Great Depression stories

Interview Description Frank Aranza (80) is interviewed by Evelyn McKnight (81) about growing up in Houston, TX and enlisting in the military at 15 years old. Facilitator Subject Log 1:00 Facilitator, Nina Porzucki reads a paper describing Frank's family history 10:00 Frank was born on the northside of Houston; school in Houston; segregated from other students because he was not able to speak English 17:08 Americans of Mexican descent;...

Interview Description Carolyn Benitez (54) interviews her friend, Cirilo Arteaga (85) about his life experiences as a Mexican American, including his childhood and schooling in Wichita, his work as an interpreter, and his involvement in sports. Facilitator Subject Log 01:13 Cirilo recalls his childhood neighborhood, growing up in the barrio area of Wichita, KS. 04:37 Cirilo talks about his parents, their experience crossing the border, and what they...

Interview Description Stella Beltrán, 85, tells her son Steven Beltrán, 61, and her granddaughter Mary Beltrán, 21, about her memories growing up - which include moments lived during the Great Depression, World War II, and the Los Angeles of the 1960s and 1970s - as well as her commitment to good citizenship. Facilitator Subject Log 1:10 Stella talks about move to El Paso, discusses lessons learned from father through anecdote (father made her return a watermelon...

Interview Description Jesse T Campos (88) talks with daughter Maria Edna Campos (52) and great grandson Larry Aguirre (9) about his service during WWII and his family. Facilitator Subject Log 03:30 Jesse talks about segregation during his earlier years. He talks about segregation at restaurants. 14:50 Jesse talks about Pearl Harbor and serving in the military. He also talks about the day he learned from his captain that the war was over. He remembers...

Interview Description Cynthia "Cyd " interviews her mom, Domenica "Minnie ", about her life. Facilitator Subject Log 2:58 Minnie loved her father. He grew up in Italy but traveled a lot and spoke many languages. Her mother was from New Mexico and spoke Spanish, not English. 5:10 Minnie started working young. She worked from 4-7am in a bakery and then went to school and sold movie tickets after school. 7:05 After high school she worked for...

Interview Description Magdalena Vigil interviews her grandmother, Perfecta Contreras about Perfecta's life growing up separated from her own mother, her marriages and children. Facilitator Subject Log 01:48 Magdalena calls Perfecta "Abuelita "or "'uelita. " Perfecta was born in San Antonio, Texas. Later she moved back to Mexico with her father who wouldn't let Perfecta's mother see her children. 09:48 Perfecta's life on the ranch with her father....

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 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 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...