Benson Latin American Collection

LLILAS Benson Welcomes you to the LLILAS Hackett Lecture: Carlos María de Bustamante and the Problem of Language on the Eve of Mexican Independence

Date: Monday October 5, 2026
Time: 4:00 PM - 6:00 PM

Location: Benson Latin American Collection, second floor

LLILAS Hackett Lecture: Carlos María de Bustamante and the Problem of Language on the Eve of Mexican Independence
The 2026 LLILAS Hackett Lecture presents "Carlos María de Bustamante and the Problem of Language on the Eve of Mexican Independence," a lecture by historian Pablo Piccato, Columbia University.

This lecture celebrates and extends the themes of the Benson Latin American Collection exhibition Revolutions and Constitutions: Nation-Building in the Americas after 1776, which examines how revolutionary movements across the Americas transformed political systems, inspired new constitutions, and reshaped ideas of citizenship, sovereignty, and national identity. The exhibition situates Mexican independence within a broader hemispheric story that includes the U.S., French, and Haitian Revolutions and their lasting impact on the Atlantic world.

Free and open to the public. Reception to follow.

Sponsored by:
LLILAS Benson Latin American Studies and Collections

LLILAS Hackett Lecture: Carlos María de Bustamante and the Problem of Language on the Eve of Mexican Independence The 2026 LLILAS Hackett Lecture presents

We know coming to our side of campus can sometimes feel like an uphill battle, especially in the Texas heat! ☀️ But did you know you have two convenient options to come to LLILAS Benson?

A) UT Shuttle Route 640 (free with your UT EID)
Check out the shuttle stops and schedule. https://www.capmetro.org/ride/plan/schedmap?route=640

B) This new free transportation service that brings people from Garrison Hall to LBJ School Read below. ↓↓↓↓

Parking and Transportation Services created a new shuttle route that connects Garrison Hall to the Lyndon B. Johnson Presidential Library. The route, added in August, provides consistent east to west transportation across the main campus as a part of the PTS Connect van shuttle service.

https://thedailytexan.com/2026/09/06/new-shuttle-route-connects-lbj-library-with-garrison-hall/

Calling all Caleños! Andrés Caicedo in the Wall Street Journal 💥
 
The Wall Street Journal published a book review of Andrés Caicedo’s ¡Que Viva la Música! calling it “an unforgettable ode to unruly youth, and one of the greatest novels in Latin American history.”

The Benson Latin American Collection holds the Andrés Caicedo Papers and provided an image for the article.

[Español abajo] The Benson Latin American Collection and Teresa Lozano Long Institute of Latin American Studies were honored to show materials from our archival collections to the Honorable Roberto Lazzeri Montaño, Ambassador of Mexico to the United States, and Consul General Humberto Hernández Haddad, along with other esteemed guests.

La Benson y LLILAS tuvieron el honor de mostrar materiales del nuestras colecciones especiales al nuevo Embajador de México en Estados Unidos Roberto Lazzeri Montaño, el Consul General Humberto Hernández Haddad, y otros estimados invitados.
Embajada de México en Estados Unidos Consulado General de México en Austin PCL and the UT Libraries

The Benson Latin American Collection mourns the passing of Dr. Gilberto Cárdenas, sociologist, activist and former director of UT’s Center for Mexican American Studies. The Benson is proud to have the Gilberto Cárdenas Papers, a collection of over 25 boxes of research materials of his work on Mexican immigration and Chicano activism. https://txarchives.org/utlac/finding_aids/00572.xml

Image: Julian Samora and Gilberto Cárdenas, 1975, from the Julian Samora Papers, Box 143 #8, Benson Latin American Collection

Explore Latin American and U.S. Latinx visual culture through the unique perspectives of the Benson staff who build, process, and care for these archives. Comics and Zines: Staff Picks from the Benson Collection will be on view from July 21, 2026, to March 12, 2027.

This display shows how creators combine the structure of comics with the independent nature of handcrafted zines. Visitors will see how artists use these accessible print formats to bypass censorship, question mainstream media, and address complex political and social issues.

By highlighting these graphic narratives, the exhibition showcases the incredible breadth of the Benson Latin American Collection, providing a direct look into the social movements that shape Latin America and Latino communities in the United States. Join us in the gallery to connect with these powerful visual histories.

Our University of Texas Libraries Branch Services manager, Dulce Aguilar-Garcia is ready for the World Cup! ⚽️🇲🇽

Heartfelt congratulations to Dr. Albert A. Palacios, LLILAS Benson Digital Scholarship Coordinator, on winning a UT Libraries Excellence Award! This is the Libraries' highest honor, given to three staff members a year who make extraordinary contributions to the UT Libraries.

Melissa Guy, director of the Benson Latin American Collection, announced the award at a ceremony, describing Palacios as "an excellent colleague, ready to step up and lend a hand, engage in productive problem-solving, and recognize the contributions of others."

She praised him as "known for collaboration and thoughtful partnership across departments and institutions within UT, and across the globe."

He is truly a leader in the digital humanities, a key member of the LLILAS Benson partnership, and beloved by colleagues and students alike. Congratulations, Albert!

Benson Latin American Collection PCL and the UT Libraries School of Information - The University of Texas at Austin History Department - University of Texas at Austin

New Exhibit Alert: Exploring Sixty Years of Literary Legacy

Now open at the University of Texas at Austin: "Texas to Chile: Dave Oliphant Across the Poetic Bridge."

This unique exhibit, housed in the Benson Latin American Collection, documents the prolific career of poet, critic, and translator Dave Oliphant. For six decades, Oliphant has served as a cultural bridge, bringing the avant-garde spirit of Chile to the heart of Texas.

Highlights include:
• Translations of seminal figures like Nicanor Parra and Enrique Lihn.
• Original verse reflecting Oliphant’s native Texas roots.
• A celebration of the combined legacy of Dave and his wife, María Isabel Jofré, and their profound impact on the UT Austin library landscape.

Whether you are a student of literature or a lover of Texas history, this is an exhibit you won’t want to miss.
When: April 17 – Sept 30, 2026
Where: Rare Books Reading Room, First Floor, Sid Richardson Hall (Unit 1), UT Austin.
Learn more about the intersection of Texas and Chilean traditions. See you here!

Student-Led Discovery at the Benson

What happens when undergraduate historians dive into the archives? You get Revolutions and Constitutions: Nation-Building in the Americas after 1776.

This exhibition is the result of a unique collaboration between UT history students (guided by Professors Lina del Castillo and Cristina Soriano) and Benson curator Veronica Valarino. Together, they’ve unearthed rare documents that challenge simple narratives about independence.

Come see how student research has brought to light the complex legacies of liberty, citizenship, and persistent inequality that continue to shape our hemisphere today.

Featuring: Rare maps, manuscripts, and a companion digital exhibit by Benson Digital Scholarship Coordinator Albert Palacios.

🔗 Digital Exhibit: Polarizing Uncertainty in the Atlantic World around 1776 https://exhibits.lib.utexas.edu/spotlight/polarizing-uncertainty-1776?TSPD_101_R0=089fd1d2a5ab20000cbad4025fc2b659da391da680232116a93d322b4647cab614dbbcdddf5e12ea08d7846ad31430001ef3ca709262026618f8681fdf9c796b19375ebd85e4f0c2434325c65fe92c7703629f9d508cfcb57ca95c343fda289c

Visit us: Now through December 14, 2026 at the Benson Latin American Collection, Ann Hartness Reading Room, First Floor, Sid Richardson Hall, Unit 1, University of Texas at Austin.

#1776