The Blagg-Huey Library at Texas Woman’s University has recently acquired a collection of materials documenting the life and career of Hilda Gloria Tagle, Texas’ first Mexican American federal judge.
A native of Corpus Christi, Texas, Tagle earned degrees from Del Mar College, East Texas A&M University, the University of North Texas, as well as a juris doctorate from the University of Texas Law School. In 1985, she became the first Mexican American woman judge in Nueces County and the first Mexican American woman county court-at-law judge in Texas. In 1998, President Bill Clinton appointed her as the first Mexican American woman federal judge in Texas, serving on the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas.
The new Judge Hilda Tagle Collection at TWU contains more than 14,000 documents showcasing Tagle’s historic judicial career, community engagement, and civil engagement from the 1970s through today. The archive includes extensive correspondence, organizational files, and campaign materials from her judicial races, and other items from throughout her lifetime, such as Senate confirmation briefing materials and documents from her speaking engagements at schools, churches, and professional organizations.
“This collection tells the extraordinary story of a woman who shattered barriers while never forgetting her roots or her responsibility to lift others up,” said Kimberly Johnson, senior assistant dean of Special Collections. “Judge Tagle’s papers showcase her unwavering dedication to justice, literacy, and women’s empowerment ― and celebrate Hispanic heritage. This archive will serve as an invaluable resource for researchers, students, and anyone inspired by stories of perseverance and achievement.”