History Commons^™

Interview No. 1839, Gilberto Aguero

Combined Interviews

This interview with El Pasoan Gilberto Aguero, reflects on his childhood growing up in South Central El Paso during the 1940s and 1950s. Born in El Paso in 1941, Aguero describes a simple but happy upbringings with his six siblings. He attended Alamo Elementary and later graduated from Bowie High School in 1959. Much of his childhood centered around outdoor activities such as roller skating, baseball, football and spending time with neighborhood friends. Aguero remembers the area as close-knit where families lived near one another and children spent most of their time outdoors. He recalls accompanying his mother on grocery …

Corazones Urbanos: Literary Cartographies And Southwest Cities In The Mexican American Spatial Imaginary, Jorge A. Hernández Jr.

Spanish and Portuguese ETDs

Corazones Urbanos: Literary Cartographies and Southwest Cities in the Mexican American Spatial Imaginary examines how Mexican American writers from Tucson, San Antonio, and Albuquerque narrate, critique, and reimagine urban space across the U.S. Southwest in the twentieth century. Integrating literary studies, cultural geography, urban history, and critical regionalism, the project analyzes responses to racialized development, urban renewal, and gentrification that have displaced Mexican American communities from historic downtowns. Moving beyond borderlands and transnational models, it advances a critically regional approach attentive to local histories, municipal policies, and community pressures shaping urban life. Through close readings of creative and nonfiction texts …

Living Archaeology: A Comparative Perspective On How Archaeologists Can Study And Document The Present, Alia S. Moran

Honors Capstones

Archaeology has long remained a social science that has tended to exclude sustained consideration of contemporary societies in the analysis of material culture. In recent decades, approaches such as ethnoarchaeology and the archaeology of the contemporary have expanded the field to include the study of present-day societies through material culture. Inspired by my involvement in the Thais in Illinois Project, which focused on documenting the Thai American immigrant experience in the greater Chicago area to produce an oral history collection, alongside other goals, this thesis intends to further explore how archaeological practice can be used to understand everyday issues in …

Unmaking And Remaking Crimean Tatar Identity Stalin’S Deportation, Sürgün Stories, And The Claiming Of Indigeneity, Milo A. Clarkson

International Studies Honors Projects

The Crimean Tatars exist within a framework of historical and modern Russian settler colonial oppression. By examining their preferred form of identification, this thesis argues that claiming indigeneity holds promise for combating this colonial structure. Further, it identifies the construction of collective memories of the Sürgün (1944 deportation of the Crimean Tatars) in virtual museum project Tamirlar’s oral histories as a form of discursive decolonization—the reclamation of cultural, linguistic, and historical representation and primacy on the land. Novel analysis of fifty interviews with Sürgün survivors preserves indigenous Crimean identity and challenges the retrospective settler colonial construction of Crimea as “Russian.”

Tracings, Masie Sophia Love

Theses and Dissertations

In this paper, the artist wonders what it means to remember a time and place that she has not experienced- what would this look like visualized in a painting? Love studies the histories and similarities between cartography and quilting using the two as a kind of channel to understand, record, and remember land. She explores inherited memory and the clues left behind in the form of quilts made by ancestors to create abstracted landscapes and maps of Tennessee where they lived for generations.

Bill Brand Interview By Alex Morris, April 6, 2026, Bill Brand, Alexander Morris

HIST 4798/5798: Recording Memory: Methods and Uses of Oral History

In this 2026 interview, Bill Brand, a former corporate executive and, since 2023, a trustee on the Ohio University Foundation Board, discusses his lifelong connections to Ohio University (OU) and Athens, Ohio. An OU alum, Brand earned a Bachelor of Science from the Scripps College of Communication in 1987. He discusses what about OU—from when he first visited in the early 80s up until now—has continued to entice him into involvement with the university. In particular, he touches on the strong sense of community within both the university and Athens as a whole, which he asserts serves as a safe …

Interview No. 1842, Esperanza Quintana Martinez

Combined Interviews

Esperanza Martinez was born in 1935, in Las Cruses New Mexico and grew up in Chihuahua and El Paso. Esperanza was 90 years old at the time of the interview, as she reflects on how much the world has changed. Esperanza’s life was hard and sad but it is her family relationships that give her fulfillment in life. The relationship that she had with her husband (Jose Martinez) was one that she felt shortchanged in, and now that he has been dead for a few years she finds that it is important to voice her emotions. An important detail to …

The Brethren In China: Cross-Cultural Relationships Within An Imperial Structure, Sebastian S. Kochall

History and Political Science Student Scholarship

No abstract provided.

Interview No. 1845, Carlos Sierra

Combined Interviews

Carlos Sierra was born in Juarez, Chihuahua in 1958 and moved to El Paso, Texas when he was in the seventh grade. After mastering English in his ESL courses and completing his high school education at Bowie, he continued his education at EPCC and UTEP in business, gaining the knowledge to help his brother effectively run Sierra manufacturing. He has come to value education, continuing personal development outside of formal education and encouraging his own children to pursue bachelors degrees and beyond. Most of the discussion focuses on manufacturing in the Chamizal area, including the work study programs at local …

Interview No. 1835, Matrina Estrada

Combined Interviews

Martina Estrada was born and raised in Durango, Durango, Mexico. She recalled memories from her childhood and playing games such as canicas (marbles), dodgeball, and chinchilagua. In 1979, she immigrated to the U.S. when she was about 15 or 16 years old, and she learned English at the Lamar adult school. In El Paso, Estrada would spend some weekends dancing at the Montana Village dance club where she met her husband. She mentioned different aspects of her life in the city and about her time at the Hilos de Plata Senior center in South Central El Paso. Estrada shared insights …

Interview No. 1833, Concepcion Portillo-Cardona

Combined Interviews

Summary to be posted soon.

Interview No. 1832, Alma Peña

Combined Interviews

Summary to be posted soon.

Interview No. 1837, Guadalupe Luna

Combined Interviews

Guadalupe Luna shares about growing up in the Guardian Angel area of South El Paso.

This area has always been a close-knit community, based on family, religion, and culture. Luna went to the Guardian Angel Catholic School from pre-K to 8th grade and participated in many of the Catholic traditions and customs that were part of this community. Luna talked about many of the stores and businesses that were part of her everyday life and helped to develop a sense of community among neighbours through Nava’s grocery store, attending church bazaars, and enjoying dining at the many restaurants and recreational …

Interview No. 1841, Rubén Casas

Combined Interviews

This interview with El Pasoan Rubén Casas reflects on his childhood both in Ciudad Juárez and El Paso, as well as his experiences growing up in Segundo Barrio. Casas describes his early life in Juárez as centered around family, where relatives lived together on his grandmother’s property and spent time together daily. In 1959, when he was around ten or eleven years old, his family moved to El Paso after his mother wanted a different life for the family. The transition was difficult because he struggled to adapt to a new culture, environment, and language. Despite the challenges, he gradually …

Mark Stevens, Mark Stevens

St. Mary's University School of Law

Mark Stevens discusses his time as a law student at St. Mary’s University School of Law as well as his early legal career as a criminal defense attorney. He explains how he helped create the Criminal Justice Clinic and details memorable cases from his time as a supervising attorney there. Mark also discusses his teaching philosophy and how the clinic works with the community.

Interview No. 1836, Charlene Carrasco

Combined Interviews

Charlene Carrasco details her childhood growing up in Segundo Barrio, El Paso, Texas. Carrasco spent most of her childhood in an adobe house her grandfather built close to St. Ignatius Church. Like many in the community, Carrasco experienced poverty and dangerous environments. Those who lived in the community during this time all experienced constant shootings, stabbings, and exposure to gang violence. Carrasco recalls living constantly aware of her surroundings with her family, even practicing safety measures during drive-bys. Carrasco states that as everyone in the community was in the same position, there was a strong sense of community as neighbors …

A History Of Dance At The University Of South Carolina: Celebrating A 50-Year Legacy, Olivia Sherman

Senior Theses

Since its founding in 1976, the University of South Carolina’s Dance Program has developed from a small performance initiative into one of the nation’s leading collegiate dance programs. Despite its artistic achievements and community engagement, little scholarly work has traced the program’s evolution or its impact at USC and the broader South Carolina arts community. Existing documentation is largely preserved in departmental archival materials, most notably the Betsy Blackmon Dance Program Archival Binders, which compile decades of newspaper articles, programs, press releases, and commentary that chronicle the program’s first fifty years. This project investigates how the program has evolved in …

Oral History Of Ronald Lykins Conducted By Mallory Lough On March 12, 2026, Ronald Lykins, Mallory Lough

HIST 4798/5798: Recording Memory: Methods and Uses of Oral History

Ronald Lykins is a former professor within the College of Business at Ohio University. Raised in rural Adams County, Ohio, in a family facing significant economic hardships, Lykins grew up in a household with no running water or electricity. These early experiences shaped his work ethic, along with giving him a deep appreciation for helping others and granting opportunities. Ron enrolled at Ohio University as a first generation student, graduating with his MBA in 1967 and his PhD in 1971. Following his graduation, Ron developed a career in accounting and financial services, eventually founding his own accounting firm in 1969. …

Changing Mercy In Aotearoa New Zealand, Anna Nicholls Victoria University Of Wellington

Journal of Global Catholicism

This paper examines the evolving expression of Catholicity within the Mercy organization in Aotearoa New Zealand. It explores the impact of Vatican II, demographic shifts, and societal changes. Through interviews with lay leaders in Whānau Mercy Ministries, the religiosity, inclusive approach, and the tension between traditional Catholic identity and pluralism in the organization are explored. A pertinent discussion concerns how the organization uses a more secular portrayal of Catherine McAuley as a unifying figure for the religiously diverse audience. The author argues that while secularization influences the organization, it fosters human flourishing and community engagement, offering opportunities for growth rather …

The Untameability Of The Sacred: Votive Traditions At Notre Dame De Lourdes And El Santuario De Chimayó, Gabrielle Bibeau

Journal of Global Catholicism

This article compares divergent votive practices at Notre Dame de Lourdes in France and El Santuario de Chimayó in New Mexico. Lourdes’ embrace of modern aesthetic values—simplicity, order, and functional clarity—has led to the removal and tight regulation of most ex-votos. By contrast, Chimayó’s roots in Latin American Baroque aesthetics, with its emphasis on abundance, drama, and hybridity, create space for a vibrant proliferation of offerings. Drawing on Jacques Rancière’s theory of aesthetics and politics as the “distribution of the sensible,” the article shows how aesthetic judgments intertwine with clerical power to curate, constrain, and authorize pilgrims’ access to the …

Interview No. 1838, Victor J. Perches

Combined Interviews

Victor J. Perches recounts his childhood in South El Paso, along with his attendance at Douglass Elementary, Guillen Middle School, and Bowie High School in the 1970s and 1980s. According to Victor, Douglas Elementary was a very safe and supportive place. The teachers provided support for students who had difficulty succeeding due to economic problems in the neighborhood . He recalls there were meals, activities, and other events available to students who lived in Salazar Housing Project, making them less likely to join gangs due to being occupied. Perches talked candidly about the social situation in his area, poverty, gang …

Interview No. 1840, Norma Flores

Combined Interviews

This interview with El Pasoan Norma Flores reflects on her childhood growing up in Segundo Barrio and the strong family and community ties that shaped her life. Born in 1949 at Newark Methodist Maternity Hospital in South El Paso, she described growing up primarily with her grandmother on Grama St while her parents and siblings lived nearby on Frutas St. Norma shared vivid memories of her neighborhood life, including children playing outside together, helping with household chores and walking to school at Guardian Angel Catholic School. She recalled both joyful and difficult moments, such as spending summers outdoors with family …

Interview No. 1823, Sylvia Torresdey

Combined Interviews

Sylvia Torresdey (Sylvia Chavira), born in 1955 at El Paso’s Hospital Dieu, grew up as one of six sisters in a family that maintained a vibrant transnational life. While her parents, Juanita Payán and Don Nasiano Chavira, established a residence in El Segundo Barrio to ensure their daughters could attend school in El Paso, the family maintained a home in Juárez’s Colonia del Carmen. Torresdey describes a childhood of constant movement across the border, crossing the bridge daily or weekly to bathe, collect clothes, and share weekend meals with her parents in Juárez. This bilingual upbringing involved speaking Spanish at …

Austrian Again Book Talk, Cardozo Law Institute In Holocaust And Human Rights (Clihhr)

2025–2026 Flyers

The Cardozo Law Institute in Holocaust and Human Rights hosted a special book talk featuring author Anne Hand, discussing her memoir Austrian Again. In her book, Hand explores her journey to uncover her family’s hidden history during the Holocaust while pursuing Austrian citizenship, tracing her Austrian and Czechoslovakian roots through personal stories and historical records.

The program also featured Evelyn Konrad, Cardozo alumna and Holocaust survivor, who joined the conversation and shared her personal reflections. Moderated by Konrad, the event examined themes of identity, migration, heritage, and historical memory.

Charity Simone, Mark Naison, Anthony Abd-Al Shafi Rosado

Oral Histories

Simone’s path to leadership was inspired by her late mentor, Charles Foster, who encouraged her to be an active voice in their community. After seeing issues with building maintenance and a lack of clear communication, Simone ran for office and was elected Treasurer of her Building Association in 2023. Through this role, she noticed that community work is complex and needs navigating different opinions, yet the experience ultimately reinforced her belief that community is a “verb.” To her, it is an intentional, ongoing action that requires showing up every day to hold the system accountable.

A significant aspect of Simone's …

Parallel Concepts Found In The Thousand And One Nights And Sufi Hagiography, Walaa Kamal Emam Kamel

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis argues that The Thousand and One Nights functions as more than mere populist entertainment; rather, it constitutes a literary corpus imbued with Sufi mystical epistemologies that reflect the spiritual quests and Sufi concepts evident in hagiographical traditions. Through discourse and intertextual analysis of two Nights stories, “The City of Brass” and “The Porter and the Three Ladies of Baghdad,” alongside Farīd al-Dīn ʿAṭṭār’s Tadhkirat al-awliyāʾ, this study demonstrates how shared rhetorical strategies—specifically David Pinault’s Leitwörter analysis and L.A. Paul’s Transformative Experience concept—reveal a narrative and rhetorical emphasis on the metamorphosis of the self from worldly attachment toward …

Groove Goes The Distance: An Initial Inquiry Into Jazz Music In Egypt, Farida Gohar

Theses and Dissertations

Jazz music has been a historically contentious site of social, cultural, and political signification. From the violent subjugation that characterized its origins and aspirational freedom that animated its practice, to its transformation into a distinctly “American” music instrumentalized by the US State Department to counter Soviet influence, jazz’s capacity for the inscription of meaning is vast and regularly cause for debate. The particular configuration of jazz music in Egypt is no less complicated although seldom studied. This thesis ventures an initial mapping of the dynamics and negotiations that historically defined the initiation of “Egyptian” jazz, as well as the ones …

News Briefs, Marvin H. Jeter Iii, Joyce Shaw

Mississippi Libraries

News updates from Gunter Library at the Gulf Coast Research Laboratory and from the Mississippi Library Commission.

A Crown In Death: An (Expanded) Dramaturgical Approach To The Trojan Women Of Euripides, Stephanie Lester

Montview Journal of Research & Scholarship

In the action-packed, visually-oriented market for modern media, some may assume a 2,400-year-old Greek tragedy to be slightly past its expiration date, especially if it features little to no action onstage like in Euripides’ The Trojan Women. However, it is important to remember that literature is lost when the world fails to cherish it, so if a text survives that long, it may be worth another cursory glance. In this case, that glance involved a full dramaturgical study featuring qualitative script analysis of multiple translations of The Trojan Women with related texts to explore context, themes, common literary devices, and …

No Tech For Apartheid Memory: Oral Histories Of Google Worker Organizing, Zelda Montes

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

The NOTA Google NYC Digital Memory Archive is a digital memory project centering the worker narrative in tech labor struggles in the wake of the ongoing genocide of the Palestinian people. Rooted in my dual experiences as a Google Software Engineer and a No Tech for Apartheid organizer, this capstone project, initially created in 2024, seeks to combat the silencing around the nature of labor organizing through expanding upon the existing archive to incorporate oral history testimonies of NOTA organizers (notechforapartheidmemory.com/interviews). After conducting 4 oral history interviews with former Google workers currently based in NYC, the videos were …