American and western education textbooks have omitted Hispanic topics, people, and contributions. An examination of seven history of western education texts reveals no mention at all of Hispanics. An examination of 11 history of American education texts, ranging from 400 to 600 pages, reveals that none devotes more than two pages to Hispanics or Hispanic topics. Even though the first university in America was Hispanic and the first school activities were in Hispanic "New Spain" (California, Texas, and Florida), racial prejudice has contributed to brief references that range from the negative to the neutral. The biographies of Sor Juana Ines de la Cruz and Rafael Cordero may serve to recover Hispanic historiography. Sor Juana Ines de la Cruz (1648-1695) was born in Mexico and learned to read at the age of three. As a young woman, she became the official poet of the court of the viceroy of Mexico. She became a nun in 1669 and continued her efforts to pursue an education and to write about secular themes, despite opposition from her superiors. Rafael Cordero y Molina (1790-1868) was a Black educator who contributed to the development of elementary education in Puerto Rico. "Maestro" Cordero was taught to read by his parents because the only school in his area did not admit Blacks. He continued his studies autodidactically and opened a small school for Black and poor White children in 1810. During his 58-year career he never charged his students. An 18-item bibliography is appended. (FMW)