Cleofas Calleros

The image shows Cleofas Calleros in front of Ysleta Mission. The historian and social activist was born in 1896, in Río Florido, Chihuahua, Mexico. When he was six years old, his father was exiled to El Paso and his family followed him. Calleros grew up in El Segundo Barrio, where he attended Alamo School and then Sacred Heart School. He graduated from the eighth grade as the class valedictorian in 1911. He could not continue on to High School because Calleros had to work to support his family. He had already worked throughout his youth, first at the El Paso Dairy, then at the Ellis Brothers Printing Shop, where he learned how to bind books by hand. In 1912, Calleros began working for the Santa Fe Railway. He worked hard and fought to obtain jobs that were above the standard for Mexican immigrants or nationals. In 1917 Calleros lied about his age and nationality to be able to participate in World War I. He became a quartermaster sergeant. After being wounded in action he received the Purple Heart. He also served as a part of the occupation of Germany until 1919 and was a member of the U. S. Army Officers Reserve Corps until 1938. During his time in Europe, Calleros was able to take a trip to Spain to explore the archives housed in the University of Salamanca. According to his nephew, while reading the codices of the Indies, Calleros “realized for the first time in his life that historians often wrote with a less than accurate perception or knowledge of the facts: he had come face to face with the de-hispanization of history and his interest in setting the record straight was to remain, as his avocation, his prime concern for the remainder of his life”. The history of the Southwest, Texas, New Mexico and Mexico would fascinate him and be the topic of lifelong research. He published numerous works, amongst them books about the local Tigua Indians and the El Paso missions. In 1918, Calleros married Benita Blanco, also a Mexican immigrant. Both became U.S. citizens that same year. They had one daughter together. Calleros continued his education by studying law and interstate commerce. He received two certificates, and later received an honorary master of fine arts degree from New Mexico State University and an honorary doctorate in history from the University of New Mexico for his research and publications. Calleros became the Border Representative of the National Catholic Conference Department of Immigration in El Paso. During his 42 years as welfare director and social worker, Calleros helped handle more than one million immigration cases. As a devout Catholic, he worked for the Church his whole life. For example he was involved in the completion of the Jesus statue on top of Mount Cristo Rey. He was also involved in many other clubs and organizations, focusing on social work, and received numerous awards for his publications. In 1959, a dream of Calleros came true: Together with Angel Alcazar de Velasco he co-authored a massive book all made by hand using 14th century methods and a 17th century Gothic type. Entitled Historia Del Templo de Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe. Published in 1959, the book celebrated the 300th anniversary of the founding of the Mission of Our Lady Guadalupe in Juárez. One copy was presented to Pope John XXIII. In 1970, Calleros donated his personal collection of books, documents, manuscripts and personal papers, some of which dated back to 1663, to the El Paso Public Library. Three years later he died and was buried at Fort Bliss National Cemetery with military honors. Calleros is remembered for his outstanding contributions to Southwest history and for his community work. Sources: http://epcc.libguides.com/content.php?pid=309255&sid=3229192 https://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/fcadb

Area: Mission Valley / Ysleta del Sur Pueblo