Earliest Memories

Interview Description Edward H Ruiz (73) talks with facilitator Jorge Rios (24) about his life in Los Angeles, Ca. Facilitator Subject Log 01:00 Edward reads a story he wrote about his life. He talks about moving from Arizona to Van Nuys, Ca and some of his first jobs. 03:00 Edward talks about being a shoe-shiner when he was 7. He also talks about finding a treasure chest when houses were being vacated at Bunker Hill. 10:30 Edward talks...

Interview Description Berta "Bertie "Saavedra and Pauline Cázares interview their father, Zeferino Saavedra about work and growing up in Mexico and the US. Facilitator Subject Log 00:50 Zeferino remembers coming to the US from Nuevo León Guanajuato, Mexico. He earned money picking up bottles and scraps on the way home from school. 10:15 The building of City Hall at La Placita. Zeferino was one of the first to climb to the top of the building....

Interview Description Rosalinda Sanchez (43) and Carmen Abeyta (63) talk about their experiences as Latinas and Chicanas, their families and their experience with "curanderos ", or healers. Facilitator Subject Log 00:48 Rosalinda was born in Washington State. Her parents were migrant farmers with a cucumber farm. Carmen was born in Montrose, CO and her parents were also farmers. 09:30 Rosalinda talks about dealing with racism and discrimination in her...

Interview Description Wilbert E. Sanchez (71) talks with wife Luisa Sanchez (68) about living in San Luis, CO and their marriage. Facilitator Subject Log 01:13 Luisa describes how she met Wilbert in a San Luis, CO variety store. She was the clerk and he was there to buy tissue. They chatted briefly and then went on to date. 04:40 Wilbert talks about being raised on a farm in San Luis, CO. The farm was purchased by his family and he remembers there was...

Interview Description Sylvia Serafin y su amiga Sara Zapata de Mijares comparten con José Serafin y Arlene Quiñones las historias de su vida, incluyendo sus años en México, y su pasión e involvimiento en el desarrollo comunitario y la conservación de la cultura Maya Yucateca. [Sylvia Serafin and her friend Sara Zapata de Mijares share with José Serafin y Arlene Quiñones their life stories, including their years in Mexico, and their commitment and passion for community development and the conservation...

Interview Description Thelma Perales Shelton (59) talks with daughter Vanessa Reyes Vara (38) & granddaughter Valencia Vara (12) about her childhood. Facilitator Subject Log 01:10 Thelma talks about her family's ancestral roots in Guanajuato, Mexico. She has also traced her family's history back to Spain and the Moorish Empire. 09:00 Thelma talks about her mother working for a cigar company when she was 9-years-old. There weren't child labor laws...

Interview Description Michelle Souza (58) talks to her friend Laura Richarz (58) about her mother Blase Camacho Souza. Facilitator Subject Log 01:00 Michelle's mother Blase was born in Hawaii but was of Puerto-Rican descent. She talks about her mother's parents and her birth. 01:50 Michelle talks about the origins of her mother's name "Blase. " 07:20 Michelle talks about her mother moving from Hawaii to New York City to attend the Pratt...

Interview Description Candy Maria Torres (56) talks with Whitney Henry-Lester about her Puerto Rican ancestry. Facilitator Subject Log 00:45 Candy's parents grew up in Puerto Rico, but both moved to Harlem and lived there during the Great Depression. 09:30 Candy talks about how her mother and father met. She also recalls how her mother got into fights when she was younger and how her father really loved the feistiness in her mother. 15:35...

Interview Description Corina Ulloa (33) and niece Camila Martinez (10) talk with sister/mom Brenda Martinez (35) and daughter Isabella Martinez (9) about life in Los Angeles. Facilitator Subject Log 01:00 Corina talks about how East LA has changed over the years. Brenda says the area has gotten safer over the years. 03:00 Brenda and Corina remembers riding the RTD buses alone in Los Angeles, Ca. 05:40 Brenda tells a funny story about...

Interview Description Jorge Valdez (26) talks to his wife, Jesusita Valdez (28) about his love of family, his experiences in the Marine Corps, and his relationship with Jesusita. Facilitator Subject Log 00:45 Family is very important to Jorge. He shares childhood memories from growing up in Texas. 05:30 Jorge recalls being in boot camp on September 11, 2001. 07:30 Jorge was deployed to Iraq 4 times. He shares memories of those times,...