Richard Chavez Home

Richard Chavez, 1970, holding the first box of grapes picked under a union contract in Coachella, CA

Bob Fitch Photography Archive, Department of Special Collections, Stanford University Libraries

Quick Facts

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Private Residence

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Audio Description, Cellular Signal

Richard Chavez's support of the farm worker movement was critical to its success. As Cesar's brother, he shared similar childhood experiences that influenced their beliefs, including the loss of their home, their work in the fields, and the constant transition while attending 37 different schools. Richard was a skilled carpenter, but soon left his trade to work full-time for Cesar and the movement.

Credit Union

One of Richard's notable contributions to the movement was providing funding to create the Farm Workers Credit Union. Richard took out a second mortgage on his home in 1963, so Cesar could open the credit union.

A plaque at Richard Chavez Park on the Forty Acres property honors him. His gravesite is in Delano at the North Kern Cemetery, and the credit union was a few blocks away behind the first UFW headquarters.