
1
45
Homecoming Parade in Downtown Tucson, 1964-1965
1
46
Arizona Daily Wildcat photos, 1965
1
47
Arizona Daily Wildcat photos by Sotomayor and Spragne, 1965-1966
1
48
Arizona Daily Wildcat photos by Garry Morris, 1966
This series contains information pertaining to an exhibit series entitled “20 Years after the Pulitzer.” The series includes exhibit
information from the University of Arizona Special Collections Library, symposium information, dinner information, and a discussion at the
Arizona Daily Star.
box
folder
1
66
Special Collections exhibit photographs and summary, 2004
1
67
“20 Years after the Pulitzer” symposium documents, pamphlets, and photos, 2004
1
68
Symposium dinner summary and photographs, 2004
1
69
Symposium Arizona Daily Star discussion photographs, 2004
This series contains publications authored and co-authored by Frank O. Sotomayor. These publications include both English and Spanish versions of
“Para los Ninos” and two copies of a text on Frank del Olmo.
box
folder
1
70
“Adios Amigos” Manzo Area Council Newsletter 1972
1
71
“Para los Ninos” in English 1974
1
72
“Para los Ninos” in Spanish 1974
1
73
Southern California’s Latino Community: a series of articles reprinted from the Los Angeles Times, 1983
1
74
Frank del Olmo: Commentaries on His Times, paperback, 2004
1
75
Frank del Olmo: Commentaries on His Times, hardcover, 2004