History Commons^™

Interview No. 1392, Alma Delia Fraile Barozio

Combined Interviews

Ms. Fraile talks about her family and her life growing up; her grandfather and uncles served in the bracero program, but she was too young to remember any details; by the time she was eighteen years old, she was involved with the Confederación Nacional Campesina (CNC) and their fight for equal land rights for women on ejidos; at the time, she was also studying for a career in social work; in time, she married and had two children; she and her husband were political activists involved in various social causes and cooperative projects; some time later, she began working …

Interview No. 1389, Felipe César Chan-Noh

Combined Interviews

Mr. Chan-noh briefly recalls his childhood and the financial difficulties he and his family endured; he married at the age of seventeen; when he was eighteen years old he enlisted in the Mexican military; he heard about the bracero program while in the military; he went through the hiring process several years later; he recalls the entire process, including that he recruited forty to fifty men from his hometown to join the bracero program; in addition, he mentions going through the processing center in Empalme, Sonora, México; he recalls that one of the requirements for the braceros was to have …

Interview No. 1390, Antonio Cisneros Piña

Combined Interviews

Mr. Cisneros speaks of the obstacles he and his family faced working in the fields of México; in 1955, he married, and two years later, he had his first daughter; soon after his wife became very ill, which prompted him to enlist in the bracero program in 1958; he discusses waiting to get on the list of available workers before traveling by train and bus to get to the contracting center in Empalme, Sonora, México; in addition, he describes the difficulties he underwent while waiting there, including becoming sick from the heat; the resulting fever kept him from passing the …

Interview No. 1584, Ventura Gutierrez

Combined Interviews

Mr. Gutiérrez briefly recalls his childhood and the neighborhood he grew up in; he recalls accidently setting his home on fire while playing cowboys and Indians; they lost all of their belongings in the fire and as a result they moved to a Mexican barrio; he discusses the Chicano Movement and organizations such as MEChA, UMAS, the Partido de la Raza Unida, MAPA and the U.F.W.; he briefly discusses his time in the military; in 1972, Mr. Gutiérrez married; Mr. Gutiérrez worked as a teacher’s aid at Coachella Valley High School (1976-77) and obtained his elementary teaching credentials at San …

Interview No. 1397, Priciliano Suarez

Combined Interviews

Mr. Suarez talks about is hometown and working in agriculture on his father’s land; he briefly recalls his family and childhood; he remembers hearing stories about his father working in the United States, which made him want to do the same; in 1953 Mr. Suarez married at the age of seventeen; he and his wife had three children; in 1959 he went through the hiring process to become a bracero; as part of the process, he was medically examined, vaccinated, and deloused; in addition he mentions going through the center in Empalme Sonora, Mexico; from there Mr. Suarez was sent …

Interview No. 1398, J. Jesus Villaseñor Santoyo

Combined Interviews

Mr. Villaseñor talks about his life growing up; during the midforties, his uncle fulfilled several bracero contracts; Jesús saw how well it went for his uncle, and in 1955, he decided to enlist in the bracero program; he describes how he was able to get on the list of eligible workers in Irapuato, Guanajuato, México; from there, he was transported by airplane to Mexicali, Baja California, México, and then to Calexico, California, where ranchers picked the workers they wanted; as a bracero, he labored in the fields of Arizona and California picking various fruits and vegetables; he goes on to …

Interview No. 1393, Ángel Guzmán Domínguez

Combined Interviews

Mr. Guzmán talks about growing up, including his family and learning how to make shoes; one of his uncles served in the bracero program, which convinced him to do the same; in 1944, he and five of his friends traveled by boat, bus and train before finally arriving at the contacting station in Queretaro, México; with the proper documentation, he was quickly called and passed all the medical exams; he explains that the men in Queretaro went straight to the railroads, while those processed in Guanajuato, México, went to work in the fields; from the contracting center he was transported …

Interview No. 1396, Jesús Soberano Rodríguez

Combined Interviews

Mr. Soberano talks about helping his father with the livestock at a very young age; in 1959, at the age of nineteen, he went through the hiring process to become a bracero; as part of the process, he was medically examined and deloused; in addition, he talks about the embarrassment he endured during the examination; he traveled to Mexico City, Mexico and then to the processing center in Empalme, Sonora, Mexico; his first contract was in El Centro, California working in the cotton fields; he recalls the working conditions while caring for livestock in El Centro, California; Mr. Soberano recalls …

James Veghte: The Cold War Aerospace Technology History Project, Gino J. Pasi, James J. Veghte

Cold War Aerospace Technology Oral Histories (MS-431)

Gino Pasi interviewed James Veghte on December 12, 2007 for the Cold War Aerospace Technologies History Project. In the interview Dr. Veghte discusses his role in the development of military technology during the Cold War.

Interview No. 1394, Félix Loera Carrillo

Combined Interviews

Mr. Loera briefly describes his family and how they worked on an hacienda, but they did not live there; when he was seventeen years old, he came to the United States to work, without documents, in the hope of having a better life; after two years, he returned to México and shortly thereafter married; by the late fifties, he and his wife had two children and were struggling to make ends meet, which led to his decision to enlist in the bracero program; although most men had to pay to get on the list of available workers, he knew someone …

Interview No. 1395, Ofelia Morales

Combined Interviews

Mrs. Morales discusses making blouses at home and selling them to a maquilladora; Mrs. Morales recalls that her father inherited land and he cultivated guayaba; a priest visited with her parents in order to discuss Mr. Felix Loera’s marriage proposal; she recalls her parents being very upset; she was sixteen yeas old when she married Mr. Felix Loera; they had one son, Abadón; they learned of the bracero program in their hometown; she moved back to her parents home while her husband was working in the bracero program; she talks about receiving money from her husband and how she travelled …

Richard E. Thomas: The Cold War Aerospace Technology History Project, Gino Pasi, Richard E. Thomas

Cold War Aerospace Technology Oral Histories (MS-431)

Gino Pasi interviewed Dr. Richard Thomas on December 5, 2007 for the Cold War Aerospace Technologies History Project. In the interview Dr. Thomas discusses his education, career, intelligence organizations and the development of technology during the Cold War.

Interview With Yaw Yang, Marly Moua

Hmong Oral History Project

Interview with Yaw Yang discussing Hmong culture and experiences with Hmong refugee resettlement.

Interview conducted by student interviewer, Marly Moua.

Interview With Xao Vang Vue, Jena Vue

Hmong Oral History Project

Interview with Xao Vang Vue discussing Hmong culture and experiences with Hmong refugee resettlement.

Interview conducted by student interviewer, Jena Vue.

Interview With Sia Ly Thao, Tou Thao

Hmong Oral History Project

Interview with Sia Ly Thao discussing Hmong culture and experiences with Hmong refugee resettlement.

Interview conducted by student interviewer, Tou Thao; translated and transcribed by Soua Lee and Peter Chou Vang.

Interview With Xai Thao, Mai Neng Vang

Hmong Oral History Project

Interview with Xai Thao discussing Hmong culture and experiences with Hmong refugee resettlement.

Interview conducted by student interviewer, Mai Neng Vang; translated and transcribed by Peter Chou Vang.

Interview No. 1391, Nicasio Cortinas Ortíz

Combined Interviews

Mr. Cortinaz Ortíz briefly recalls his childhood and the financial difficulties he and his family endured; he talks about his hometown and working in agriculture while growing up; he married ten days before he joined the bracero program; when he was twenty-five years old, he heard about a call for braceros and decided to enlist in the program; he traveled to the contracting center in Monterrey, México; he details the harsh conditions he and the other men endured while waiting at the center; his first contract took him to work in the cotton fields of Texas; he goes on to …

Victor Bilek: The Cold War Aerospace Technology History Project, Rachel Dehart, Victor Bilek

Cold War Aerospace Technology Oral Histories (MS-431)

Rachel DeHart interviewed Victor Bilek on November 14, 2007 for the Cold War Aerospace Technologies History Project. In the interview Mr. Bilek discusses his education in engineering, career, involvement in the intelligence community, and development of military technology during the Cold War.

John Webb Interview, Former University Archivist, University Libraries, Wright State University, Chris Wydman, John Webb

Wright State University Retirees Association Oral History Project

Chris Wydman interviewed John Webb on October 12, 2007 about the founding of Wright State University and the development of the library and special collections and archives. In the interview Mr. Webb discusses his career and his decision to come to Wright State as a founding staff member.

Interview No. 1616, Cynthia Weber Farah Haines

Combined Interviews

Cynthia Weber Farah married in to the Farah family, and she recalls Farah family life during critical moments for the company. Weber Farah remembers that family was very important and how the Farah’s tried to maintain the image as the ideal American family. She described her reflections regarding the Farah Strike, and she blames outsider disruption as the main reason for the strike, but also notes other possible factors such as sexual harassment and bad decisionmaking. According to Farah Weber, the company had offered great benefits to its employees before the strike for example, free transportation, eyeglasses, and turkeys for …

Gavin D. Jenney: The Cold War Aerospace Technology History Project, Gino J. Pasi, Gavin D. Jenney

Cold War Aerospace Technology Oral Histories (MS-431)

Gino Pasi interviewed Gavin Jenney on September 26, 2007 for the Cold War Aerospace Technologies History Project. In the interview Dr. Jenney discusses his role in the development of military technology during the Cold War.

Interview No. 1619, Ray Williams

Combined Interviews

Ray Williams was once a President of Farah in El Paso, TX; He describes being the Vice President of HD Lee Mercantile Company that produced Lee Jeans; He visited Farah to negotiate a potential buy out of Farah and account for the state of the company and value; He mentions that for whatever reason the company did not purchase Farah; He recalls Willie Farah offering him a job to run Farah, felt it would create problems but took the job; Mr. Williams started for Farah in 1978 and left in 1984; He describes as the business became more profitable Willie …

Interview No. 1615, Mike Mitchell

Combined Interviews

Mike Mitchell worked for Farah from 1979 to 2002. In 1976, Mitchell had first heard of Farah while working in Arizona at the Diamond department store, where he sold pants. He moved to El Paso and began working for Farah where he became Senior Vice President of Marketing in 1989. He continued to be promoted within the company in 1990 he served the company as Executive Vice President of Sales and in 1992 he became President of Farah. As an employee, Mitchell remembered enjoying spending time with Willy Farah and many other top executives at the company. He also explained …

Frederick T. Rall Jr.: The Cold War Aerospace Technology History Project (Interview 3), Gino J. Pasi, Frederick T. Rall

Cold War Aerospace Technology Oral Histories (MS-431)

Gino Pasi interviewed Frederick T. Rall Jr. on August 31, 2007 for the Cold War Aerospace Technologies History Project. In the interview Mr. Rall discusses his role in the development of military technology during the Cold War. This is the third of three interviews with Mr. Rall.

Frederick T. Rall Jr.: The Cold War Aerospace Technology History Project (Interview 1), Gino J. Pasi, Frederick T. Rall

Cold War Aerospace Technology Oral Histories (MS-431)

Gino Pasi interviewed Frederick T. Rall Jr. on August 31, 2007 for the Cold War Aerospace Technologies History Project. In the interview Mr. Rall discusses his role in the development of military technology during the Cold War. This is the first of three interviews with Mr. Rall.

Frederick T. Rall Jr.: The Cold War Aerospace Technology History Project (Interview 2), Gino J. Pasi, Frederick T. Rall

Cold War Aerospace Technology Oral Histories (MS-431)

Gino Pasi interviewed Frederick T. Rall Jr. on August 31, 2007 for the Cold War Aerospace Technologies History Project. In the interview Mr. Rall discusses his role in the development of military technology during the Cold War. This is the second of three interviews with Mr. Rall.

William And Cynthia King Interview, Professors Emeriti, Department Of Classics, Lewis Shupe, William King, Cynthia King

Wright State University Retirees Association Oral History Project

Lewis Shupe interviewed William and Cynthia King on August 29, 2007 about the founding of Wright State University and the development of the classics program. In the interview the Kings discuss their career and their decision to come to Wright State as a founding faculty members.

Interview No. 1617, Guadalupe Session

Combined Interviews

Guadalupe Session was a garment inspector supervisor for Farah in El Paso, TX; she was born December 12, 1933 in El Paso, her mother from Mexico, her father from Oklahoma; she is the second of five children; she had to quit school to help with family; initially, she worked at a restaurant, then started working for Farah in 1952. Ms. Session recalls her initial position inspecting finished garments; describes the factory on San Francisco St. where Joe Farah was her manager; she outlines the managers at the time by floor in the factory; she describes the first clinic for Farah …

Interview With B. Hugh Tovar, Paul Hillmer

Hmong Oral History Project

Bernardo Hugh Tovar was born on December 27, 1922 in Bogota, Columbia. His father was Columbian and his mother Irish. His family moved to Chicago in 1924, but his family frequently visited Columbia in his early youth. As a result he grew up bilingual. He attended Portsmouth Priory School in Rhode Island (1941), before attending Harvard, where he also learned French. His ROTC class was called to active duty in June 1943, though he was awarded a degree in 1944 because he passed his comprehensive exams. He graduated as a second lieutenant. After various assignments and training in Infantry, Artillery …

Interview With Rev. Pa Mang Her, Peter Chou Vang

Hmong Oral History Project

Interview with Rev. Pa Mang Her discussing spirituality and Christianity among the Hmong.

Interview conducted by student interviewer, Peter Chou Vang; translated and transcribed by Leona Lor.