Community History

Interview Description Siblings David De La Torre, 61, and Karen Ann De La Torre discuss their family genealogy and the nuances of their Latino identity. Facilitator Subject Log 1:35 Siblings discuss family genealogy on fathers side. Forefathers settled in California when state was still a Spanish territory. 12:00 Siblings discuss genealogy on mother's side. 14:35 KDLT shares memories of grandmother's house. 23:40 DDLT discusses...

Interview Description Leon De Leon (89) talks to his son Reuben R De Leon (40) about his life. Facilitator Subject Log 00:58 Leon talks about being born in Lompoc, CA, but also living in Mexico until he was 7-years-old. 07:50 Leon talks about becoming a signal-man in the Navy. He talks about why he joined the military. 12:30 Leon joined the Merchant Marines and talks about the scariest moment he ever had on a ship. He tells the story about...

Interview Description Jonathan Eisen, 38, talks with his good friend Paul Sanchez Yates, 42, about the high school social scene in Greenwich, CT, and their favorite hang-out growing up, "The Cafe." Facilitator Subject Log 4:15 JE talks about is identity as a New Jerseyite growing up. There was a sense of pride at being from a place that was the butt of so many jokes. "I'm from New Jersey, and I came out all right." 8:00 JE shares his happiest memory....

Interview Description Arthur "Arturo "Escobar (80) talks with his grandson Xavier Escobar (32) about his life. Facilitator Subject Log 00:40 Arthur was born in Palito Blanco, TX. His father died when he was 8-years-old. 08:20 Arthur talks about his experiences with discrimination and racism. He remembers a time when he was younger and his family went to a restaurant that didn't allow Mexicans through the front door. 11:55 Arthur talks...

Interview Description Guillermo Fernandez (86) habla con su hija Norma E. Fernandez (27) de su vida. [Guillermo Fernandez (86) talks with his daughter Norma E. Fernandez (27) about his life.] Facilitator Subject Log 01:40 Guillermo cuenta historias de su niñez. Fue criado en Pachuca y vivio en un rancho cuando tenia cinco años. 06:00 Guillermo llego a los Estados Unidos en los 40's como bracero. Cuente de su primera experiencia. 09:00...

Interview Description Maria E. Flores (82) is interviewed by her daughter, Mary Ann Flores (58) about growing up in Kenedy, TX and her family history. Facilitator Subject Log 1:21 Maria describes a picture that Mary Ann is holidng: a Model T Ford, Maria's mother pregnant in the photo 7:43 Life in Edinburg; description of the first house Maria lived in in Edinburg; wood burning stove; food; mother remarried after her father died 21:01 How...

Interview Description Felix Fraga (80) and his wife Nelly Fraga (67) are interviewed by their son, Bolivar Fraga (35) about their work in the second ward community of Houston and how they first met, fell in love, and got married. Facilitator Subject Log 2:42 celebrating Felix's birthday with his two sons and granddaughter and the of the people that Felix has helped over the years. 9:31 Felix and Nelly's first memories of each other; Felix was waiting...

Interview Description Mary Garces is interviewed by her daughter Lucinda Garces about how her mother came to the United States from Mexico and about her childhood in Texas and the discrimination that she felt as an American of Mexican descent. Facilitator Subject Log :54 Why did Mary's grandparents immigrate to the United States from Mexico? Crossed the river into the U.S. during the Mexican revolution 5:14 discrimination by white people; refers to...

Interview Description Alfonso Castillo Garcia (84) talks with his granddaughter Renee Sanchez (36) about his life. Facilitator Subject Log 01:15 Alfonso has 4 living siblings. He talks about the two siblings that have passed away. Alfonso was born in New Mexico. 03:40 Alfonso tells the story about how he met his wife. She was 22 and he was 26. 07:40 Alfonso talks about Local 300: the union he belonged to when he worked in construction....

Interview Description Joséph E Garcia (84) and Beatrice Garcia (83) talk with their grandson Sergio Vasquez Jr (28) about their lives in Los Angeles, CA. Facilitator Subject Log 01:20 Beatrice was born in Bunker Hill, Los Angeles, CA. Joséph was born in East Los Angeles. 04:40 Joséph tells a story about riding his bicycle with his friends to the beach when he was 10-years-old. 10:50 Beatrice recalls memories from growing up during the...