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Jovita Idár portrait around 1905 by an Unknown author from

Top 10 Facts about Jovita Idár

This Mexican-American activist, journalist, suffragist, and teacher Jovita Idár was bold. She challenged ideas and broke patriarchal societal boundaries during her time.

She used her writing talent to expose the social injustices suffered by the Mexican-Americans while working for several publications. Additionally, she was firm in her decisions and was never afraid of fighting for the truth.

One instance that Jovita is celebrated for her courage was her famed blockade of the newspaper offices she wrote for. The newspaper released an editorial that angered the U.S. Army and Texas Rangers.

The Texas Rangers stormed the newspaper’s offices to close the premises. But they were blocked by Jovita Idár hence they aborted their mission for some time. Get to know this heroine better.

Here are the Top 10 realities about Jovita Idár.

1. Jovita Idár grew up in Texas

Rio Grande drainage basin in the Big Bend National Park in Texas by Mick Haupt from

She was born on September 7, 1885, in Laredo, Texas. She later moved to San Antonio, Texas where she spent most of her adult life.

Read more about, the 10 Most Famous People from Texas.

2. Jovita Idár took activism after her father

Nicasio Idar, Jovita’s father, was a civil rights and social justice advocate. He owned a newspaper called La Crónica (The Chronicle) where he was the editor and publisher.

La Crónica featured news, current events, and biographical articles. Further, the newspaper had a section for historical and literary essays, poetry, and commentary. This publication aimed to voice the Mexican Americans’ concerns that affected their livelihoods.

3. She wrote for her father’s newspaper

A newspaper on a computer by Simon from

Jovita Idár penned her articles on La Crónica (her father’s newspaper) under a pseudonym. In her articles, she exposed the poor living conditions of Mexican-American workers. What’s more, she expressed her support for the Mexican Revolution. It lasted a decade from 1910 to 1920.

4. Jovita led the First Mexican Congress

In 1911, her father’s newspaper organized the First Mexican Congress which was named the Primer Congreso Mexicano. At the time, Jovita Idár worked for the newspaper with her brothers and father.

The call for the meeting was to keep the fight against inequality and racism. Furthermore, it was meant to unite Mexicans on issues that affected them such as inadequate access to education and economic resources.

5. Jovita Idár’s famous blockade

In 1914 she joined the El Progreso publication where she served as a writer. An editorial was published by El Progreso criticizing an order by then-U.S. President Woodrow Wilson.

Woodrow had issued a directive to dispatch U.S. military troops to the Mexico–United States border. The critique by El Progreso was not received well in military circles, especially by the U.S. Army and Texas Rangers.

In response, the Texas Rangers went to shut down the premises of El Progreso. Jovita stood at the entrance to the newspaper’s office blocking the Rangers from entering the facility.

Afterward, they returned when she was away from the offices. They ransacked the place and destroyed critical equipment which forced the newspaper to shut down its operations.

6. Her blockade was a Google Doodle in 2020

A person with the Google search website open on a computer screen by Firmbee.com from

During Hispanic Heritage Month(every September15-October 15), Google honored Jovita Idár’s efforts with a Google Doodle on September 21, 2020. It featured her acclaimed blockade. Over and above that, Google commemorated her 135^th birthday two weeks after its actual date with a mouse hover.

7. First president of the League of Mexican Women

Jovita Idár became the first president of La Liga Femenil Mexicanista (League of Mexican Women). It was established after the 1911 Mexican Congress. The league focused on offering free education to Mexican children.

See the famous Mexican Americans you should know about here.

8. Jovita Idár quit teaching to become a journalist

She was awarded her teaching certificate in 1903 from the Holding Institute in Laredo. Idár began teaching at a school in Los Ojuelos about 40 miles from Laredo.

The teaching profession was frustrating for her because of the ill-equipped segregated schools. The learning institutions had insufficient basic learning materials such as textbooks, paper, pens, or pencils. Chairs and desks were also not enough for the pupils.

Idár felt she was making a little impact on her students’ lives. So she sought a space where she could make meaningful and effective changes. Since it was the Revolution era, journalism appealed to her. She joined her two brothers in their father’s newspaper where she became a writer for the paper.

9. She volunteered at a relief service

When Nuevo Laredo’s Mexican side of the border was attacked in March 1913, Jovita went to assist the wounded. She went with other women from her region.

While volunteering, she joined a relief service called La Cruz Blanca (the White Cross). The organization was like our modern-day Red Cross. After her volunteer work, she joined El Progreso(earlier) in 1914.

10. Jovita Idár’s legacy lives on

Ladies at the National Museum of Women’s History Press Conference on March 30, 2011, by Judy Biggert from

The icon has been honored in many ways. Through literature such as Gabriela González 2018 book Redeeming La Raza. In the film arena, she has featured in the series Texas Originals and many more.

Further, her profile is included in the National Women’s History Museum. Jovita was part of the Overlooked series of obituaries by The New York Times. The film revealed people that deserved to be celebrated but they died before any recognition was given to them.

Discover the 30 Most Famous Hispanic People. 

Here are quick facts about Jovita Idár

11. She became the editor and writer at La Crónica when her father died in 1914.

12. Idár founded her weekly paper ·¡±¹´Ç±ô³Ü³¦¾±Ã³²Ô in 1916. It operated until 1920.

13. She started a free kindergarten in San Antonio in 1921.

14. Jovita volunteered as an interpreter in a hospital at the same time she ran the kindergarten.

15. She co-edited the El Heraldo Cristiano journal in 1940.

16. She got married to Bartolo Juárez, a plumber and tinsmith in 1917.

17. Jovita Idár died on June 15, 1946, in San Antonio suffering from a pulmonary hemorrhage.