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- University of Texas at El Paso. Institute of Oral History—interviews. (40)
- Oral History (23)
- Paso del Norte Entrepreneurs Oral History Project (23)
- Bracero (19)
- Labor History (19)
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- University of Texas at El Paso. Institute of Oral History--interviews (19)
- Farah Oral History Project (11)
- 200th Anniversary of the Sisters of Loretto (5)
- University of Texas at El Paso. Institute of Oral History--interviews. (4)
- World War II (4)
- El Paso (2)
- Adam Nieto (1)
- Armando Reyes (1)
- Carlos Guzman (1)
- Don Shapiro (1)
- Dr. Arnaldo Chavarria (1)
- Duranguito (1)
- Edith Morales (1)
- El Paso Medical Community (1)
- Elma Rodriguez (1)
- Gonzalo Rangel (1)
- Hispanic Entrepreneurs Oral History Project (1)
- Holocaust (1)
- Jorge Vielledent (1)
- Jose Luis Lopez (1)
- Jose Luis Villanueva (1)
- Julius Lowenberg (1)
- Kelly Thomas Pacheco (1)
- Korean War (1)
- Leigh Kersh (1)
Articles 1 - 30 of 65
Full-Text Articles in Arts and Humanities
Interview No. 1502, Arnaldo Chavarria Dds
Interview No. 1502, Arnaldo Chavarria Dds
Combined Interviews
Dr. Chavarria is the sixth child in a line of nine siblings. After graduating from high school, Dr. Chavarria briefly worked at a factory before applying and getting accepted to the El Paso Community College Dental Hygiene program. Dr. Chavarria worked as a dental hygienist before applying and being accepted to dental school in San Antonio, Texas. After graduating dental school, Dr. Chavarria worked with Dr. Watson, the El Paso City/County Health Department as well as La Fe Clinic and Sun Plaza Clinic. Soon after, Dr. Chavarria opened his practice on the Eastside of El Paso. Dr. Chavarria has received …
Interview No. 1597, Leticia Carabajal
Interview No. 1597, Leticia Carabajal
Combined Interviews
Her maternal grandfather she explains fought alongside Pancho Villa and was eventually killed; she explains that her father is a bracero but she did not discover this until he began speaking about working in Utah, Colorado, and California; her father worked as a bracero in order to support the family, eventually buying a house with his earnings; she points out that her father does not have his bracero documentation; she began seeing articles about braceros in local newspaper, consequently she began recording her conversations with her dad and gave him a journal so he could write down his experiences; she …
Interview No. 1501, Jose Luis Lopez
Interview No. 1501, Jose Luis Lopez
Combined Interviews
After graduating from The University of Texas at El Paso in 1975, Joe worked at Safeway groceries and with two advertising agencies. He worked for Coca-Cola selling Minute Maid orange juice as an unpaid worker in order to gain experience in the advertising field. Coca-Cola hired Joe and he began working in New Products bringing new items to local grocery stores. Joe did well and was moved to run a small division within Coca-Cola that allows them to test new products, come up with new names and then work on the selling and distribution of the products. Joe was the …
Interview No. 1500, Jose Luis Villanueva
Interview No. 1499, Rosa Santana
Interview No. 1499, Rosa Santana
Combined Interviews
Rosa had her first job when she was 13-14 years old working at an A&W drive thru. While Rosa was in high school, she was a part of DECA, a program that helps students learn about professional jobs and Rosa was able to work at the Popular Department store in El Paso, Texas. Rosa married and moved to Las Vegas for short time and had a daughter. Rosa moved back to El Paso and after a few jobs, Rosa went to work for Kelly Staffing Services. Working at Kelly, Rosa was able to get involved and grow professionally within the …
Interview No. 1498, Kelly Thomas Pacheco
Interview No. 1498, Kelly Thomas Pacheco
Combined Interviews
Kelly gives her father, the late George Thomas the credit of having mentored and guided her through the residential building business and Kelly also recognizes she learned decorating from watching her mother who had a natural talent for decorating. Kelly began decorating model homes while in high school. After high school, Kelly ventured into her own business called Del Pueblo Furniture and she would purchase furniture in México and re-sell it in the United States. At the end of 1989, Kelly began working for her father in his business Carefree Homes. Kelly eventually branched out with her own business, Quality …
Interview No. 1608, Margaret E. Mendoza
Interview No. 1608, Margaret E. Mendoza
Combined Interviews
Margaret Mendoza, born in El Paso, Texas on October 22, 1934, worked for Farah for three years. Shortly after graduating from Bowie High School, she married an army soldier and left El Paso for Brooklyn, New York, but her marriage was not successful and she moved back to El Paso with her children. Because Mendoza needed to support her family she worked as a receptionist in several offices in El Paso. Later, her friend recommended that she work for Farah. She was hired at Farah and she earned twice as much connecting calls for the company, but would also tape …
Interview No. 1696, Frances Ratermann S. L.
Interview No. 1696, Frances Ratermann S. L.
Combined Interviews
Ratermann was born in El Paso in 1932 and was born at a Masonic Hospital. She is the youngest one in her family and her older sister, Sister Helen Julius Ratermann, who was the oldest and was born in 1914, was also a sister. The location of the interview is 4108 Waco. Her mother’s family went to live in Socorro, New Mexico and when the mines began to get shaky, they moved to El Paso. Her father was Julius Augustus Ratermann and came to El Paso because doctors believed he had Tuberculosis. Her mother was born in Socorro, New Mexico …
Interview No. 1695, Mary P. Bruce
Interview No. 1695, Mary P. Bruce
Combined Interviews
Mary P. Bruce is her religious name and her legal name is Dolores Patricia Bruce. She was born March 14, 1932. Her father was named James Hynesman Bruce lived in Colorado but went to Mexico City at the age of 19 and stayed for three years and met his future wife. The pair married on Feb. 5, 1931. The two had four children, Mary Peter Bruce was the oldest of the children. During her childhood, she traveled and lived in Mexico, South America, including Costa Rica, and the United States. In 1944 & 1945, her father received letters stated he …
Interview No. 1497, Lisa Herrera
Interview No. 1497, Lisa Herrera
Combined Interviews
Lisa got her start in selling retail with her mother and sister who owned and ran a local bridal shop. Lisa’s father also ran a motel and did most of the work at the motel himself. Lisa learned how to manage a business and the work ethic that goes with it from watching her parents run their businesses. Later while Lisa worked at a boutique she was approached by local business woman Joanne Wardy to sell corporations gifts for their company. Lisa got into the business and with the help of her husband she was able to grow slowly and …
Interview No. 1496, Jorge Vielledent
Interview No. 1496, Jorge Vielledent
Combined Interviews
At the time of Jorge’s graduation from The University of Texas at El Paso, his father presented him with $500 dollars so Jorge could get his licenses, registrations, pay the exams fees, and NASD registrations. Initially when Jorge graduated from college he worked internationally with clients all over the world, especially those from México. When the 1994 devaluation of the peso occurred, Jorge ventured into the business he has now. Jorge networks with companies such as AXA. Jorge’s company, Synergy Group works to help people with financial planning. The company assists clients in the accumulation phase, distribution phase and transfer …
Interview No. 1495, Yolanda Diaz
Interview No. 1495, Yolanda Diaz
Combined Interviews
Yolanda recalls having a wonderful childhood being raised by her mother. While in high school Yolanda joined Vocational Office Education at Jefferson High school. This program helped Yolanda learn basic bookkeeping and accounting as well as provide opportunities for a job while in high school. Yolanda took advantage of the program and learned as much as she could. Yolanda also worked for the Veterans Affairs as an administrative assistant for the pharmacists. Yolanda would go on to work for Petro Shopping Centers, Jack Cardwell, Media Copy and Texas Gas Services in the accounting and bookkeeping aspects of those businesses. Yolanda …
Interview No. 1703, Alicia Angelica Martinez
Interview No. 1703, Alicia Angelica Martinez
Combined Interviews
Alicia Angelica Martinez was born in El Paso Texas, August 13,1944. When she was 5, she moved to Duranguito from El Segundo Barrio in El Paso Texas. Her mother was a house maker, and her dad worked on a construction company. They were living with her grandparents. They had a two story apartments and their grandparents lived on the first floor, and Alicia and her parents on the second, the place was called La Mansion. She describes La Mansion as a peaceful place where they will have a lot of fun and most of their family was living in there. …
Interview No. 1494, Raul Ramos
Interview No. 1494, Raul Ramos
Combined Interviews
Raul Ramos purchased Han-D-Pak from Mr. Young. Raul admits not knowing much about owning a small business however he did see a need for the products within the local market. Raul worked out of a small grocery owned by his mother-in-law and had the help of his two brothers and mother. They would all work to package and deliver the products to the local grocery stores. Raul hand made the racks to hold his product until he was able to hire a carpenter to assist him in the creation of the racks. Raul bought into El Paso products from companies …
Interview No. 1493, Julius Lowenberg
Interview No. 1493, Julius Lowenberg
Combined Interviews
When Julius graduated from St. Patrick’s Cathedral High School in the early 1950’s, he went to work for Fur Foods and then the railroad company. After being let go from the railroad company, Julius started volunteer coaching touch football. The following year, Julius began coaching tackle football and basketball at St. Patrick’s. During this time, Julius began attending The University of Texas at El Paso and did so while coaching at St. Patrick’s. Julius left St. Patrick’s to coach at Putnam Elementary when he was offered a high school coaching job at a school in Canutillo, a community in the …
Interview No. 1492, Patti Holland Branch
Interview No. 1492, Patti Holland Branch
Combined Interviews
Patti Holland Branch began developing her skills as an entrepreneur when she was around the age of 8. Patti purchased a weave machine to make pot holders and sold them around the neighborhood to earn money for her family. Patti would also host a summer school for the kids in her neighborhood and would receive gifts of cash for her efforts. When Patti was a teenager, she worked for the Mayor’s office creating a scrapbook. She eventually earned the Dorrance D. Roderick scholarship to attend Texas Western College. Patti married her husband and they moved to Germany for his work …
Interview No. 1694, Helen Santamaria Sister
Interview No. 1694, Helen Santamaria Sister
Combined Interviews
Her given name Helen E. Santamaria was born April 18, 1943. Her nun name is Helen Miriam Santamaria. She is named after her mother and she wanted to keep the name Helen. Her mother is a native El Pasoan. Her father is from Mexico who came to visit his brother in Juarez. He attended a wedding and met her mother. She was 16 and he was 23. She described their meeting at love at first sight. The pair waited for her to graduate from High School, El Paso High School to get married. She graduated in May and the pair …
Interview No. 1491, Mike Garcia
Interview No. 1491, Mike Garcia
Combined Interviews
Mike was brought to El Paso by his godmother to attend school at Lydia Patterson Institute in El Paso, Texas when he was 11 years old. Mike had his first job working at a bowling alley in El Paso at the age of 12. At the age of 15 years old, he got married. Mike cared for and loved his mother Benita very much. He recalls that she taught him to better his life, to better his family, to do the proper thing, to be honest with himself, and to have self-respect. Mike has used these concepts to build his …
Interview No. 1693, Elisa Rodriguez Sister
Interview No. 1693, Elisa Rodriguez Sister
Combined Interviews
Elisa Rodriguez was born on May 15, 1936 during a home birth in the Segundo Barrio. She and her family lived on Santa Fe Street. Her father was born in Torreon, Mexico. His father died when he was 1, and his mother remarried and had two other children. Her mother was born in San Elizario. She was one of seven children. Sisters of Loretto started in San Elizario in 1878. There was an early connection between her mother and the convent. She went from El Paso High School to St. Joseph High School and graduated from there. Rodriguez speaks about …
Interview No. 1490, Leigh Kersh
Interview No. 1490, Leigh Kersh
Combined Interviews
Leigh Kersh was born in El Paso, Texas to Moe and Rosie Kersh. Leigh attended The University of Texas at El Paso and The University of Texas at Austin before attending New York University and graduating with a degree in Physiology. While Leigh finished her degree at NYU, she worked for Federal Express in customer service and then once she graduated she became their corporate physiologist. Leigh credits her time with Federal Express for learning how to do customer service, how to run an operation, and how to train the right people for the company. Leigh grew up watching her …
Interview No. 1489, Don Shapiro
Interview No. 1489, Don Shapiro
Combined Interviews
Don Shapiro was born and raised in the New York Metropolitan Area. In the 1930’s Don’s father Isadore worked in the fur district in New York City. When Don graduated from high school, he joined the United States Naval Reserve during World War II. After WWII, Done atteneded NYU and got a degree in accounting. After graduating NYU, he became a door to door salesman in New York City. After a time in New York, Don and his friend Harry Katz decided to drive cross country to California and work to earn money along the way. They started by driving …
Interview No. 1464, Silbano Robledo
Interview No. 1464, Silbano Robledo
Combined Interviews
Silbano Robledo was very tired of working in his town from 6:00 am to 6:00 pm without a good salary. After he got married, he started a small business selling peanuts. Mr. Robledo traveled to Monterrey, Nuevo Leon, Mexico to get hired as a bracero; He worked in El Valle picking cotton and then traveled to La Mesa de Lobos and worked doing the same job. He worked as a bracero for three years until 1959. He worked from twelve-hour days with a salary of $ 7.00 dollars per day. Robledo lived with his co-workers and they all together bought …
Interview No. 1488, Ruben E. Guerra
Interview No. 1488, Ruben E. Guerra
Combined Interviews
Mr. Guerra was born and raised in McAllen, TX. He speaks about how his family was one of the founding families in McAllen and started as a land clearing business. Mr. Guerra said both sides of his family came from different socioeconomic classes but each side was hardworking. He worked at a small convienience store his family owned during the summer when he was about eight to ten years old. When he was in the eighth grade, his family moved to El Paso at the urging of doctors who said his bother would die if he did not move to …
Interview No. 1486, Elma Rodriguez
Interview No. 1486, Elma Rodriguez
Combined Interviews
Elma met her husband Gus when they were in high school and they married five years later. Gus served in the Vietnam War and when he got out he was given $500.00 so he and Elma decided to start a business. At the time they lived on Basil St. and they started their business out of their home garage and so they named their company Basil Glass Incorporated. Another reason why they named their company Basil Glass instead of their last name is because they wanted to avoid as much discrimination as possible. As Hispanic entrepreneurs starting a business in …
Interview No. 1485, Paul Zacour
Interview No. 1485, Paul Zacour
Combined Interviews
Paul Zacour took real estate classes and began to sell real estate when he was 19 years old. After graduating from The University of Texas at El Paso in 1986, Paul moved to Austin, Texas to be a part of the real estate market boom. In 1992, Paul moved back to El Paso, Texas. He began to work with Fred McKinstry doing appraisals together. The name of the company then became McKinstry-Zacour and Associates. When the opportunity to buy the company arose, Paul took it and Fred McKinstry semi-retired. The company then morphed into Zacour and Associates. Paul’s company works …
Interview No. 1692, Eva Marie Salas Sister
Interview No. 1692, Eva Marie Salas Sister
Combined Interviews
The location of this interview took place at Teirra Madre, a house located off McNutt in Sunland Park, NM. Four sister’s live at this house. Sister Eva Marie Salas was born in La Union, New Mexico. She attended public school and graduated from Gasden High School. Her father was absent during her childhood. Her mother owned a grocery store while they were growing up. Salas said her public school education prepared her for college. She attended Webster College, now Webster University. She discusses the process of becoming a nun. The first six months are known as postulancy. When they are …
Interview No. 1483, Edith Morales
Interview No. 1483, Edith Morales
Combined Interviews
Edith Morales was born in El Paso, Texas but grew up in Ciudad Juárez, México as well. Edith attended The University of Texas at Dallas. She began working at a company called Daisy Tech in Plano, Texas eventually running their Latin America division in Miami, Florida and in México City, México. After twelve years of working for that company, the company went out of business. Edith started Printek Supplies Inc. in Miami. In 2005 while visiting family in El Paso, Edith and her husband decided to move their company and family back to El Paso. Edith belongs to the Greater …
Interview No. 1482, Carlos Guzman
Interview No. 1482, Carlos Guzman
Combined Interviews
Carlos Guzman was born and raised in Puerto Rico and lived in there until he joined the United States Army. Prior to joining the military, Carlos obtained his Bachelor degree from the University of Puerto Rico in biology and chemistry. While in the military, Carlos served as an officer and served in Iraq from 2004 until 2005. Upon returning from Iraq, Carlos began to pursue his M.A. in computer resource management. It was during this time that Carlos met Larry Walter and the two became interested in biofuel technology after a discussion on biofuel. Carlos began investigating what it would …
Interview No. 1481, Armando Reyes
Interview No. 1481, Armando Reyes
Combined Interviews
When Armando was a 12 years old, he began accompanying his father to work at Alejandro’s Plumbing Company. When Armando was a teenager, he worked for that company as well. Armando Reyes graduated from Jefferson High School in 1965 and worked for Pacific Food Express after graduation. Once the job ended, Armando and four friends left for California to find work. He was able to find work in California that paid well but eventually Armando returned to El Paso. When he returned, Armando attended El Paso Community College and worked with his brother Julian at an air conditioning company called …
Interview No. 1480, Gonzalo Rangel
Interview No. 1480, Gonzalo Rangel
Combined Interviews
Gonzalo began working at the age of 13 in a parking lot off of Wyoming St. in El Paso, Texas. The parking lot was owned by Bud Fischer and Gonzalo would park cars and clean them to earn money. By the time he was 15 years old, Gonzalo was able to purchase a 1938 Chevrolet. During high school, Gonzalo and his girlfriend had a baby and got married and Gonzalo left school to work to support his family. He briefly worked at Sanker Plumbing before leaving to work at Bray's Washing Machine to support his new family. Though his father …