CHIAPAS (MEXICO) AND CENTRAL AMERICA COLLECTION Bulk 1980s-2000s SCOPE AND CONTENT

Photography and papers by Richard G. Flamer, a Vietnam War veteran, anti-war activist, and Catholic Worker. The images document the lives of the poor and refugees in Chiapas, Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador, and Nicaragua, including Indigenous Maya groups, 1980s-2000s. Also documented are the development of an Indigenous community center and daycare in San Cristobal de las Casas, Chiapas, Mexico, visits to Chiapas by Catholic workers from Des Moines, Iowa, and exhumations of mass graves in Plan de Sanchez, Baja Verapaz, Guatemala.

Gift of Richard G. Flamer, 2009-2024. Processed by Mark G. Thiel, C.A., 2009-2021 and Joseph Spiezio, 2024-2025. In memory of Kelly Jean Gilson.

Restrictions: There are no restrictions regarding access to this collection. However, the researcher assumes full responsibility for conforming with the laws of libel, privacy, and copyright which may be involved in the use of these records. Consult an archivist for further information.

A large portion of the photographic materials document the daily lives of Indigenous refugees of the Guatemalan Civil War living in the La Gloria refugee camp in Chiapas, Mexico, including collecting water, cooking, and receiving medical aid. The 1,500 families in La Gloria had fled the guerilla forces during the war and were left to arrange their own return to Guatemala after the war, unlike several other communities of Guatemalan refugees in Mexico who were assisted by the Guatemalan government after the signing of the peace accords.

One of the most interesting portions of the collection are Richard Flamer's photographs of an exhumation of a mass grave in Plan de Sanchez, Baja Verapaz, Guatemala, which he took while working as a forensic photographer for the Catholic Church. Although Flamer photographed several mass grave exhumations while working as a forensic photographer for the U.N. during their investigation of atrocities committed by the Guatemalan government during the Guatemalan Civil War, these photographs fall under U.N. copyright, have not been published by the U.N., and Flamer is not free to share them, therefore these photos are not included in this collection. However, Flamer retains ownership of the photos he took in Plan de Sanchez while working for the Catholic Church, and these photographic prints and negatives are included in this collection.

Another large portion of the photographic materials document the construction and renovation of SYJAC, a community center and daycare in San Cristóbal de las Casas, Chiapas, Mexico. SYJAC - an acronym meaning "Service to our people" in Tzotzil - was created circa 2000 at the request of Don Samuel Ruiz García, the Bishop of San Cristóbal de las Casas at the time, to bring together various local Indigenous groups to create a dialogue. Run by nuns and unpaid volunteers in the early years, SYJAC provided a daycare and parenting classes for young Indigenous single mothers and woodworking classes for Indigenous men, as well as a space for the local Habitat for Humanity office and an Indigenous sewing cooperative. 

A visit from one delegation of Catholic workers from Des Moines, Iowa make up another significant portion of the photographic materials. As part of the Chiapas Project - which was a project started by Richard Flamer and the Des Moines Cathollic Worker community to fund humanitarian projects in Chiapas, such as the construction of SYJAC - the Des Moines Catholic Worker community sent delegations of Catholic workers to Chiapas in the early 2000s to meet with Richard Flamer, visit SYJAC, discuss the plight of the poor in Chiapas with members of the Catholic diocese, and visit the communities that the Chiapas Project is serving. Richard Flamer photographed the visit of one delegation in 2001 extensively, including meetings with Indigenous women at SYJAC, a meeting with a priest from the diocese, and their assistance in renovating SYJAC.

Documents in series 2 cover Flamer's work in Chiapas and elsewhere in Central America, the work of artists that Flamer has helped showcase in gallery exhibitions, correspondence with supporters of the Chiapas Project, and Flamer's reflections on his work and the challenges facing Indigenous communities in Central America, among other topics. Also included are documents relating to Flamer's gallery exhibitions, articles on the Chiapas Project in Via Pacis, the publication of the Des Moines Catholic Worker Community, and book catalogues from Flamer's career as a rare book dealer.

Photographic materials are divided into series based on format. Photographs relating to specific events and individuals may be found across multiple series.

Scope and Content

Series 1: Comprised of black & white and color matted photographic prints.

Series 2: Comprised of articles, essays, correspondence, and other documents. 

Series 3: Comprised of CDs and DVDs containing photos and videos.

Series 4: Comprised of black & white and color unmatted photographic prints.

Series 5: Comprised of black & white and color transparency slides, photographic negatives, and contact sheets.