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Full-Text Articles in Oral History

Lambers, Katherine Oral History Interview: Polio Survivors In Holland, Matthew Nickel Jul 2003

Lambers, Katherine Oral History Interview: Polio Survivors In Holland, Matthew Nickel

Polio Survivors in Holland

Oral Histories conducted with Polio Survivors in Holland, Michigan in 2003.

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Interview No. 1057, Bernardo Treviño Cervantes Jun 2003

Interview No. 1057, Bernardo Treviño Cervantes

Combined Interviews

Mr. Treviño recalls his childhood in Saltillo, Coahuila, México, and his work as a child on the farm; he remembers going through the hiring process in Zacatecas, Zacatecas, México, and signing his contract in Monterrey, Nuevo León, México; additionally, he describes his trip to the border, and being sprayed with pesticide at the United States-México border; he states that he worked as a bracero until 1964 in Michigan and Texas; there, he picked and irrigated cotton and cut cucumbers; furthermore, he details what his daily activities were like, and the good treatment he received in the United States; he relates …

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Interview No. 1052, Víctor Martínez A. Jun 2003

Interview No. 1052, Víctor Martínez A.

Combined Interviews

Mr. Martínez recalls growing up in Miacatlán, Morelos, México; he remembers that, as a child, he helped his family with farming chores; they harvested corn, peanuts, and rice for self consumption and profit; he states that he stopped attending school at an early age due to the ill treatment he received from his teacher, and that he learned to read and write as an adult; additionally he discusses how his father opposed him going to the United States for work; due to this, he hired a coyote to take him to Empalme, Sonora, México so he could enlist in the …

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Interview No. 1048, Felipe Corona Jun 2003

Interview No. 1048, Felipe Corona

Combined Interviews

Mr. Corona recalls the death of his father when he was eight years old, and how he helped his mother to sell rice in towns around Mazatepec, Morelos, México; he states that later he labored in sugar cane fields; additionally, he remembers that, in 1943, he was hired as a bracero, but decided to stay in México out of fear of what would happen in the United States due to the Second World War; he details why he signed up again for the Bracero Program in 1955, and discusses the treatment he received as a bracero; additionally, he details how …

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Pieksma-Delange, Sergio Oral History Interview: Polio Survivors In Holland, Matthew Nickel Jun 2003

Pieksma-Delange, Sergio Oral History Interview: Polio Survivors In Holland, Matthew Nickel

Polio Survivors in Holland

Oral Histories conducted with Polio Survivors in Holland, Michigan in 2003.

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Overway, Cherry Oral History Interview: Polio Survivors In Holland, Matthew Nickel Jun 2003

Overway, Cherry Oral History Interview: Polio Survivors In Holland, Matthew Nickel

Polio Survivors in Holland

Oral Histories conducted with Polio Survivors in Holland, Michigan in 2003.

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Fynewever, Ruth Oral History Interview: Polio Survivors In Holland, Matthew Nickel Jun 2003

Fynewever, Ruth Oral History Interview: Polio Survivors In Holland, Matthew Nickel

Polio Survivors in Holland

Oral Histories conducted with Polio Survivors in Holland, Michigan in 2003.

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Interview No. 988, Andrés Héctor Quezada Lara Jun 2003

Interview No. 988, Andrés Héctor Quezada Lara

Combined Interviews

Mr. Quezada quit school in order to go to the United States and work as a bracero; he was hired in Chihuahua, Chihuahua, México, but was sent to Querétaro, Querétaro to sign the job contract; his first contract took him to work in the Chicago Milwaukee Pacific Union railroads; after working there, he was sent to Kansas to work in the fields; while there, he organized a meeting to ask for better salary for the braceros; their pay was increased from 50¢ to 90¢ per hour; he was then sent to work in Missouri, where he had an accident while …

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Interview No. 989, Jesús Rodríguez Méndez Jun 2003

Interview No. 989, Jesús Rodríguez Méndez

Combined Interviews

Mr. Rodríguez learned of the Bracero Program while living in his hometown of Guerrero, Chihuahua, México; he traveled to Chihuahua, Chihuahua, in order to begin the enrollment process; he had to wait for two weeks to be called; during this time, he did not have money or a place to stay; he recalls that people coming from southern México waited for months at El Trocadero, the processing center in Chihuahua, Chihuahua, to be hired; when the braceros were officially hired, the United States government paid the Mexican government 10¢ per bracero; in 1963, he was hired and sent to work …

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Interview No. 981, Guadalupe Nuñez Jun 2003

Interview No. 981, Guadalupe Nuñez

Combined Interviews

Mr. Núñez recalls that during his enrollment process in Chihuahua, Chihuahua, México, there were only Mexican officers present; there were no American representatives; in addition, there were no exams or contracts given there; the United States government paid the Mexican government about 27¢ for each bracero that was hired; it was when they were moved to Rio Vista, a processing center in Socorro, Texas, that they were medically examined and signed contracts; he recalls that it was the last year of the program; his work contract lasted only three months, and took him to work in the cotton fields of …

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Interview No. 966, Raúl Enriquez González Jun 2003

Interview No. 966, Raúl Enriquez González

Combined Interviews

Mr. Enríquez recalls the privileges the people from Chihuahua, México, enjoyed during the hiring process; he raised cattle and worked in the cotton fields of the same ranch for six years; the ranchers he worked for spoke Spanish, and the rancher’s wife would bring him lunch while he was out working in the fields; although he also worked in Arizona and Texas, working in Colorado was the best experience he had as a bracero.

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Interview No. 970, Socorro Flores Pando Jun 2003

Interview No. 970, Socorro Flores Pando

Combined Interviews

When Mr. Flores began the hiring process in Chihuahua, Chihuahua, México, he was asked for a Mexican military ID and a recommendation letter; he came to the United States as a bracero when he was only eighteen years old; upon entering the United States, he was sent to El Paso, Texas, and then to Rio Vista, a processing center in Socorro, Texas, for a physical examination; while there, he signed a job contract and was sent to the ranch where he would work; he worked in Fort Stockton, Texas, for seven months watering the fields; his weekly salary was $116.00.

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Interview No. 980, Gonzalo Morales Jun 2003

Interview No. 980, Gonzalo Morales

Combined Interviews

Mr. Morales briefly recounts his childhood; in 1954, he heard about the Bracero Program; due to financial difficulties, he decided to go to Chihuahua, Chihuahua México, to begin the hiring process; he recalls how the Mexican President, Lázaro Cárdenas, prohibited people on ejidos from being hired as braceros; only people from ranches were allowed to be braceros; while working as a bracero he was unaware that the Mexican government received 10¢ per bracero that was hired from the ranchers; while waiting in Rio Vista, a processing center in Socorro, Texas, the food the braceros were given was rotten; the water …

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Fynewever, Forrest Oral History Interview: Polio Survivors In Holland, Matthew Nickel Jun 2003

Fynewever, Forrest Oral History Interview: Polio Survivors In Holland, Matthew Nickel

Polio Survivors in Holland

Oral Histories conducted with Polio Survivors in Holland, Michigan in 2003.

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Interview No. 986, Roberto Ponce Covarrubias Jun 2003

Interview No. 986, Roberto Ponce Covarrubias

Combined Interviews

Mr. Ponce and his brother decided to enroll in the Bracero Program due to their family’s financial difficulties; when they were taken to Rio Vista, a processing center in Socorro, Texas, they were deloused and given a blood test; they were offered help when filling out work contracts; Mr. Ponce’s first work contract took him to Las Cruces, New Mexico; the worst place he worked was Lamesa, Texas; he recalls that the graveyards near the ranch were said to have been for the braceros; he sent money to his family via certified mail.

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Interview No. 973, Mauro González Gómez Jun 2003

Interview No. 973, Mauro González Gómez

Combined Interviews

In 1947, Mr. González worked illegally in the United States; when he learned of the Bracero Program he returned to Chihuahua, Chihuahua, México, to begin the hiring process; while there, people were given the necessary papers to be hired as braceros; he recalls that the bracero center in El Paso, Texas, was the County Coliseum; people with less experience were sent to work in Pecos, Texas; he also recalls one bracero who was a Mexican soldier that liked to play poker; because of his gambling habits, he once killed another bracero who had won his money.

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Interview No. 967, Elías Espino Jun 2003

Interview No. 967, Elías Espino

Combined Interviews

Mr. Espino was first hired in Las Cruces, New Mexico, where he worked for a year; during his time as a bracero he worked in Colorado, Montana, New Mexico, and Arizona; he recounts his difficulties while working illegally; he also recalls the percentage the Mexican government received from the United States for each bracero worker; he lead a protest to stop the delousing process for braceros entering the United States; in addition, he also remembers that the Bracero Program was suspended for an entire year in 1959.

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Interview No. 1005, Felipe Hernández Zapata Jun 2003

Interview No. 1005, Felipe Hernández Zapata

Combined Interviews

Mr. Hernández briefly recalls his family, childhood, and early adolescence; the poverty he experienced growing up coupled with his desire to earn money and have a better life led him to enroll in the Bracero Program in 1952; he chronicles the hiring and contracting process he went through in Durango, Durango, México, including the requirements for enlisting and the medical exams he endured; from there he was transported to the border via bus; as a bracero, he worked in Texas, picking cotton, grapefruits, oranges, and peas; he explains how the various tasks were carried out, the different events that transpired …

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Interview No. 1017, Alejandro Ruteaga Rivas Jun 2003

Interview No. 1017, Alejandro Ruteaga Rivas

Combined Interviews

Mr. Ruteaga recalls his childhood and the stories his father told about the Mexican Revolution; in 1953, he entered the Bracero Program; he describes the hiring process in Durango, Durango, México, the requirements, and the medical exams performed by American doctors at Rio Vista, a processing center in Socorro, Texas; he worked in Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Louisiana, Michigan, Nebraska, New Mexico, Texas and Wyoming; additionally, he recounts daily activities, what braceros did on weekends, their contracts, and their wages; he states that ranchers hired undocumented workers along with braceros; furthermore, he relates how representatives from the Mexican consulate visited …

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Souter, Ken Oral History Interview: Polio Survivors In Holland, Matthew Nickel Jun 2003

Souter, Ken Oral History Interview: Polio Survivors In Holland, Matthew Nickel

Polio Survivors in Holland

Oral Histories conducted with Polio Survivors in Holland, Michigan in 2003.

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Interview No. 998, José Isabel Domínguez Hernández Jun 2003

Interview No. 998, José Isabel Domínguez Hernández

Combined Interviews

Mr. Domínguez briefly relates what his family and childhood were like; the extreme economic hardships his family faced convinced him to join the Bracero Program in 1952; as a bracero, he worked in California, Colorado, Michigan, and Texas, picking apples, cucumbers, grapes, oranges, and sugar beets; he describes the hiring process he went through at the contracting centers in Chihuahua, Chihuahua, and Irapuato, Guanajuato, México, as well as the long waiting periods and the disinfecting procedures; some of the braceros at these centers preferred working only in certain states; he details what life was like on the farms including the …

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Interview No. 1025, José Isidro Vidaña Canales Jun 2003

Interview No. 1025, José Isidro Vidaña Canales

Combined Interviews

Mr. Vidaña grew up with his mother after his father, a general in the Mexican Revolution, died; he remembers the Cristero Revolution, and explains why the conflict began; a bracero from 1942 to 1960, he worked in Arkansas, California, Michigan, Texas, and Washington; he describes the hiring process at the contracting center in Durango, Durango, México; additionally, he discusses the medical exams he endured, a train trip he took to the border, and his time at Rio Vista, a processing center in Socorro, Texas; he recalls their arrival at a military camp in Washington state, their daily activities on a …

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Interview No. 1019, David Salcido Martínez Jun 2003

Interview No. 1019, David Salcido Martínez

Combined Interviews

Mr. Salcido remembers a hard childhood that forced him to work at an early age so he could help his family economically; these hardships led him to enlist in the Bracero Program in 1964; he worked in Colorado cleaning sugar beet fields; additionally, he describes the hiring process, the contracting center in Chihuahua, Chihuahua, México, the difficulties he endured there, and the train trip to the México-United States border in cattle cars; furthermore, he explains how the reception center in El Paso, Texas worked, the disinfection procedures they endured and the signing of his contract; he continues to recount the …

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Interview No. 1021, Gonzalo Soto Núñez Jun 2003

Interview No. 1021, Gonzalo Soto Núñez

Combined Interviews

Mr. Soto grew up in Otáez, Durango, México; in 1954, he joined the Bracero Program; he worked in Arizona, California, Nevada, and Texas; recalling the hiring process, he discusses the contracting center in Mexicali, Baja California, México; he describes the medical exams performed by Mexican and American doctors, and the bracero reception center in El Centro, California; additionally, he remembers their daily activities, their housing, the food they ate and their curfew; he also details the kinds of contracts they had, the wages they got, and the treatment they received from foremen; furthermore, he relates what the relationship between braceros …

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Interview No. 991, Isidro Abrego Alvarado Jun 2003

Interview No. 991, Isidro Abrego Alvarado

Combined Interviews

Mr. Abrego briefly recalls his childhood and family; he remembers the financial difficulties he and his family faced; in light of their economic situation, he decided to enroll in the Bracero Program in 1953; he describes the various stages of the hiring process he underwent at the contracting center in Chihuahua, México, and later at Rio Vista, a processing center in Socorro, Texas; as a bracero, he worked in various places across the United States, including Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Texas, and Wyoming; he details the various types of work he performed in each location, the wages he earned, and contract …

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Interview No. 995, Ramón Ávila Hernández Jun 2003

Interview No. 995, Ramón Ávila Hernández

Combined Interviews

Mr. Ávila briefly recalls his family and childhood; he worked in construction for a time before deciding to join his father as a bracero in 1960; together they traveled to Vicente Guerrero, Durango, México, to begin the enrollment process, and from there they were transported by train to a contracting center in Empalme, Sonora; he describes the entire hiring process and the medical exams they underwent both in México and at the processing center on the border; as a bracero, he worked in California, picking asparagus and harvesting chile and tomato; he goes on to narrate what daily life on …

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Interview No. 1000, Agustín Flores Contreras Jun 2003

Interview No. 1000, Agustín Flores Contreras

Combined Interviews

Mr. Flores relives the hunger, sadness, and desperation that indelibly marked his childhood and adolescence; some of his uncles worked as braceros, and they had warned him that he would suffer greatly if he were to join them and work in the United States; in 1959, in spite of their admonitions, he decided to enroll in the Bracero Program with the hopes of alleviating some of his family’s financial burdens; he describes the long waiting periods during the hiring process he went through in Durango, Durango, México; in addition, he details the medical exams at the contracting center in Monterrey, …

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Interview No. 1012, Agustín Martínez Olivares Jun 2003

Interview No. 1012, Agustín Martínez Olivares

Combined Interviews

Mr. Martínez worked in California, New Mexico, and Texas from 1942 to 1959; he recalls the hiring process at the bracero contracting centers in Monterrey, Nuevo León, México and Tlaquepaque, Jalisco, México; additionally, he describes his train trip to the border, the disinfecting process at the reception center in Eagle Pass, Texas, and the signing of his contract; he relates details about the types of contracts they had, their lengths, and contract extensions; furthermore, he discusses their daily activities, the work they performed, their wages, their housing, and the food they ate; he also recounts how he saved money to …

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Interview No. 999, Salvador Esparza Carreño May 2003

Interview No. 999, Salvador Esparza Carreño

Combined Interviews

Mr. Esparza recalls his family, childhood, and adolescence; in spite of fears caused by rumors about World War II, he was encouraged by stories of successful first time braceros, and he decided to enroll in the Bracero Program in 1945; he went through the hiring process at a contracting center in Durango, México; from there, he was transported by train to Querétaro, then to Ciudad Juárez, Chihuahua, and finally to Chicago, Illinois; he describes his first impressions of Chicago and how well he was treated by the people there; in addition, he details the work, wages, payments, housing, food, and …

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Interview No. 1006, Roberto Heynes García May 2003

Interview No. 1006, Roberto Heynes García

Combined Interviews

Mr. Heynes recalls his childhood and adolescence; sometime later, he had heard of the Bracero Program and the rumors that Mexican workers could also be sent to fight in World War II; in spite of this, he and a friend enrolled in the program in 1944; they signed their contracts in Querétaro, Querétaro, México; from there, they were transported by train to the border; as a bracero, he worked in California and Illinois as a railroad line worker, shoveling gravel on roadbeds and repairing the rails; he goes on to explain, what his first activities for the railroad company were, …

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