Earliest Memories

Interview Description Etelvina Hernandez (81) is interviewed by her daughters, Monica García (47) and Maribel Barrera (45) about her childhood in México, her life in the U.S. and her job with Mary Kay Cosmetics. Facilitator Subject Log 1:39 Etelvina nació en Michocan; su abuela; no le gusta el rancho 5:34 getting trouble in school; started working at 14 years old; hours she worded; money that she earned 18:41 making food: tortillas and...

Interview Description José F. Hernandez (86) talks with his daughter Marie-Theresa hernandez (57) about being a funeral home owner in Rosenberg, Texas. Facilitator Subject Log 00:50 José talks about his parents being from Cahuilla, Mexico. His parents were Julia Nieto and Laro Hernandez. José was only a month old when his parents moved to Texas. 04:00 José talks about being a bazooka man in the Army when he was stationed in Japan. He enlisted in the...

Interview Description Lourdes Hernandez (54) talks with facilitator Nina Porzucki (30) about her modest beginnings to attaining a law degree from Harvard. Facilitator Subject Log 00:50 Lourdes was born in Mexico to a single mother named Elgracia. Her mother's family were farmers and impoverished. 04:00 Lourdes traveled with her family to Calexico, TX when she was five-years-old and that's where she began school. She describes the first day of school...

Interview Description Luz Herrera, 37, with her friend, Alma V. Marquez, 35, about their friendship and their work together in the Mexican American community. Facilitator Subject Log 1:50 Her parents met in East LA when they were both visiting from Mexico. 7:35 Luz remembers her great grandmother selling homemade beer during the prohibition. 11:03 Luz talks about moving to Whittier neighborhood where people did not speak Spanish....

Interview Description Noel Heysquierdo (15) talks with his father, Rick Heysquierdo (50) about memories of their road trips together, about his mother's recent diagnosis with cancer, about memories of Rick's childhood. Facilitator Subject Log 2:00 What Rick thought he would be when he grew up? Never thought he'd be a Dad; he was poor growing up, had no idea what he wanted to be 6:23 lessons from relationships: "You're one constant in my life "; Noel's...

Interview Description Erick Huerta (25) talks with friend Laura Enriquez (23) about moving from Mexico to the U.S., his love for comics and his pursuit of a higher education. Facilitator Subject Log 00:39 Erick was born in Mexico but was lived all over Los Angeles. He arrived in Boyle Heights at the age of seven. 02:10 Erick talks about how and why his family moved to the United States. 12:30 Erick talks about his dad purchasing a hot dog...

Interview Description Bertha Ibarra Parle (62) read a prepared story about her family traditions growing up on the Mexican/American border. Facilitator Subject Log 1:13 growing up in Ciudad Juárez; living between two different worlds, two different cultures 6:35 El día de cócono; pumpkin pie; frijolitos, posole y guacamole; Posadas; ponche 14:34 the story of how her parents met; father couldn't go to war; meeting her mother at a dance...

Interview Description Graciela Kavullo (68) talks with husband Timothy Kavulla (65) about her grandmother Adelida Garza Reyes and her work as a midwife in Mexico. Facilitator Subject Log 01:00 Graciela talks about having trouble knowing how to pronounce her grandmother's name when she was a younger child. She remembers always calling her "Abuelita "[grandmother] Ipa. 05:00 Graciela talks about how her grandmother got into midwifery in Mexico after she...

Interview Description Sara Elena Loiza (47) talks with partner Ara Najarian (44) about her life in a multicultural family. Facilitator Subject Log 01:10 Sara talks about her father Larry Finkelberg. She talks about his family's lineage. 03:10 Sara talks about her mother who is originally from Mexico City. 16:00 Sara talks about the bakery her family owned. 24:40 Sara talks about her identity and growing up as a Jewish Latina in...

Interview Description Rita Elvia Loya (38) habla con su esposo Omar S. Loya (44) de cuando se conocieron, su emigracion a los Estados Unidos y lo que logran para sus hijos. Rita Elvia Loya (38) talks with husband Omar S. Loya (44) about how they met, when they moved to the United States and what the want for their younger children. Facilitator Subject Log 00:45 Omar empieza con la historia de como conocio a Rita. Recuerda que la vio en Chihuahua,...