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Articles 451 - 480 of 561
Full-Text Articles in Oral History
Interview No. 1009, Belizario Luna Pulido
Interview No. 1009, Belizario Luna Pulido
Combined Interviews
Mr. Luna worked in Arizona, California and Texas from 1951 to 1963; he recalls how he found out about the Bracero Program, the hiring process in rural areas, and the hardship braceros experienced outside contracting centers; additionally, he describes the medical examinations performed on him and the bracero facilities in Monterrey, Nuevo León, México, Chihuahua, Chihuahua, México, and Empalme, Sonora, México; he also details his trip to the border and the disinfecting stations he went through; furthermore, he recounts his first farming activities, the different jobs he performed, the different kinds of cotton he picked, and the details of his …
Interview No. 1004, Agustín González Flores
Interview No. 1004, Agustín González Flores
Combined Interviews
Mr. González briefly recalls his family, childhood, and early adolescence; the spreading rumors of first time braceros making a substantial amount of money aroused his curiosity in the Bracero Program; in 1943, he and one of his brothers enrolled in the program; together they went through the contracting center in Chihuahua, Chihuahua, México; he describes the official documents that were required, the humiliating medical exams they underwent, and how some of the men suffered from cold and hunger while waiting outside of the center; the guards at the center were also particularly cruel and even killed some of the men; …
Interview No. 1020, Jesús Sierra Espinoza
Interview No. 1020, Jesús Sierra Espinoza
Combined Interviews
Mr. Sierra grew up in Durango, Durango, México; he learned stonemasonry from his father; in 1956, he joined the Bracero Program due to economic hardship; he worked in Arizona, California, Colorado, New Mexico and Texas; additionally, he describes the hiring process he went through, the legal requirements of the program, how the bracero reception centers in Chihuahua, Chihuahua, México and Empalme, Sonora, México worked, and the different ports of entry to the United States; he recounts his experience at Rio Vista, a bracero processing center in Socorro, Texas; furthermore, he recalls his first activities farming, how work was distributed, their …
Interview No. 1008, José Guadalupe Jurado Pérez
Interview No. 1008, José Guadalupe Jurado Pérez
Combined Interviews
Mr. Jurado recalls crossing the United States-México border with his father; once there, they were hired as undocumented workers at a cotton field in El Paso, Texas; after one year, they both decided to enlist in the Bracero Program in Chihuahua, Chihuahua, México; he describes the bracero contracting center there, the questioning process they endured, the medical exams performed on them and the reception center in El Paso, Texas; a bracero from 1951 to 1956, he worked in New Mexico and Texas; he remembers daily activities on the farms, their housing, the furniture they were provided, and the food they …
Interview No. 1023, Enrique Torres Sánchez
Interview No. 1023, Enrique Torres Sánchez
Combined Interviews
Mr. Torres grew up with his paternal relatives; he worked sowing beans and corn during his childhood; due to economic hardship and debts held by his family, he joined the Bracero Program in 1952; he worked in Arizona, Arkansas, and Texas; additionally, he describes how he found out about the program, and the hiring process he encountered at the processing center in Durango, Durango, México; at this center, he details the humiliation he experienced during the medical exams conducted by American doctors, and then he continues to outline his bus trip to Reynosa, Tamaulipas, México; while at a bracero reception …
Interview No. 992, Rosendo Alarcón Carrera
Interview No. 992, Rosendo Alarcón Carrera
Combined Interviews
Mr. Alarcón briefly describes his childhood, adolescence, and family; he recalls that he initially heard of the Bracero Program through radio and newspaper advertisements; in 1957, he enrolled in the program with the hopes of earning money in order to return to México and open his own business; he details the different steps he went through at the contracting center in Monterrey, Nuevo León, México; in addition, he provides a vivid description of the traumatic medical examinations, the delousing process, and the overall horrible treatment he received from the American doctors; as a bracero, he worked in California and Texas, …
Interview No. 997, Antonio Chávez Betancourt
Interview No. 997, Antonio Chávez Betancourt
Combined Interviews
Mr. Chávez briefly recalls his family and childhood; his yearning for a better life led him to enlist in the Bracero Program in 1950; he began the hiring process at a contracting center in Chihuahua, México; while there he presented legal documents, and he was interviewed and medically examined; from there, he was taken to a processing center in Ysleta, Texas; as a bracero, he worked in Nebraska and New Mexico, harvesting and picking cotton, cucumbers, and sugar beets; he describes his various jobs and how he carried them out, the hours he worked, the different types of contracts and …
Interview No. 1003, Javier García Robles
Interview No. 1003, Javier García Robles
Combined Interviews
Mr. García briefly recalls his family, childhood, and adolescence; in 1957, during his first year of marriage, he found himself out of work, and he decided to enroll in the Bracero Program; in order to begin the hiring process, he had to take a bus from Durango, Durango, to Guadalajara, Jalisco, México, and from there to the border; he details the various procedures of the hiring process at the contracting center in Guadalajara and the reception center in El Centro, California, as well as the medical examinations he underwent; as a bracero, he worked in California picking and packaging tomatoes; …
Interview No. 1007, Miguel Jáquez López
Interview No. 1007, Miguel Jáquez López
Combined Interviews
Mr. Jáquez recalls his family, childhood, and adolescence; one of his brothers was a bracero and encouraged him to enroll in the Bracero Program; in 1953, he enlisted, and began the hiring process; he describes the contracting centers in Durango, Durango, Monterrey, Nuevo León, and Empalme, Sonora, México, and the entire hiring process, as well as the extensive medical exams; as a bracero, he worked in Arizona, Arkansas, and Texas, picking cotton; he goes on to explain what daily life was like on the farm, including work, wages, payments, contract amendments and extensions, housing, food, weekend outings, and common complaints; …
Interview No. 1015, Ignacio Pérez García
Interview No. 1015, Ignacio Pérez García
Combined Interviews
Mr. Pérez recalls crossing the México-United States border in 1949; later, he was hired as a bracero in Rio Vista, a processing center in Socorro, Texas; he worked in Colorado, New Mexico, and Texas; additionally, he describes the farming activities of braceros, their work hours, the housing provided for them, and the food they prepared; he recalls the wages he was paid, the different contracts he had, and how he sent money to his family in México; furthermore, he relates what braceros did during the weekends, and how U.S. citizens in town treated them; he expresses his feelings about the …
Interview No. 1063, Juan Torres Briones
Interview No. 1063, Juan Torres Briones
Combined Interviews
Mr. Torres recalls his family and childhood; he also discusses his adolescence, and the various types of work he performed; in 1959, he decided to enlist in the Bracero Program; he signed his first work contract in Hidalgo, Texas, which took him to work in Raymondville, Texas; while there he picked cotton for the first time in his life; as a bracero, he worked in California and Texas, picking asparagus, beets, cotton, cucumbers, tomatoes, and strawberries; he goes on to describe the various things he would do in his free time, such as go to church, the movies, or into …
Interview No. 1010, Ignacio Magallanes Hernández
Interview No. 1010, Ignacio Magallanes Hernández
Combined Interviews
Mr. Magallanes describes the economic situation that led him to the Bracero Program in 1954; he worked in California, Michigan, and Texas; additionally, he details what the contracting center in Empalme, Sonora, México was like, the treatment he received from American doctors, and his train trip to the México-United States border; he recalls daily activities on farms, the work braceros did, and the way they were paid; furthermore, he discusses the different types of contracts they had and their lengths; he states what braceros did during weekends, and the racism they encountered in the United States; he remembers the benefits …
Interview No. 1002, Heriberto Galvez Saldívar
Interview No. 1002, Heriberto Galvez Saldívar
Combined Interviews
Mr. Galvéz recalls his childhood, adolescence, and early adulthood; he vividly relives his experiences with his abusive step-father; in spite of his step-father’s disapproval, he decided to enroll in the Bracero Program, in 1963; he describes what the hiring process was like in the rural areas of México, including how the hands of potential braceros were often examined for calluses as signs of hard work; upon arriving at the contracting center in Durango, Durango, he underwent similar questioning and had to present official documents; from there, he was taken to a reception center in Eagle Pass, Texas, where he was …
Interview No. 1024, Alonso Venegas Batres
Interview No. 1024, Alonso Venegas Batres
Combined Interviews
Mr. Venegas worked as a bracero in California from 1959 to 1964; he recalls the hiring process in rural areas and the bracero contracting center in Empalme, Sonora, México; additionally, he states how Sonora ranchers had agreements with workers to allow them to enlist in the Bracero Program; he describes daily activities, the extreme weather conditions they were exposed to, their housing, and the food they prepared; furthermore, he discusses the different contracts offered to them, the way they were paid, and how they sent money to México; he also relates an occasion when he suffered from dehydration; moreover, he …
Interview No. 1060, Paulino Martínez
Interview No. 1060, Paulino Martínez
Combined Interviews
Mr. Martinez briefly describes his family and childhood; he saw other men coming to work in the United States, and he wanted the chance to do the same; in 1959, he married, and his wife became pregnant soon after; in 1961, he enlisted in the bracero program; his father-in-law knew people in the local government, which greatly helped him with the contracting process; he went through centers in Chihuahua, Chihuahua, Empalme, Sonora, and Monterrey, Nuevo León, México; while there, he was medically examined, which was painful; upon arriving in the United States, he underwent further assessments that were embarrassing, because …
Interview No. 1061, Jose Isabel Ortiz Hinojosa
Interview No. 1061, Jose Isabel Ortiz Hinojosa
Combined Interviews
Mr. Ortiz describes his childhood and adolescence; he initially learned about the Bracero Program through radio advertisements, and in 1954, he decided to enlist; in order to begin the hiring process, he and his brother traveled to the contracting center in Monterrey, Nuevo León, México; he goes on to describe what he went through at the center, including the huge crowds, waiting time, medical exams, provisions, and transportation services; upon crossing the border in Eagle Pass, Texas, he underwent a second set of medical exams, which consisted of blood samples and a delousing process; as a bracero, he worked in …
Interview No. 1064, Cayetano Vasquez G.
Interview No. 1064, Cayetano Vasquez G.
Combined Interviews
Mr. Vasquez briefly discusses his childhood and family; he recounts his time working in the mines of his hometown, in Concepción de Oro, Zacatecas, México; in 1951, he crossed into the United States illegally in order to work, and he was deported shortly thereafter; two years later, in 1953, he decided to enlist in the Bracero Program, and he traveled to Chihuahua, Chihuahua, México, to begin the process; after paying for the trip there, he had very little money left, and he had to wait two weeks before being hired; as a bracero he worked picking various fruits and vegetables …
Interview No. 975, Natibidad Mancinas
Interview No. 975, Natibidad Mancinas
Combined Interviews
Mr. Mancinas was married and living in Chihuahua, Chihuahua, México, when he learned about the Bracero Program; consequently his brothers also decided to become braceros; his decision to become a bracero was based on the financial difficulties he faced at the time; he was paid only two pesos per week in México; in El Trocadero, a processing center in Chihuahua, Chihuahua, Mexican soldiers kept order; many people were scared of the soldiers; his first work contract took him to Pecos, Texas, where he earned 75¢ a day for working in the cotton fields; he recalls that the African-Americans in Arkansas …
Interview No. 990, Tomás Zapata Castañeda
Interview No. 990, Tomás Zapata Castañeda
Combined Interviews
Mr. Zapata was hired as a bracero in 1956; his first work contract took him to New Mexico, where due to the rain, he was unable to work; in the various places he went, he worked in the cotton and beet fields; he recalls that the braceros would use signs to communicate with the ranchers; in Colorado, he was able to earn $12.00 per acre that he worked; he also recalls that during the month of December, work contracts were given for three months at a time, whereas during the month of May, work contracts were given for forty-five days …
Interview No. 982, Ignacio Nájera
Interview No. 982, Ignacio Nájera
Combined Interviews
When Mr. Nájera began the enrollment process in Chihuahua, Chihuahua, México he showed his Mexican military ID and a letter of recommendation; he recalls that sometimes when traveling from Chihuahua to El Paso, Texas, the braceros had to pay in order to get a place on a train or bus; his first work contract took him to the lettuce fields of Hereford, Texas; while there, he was burned with a liquid that was used to disinfect the lettuce; he worked in Montana for three years, where they paid him $14.50 per acre that he picked; in Pecos, Texas the braceros …
Interview No. 962, Guadalupe Balderrama
Interview No. 962, Guadalupe Balderrama
Combined Interviews
Mr. Baderrama briefly recounts his childhood, and how times were very hard for him and his family; he was only able to go to school for three years; he went to Chihuahua, Chihuahua, México, to begin the hiring process for the Bracero Program; in 1953, he was sent to El Paso, Texas; his first work contract took him to Canutillo, Texas; as a bracero, he worked in cotton, cucumber, and beet fields; he recalls that many braceros bought their groceries from the rancher’s stores; whenever the braceros had free time, they liked to play billiards.
Interview No. 976, Florencio Magallanes
Interview No. 976, Florencio Magallanes
Combined Interviews
Mr. Magallanes briefly recalls his childhood during which time he went to school for only three years; he was hired as a bracero in 1954, and worked in cotton and beet fields; he worked in Pecos, Texas, where the living conditions were harsh; there were between 200-300 braceros living in the same barracks; the food service was terrible as well; sometimes there was not enough food for all the braceros, but they had to pay for the food regardless of whether they ate or not; whenever they had free time, they liked to drink beer and have races.
Interview No. 968, Guadalupe Estrada Estrada
Interview No. 968, Guadalupe Estrada Estrada
Combined Interviews
Mr. Estrada initially learned of the Bracero Program while working the fields of his hometown in San Francisco de Borja, Chihuahua, México; his first work contract was in Lamesa, Texas, for twenty-eight days; he was paid $1.50 per pound of cotton that he picked; while working, he hurt his hand and a rancher took him to the hospital; he also worked in Dell City, Texas and Las Cruces and Deming, New Mexico; when he returned to México it was difficult for him to find work.
Interview No. 983, Roberto Orduño García
Interview No. 983, Roberto Orduño García
Combined Interviews
Mr. Orduño was hired as a bracero in 1956; in order to be hired, he lied about his working experience in the cotton fields; the rancher who hired him noticed that he did not have any experience working in the fields; instead he was put to weigh the cotton that each bracero picked; in 1958, he came back home to Cusihuiriachi, Chihuahua, México, because his father was very ill; he recalls how the ranchers would freely lend and borrow the braceros to each other depending on the amount of work to be done; during their free time, he and other …
Interview No. 984, José Parra
Interview No. 984, José Parra
Combined Interviews
Mr. Parra learned of the Bracero Program from an Immigration official while he was working illegally in Texas; the first time he was hired as a bracero, he was sent to Fort Bliss in El Paso, Texas, but then he had to return to Chihuahua, México, in order to renew his work contract after that; he recalls that there were centers strategically placed near towns where there were ranches so that the braceros could quickly be sent to the ranches where they would work; the main difference for him between working as a bracero and working illegally was the freedom …
Interview No. 965, Aurelio Delgado Moreno
Interview No. 965, Aurelio Delgado Moreno
Combined Interviews
In 1954, when Mr. Delgado became a bracero, he was married and had two children; he recalls that the officials from the United States chose braceros based on the way they walked and the condition of their hands; his first work contract took him to Pecos, Texas; the living conditions there were problematic because there were up to forty braceros per barracks; many of them stayed up late playing cards or talking; he remembers that there was one bracero that was particularly good at playing cards; as a result, this bracero and a rancher went from town to town playing …
Interview No. 985, Refugio Pérez Lolla
Interview No. 985, Refugio Pérez Lolla
Combined Interviews
When Refugio was only nine years old, he was put in charge of his father’s land because he was in the United States working as a bracero; his father worked in Dell City and Pecos, Texas, picking cotton and watering the fields; every six months his father would visit his family; Refugio decided to go to the United States to work because his father worked there; Refugio was unable to work for very long because he was apprehended by Immigration officials twice; he entered the United States through Palomas, Chihuahua, México, and walked for several days; he was hired in …
Interview No. 972, Elías García Venzor
Interview No. 972, Elías García Venzor
Combined Interviews
Upon entering the United States, Mr. García was sent to Rio Vista, a processing center in Socorro, Texas, where he was given a physical exam; those who were sick or physically unable to work were sent back to México; he worked for about ten or eleven years as a bracero; his four brothers were also braceros; his worst experience was when he worked in Pecos, Texas, because he earned very little money for very difficult work there; the living conditions were also difficult because there were between 200-300 braceros per barracks; because they had no showers, they filled steel tanks …
Interview No. 974, Eulalio Hernández Guzmán
Interview No. 974, Eulalio Hernández Guzmán
Combined Interviews
Mr. Hernández went to Chihuahua, Chihuahua, México, in the hopes of being hired as a bracero; he had to wait for two weeks before he could actually begin the hiring process; he and other braceros were given vaccinations, but none of them were ever told what the immunizations were for; his first work contract took him to Wyoming; he was transported there by airplane; he recalls that the trip took seven hours and that it was very noisy; as a result of the trip, he developed an ear ailment for which he was never medically treated; he remembers that in …
Interview No. 971, Francisco García Carrillo
Interview No. 971, Francisco García Carrillo
Combined Interviews
Mr. García recalls that during the hiring process, people from the Mexican states of Chihuahua, Durango, and Zacatecas received privileges; during the general hiring process, American officials would ask people if cotton and apples could be picked the same way; anyone who answered that they could, would be dismissed; Mr. García also remembers that he and his friends would drink milk prior to taking X-rays so that their lungs would appear healthy and clean; after working as a bracero for a time, he was promoted to steward; during the holidays, the braceros would celebrate by grilling chicken for dinner and …