César Chavez, 1976

César Chavez(March 31, 1927 – April 23, 1993) was a Mexican-Americanunion leader, labor organizer, andcivil rights activist who isbest known forhis efforts to improve working conditions formigrantfarm workersin California, Texas, Arizona, and Florida.

During hischildhood, Chavez moved with hisfamily from Arizona to California, where they becamemigrantfarm workers. After serving two years in the U.S.Navy, Chavez married hiswife,Helen Fabela,in 1948.

In 1962, Chavez co-founded the NationalFarm WorkersAssociation (NFWA), which would later become theUnited Farm Workers (UFW). As alabor leader, he worked to improve pay and work conditions formigrant workersand, starting in 1965, led a strike and 5-year boycott against Californiagrape growers. This included thefamous 300-milefarm workersmarch to Sacramento in 1966.

Under Chavez’s leadership, theUnited Farm Workerssigned many contracts with growers, despiteconflict with the Teamsters Union. He also worked to pass theCalifornia Agricultural Labor Relations Act, which became law in 1975.

César Chavezwas known for usingnonviolent methods such as boycotts and marches to achievesocial change. He also went on several hunger strikes, in which hefasted for weeks to draw attention to his causes.

Chavezdied in his sleep in 1993 and was posthumouslyawarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1994. His March 31 birthday is aholiday in some states known asCésar Chavez Day.

Learn more about César Chavez through historical newspapers from our archives. Explore newspaper articles, headlines, images, and other primary sources below.

Articles and Clippings about César Chavez

Newspaper coverage of the grape strike and boycott, 1965 Wed, Dec 22, 1965 – 3 ·The Los Angeles Times (Los Angeles, California) · Newspapers.comFarm worker protest march reaches Sacramento, 1966 Mon, Apr 11, 1966 – Page 5 ·The Courier-News (Bridgewater, New Jersey) · Newspapers.comPhoto of Cesar Chavez speaking at the end of the farm worker march to Sacramento, 1966 Mon, Apr 11, 1966 – 15 ·News-Journal (Mansfield, Ohio) · Newspapers.comCoverage of the lettuce boycott and conflict with the Teamsters union, 1970 Thu, Oct 1, 1970 – Page 36 ·Arizona Republic (Phoenix, Arizona) · Newspapers.comEditorial about why Cesar Chavez was successful in organizing farm workers, 1971 Wed, Mar 24, 1971 – 31 ·The Dispatch (Moline, Illinois) · Newspapers.comEditorial critical of Cesar Chavez, 1971 Wed, Mar 31, 1971 – 8 ·The Tampa Times (Tampa, Florida) · Newspapers.comArticle highlighting Cesar Chavez's accomplishments and achievements, 1972 Fri, Nov 17, 1972 – Page 9 ·Standard-Speaker (Hazleton, Pennsylvania) · Newspapers.comSigning of the California Agricultural Labor Relations Act, 1975 Fri, Jun 6, 1975 – Page 14 ·Arizona Daily Star (Tucson, Arizona) · Newspapers.comOp-ed written by Cesar Chavez about the California Agricultural Labor Relations Act, 1975 Mon, Nov 17, 1975 – 31 ·The Los Angeles Times (Los Angeles, California) · Newspapers.comNewspaper ad critical of Cesar Chavez, 1979 Fri, Mar 2, 1979 – 84 ·The Los Angeles Times (Los Angeles, California) · Newspapers.comObituary for Cesar Chavez, 1993 Sat, Apr 24, 1993 – Page 3 ·The Baltimore Sun (Baltimore, Maryland) · Newspapers.comEditorial calling Cesar Chavez a "symbol of California" after his death, 1993 Sun, May 16, 1993 – Page 38 ·The San Bernardino County Sun (San Bernardino, California) · Newspapers.comCesar Chavez is posthumously awarded Presidential Medal of Freedom, 1994 Tue, Aug 9, 1994 – 2 ·The Press Democrat (Santa Rosa, California) · Newspapers.com