The Center for Oral and Public
History |
|
MEXICAN AMERICAN HISTORY COLLECTION
ALMEDINA, Jim See TORRES, Mario
ALVAREZ, Manuel (1942- ) An account of the experiences of a Mexican mojado in entering the United States and living here as regards the language barrier, employment and discrimination.
CABRALES, Socorro (1946-
) A discussion of education in Mexico, feelings toward the Indians and fieldwork in California including the braceros and immigration to the United States.
CASTANEDA, Francisco (1924-
) Maternal uncle of interviewer describes the family experiences of repatriation; his trip by train to Gomez Palacio, Durango in 1935; difficulties in school because at the fourth grade level he did not read in Spanish; loss of family home and financial security during Depression; experiences of living in Mexico and return to the United States of sister Emilia and himself.
CASTANEDA de VALENCIANA,
Emilia (1926- ) Thoughts on the lives and problems of Mexican Americans living in the Los Angeles area and in Mexico during the 1930s. Memories of welfare, racial attitudes, and the mobility of Mexican Americans between Mexico and the United States. Narrator was part of a mass movement of Mexican Nationals and Americans of Mexican descent during the 1930s.
CASTRO, Eddie (1928- ) Raised in the Mexican-American district called La Jolla colony in the city of Placentia, California, the interviewee recalls his education there, childhood experiences, and racial discrimination encountered in that community.
CASTRO, Pedro G. (1899-
) Description of life in Chihuahua, Mexico during the revolution; the problems and successes of Mexican immigrants living and working in California.
de LEON, Rudy (ca. 1926-
) A police lieutenant, serving as a community relations officer at the Hollenbeck Station in East Los Angeles, discusses briefly the relationship of the police and the Brown Berets.
de URIARTE, William A. (ca.
1910- ) A narrative of Mexico City describes his school days during the revolution and the demands of his father to learn both Spanish and English; school days in New York in the 1920s; movement of the family from Mexico to New York and to South America because his father was a chief accountant for Standard Oil and Atlantic Richfield. Explains the reason for the revolution; his joining Pancho Villa; twenty-five years of change in Mexico including the need for roads, communication, conveniences, and industry; dual citizenship and immigration.
DIAZ, Lupe (ca. 1929- ) and
Ofelia (n.d.)
DURAN, Burt (n.d.)
Observations on school segregation and financial discrimination toward Mexican-American youth in Orange County, California recalled by a jeweler and Little League organizer.
ESCALANTE, Alicia (ca.
1923- ) The chairman of the East Los Angeles Welfare Rights Organization and mother of five, two of whom are Brown Berets, tells about that organization and how it has influenced her children.
ESCALANTE, Evelyn and
Hinojosa, Alex (ca. 1953- ) Two Mexican-American high school students discuss living in the barrio, discrimination, and prejudice. Includes brown culture and militancy among the Mexican Americans in Orange County, California.
ESQUEDA, Alfred (n.d.)
An account of life in the Mexican-American community including descriptions of conditions in the migrant labor camps and the agricultural workers’ strike of 1936.
FALLIS, Stella (ca. 1947-
) A student of Anglo-Saxon descent majoring in Spanish discusses impressions of Mexican-American poverty, militancy, and general life-style.
FORD, John Anson
(1883-1983)
A former member of the Los Angeles Board of Supervisors discusses the repatriation program of Mexican nationals and Mexican Americans during the Depression days of the 1930s; attitudes of the supervisors toward repatriation, employment, and financial problems during the 1930s; police activities and the Zoot Suit Riots.
GARCIA, Gonzalo B. (1933-
) A firsthand account of Mexican-American family seasonal farm labor from 1939 to 1949. Observations about the Bracero Program and Cesar Chavez. Father was foreman of worker unit for six years.
GODINEZ, Hector (1924- ) A native Californian and the first Mexican-American to work in the Santa Ana, California, Post Office became postmaster in 1960 by appointment from President John F. Kennedy. He describes childhood experiences of growing up in that community’s Mexican-American barrio called Delhi, service in the U.S. Army during World War II, and his determination to join the United States Postal Service in the face of racial discrimination.
GOMEZ, Pascual (1907- ) Recollections of the harsh conditions of his childhood after his father’s death in 1915 while serving in the Mexican national army, discrimination against blacks and Mexicans in Texas and California in the years prior to World War II, his decision to enter the U.S. Army, and his subsequent immigration troubles with American authorities after living in Mexico for more than one year after his naturalization.
GONZALES, Esther (1929-
) Detailed description of various self-help projects of the ethnic community of Atwood, California. Narrator is the mother of eight children and a daughter of one of the first settlers in the area. Active in various groups such as League of United Latin American Citizens and Community Action Council
GONZALES, Ester (1929-
) The director of the Adult Education Program at the Atwood Community Center, gives a description of Atwood, California with emphasis on that community’s self-help projects.
GUILIN, Manuel (1914-
) An account of living conditions on the United States-Mexican border, life in Mexico, and adjustment to life in the United States after immigration.
HINOJOSA,
Alex
See ESCALANTE, Evelyn
HUNTER, Allen A. (1902-
) A minister relates sociological factors of Mexican repatriation from Los Angeles in the 1930s, labor strikes, American Civil Liberties Union, Bromley Oxton, John Anson and the power of the Los Angeles Times.
JARA, Maggie (ca. 1911-
) Proprietor of the 301 Café gives her recollections of running a boardinghouse in Placentia, California in the 1940s and its evolution into a restaurant.
JEFFERSON, María Bustos
(1913- ) A native of San Nicholas Ybarra Jalisco, Mexico recalls her parents “temporary visit” to the United States in 1916, which was believed to be for six months but continued until her first return trip in 1947; family background; attitudes and memories toward Mexican-American repatriation and deportation. Interviewee assisted many who returned to Mexico during the repatriation of the 1930s and collected food and clothing for Mexican residents.
KELLY, Arletta (1896-
) Recollections of the Mexican barrios on and near the Bastanchury ranch property including teaching at Pomona Camp; Americanization program for Mexican mothers during the 1920s. Family background included.
LANDEROS, Carmen (1906-
) Discussion of Mexican immigration during the Depression including financial situation of Mexican community. Description of El Repatriador, and the 1951 search for legal Mexican residents.
LANDEROS, Jose (1903-
) Employment and naturalization of Mexican Americans before and during World War II, living conditions, repatriation, and attitudes are described.
LESPRON,
Carlos
LOMELI, Antonio Mendez (ca.
1910- ) A native of Michoacan, Mexico discusses the political reasons for coming to the United States in 1938, exploitation of repatriados during the 1930s, progressive nature of repatriados involved in agrarian projects in Mexico and resistance of traditionalists, problems of Mexican nationals in Southern California prior to World War II, and corruption in distribution of United States funds and Mexican land to repatriates. Comments on “Pachuco Riot” and other incidents of violence in southern California during the 1930s and 1940s, the newspaper La Opinion, and United States immigration policies.
LOPEZ, Gloria (ca. 1920-
) Movements and organizations within the Mexican-American communities of Orange County, California by the community organizer and former executive director of the Independencia Community Center in Anaheim, California.
LOPEZ, Joseph (n.d.)
A Mexican-American businessman sent to the state penitentiary recalls living and working in the Chicano community, being in prison, then in college at California State University, Fullerton.
LOPEZ, Mr. And Mrs. Joseph
(ca. 1938- ) An account of Mrs. Lopez’ birth and childhood in Mexico and a comparison between her outlook and upbringing to that of her husband who was born and raised in the East Los Angeles Mexican-American ghetto.
MC CLAIN, George (ca. 1920-
) and Connie (n.d.) Co-workers of the Fullerton El Burrito recount experiences in Orange County, California Mexican-American communities, such as employment, education, business opportunities, language problems, changes in attitude of Chicano and Anglo society.
MAGANA, Leonel P. (1911-
) A biographical description of the life and work of a Mexican immigrant from Sonora, Michoacan living in Placentia (at the time of the interview), California includes comments about living in other southern California towns and a vivid account of the Orange County flood.
MARTINEZ de BENITEZ,
Hortencia (1926- ) A citizen of the United States, born in California, discusses her parents’ motivation toward her relocation in Mexico during the Great Depression, the decision to remain in Mexico instead of the United States, and the initial struggles of the family residing in Mexico.
MENDOZA, Samuel (1939-
) A young resident of Placentia, California born in El Paso, Texas of teenage parents describes his boyhood experiences and treatment toward the Mexican population in Texas, the segregated schools and barrios; Los Angeles schools, gangs, and gang-related experiences; drug use, and involvement in the League of United Latin American Citizens.
MUNATONES, Antonia (1907-
) A native of Lerdo, Mexico recalls experiences in the East Los Angeles ghetto from shortly after the Mexican revolution in the early 1900s and during the Depression until the present.
MUNATONES, Carlos (1906-
) A native of the state of Zacatecaz, Mexico, who came to the United States in 1917, recalls the family’s financial situation during the Depression; reasons for not having to be repatriate in the 1930s; immigration raids and prejudices toward the Mexican community in Los Angeles. Narrator is a half brother to Julian Nava.
NATIVIDAD, Albert; Lespron,
Carlos; Valle, David The commanding officer, a captain, and two officers at the Central Los Angeles jail discuss militancy in East Los Angeles.
NAVA, Julian (1927-
) Repatriation of Mexico nationals and Mexican Americans living in the Los Angeles area during the 1930s, including family problems during the Depression; ethnic community of East Los Angeles and racial prejudices during the 1920s and 1930s.
NAVARES, Lupe (1907-
) A witness to the repatriation of Mexican nationals describes the movement of the repatriados into Mexico from San Diego via the Mexican ship El Progreso; the canning industry in San Diego during the Depression; migration to San Diego; and sentiment of the Mexican community toward repatriation.
NEGRETE, Arthur (n.d.)
Observations on the attitudes and life-style of Mexican Americans and their reactions to Anglos.
NORIEGA, Felicitas
(1920-
) A portrayal of the conditions in Mexico of a mojado family and problems in immigrating to the United States. Living and working in the United States, including the Bracero Program.
OROZCO, Joseph G. (1912-
) Impressions of life and travels in Mexico and in the United States after his family’s immigration; Mexican holidays; family customs; and information about historical locations in Mexico.
ORTEGA, Waldo ( n.
d.)
A Mexican-American businessman relates his experiences with discrimination, discusses the Bracero Program, and deals with the Mexican stereotype.
PENALOSA, Fernado (ca.
1926- ) An educator of Mexican-American heritage details his educational background in Mexico and the United States. Narrator currently with the California State College System at San Bernardino (at time of interview). Views toward the militant actions of some Mexican Americans, such as Brown Berets, are outlined.
PERAZA, Albert R. (ca.
1930- ) A former teacher working as an elementary school counselor discusses many of the problems confronting the Mexican American or Latin child attending the public school; use of the George Washington School in Anaheim, California as a center for Mexican Americans; and his ideas for making Mexican Americans aware of their culture.
PILL, Al (n.d.) An instructor of bilingual education at California State University, Fullerton, relates the origins, customs, and protocol of traditional Mexican folk dancing, and the methods for integrating dances in elementary school.
PONCE, Edmund M. (1936-
) A native born, city clerk of Placentia, California and counselor with the Orange County Probation Department describes his early schooling, employment problems, various organizations related to Mexican American communities, such a LULAC, the League of United Latin American Citizens.
RAMOS, Carlos (1930-
) A retired United States Army lieutenant colonel who served as a Neighborhood Youth Corps administrator gives insights into the differences between the Mexican American and the Anglo in present society with regards to education and religion. Comments on Brown Berets.
RANGEL, Albert H. (ca.
1925- ) Mexican-American businessman, recalls picking citrus, going to barber school on the G. I. bill, bracero programs, labor unions, discrimination, attitudes, and delinquency in the barrio.
SAMBRANO, Lorraine (ca.
1948- ) A young Mexican American discusses her beliefs in the types of education and employment ethnic groups may achieve, discrimination, and family roles.
SANCHEZ, Herbert (1921-
) A brief discussion of Mexican-American immigration and emigration. Explanation of the differences between repatriado and deportado. Father was forcibly repatriated to Mexico in 1933.
SOUTHARD, Theresa Martinez
(ca. 1925- ) Recollections of the migration of parents from Durango, Mexico to the United States; reason for the family repatriating back to Mexico in 1931; hardships and adjustments to life in Mexico; reentering the United States in 1951 and problems involved because of Mexican born children; the Mexican community of Casa Blanco, Riverside.
THOMSON, Rex (1894-
) Longtime Superintendent of Charities for Los Angeles County explains his philosophy regarding the 1930s repatriation of over 30,000 families, of working on relief, and the poor farm. Served as "undersheriff" for Los Angeles County during the 1950s. Comments on the Depression, the mestizo class and other problems in Mexico, his many tours of Mexico, his family, and his general philosophy of living.
TORRES, Mario (n.d.) and
Almedina, Jim (n.d.) The director and assistant director of the Anaheim Independencia Community Center discuss the “Chicano Movement,” and the La Raza Unida Party. Torres, originally from Texas, discusses the pressure and problems with wetbacks and the Bracero Program in Texas, the hacienda system of agriculture, and the Mexican revolution. Almedina, a Puerto Rican from the garment industry in New York City comments on the problems of the Mexican American in New York. Interview includes problems of medical care, welfare, schools, awareness and change for the Mexican American.
VALLE, Antonio (ca. 1943-
) A future secondary schoolteacher describes work in tutorial program, a branch of the Community Action Council assisting children in disadvantaged areas, primarily in the Atwood area; goals and problems encountered in working with the Mexican American community.
VALLE,
David
See NATIVIDAD, Albert
VARGAS, Jose D. (n.d.) Police officer working in Stanton, California, recalls his childhood in Mexico, several attempts to enter the United States illegally, and first jobs in Orange County, California. Comments on his decision to become a police officer, undercover work for the Los Angeles Police Department, his pride in becoming an American citizen, and the marital difficulties encountered after becoming a policeman.
VARGAS, Virginia (1921-
) A description of different forms of Mexican-American activity within the community of Anaheim, California including the League of United Latin American Citizens, the Neighborhood Outreach Project, Los Caballeros, and El Barrio Unido.
VASQUEZ, Chaio (n.d.)
A description of the life of a Mexican American in the Orange County, California citrus industry. Includes experiences in the United States Army and working for the city of Fullerton.
VEGA, Enrique (1918-
) A native of Mexico relates his memories of the family’s immigration to the United States about 1922. Discusses schooling in Boyle Heights, odd jobs in agriculture, his “career” as a gardener, repatriation, deportation, labor conditions, and discrimination.
VENEGAS, Joe M. (1914-
) An account of Mexican migration to the United States and problems encountered at the border. Includes comments on working conditions, wages, and housing.
VILLA, Ray
(1919-1983)
Mexican-American businessman discusses federal and private self-help organizations to aid Spanish speaking people procure education, employment, self-sufficiency, and other community action groups interested in assisting the Mexican American. Member and leader of Santa Ana Council of the League of United Latin American Citizens. Related material:WHEELER, Mary Lou. “Enforced Relocation and Mexican Americans: A Study of the Effects of Enforced Relocation on the Life Conditions and Morale of a Group of Mexican American People.” Master’s thesis, California State University, Fullerton, 1973. |
| Website Policy | Contact hsswebmaster for problems or comments with the website | Search | HSS | CSUF |