EL MANCO Y EL MARTIR: FUNERALS, THE FAMILY,AND POPULAR MEMORY OF THE ASSASSINATION OF ALVARO OBREGON, 1928-1929

Abstract

This thesis explores the aftermath of the assassination of President-elect Alvaro Obregon in Mexico City on July 17, 1928. It recounts the details of his funeral ceremonies and the execution and funeral of his assassin, Jose de Leon Toral. The funerals present an opportunity to see how issues of nationality and gender are negotiated in cultural events. Furthermore, the thesis examines correspondence surrounding the assassination, including condolences and pardon requests, to demonstrate how men and women understood and accepted the concept of the reified Revolution. Finally, it discusses the memory of the assassination as expressed in corridos, literature, and commemorative events. This thesis demonstrates the effect of the assassination on the construction, reception, and memory of the myth of the Mexican Revolution and considers how issues of gender relate to the myth.