J.T. Canales

(March 7, 1877 - March 30, 1976) Civil rights advocate, legislator and attorney Jose Tomas Canales was born on a ranch in Nueces County to Andreas and Tomasa (Cavazos) Canales. As a young man, he moved to Kansas City, where he completed high school. In 1896, Canales began attending the University of Michigan, where he received his degree in law. He practiced in Corpus Christi and Laredo before moving to Brownsville in 1903. From 1905 to 1910 he served South Texas as a State Representative. In 1910, he married Anne Anderson Wheeler. He purchased this lot in 1911 and built a home on it in 1913. Canales then served as Cameron County School Superintendent and as County Judge before returning to the Texas House of Representatives (1917-20); during that time, he promoted irrigation projects to help farmers in South Texas. He also filed charges against the Texas Rangers for the oppression and murder of hundreds of Hispanics in the Rio Grande Valley, and demanded an investigation into and reorganization of the outfit; the Rangers were later reorganized. Canales decided against seeking reelection due to backlash from his charges against the Texas Rangers. Canales continued to work for Mexican American rights after leaving office. He was an influential member of the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC), serving as an early president (1932-33) and writing the organization's first constitution. He went on to serve as Brownsville city attorney (1930-40) and wrote a number of books and articles. Today, the legislative and civil rights work by J. T. Canales continues to influence generations of individuals, particularly those of Mexican descent, throughout Texas.(2009)

J.T. Canales is a historical marker in Brownsville, Cameron County, dedicated in 2009. It is one of 116 historical markers documented in Cameron County in the Texas Historical Commission Atlas, among 194 historic sites cataloged across the county.

The site sits at 25.9045, -97.5043 near Brownsville. The nearest cataloged historic site is Alonso Complex (historical marker), about under a tenth of a mile away. Others within a short drive include Russell-Cocke House, Brooks, Samuel Wallace, House, and Celaya, Augustine, House.

This record corresponds to Texas Historical Commission Atlas #5507015938. Use the map below for its exact position and turn-by-turn directions.