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University of Texas at El Paso

Big Bend National Park

Articles 1 - 19 of 19

Full-Text Articles in History

Interview No. 848, Leona Starr Baker Aug 1994

Interview No. 848, Leona Starr Baker

Combined Interviews

Part of Big Bend National Park Oral History Project; biographical information; recounts settlement of parents, Mae Johnson Starr and Salomon Albert Starr, Alpine/Marathon area; mother's proprietorship and operation of boarding house in Marathon and management of Gage Hotel; father's operation of ranches in Rosillos Mts. and in Tornillo Creek; creation of Big Bend National Park; lifestyle of Big Bend area families, particularly during Depression; details life in Marathon, its industry, businesses, churches, and segregated schools; describes relationship with other families including the Burnams, Nails, and Greens.

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Interview No. 856, Juan Esquivel Jul 1994

Interview No. 856, Juan Esquivel

Combined Interviews

Part of Big Bend National Park Oral History Project; biographical data; recalls conditions of the Great Depression of the South Texas ; enlistment in CCC at Fort Clark, TX; describes daily life in CCC camp and work on road from present-day Panther Junction to Chisos Basin ; visits to Boquillas and Santa Elena Canyon; death of CCC member as the result of an accident in a gravel pit.

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Interview No. 866, Thomas W. Stovall Jul 1994

Interview No. 866, Thomas W. Stovall

Combined Interviews

Part of Big Bend National Park Oral History Project; recalls enlistment in CCC and transfer of his 200-man company to Big Bend; discusses his duties as tent camp cook in Chisos Basin; prospective on role of CCC in the park and in lives of corps members.

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Interview No. 849, Jane H. Bright Jul 1994

Interview No. 849, Jane H. Bright

Combined Interviews

Part of Big Bend Park Oral History Project; biographical data including service in Women's Air Service Project (WASPs) and Women Army Corps during World War II and years as school teacher; her perspective on family life and hardships in Big Bend area during the Depression; death of father during Spanish influenza epidemic, 1919-20; mother's life in Big Bend area during Mexican Revolution; Depression-era purchase and slaughter of family's cattle by U.S. government; social segregation of area's Anglo and Hispanic communities; detailed description of parent's cow-camp residence in Rosillos Mts.

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Interview No. 851, Joseph Carithers Jul 1994

Interview No. 851, Joseph Carithers

Combined Interviews

Part of Big Bend National Park Oral History Project; explains personal interest in conservation; details physical conditions of park, employee morale, and criminal activities present in Big Bend upon becoming superintendent; tells anecdote about collision of Lady Bird Johnson's airplane with an antelope; discusses ecology of park; offers perspectives on overgrazing and ecological restoration; creation of Big Bend wilderness areas; relations between Mexican citizens and government officials.

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Interview No. 855, James Ely Jul 1994

Interview No. 855, James Ely

Combined Interviews

Part of Big Bend National Park Oral History Project; biographical data; recalls experiences as river rider preventing Mexican cattle from entering Texas during hoof and mouth disease epidemic in Mexico in the 1940s; recounts fishing activities on the Rio Grande; dangers of high water on the river; living conditions at Hot Springs; cotton farming in San Vicente, discusses killing rattlesnakes and burning river cane despite National Park Service policies prohibiting such activities.

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Interview No. 859, Juan D. Hernández May 1994

Interview No. 859, Juan D. Hernández

Combined Interviews

Part of Big Ben National Park Oral History project; biographical data; recalls father's shifting of residence from Boquillas, TX to Boquillas, Mexico, to avoid immigration authorities; discusses various families and residents of Boquillas, Hot Springs, San Vicente and mining communities, border lifestyles; recalls farming in the Boquillas area; discusses acquisition of land by U.S. Government for inclusion in the national park; forced removal from Big Bend area of Mexican and Mexican-American residents.

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Interview No. 857, Armando Gracía Mar 1994

Interview No. 857, Armando Gracía

Combined Interviews

Part of Big Bend National Park Oral History Project; biographical data; recalls father's employment at Study Butte mine; social life and interaction among residents of Catolon, Texas, and Santa Helena, Chihuahua, Mexico; recollects life along the Rio Grande.

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Interview No. 853, Alfredo De La O Mar 1994

Interview No. 853, Alfredo De La O

Combined Interviews

Part of Big Bend National Park Oral History Project; biographical data; discusses grandfather's ranch, De la O Springs at Castolon; recalls living in Terlingua, TX; quicksilver mines; cross-border social interactions with residents of Santa Helena and other Mexican communities before control of border crossing by U.S. Border Patrol.

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Interview No. 862, Lee Maisie Mar 1994

Interview No. 862, Lee Maisie

Combined Interviews

Part of Big Bend National Park Oral History Project; biographical data; recalls family's immigration from Australia; family's decision to remainin El Paso during Depression ; marriage to Guy Lee; husband's employment as river rider, difficulties of living and raising children in desert environment without amenities; recalls painting murals in rooms at Hot Springs Motel; anecdotes about life in the park, contact with park service personnel.

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Interview No. 850, Perry Brown Mar 1994

Interview No. 850, Perry Brown

Combined Interviews

Part of Big Bend National Park Oral History Project; recalls early days of employment with National Park Services; assignments at Yosemite, Grand Canyon, Mesa Verde, Mammoth Caves and Big Bend; completion of Rio Grande Village; improvement of Chisos Basis accommodations, construction of additional housing for park services employees at Panther Junction; Lady Bird Johnson's Visit to the park in 1960s; rescue of Boy Scout troop stranded on Rio Grande; opinions on park service policy, personnel and management; perspective on issue of preservation versus use.

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Interview No. 852, Guadalupe Celaya, Chano Celaya Mar 1994

Interview No. 852, Guadalupe Celaya, Chano Celaya

Combined Interviews

Part of Big Bend Park Oral History Project; biographical data; recall life at San Vicente, Texas, in what is now Big Bend National Park; names of families living in San Vicente and their activities; comment on purchase of property by Anglo land speculator during creation of the park.

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Interview No. 858, Concepción Ibarra Mar 1994

Interview No. 858, Concepción Ibarra

Combined Interviews

Part of Big Bend National Park Oral History Project; biographical data; discusses living in Castolon, Texas, in the Alvino house currently maintained by the National Park Service as a tourist attraction; comments on community's isolation; cross-border social activities and exchanges between residents on both sides of Rio Grande.

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Interview No. 861, Guy Lee Mar 1994

Interview No. 861, Guy Lee

Combined Interviews

Part of Big Bend National Park Oral History Project; biographical data; his work as a river rider; relations with area residents on both sides of border, his association with National Park Service employees; fishing in the Rio Grande; environment and wildlife of Big Bend; his acquaintance with Maggie Smith, concessionaire operating Hot Springs store, motel and mineral baths; activities of Texas Rangers during time of Mexican Revolution.

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Interview No. 864, Julia Nail Moss Feb 1994

Interview No. 864, Julia Nail Moss

Combined Interviews

Part of Big Bend National Park Oral History Project discusses social life among residents of Big Bend before and during acquisition of property for national park; recalls feasibility study by park system; effects of drought and overgrazing of livestock; destruction of family home by park service; offers her opinions on park service preservation policy, predator control; effect of Depression on ranchers' decisions to sell their land; family's governess; contact with Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) 1930s.

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Interview No. 854, Bill Dodson Feb 1994

Interview No. 854, Bill Dodson

Combined Interviews

Part of Big Bend National Park Oral History Project; biographical data; discusses family's manufacturing of candelia wax; provide insight to his life in Black Gap area; its wildlife , fossil collection and several natural phenomena, including slink holes and unexplained lights at night, particularly during rainy periods; discusses three-month stint during 1950s working with survey crew in the park; prospecting activities in the area.

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Interview No. 860, Tom Leary Feb 1994

Interview No. 860, Tom Leary

Combined Interviews

Part of Big Bend National Park Oral History Project; biographical data; discusses border conflict during Mexican Revolution; family's move from Rosillos to Marathon after Glen Spring raid in 1916; recalls arrival of Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) in 1930s; conditions for travel, social life; early tourist to park area; arrival of electricity and telephones; relations between ranchers and park; offers service; discusses livestock and wildlife issues, water use/availability in the park; offers insight into life at Study Butte and Terlinqua; cross-border relations with Mexican citizens.

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Interview No. 865, Cornelio Ramírez Feb 1994

Interview No. 865, Cornelio Ramírez

Combined Interviews

Part of Big Bend National Park Oral History Project; discusses building roads and bridges within the park; recalls childhood and education at Terlingua and delivering meals to miners; his involvement in rescue and recovery of hikers and tourists; recalls stint as park service crew member constructing water supply system to Chisos Basin; destruction of ranch homes and other structures by park service; construction of Panther Junction and Rio Grande Village.

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Interview No. 867, Roscoe Weaver Feb 1994

Interview No. 867, Roscoe Weaver

Combined Interviews

Part of Big Bend National Park Oral History Project; provides details about CCC, its policy and activities in park prior in acquisition by National Park Service; discusses environment, plant life, and wildlife of Chisos Basin and other areas; relations with Castolon residents and other communities along the Rio Grande; describes typical CCC work day; tells of strike at Chisos Basin in dispute with U.S. Army officer and subsequent arrival of armed troops from Fort Bliss; economic and social benefits of CCC; environmental changes in Big Bend 1942-1992.

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