For Community and Country

Explore Dr. Hector P. Garcia's legacy as a doctor, soldier, activist, and ambassador.

Dr. Hector P. Garcia ranks among the most important figures in Mexican American history. In 1982, he began to donate his vast collection of personal papers to the Mary and Jeff Bell Library at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi. Today, this collection—a centerpiece of the library’s holdings—offers invaluable insight into the Mexican American experience of the 20th century and the ways in which Dr. Garcia shaped and changed that experience.

Dr. Garcia was an immigrant and a proud Texan, a physician and a soldier, an activist and an advisor to several presidents. His papers reflect these roles and serve as a testament to a life dedicated to community service and civil rights. This website features a small but important subset of the items in the Dr. Hector P. Garcia Papers, which can be viewed on this site individually or within thematic exhibits. Taken together, these materials illuminate the tremendous impact Dr. Garcia had on his family, his community, and his country.