Collection on Martin Candelaria

Martin Candelaria was born on November 11, 1897, in the Piedra River Valley, Colorado, near Rosa, N.M. to Anastacio and Fidelia Candelaria. After the death of his parents, he began to attend the boarding school, Menaul Mision School in New Mexico when he was eight years old. After graduating from Menaul High School, he served in the American Expeditionary Forces in Europe during World War 1. After the war, he received his bachelor's degree from Coe College in Iowa. He returned to Menaul High School to teach and coach athletics. He coached the New Mexico champion basketball team in 1924. He spent the next twenty years as a high school teacher in New Mexico, Colorado, and Wyoming. He earned a doctorate in education from the University of Denver. In 1948, he began teaching at the Colorado State College of Education, now known as the University of Northern Colorado (UNC), as a foreign language professor. He was the first Hispanic and native Spanish professor at the university. In addition to college students, he taught history in the university's K-12 Laboratory School, a unique educational setting where creativity was encouraged and innovation thrived. He was one of the first to develop these laboratories where students could listen to recordings to refine their bilingual skills. He retired as an emeritas professor in 1963.

Martin published a series of textbooks and materials for teaching Spanish from kindergarten through sixth grade. "Mi Espanol" not only taught youngsters the basics of Spanish, but it also celebrated Hispanic heritage. In 1974, the UNC named Candelaria Hall in his honor and in 2000, a mural depicting his lifelong journey of service and learning was painted on its stairwell.

After retiring from teaching, he remained active in his field and in the Greeley community. Martin and his wife, Fay served as interpreters for the court system and peer counselors for Spanish speaking senior citizens in Weld County. They were also active in the Candelaria Association, an organization named in his honor that provides educational opportunities for Hispanic youth. He served as grand marshal of the 1988 Greeley Independence Day Stampede. They were the parents of two children, Sylvia and Roger. Martin died in 1996 at the age of 96.