Developed as part of a multicultural research project in the San Diego Community College District, this booklet presents the findings of a 10-member research team about various elements of Mexican-American culture. The areas covered are: (1) historical background on the Mexican heritage of the United States from pre-colonial times to the present and the political, cultural, and linguistic changes wrought during the centuries; (2) family traditions which emphasize the dominant position of the father and parent-child relationships; (3) the most popular types of Mexican food, their origins, modes of preparation, and popular recipes; (4) different styles of dress worn in Mexico and Central America, their history among the indigenous people of the region, and how they are made; (5) the arts of weaving and embroidery and their development, and the significance of geometric symbols, animals, and plants represented in embroidery; and (6) the linguistic tradition of Mexican-Americans and variations in language usage. The booklet contains diagrams of different forms of dress and various methods by which they are assembled. Annotated bibliographies are provided on Mexican oral literature, Chicano literature, Mexican and Mexican-American history, and the Mexican family. Additional bibliographies list sources on Mexican cooking and clothing. Finally, a list of resource people is provided. (HB)