Earliest Memories

Interview Description Rosalia Olaya (40) habla con su amiga Silvia Jimenez (55) de su vida en Oaxaca, Mexico y cuenta su viaje de Oaxaca a Los Angeles, CA. [Rsalia Olaya (40) talks with her friend Silvia Jimenez (55) about her life in Oaxaca, MX and her emigration from Oaxaca to Los Angeles.] Facilitator Subject Log 01:00 Rosalia habla de su vida en Oaxaca. Cuenta la historia de como llego a Los Angeles. 04:00 Rosalia cuenta la historia de como...

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 Juan Cuevas (33) interviews his mother Harriet Ottenstein about her life, career as a pianist, and family. Facilitator Subject Log 1:20 Harriet's parents built a succah in the back yard in their home in NJ to celebrate their Jewish heritage of harvest and life on the fields. 6:10 Harriet wanted to be a pianist since she was 4. She could tell what song was on a record just by looking at the grooves. 11:05 Harriet met...

Interview Description Gilberto Peña (73) talks with his daughter Carmen Peña Abrego about his life in Brownsville, TX, joining the Army and meeting his wife. Facilitator Subject Log 01:10 Gilberto moved to the outskirts of Brownsville, TX with his parents and family when he was nine. He talks about the "Smitty "boys, his neighbors, who became his friends. 03:55 Gilberto talks about his friend Dale Smitty teaching him to speak English, while he taught...

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 Venus Perez, 22, and her mother Patricia Perez, 36, talk about their family, Patricia's lovers, and Venus's upbringing. Facilitator Subject Log 2:30 PP recounts the death of VP's father. 4:10 PP and VP talk about PP's role as a single mother. They reflect on the companions that PP has had and allude to the abuse inflicted upon them by one of these lovers, Rick (José Ricardo Vigil). PP: "I'm sorry that I thought he would a...

Interview Description Agustín Quijano (79) habla con su enfermera, Ana Waldo (61) sobre su familia y sus experiencias trabajando con su papá. Facilitator Subject Log 01:55 Para Agustín, el momento más feliz de su vida fue cuando su papá le llevó para los Estados Unidos a trabajar. Aprendió a trabajar de su papá, un hombre alto y fuerte. 06:27 Agustín esta más orgulloso de no haber gastado dinero en si, sino en la familia. 15:30 La amistad...

Interview Description Adam Fajardo (12), interviews his grandmother, Emilia Carrillo (63) about her experiences living in Mexico and the United States and her goals and dreams in life. Emilia talks at length about her father, her hero, who raised her. Facilitator Subject Log 01:00 Emilia talks about her childhood. She was born in the US, but moved to Mexico with her sister at 4 yrs old, where they were raised by their grandmother. 06:12 Emilia recalls...

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...