Open Access. Powered by Scholars. Published by Universities.®

History Commons™

Open Access. Powered by Scholars. Published by Universities.®

University of Texas at El Paso

Discipline
Keyword
Publication Year
Publication
Publication Type
File Type

Articles 601 - 630 of 1937

Full-Text Articles in History

Interview No. 1193, Pedro García May 2006

Interview No. 1193, Pedro García

Combined Interviews

Mr. García remembers growing up in Cederal, San Luis Potosí, México, and what his life was like as a child; he recalls wanting to leave home in 1944 and traveling to Texas to work picking carrots and cotton; furthermore, he recounts working as an undocumented worker in Arizona, California, New Mexico and Texas; he states that he traveled to Blythe, California and that he couldn’t find work because all the jobs were filled by braceros; he describes trying to become a bracero, but being harassed and forced to leave while waiting in line; moreover, he expresses that braceros received better …

Go to article

Interview No. 1196, Jose S. Magana May 2006

Interview No. 1196, Jose S. Magana

Combined Interviews

Mr. Magana remembers growing up in Hierbabuena, Michoacán, México; he is oldest sibling in his family, and remembers how hard it was to grow up poor in a ranch in México; he recalls that his father was a bracero from 1956 to 1960, and worked in California cutting lettuce; furthermore, he recounts the memories his father shared with him about the bracero program; he highlights the hardships his father endured, and how his father refused to work in United States again after returning to México, because of the bad treatment he received; moreover; he describes how his father arranged for …

Go to article

Interview No. 1198, Jose B. Sanchez May 2006

Interview No. 1198, Jose B. Sanchez

Combined Interviews

Mr. Sanchez remembers growing up in San Miguel Epeja, Michoacán, México, and leaving home when he was thirteen years old because his father was very rough; he recalls working in agriculture throughout México; in 1953, he recounts how he was contracted in Gómez Palacio, Durango, México, the process he went through, and his trip to the border; furthermore, he describes crossing into the United States, and the medical exams he endured; he worked in Arizona and California picking cotton, lettuce, and melons; his last year as a bracero was in 1963; moreover, he states what the housing they received was …

Go to article

Interview No. 1191, Jesus Flores May 2006

Interview No. 1191, Jesus Flores

Combined Interviews

Mr. Flores remembers his childhood in Jalisco, México, and working in agriculture with his parents; he states that he did not go to school and that he worked in his parents’ ranch until he was twenty-two years old; furthermore, he recalls getting his first bracero contract in 1951; he describes what the contract lengths were like, how he renewed his contract every six months, and how he was able to remain a bracero after eighteen months by crossing into México and then signing up for it again; additionally, he explains the contracting process and having to pick cotton for twenty …

Go to article

Interview No. 1201, Severiano G. Villarreal May 2006

Interview No. 1201, Severiano G. Villarreal

Combined Interviews

Mr. Villarreal remembers growing up in Saguaripa, Sonora, México; he states that his father worked in agriculture, and after his death, he had to find work in the U.S.; he recounts that he worked in Yuma, Arizona planting and growing trees as an undocumented worker from 1951 to 1954; in 1954, his boss helped him become a bracero, and he worked for him until 1961; moreover, he recalls that he did not go to contracting centers in México, because he was contracted as a special bracero in San Luis Rio Colorado, Sonora, México through the La Asociación, a group in …

Go to article

Interview No. 1197, Francisco Murrillo Almaraz May 2006

Interview No. 1197, Francisco Murrillo Almaraz

Combined Interviews

Mr. Murrillo Almaraz remembers growing up in Tabasco, Zacatecas, México and working from an early age in agriculture; he states that he never had formal schooling; in 1942, he explains that he was contracted as a bracero in Mexico City, México; he details that many people, in 1942, did not want to join the bracero program because they were worried that they might be sent to the war; moreover, he worked in Arizona, California, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, and Washington; there he picked apples, beets, lemons, oranges, and peaches and also cut lettuce; he recalls the contracting process, his trip to …

Go to article

Interview No. 1199, Amadeo Tapia Q May 2006

Interview No. 1199, Amadeo Tapia Q

Combined Interviews

Mr. Tapia remembers growing up in Sahuaripa, Sonora, México, and his father’s work as a civil judge; he went to school until the fifth grade; in 1958, he joined the bracero program and worked in Arizona and California picking beets, cotton, lemons, lettuce, onions, and tomatoes, until 1962; he recounts how he joined the program in 1958 and 1959 through a government list, and how for the next two contracts he had to pick cotton to acquire them; he describes what the contracting process was like in Empalme, Sonora, México, the medical exams they got, and the embarrassment of having …

Go to article

Interview No. 1200, Salvador Beltran Torres May 2006

Interview No. 1200, Salvador Beltran Torres

Combined Interviews

Mr. Beltran Torres remembers growing up in Cosalá, Sinaloa, México, and working from an early age with his father in agriculture; he recalls how he heard about the bracero program, and what the contracting process was like in Empalme, Sonora, México; in 1956, he joined the bracero program, and then returned to it in 1958, because his father was killed; he worked in Arizona and California picking cotton, spreading seed, and watering until 1962; furthermore, he describes what life on the farm was like, the work he did, and the pay he received; he explains what his living arrangements were …

Go to article

Interview No. 1211, Pedro Carmona May 2006

Interview No. 1211, Pedro Carmona

Combined Interviews

Mr. Carmona remembers growing up in Tepatitlán, Jalisco, México the middle child of eight siblings; he states that his parents worked in agriculture; additionally, he recalls working from an early age, and not being able to attend school because of the need to earn a wage; he discusses how he heard about the bracero program in 1945, and his decision to join the program in 1948; furthermore, he explains how he had to pay a mordida or bribe to get on the list of workers for the program; he does not go into detail about the process of being contracted …

Go to article

Interview No. 1227, Guillermo C. Manzo May 2006

Interview No. 1227, Guillermo C. Manzo

Combined Interviews

Mr. Cervantes recalls his family and childhood; initially, the thought of working as a bracero was intimidating to him, because he knew how hard the work would be; when he was eighteen he traveled to Empalme, Sonora, México, with his father to enlist in the bracero program, but he became ill and had to go back home; in 1959, he returned to Empalme and began the contracting process; from Empalme he was transported by train to Mexicali, Baja California; oftentimes, he was treated poorly when he underwent physical exams and delousing procedures; he goes on to describe the various worksites, …

Go to article

Interview No. 1226, Eusebio Hernandez May 2006

Interview No. 1226, Eusebio Hernandez

Combined Interviews

Mr. Hernandez briefly mentions his family, childhood, and adolescence; while working at a gas station in Guadalajara, Jalisco, México, he heard about contracts for the bracero program; in order to receive the proper documentation for the program he had to pick two thousand kilograms of cotton before being sent to the contracting center in Empalme, Sonora; he describes the journey from the centers to the border and the physical exams and delousing process he underwent as rude and embarrassing; as a bracero he worked in the fields with crops such as beets, cotton, lettuce, and onions; furthermore, he details the …

Go to article

Interview No. 1243, Marcos Ruíz May 2006

Interview No. 1243, Marcos Ruíz

Combined Interviews

Mr. Ruíz briefly talks about his life in México; when he was seventeen years old, after he completed his military service, he moved to Mexicali, Baja California, México, where he learned about the bracero program; he went through the contracting center in Guadalajara, Jalisco, México; from there, he was transported by train to the border, where he was stripped and medically examined; many men fainted when blood samples were collected, because they had not eaten; worse yet, they were forced to strip in spite of the women present; an American official told them it did not matter, made them bend …

Go to article

Interview No. 1252, Vidal Tafoya May 2006

Interview No. 1252, Vidal Tafoya

Combined Interviews

Mr. Tafoya briefly talks about his family and what his life was like growing up in México; he recalls that a great flood ruined all the crops, which led to government officials giving out cards to enlist in the bracero program on several ejidos; he went to Empalme, Sonora, México, where he encountered difficulties, because he had not completed his military service; eventually, he was able to pass through to the center in Mexicali, Baja California, México, where he was examined and fumigated; he was then transported by bus to the San Joaquin Valley Association where ranchers chose the workers …

Go to article

Interview No. 1254, Salvador Velazco May 2006

Interview No. 1254, Salvador Velazco

Combined Interviews

Mr. Velazco talks about his family and what his life was like growing up; he recalls that at first, people were afraid of getting sent off to war if they enlisted in the bracero program; Salvador initially came to the United States, in 1947, without documents; roughly a month later, he went to the Coachella Valley Farmer’s Association (CVFA) and acquired a bracero contract; as a bracero, he labored in the fields of California, picking and packing various crops and driving a tractor until 1960; he goes on to detail housing, accommodations, amenities, provisions, duties, routines, payments, remittances, treatment, friendships, …

Go to article

Interview No. 1258, Brijido Solíz May 2006

Interview No. 1258, Brijido Solíz

Combined Interviews

Mr. Solíz talks about his family and what his life was like growing up; in 1955, he was living in Poza Rica [de Hidalgo], Veracruz, México, when he decided to enlist in the bracero program; at the time, he was working on an ejido, but he was not earning enough to make a living; he went to Mexicali, Baja California, México to begin the contracting process; upon crossing into the United States he was medically examined and fumigated; on some occasions, he was able to obtain a specialized workers contract, as a palmero, or date picker, which allowed him to …

Go to article

Interview No. 1209, Marcelino Burcíaga May 2006

Interview No. 1209, Marcelino Burcíaga

Combined Interviews

Mr. Burcíaga recalls growing up in Canatlan, Durango, México; he states that his father was a carpenter and a shoemaker; at an early age, he began working in agriculture; he states that in 1961 he decided to join the bracero program because of financial difficulties; he describes being contracted in Mexicali, Baja California, México and being sent to Empalme, Sonora, México for processing; while in Empalme, he states that he was given thorough medical exams; he details the treatment he received in that center, and then he explains how he was transported to the United States-México border; once he became …

Go to article

Interview No. 1206, Agustin Bautista May 2006

Interview No. 1206, Agustin Bautista

Combined Interviews

Mr. Agustin Bautista recalls growing up in Jiquilpan, Michoacán, México; he states that he is the youngest sibling in his family; additionally, he explains that he was contracted for the first time on 1943, at Empalme, Sonora, México; he details how the contracting and processing of braceros was done, the treatment they received in Empalme, and how they were transported to the United States-México border; furthermore, he explains how officials had braceros shave their heads before crossing into the United States to prevent lice from spreading and how they were deloused; he relates how he worked in Arizona, California, Oregon, …

Go to article

Interview No. 1216, Catarino J. Durán May 2006

Interview No. 1216, Catarino J. Durán

Combined Interviews

Mr. Durán briefly talks about his family and adolescence; several people in his community worked as braceros and returned home with new clothes and money, which was what he wanted for himself; in 1954, when he was twenty years old, he took a bus from his hometown to Mexicali, Baja California, México, where he enlisted in the bracero program; his first contract took him to Sacramento, California, to pick tomatoes for a cannery; later he worked in Stockton and Tracy, California; he goes on to describe how tiring it was to stay hunched over all day working in the fields; …

Go to article

Interview No. 1212, María Serrano, María Carmona May 2006

Interview No. 1212, María Serrano, María Carmona

Combined Interviews

Ms. Carmona and Ms. Serrano discuss their childhoods and what life was like in México for them; they both explain how the bracero program impacted them directly; specifically, Ms. Carmona describes the hardships her family endured while her father worked as a bracero; she states that it was hard to never know when her father would return; additionally, she explains how her mother coped with the situation and how the children had to work from an early age to help make ends meet; for Ms. Serrano, the bracero program impacted her through her marriage; she relates how hard it was …

Go to article

Interview No. 1231, Cipriano Moreno May 2006

Interview No. 1231, Cipriano Moreno

Combined Interviews

Mr. Moreno briefly speaks about his family; in 1960, when he was twenty-three years old, he decided to enlist in the bracero program; he signed up in his hometown of Irapuato, Guanajuato, but he was sent to Empalme, Sonora; he was assigned a number based on his home state, and once he was called, he was transferred to Mexicali, Baja California, México, and then to El Centro, California; while there, he was stripped, medically examined and deloused; as a bracero, he completed two contracts and labored in the fields of California, cleaning, pruning and picking beets, cantaloupe, grapes, lettuce and …

Go to article

Interview No. 1210, Gregorio Canseco May 2006

Interview No. 1210, Gregorio Canseco

Combined Interviews

Mr. Canseco talks about several of his family members serving in the bracero program; in 1948, he also enlisted in the program out of necessity; he went through contracting centers in Chihuahua, Chihuahua, Monterrey, Nuevo León, Irapuato, Guanajuato and Empalme, Sonora, México; in Chihuahua, soldiers kept order at the center, and if the men did not follow instructions, they were beaten; they suffered greatly just to be braceros, including being stripped, medically examined and deloused; although he went to the centers with family and friends, they were inevitably separated; as a bracero, he labored in the fields of Arkansas, California …

Go to article

Interview No. 1215, Leonardo Chavira Carrillo May 2006

Interview No. 1215, Leonardo Chavira Carrillo

Combined Interviews

Mr. Chavira briefly mentions his family; in 1948, he came to the United States as an undocumented worker, but he was later able to work for the same employer through the bracero program, and yet again later when he permanently immigrated; he initially paid a coyote to help him go through the process at the contracting center in Irapuato, Guanajuato; in addition, he later went to centers in Empalme, Sonora, and Mexicali, Baja California; he also describes the physical examinations he underwent while at these centers and transportation from there to the border; while in the program he worked in …

Go to article

Interview No. 1204, Juan Aguilar Lopes May 2006

Interview No. 1204, Juan Aguilar Lopes

Combined Interviews

Mr. Aguilar Lopes remembers his childhood growing up in Jiquilpan, Michoacán, México; he states he worked from an early age in agriculture, resulting in him never attending a formal school; as an adult, he taught himself to read and write, and his wife helped him learn to manage his finances; in 1950, he entered the United States as an undocumented worker, and shortly thereafter decided to join the bracero program; he explains he was contracted the first time in Mexicali, Baja California, México and details what the contracting process was like; specifically, he describes how officials performed medical exams, which …

Go to article

Interview No. 1217, Anselmo Gamez May 2006

Interview No. 1217, Anselmo Gamez

Combined Interviews

Mr. Gamez briefly talks about his family and childhood; initially, he learned about the bracero program through word of mouth, because people were often given the necessary credentials for the program in town; he went through contracting centers in Guadalajara, Jalisco, and Empalme, Sonora; while in Empalme, a representative from an American company was there to recruit workers; he also describes the journey from the centers to the border; as a bracero he worked primarily in California picking cantaloupe, cotton, dates, and lettuce, and he also used to water the crops; he goes on to detail the various worksites, duties, …

Go to article

Interview No. 1224, J. Cruz Gonzalez May 2006

Interview No. 1224, J. Cruz Gonzalez

Combined Interviews

Mr. Gonzalez talks about his family and what his life was like growing up; in 1947, he learned about the bracero program and decided to enlist; he describes the contracting process he underwent, including medical exams and fumigation procedures, as well as the centers he went through in Ciudad Juárez, Chihuahua and Mexicali, Baja California, México; once he obtained a contract under a different name and was sent back, because they recognized who he was; as a bracero, he labored in the fields of Arizona, California and New Mexico, picking alfalfa, beets, cotton, lettuce, pears, plums and tomatoes; he completed …

Go to article

Interview No. 1239, Gonzalo Quiroz May 2006

Interview No. 1239, Gonzalo Quiroz

Combined Interviews

Mr. Quiroz talks about getting married in 1957 and having his first child shortly after; the following year, in 1958, he decided to enlist in the bracero program, because he was not earning enough money; he was able to get on the list of available workers, and he went through the center in Empalme, Sonora, México, where he suffered greatly due to the long wait and scarcity of food; from there, he was transported by train to Mexicali, Baja California, México, before going through Calexico, California, where he was stripped, medically examined and deloused; as a bracero, he labored in …

Go to article

Interview No. 1241, Isabel Rodríguez May 2006

Interview No. 1241, Isabel Rodríguez

Combined Interviews

Ms. Rodríguez remembers her father, Francisco, enlisting in the bracero program in 1960, when she was roughly five years old; he later obtained his second contract in 1963; as a bracero, he labored in the fields of California, picking lettuce, onions, radishes and squash; when he initially left, her mother and two oldest brothers had to care for their animals and the crops he had already planted, including beans, corn and squash; in addition, her mother also had another plot of land with sugar cane; they had to hire men with mules to help bring in the crops, and the …

Go to article

Interview No. 1242, Juan Rosanes May 2006

Interview No. 1242, Juan Rosanes

Combined Interviews

Mr. Rosanes briefly talks about his family and what his life was like growing up; for a brief time, he worked in the United States without proper documentation; later, he picked cotton in Sonora, México, to obtain the necessary papers to enlist in Empalme, Sonora, México, where he was medically examined; as a bracero, he labored in the fields of California and Michigan, picking cucumbers, grapes, lemons, oranges and tomatoes; he goes on to detail the worksites, camp sizes, housing, accommodations, amenities, provisions, duties, routines, treatment, friendships, payments and recreational activities, including trips into town; on occasion, Mexican officials visited …

Go to article

Interview No. 1234, Lucio Nuñez May 2006

Interview No. 1234, Lucio Nuñez

Combined Interviews

Mr. Nuñez briefly talks about his family; he was working in Culiacán, Sinaloa, México, when he first heard about the bracero program; he decided to enlist, and three months later, he went to Empalme, Sonora, México, where he waited a week and a half to obtain a contract; he offers a detailed description of the entire process he underwent in México and the United States, including being stripped, medically examined and fumigated, which was especially humiliating and discriminatory; many men even broke out into rashes from the poison used during fumigation; as a bracero, he labored in the fields of …

Go to article

Interview No. 1240, Ezequiel R. Serrano, María Serrano May 2006

Interview No. 1240, Ezequiel R. Serrano, María Serrano

Combined Interviews

Mr. Serrano remembers his older brother convincing him that they should join the bracero program together; they went to Distrito Federal, México to obtain a contract, because they were looking for railroad workers; Ezequiel said he was twenty-two years old, when he was really only eighteen to meet the age requirement for enlisting; as part of the contracting process, he was stripped, medically examined and deloused; moreover, he mentions that when some men had hemorrhoids, they would go to the bathroom immediately before they were examined and not wipe in order to hide the hemorrhoids; they would get in trouble …

Go to article

First Prev Next Last