The Judge Hilda Tagle Collection will soon be accessible to the public, showcasing the groundbreaking career of Texas’ first Mexican American federal judge. The archive, located at Texas Woman’s University, documents Judge Hilda Gloria Tagle’s esteemed career in civic engagement over the past five decades.
A ribbon-cutting ceremony is scheduled to inaugurate the collection:
- Date: October 1, 2025
- Time: 2 p.m.
- Location: Special Collections room, Blagg-Huey Library, TWU, Denton campus
The archive offers an in-depth look at Tagle’s professional life, including her tenure as a federal judge and her community leadership. Kimberly Johnson, senior assistant dean of Special Collections, noted the collection’s significance in showcasing Tagle’s contributions to justice, literacy, and women’s empowerment.
The collection comprises over 14,000 documents, featuring correspondence, campaign materials, Senate confirmation documents, and personal items such as her sixth-grade report card. Additionally, it includes an oral history, audio-visual materials from her campaigns, and articles documenting her advocacy work.
Highlights of Tagle’s trailblazing career include her appointment as the first Mexican American female judge in Nueces County in 1985 and her historic federal judicial appointment in 1998 by President Bill Clinton.
Judge Tagle expressed her intention for the archive to serve as inspiration, having been moved to contribute her papers following conversations about the lack of representation of Mexican American figures in collections.
The opening of this collection marks a significant opportunity for researchers, students, and community members to explore Judge Tagle’s life and work.