The Enriqueta Chavez Papers (1955-2000) document Chavez's work as a student activist, educator, counselor, and advocate for bilingual education.  Highlights include materials relating to the Movimiento Estudiantil Chicano de Aztlán's (MEChA) role in the operation and administration of the Mexican-American Studies Department.  The majority of material dates from the mid 1960s to the early 1970s and primarily details Chavez's affiliation with MEChA, her tenure as a lecturer in the Mexican-American Studies Department, and her early activism. Her papers include correspondence, syllabi, articles, course files, handouts, newspapers, conference material, and reports. The collection is divided into three series: the Groups and Organizations Files (1965-2000), Education Files (1962-1980), and Publications (1955-1980).

The Groups and Organizations Files (1965-2000) include two sub-series, Community Organizations (1969-1983) and Student Groups (1965-2000).  These files document the various organizations and groups Chavez participated in particularly during the mid 1960s to early 1970s.  The Community Organizations sub-series documents Chavez's interest in and affiliation with various community organizations, including the Chicano Federation and Barrio Station. The sub-series, arranged alphabetically, includes meeting notes, announcements, agendas, proposals, reports, and committee files.  The Student Groups Files documents Chavez's participation in MEChA, Las Chicanas, and the Association of Chicana Activists (AChA) mainly during the early 1970s.  Of particular interest are the MEChA junta directives dealing with the Mexican-American Studies Department at San Diego State University.  Arranged alphabetically, this sub-series includes meeting minutes, newsletters, conference material, and announcements from both SDSU chapters and other local and state chapters.

The Education Files (1962-1980) are divided into two sub-series, Bilingual Education (1962-1980) and Higher Education (1964-1980).  The files document Chavez's work as a counselor and educator. The Bilingual Education files document Chavez's counseling work and bilingual education advocacy.  The majority of material dates from 1965 to 1975 and includes materials on teaching techniques, reports, studies, bibliographies, and conference material with a focus on primary and secondary education.  The Higher Education files document Chavez's role in developing the curriculum of the Mexican-American Studies Department during its early years with a focus on Chicana issues.  The files also detail her association with the Chicano Council for Higher Education (CCHE) and the Centro de Estudios.  Highlights include materials for the Chicano Mobile Institute, which trained higher education personnel to recruit, retain, and provide financial assistance for Mexican-American students.  Arranged alphabetically, the files include correspondence, course descriptions, readings, conference material, reports, proposals, brochures, and seminar materials.

The Publications (1955-1980) are organized into two sub-series, Articles (1955-1978) and Periodicals (1965-1980).  These sub-series provide excellent documentation of events, groups, and topics Chavez was involved with and/or interested in throughout her career. The Articles sub-series includes articles from journals, books, and newspapers relating to feminism, politics, the Chicano movement, and demonstrations, especially from 1966 to 1974.  The Periodicals consist of full issues of important activist newspapers, newsletters, magazines, and journals, including La Verdad, The Militant, La Raza, Young Lords, El Grito del Norte, and El Malcriado.  Both sub-series are arranged alphabetically.