In a landmark donation that underscores the importance of Latino voices in Southern history, Mundo Hispanico/MundoNOW —Georgia’s longest-standing Spanish-language news organization—has gifted its complete print archives to the University of Georgia’s Richard B. Russell Library for Political Research and Studies.
The collection, representing over 40 years of uninterrupted publication from 1979 to the present, provides an extraordinary, detailed chronicle of Latino life, leadership, and community-building in Georgia and the Southeast. As a primary news source for Spanish-speaking residents for decades, Mundo Hispanico offered vital information, advocacy, and cultural affirmation to generations of immigrant families and new Americans.
“This archive is more than the record of a newspaper—it’s the living memory of a people,” said Sam Zamarripa, entrepreneur, civic leader, and Chairman of Mundo Hispanico. “Through times of triumph and adversity, Mundo has been a mirror to the Latino experience in Georgia, documenting our work, our leaders, our dreams, and the long journey toward inclusion.”
The donated materials include bound volumes of the newspaper, rare editions, community photographs, original reporting, and features on the cultural, political, and economic life of Georgia’s Latino community. The archive will be preserved and made accessible at the University of Georgia’s Special Collections Libraries, serving students, researchers, journalists, and community historians. As part of the donation, issues of Mundo Hispanico will become available for free on the Georgia Historic Newspapers website, also based at UGA Libraries, at a later date.
Ashton G. Ellett, director of the Russell Library, said the donation fills a vital gap in the documentation of the New South.
“The Mundo Hispanico Collection offers a lens into the transformation of Georgia’s demographic landscape, and it captures how Latino communities shaped—and were shaped by—the political, social, and economic forces of the last half-century," he said. "It’s a resource of immense historical value.”
From its founding in 1979, Mundo Hispanico became a trusted source for news and connection in metro Atlanta, especially during the critical growth of the Latino population in the 1990s and early 2000s. The newspaper covered immigration policy, labor rights, education, and public health, and served as a vital bridge between government institutions and immigrant communities.
Throughout its history, Mundo has reported on every major leader in Atlanta, providing Spanish-language coverage of mayors, governors, activists, and business leaders. Just as importantly, it has chronicled the rise of Latino leadership in Georgia. Among the most influential figures featured in its pages are:
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Sam Zamarripa, Georgia’s first Latino state senator and a major force in civic and business innovation.
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Teodoro Maus, former Mexican Consul General and a longtime champion of immigrant rights.
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Sara Gonzalez, the beloved founder of the Georgia Hispanic Chamber of Commerce.
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Jerry Gonzalez, executive director of GALEO (Georgia Association of Latino Elected Officials), whose activism has helped shape policy and civic participation across the state.
In addition to these names, the Mundo archives feature hundreds of grassroots organizers, pastors, small business owners, and students who helped build the institutions and culture of Latino Georgia.
“This archive tells the story of resilience and contribution,” Zamarripa said. “At a time when the Latino story is often overlooked or politicized, this collection offers facts, narratives, and lived experiences—all in the voice of the people themselves.”
Now operating as MundoNOW, the media organization has continued to expand its digital presence while maintaining its mission to inform, empower, and connect Spanish-speaking audiences. The archival donation was made on behalf of MundoNOW and Zamarripa and reflects a commitment to preserving the cultural and civic legacy of Georgia’s Latino population.
Once processed, the collection will be available for research and public engagement. The University of Georgia Libraries plans future exhibitions and educational programs using items from the archive.
To search the collection, visit the UGA Special Collections Libraries website.