00-A0781-FM 7/16/01 11:55 AM Page i Knight without Armor 00-A0781-FM 7/16/01 11:55 AM Page ii 00-A0781-FM 7/16/01 11:55 AM Page iii KNIGHT WITHOUT ARMOR Carlos Eduardo Castañeda, 1896–1958 félix d. almaráz, jr. texas a&m university press College Station 00-A0781-FM 7/16/01 11:55 AM Page iv Copyright © 1999 by Félix D. Almaráz, Jr. Manufactured in the United States of America All rights reserved First edition The paper used in this book meets the minimum requirements of the American National Standard for Permanence of Paper for Printed Library Materials, z39.48-1984. Binding materials have been chosen for durability. (cid:2)(cid:3) Assistance with the funding of this book was provided through generous grants from The Kathryn Stoner O’Connor Foundation and The Program for Cultural Cooperation Between Spain’s Ministry of Culture and United States Universities library of congress cataloging-in-publication data Almaráz, Félix D. (Félix Díaz), 1933– Knight without armor : Carlos Eduardo Castañeda, 1896–1958 / Félix D. Almaráz, Jr. p. cm. Includes bibliographical references and index. isbn0-89096-890-x 1. Castañeda, Carlos Eduardo, 1896–1958. 2. Historians—United States Biography. 3. Mexican Americans Biography. 4. Mexican- American Border Region—Historiography. 5. Southwest, New— Historiography. 6. Mexican Americans—Historiography. 7. Catholic Church—Texas—Historiography. I. Title. e175.5.c275a46 1999 972.007(cid:2)202—dc21 99-24693 [b] cip3 00-A0781-FM 7/16/01 11:55 AM Page v in loving memory of my parents, Antonia Rodríguez de Almaráz (1900–1984) and Félix D. Almaráz, Sr. (1899–1968) 00-A0781-FM 7/16/01 11:55 AM Page vi The shadow fell for a moment upon the hour that marked his death then passed leaving his name and memory illuminated by the eternal sunshine. —inscription on sundial, bruton parish church, williamsburg, virginia 00-A0781-FM 7/16/01 11:55 AM Page vii Contents List of Illustrations ix Preface xiii 1 The Formative Years, 1896–1923 3 2 Sojourn in Virginia, 1923–27 20 3 The Making of a Librarian, 1927–29 43 4 Appointment with History, 1930–32 77 5 Involuntary Exile to Del Rio, 1933–35 105 6 Return from the Border, 1935–38 146 7 The Glory of Knighthood, 1939–42 173 8 From Academician to Wartime Public Servant, 1943–44 213 9 From Regional Director to Full-Time Historian, 1945–47 253 10 Ascendancy to the Summit, 1948–50 278 11 At the Summit, 1951–53 294 12 The Twilight Years, 1954–58 318 13 Farewell to a Project 342 Abbreviations 351 Notes 353 Bibliography 407 Index 417 00-A0781-FM 7/16/01 11:55 AM Page viii 00-A0781-FM 7/16/01 11:55 AM Page ix Illustrations Castañeda coat-of-arms frontispiece photo section 1 following page104 Timoteo C. Castañeda and Elisa Andrea Leroux The Castañeda family Carlos, age five Carlos on a Sunday outing Carrancistaforces in Matamoros Saint Austin’s Church and Newman Hall Rev. J. Elliot Ross Eugene Campbell Barker Charles Wilson Hackett Carlos at graduation, 1921 Wedding of Castañeda and Elisa G. Ríos Aerial view of Williamsburg, Va. Carlos and Elisa in Williamsburg Irma Gloria Castañeda, age three Catholic field Mass at William and Mary Julian Alvin Carroll Chandler Ernest William Winkler Latin American Collection Librarian Castañeda Texas Knights of Columbus Historical Commission, 1926 00-A0781-FM 7/16/01 11:55 AM Page x x illustrations Rev. Dr. Paul J. Foik Our Lady of the Lake College Sister M. Angelique Ayres Winnie Allen Rev. Dr. Peter P. Forrestal Frederick C. Chabot Harry Yandell Benedict Rev. Francis Borgia Steck Carlos on graduation day, 1932 photo section 2 following page252 Superintendent Castañeda Most Rev. Mariano S. Garriga Donald Coney Milton R. Gutsch Castañeda with Rev. James P. Gibbons Carlos and Elisa with Rosemary Castañeda’s investiture as Knight of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem Castañeda in Knights of Columbus procession Homer Price Rainey Most Rev. Robert E. Lucey Castañeda at San Jacinto Monument Rev. Monsignor Francis J. Haas Most Rev. Laurence J. FitzSimon Rev. Monsignor Patrick J. McCormick Aerial view of Catholic University of America Most Rev. Louis J. Reicher Texas Knights of Columbus members with Our Catholic Heritage in Texas Carlos, Rosemary, and Josefina Ella in San Antonio Presentation of the Junípero Serra of the Americas Award Backyard family photo Castañeda in Caracas, Venezuela