Community History

Interview Description Ruben Ortega (38) and his brother Hugo Ortega (44) talk about coming to the United States, their love of cooking, and opening up a restaurant. Facilitator Subject Log 1:20 descendents are Spanish; sentimental people originally came from Mexico; Hugo came from Mexico in 1984 10:36 piñatas, Ruben would steal the clay pots to make piñatas; mother is a beautiful human being 22:01 American dream; exchange dolares for...

Interview Description Xavier Padilla, 76, tell his daughter Lisa Padilla, 47, about his childhood, his different occupations, his family, and his former neighborhood East Los Angeles. Facilitator Subject Log 0:50 XP talks about how his parents migrated to the United States, in the 1920s. 3:20 XP recalls some of the occupations his father had. Most of the jobs were in manufacturing, and during the Depression, XP's father Jerónimo (or Jerome) worked for...

Interview Description José Perez (85) is interviewed by his daughter, Norma Perez about coming to the United States from Mexico to work on the railroad, about his marriage, and his children. Facilitator Subject Log 2:00 decision a venir a EEUU; EEUU durante WWII; trabajo en ferocarriil 6:05 vivimos sin preocupacion; tenia planos de regresar; Norma remembers su padre y madre fueron a los clases de ingles; ciudano Americano 18:35 fueron a...

Interview Description Maria Elena Perez (67) habla con su hija Liliana Perez (39) de su vida. [Maria Elena Perez (67) talks to her daughter Liliana Perez (39) about her life.] Facilitator Subject Log 03:10 Maria cuenta la historia de cuando vino a los Estados Unidos cuando tenia 37 años. 07:15 Maria habla de su papa y la novia que tuvo. Su mama murio cuando tenia 3 años. 19:50 Maria cuenta la historia de cuando se hizo ciudadana de los...

Interview Description Armandina Piña (67) is interviewed by her daugher, Christina Piña (33) about her childhood in Taft, TX, about picking cotton when she was an adolescent and her memories of Christina when she was little. Facilitator Subject Log 1:41 working in the cotton fields at 12 or 13 years old; getting up early in the day; 8 brothers, 1 sister 5:03 story of meeting her future husband at church; she was 16 when she got married; married for 50...

Interview Description José Ramirez, Jr. (62) talks with his wife Magdalena Santos Ramirez (61) about growing up in Laredo,TX, their work as social workers, family history, and genealogy. Facilitator Subject Log 1:01 Magdalena was born in Laredo, TX; description of her parents and extended family 8:49 Magdalena describes her siblings; lessons that her parents taught her: education 20:32 becoming a social worker; Hispanic culture is...

Interview Description Brisehida Ramirez Martens (36) is interviewed by facilitator Whitney Henry-Lester about being smuggled into the U.S. from Mexico as a young child and her experience growing up in the United States and becoming a mother. Facilitator Subject Log :58 born in Monterrey Mexico in the "green cross "; things she remembers about childhood: grew up without a father, brother died in infancy 10:03 mother is a very proud person; coyote...

Interview Description Vince Ramirez (85) talks with his daugher Nancy Ramirez (45) about living in East LA, being a pilot during WWII and his life. Facilitator Subject Log 01:00 Vince talks about his father Vicente Ramirez and his work as a machinist. Vince is from Nogales, AZ. 03:20 Vince talks about why his parents moved him and his siblings from Nogales, AZ to Los Angeles, CA. 09:30 Vince tells stories about being a Mexican-American kid...

Interview Description Mary Lorona (95) talks with her daughter, Lenore Stuart (63) about their family's history in Yuma and shares favorite family stories. She talks at length about the family piano. Facilitator Subject Log 01:46 Mary recalls starting the Yuma Historical Society. She explains why it is important for her to pass on the family stories. 04:32 Mary explains where her love of history came from. Her great aunt nana used to take her to the...

Interview Description P. Rebeca Reyes (42) talks with her brother Aaron Serraino-Reyes (35) about fleeing El Salvador during the Civil War and immigrating to the United States with their family. Facilitator Subject Log :52 How they ended up in Corpus Christi, TX; leaving San Salvador in 1972; Rebeca's memories of arriving on the bus 4:24 sightseeing in Mexico City; taking Pan Am flight to Houston, TX; first memories of arriving in the United States...