People have always found creative ways to help each other in hard times. An individual family might not have much money but a group together could help support their fellows in need.
One example are the Southwest Hispanic American mutual protection aid societies established in the last century, some of which continue today. When Hispanic Americans faced Anglo American violence and segregation, they established mutual-aid societies to combat racial discrimination, protect their lands, work for social and economic rights, celebrate their culture, and provide basic social insurance programs such as sickness and job subsidies, unemployment and burial aid.
For example, The Sociedad Protección Mutua de Trabajadores Unidos (for short the S.P.M.D.T.U.), was founded in November 26, 1900 by Celedonio Mondragón (1863-1923) in Antonito, in the San Luis Valley of Colorado. The goal was to help local Hispanic American workers, businessmen and ranchers. Membership was first restricted to men, who were required to attend meetings, pay dues, and be good citizens. New chapters started across Colorado, New Mexico and Utah.
Another mutualista group was the Unión Protectiva de Santa Fe, founded in 1916.
The Center for Southwest Research, UNM Library, has three collections related to the mutual protective groups.
Here are some examples from these collections.
Photograph of a hand-painted print of the founder of the S.P.M.D.T.U. group, Jose Celedonio Mondragon, and his wife Elena Casias. He was a jewelry worker and in 1900 held the first society meeting in his house in Antonito, Colorado. (Box 3)
S.P.M.D.T.U. group hermanos or members clasping their hands in brotherly friendship, a traditional ritual over the decades. This was taken at the opening of the September 2006 society annual convention at Ranchos de Taos. (Box 1, Folder 14)
The membership of the societies is predominantly male, but includes women as well. These women became members at the 2008 annual S.P.M.D.T.U. convention held at the Lakewood Elks Lodge, Lakewood, Colorado. They were from Rancho de Taos, Denver and Nambe. (Box 1, Folder 14)
Here is an example of a June 1952 insurance certificate between the Unión Protectiva de Santa Fe organization and a brother member, Francisco R. Montoya, of Santa Fe. He has designated his wife, Margarita Montoya, as his beneficiary. From Jose A. Rivera Papers, MSS 587 BC, Box 6, Folder 1.
The societies hold activities like raffles, bingo games and dinners to help raise funds for their social and educational programs. Here is an example of a Unión Protectiva de Santa Fe raffle ticket to raise money for their general fund and building account. From Jose A. Rivera Papers, MSS 587 BC, Box 6, Folder 1.
Logo of the Unión Protectiva de Santa Fe. From Jose A. Rivera Papers, MSS 587 BC, Box 6, Folder 1.
S.P.M.D.T.U. parade in Antonito, Colorado, ca. 1990s. From S.P.M.D.T.U. Records, MSS 696 BC, Box 1, Folder 34.
Women and girls making cotton candy and popcorn for an S.P.M.D.T.U. event, 1990s. From S.P.M.D.T.U. Records, MSS 696 BC, Box 1, Folder 34.
Brochure of the S.P.M.D.T.U., explaining insurance benefits. From S.P.M.D.T.U. Records, MSS 696 BC, Box 1, Folder 1.
Dr. Jose A. Rivera, with several other scholars, wrote a book on the mutualistas called La Sociedad: Guardians of Hispanic Culture Along the Rio Grande, published by the University of New Mexico Press in 2010.