Oral History Commons^™

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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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.

Interview No. 1284, Cayetano Loza Ornelas

Combined Interviews

Mr. Loza talks about the hacienda where he grew up and how it gradually changed over time, eventually becoming a city; in addition, he explains what it was like living and working on an ejido; in 1942, government officials went to ranches in buses to enlist and take people for the bracero program; he describes the indecision many men faced with regard to joining the program, working on the hacienda, or taking over an ejido; although he never became a bracero, his brother, José, and two sons, Juan and Manuel, did; Cayetano discusses how his sons were able to get …

Interview No. 1285, María Concepción Loza-González

Combined Interviews

Ms. Loza-González talks about her family and what it was like for her growing up; her older brother, Juan, worked as a bracero in Michigan and Texas; he often sent money home to his mom to help care for his siblings and send them to school; María describes how hard it was for the family to survive while he was gone; the entire family had to adapt to his absence, including changes in their daily chores for working the land and caring for the animals; it was especially difficult to wait for word from him, because the mail took so …

Interview No. 1289, Lucina González Loza

Combined Interviews

Ms. González talks about her family and what her life was like growing up; in 1938, when she was fifteen years old, she married Cayetano Loza Ornelas, who was twenty-two years old; a year later, they had their first son, Juan; they went on to have thirteen children in total, six boys and six girls, but one son passed away; two of their sons, Juan and Manuel, enrolled in the bracero program; Juan enlisted when he was roughly thirty years old, and two years later, Manuel joined him at the age of twenty; although they did not earn much, the …

Interview No. 1614, John Alvarado

Combined Interviews

John Alvarado witnessed what at the time was one the most fatal traffic accidents in New Mexico involving the Clifford Family; he was attending New Mexico State University at the time in 1979-1980, he was in car with his friends Steve Glover, Ronny Kemp, he was going to go watch the horse races in Ruidoso; was a passenger while Steve Glover was driving; he describes a vehicle that he believes to have been a Ford Bronco in front of them was attempting a U-turn on the road when it hit an eighteen wheeler coming in the opposite direction near the …

Interview No. 1283, Matiana Ibarra Quintana

Combined Interviews

Ms. Ibarra recalls her childhood and learning to read at the age of fourteen through a cultural mission program; by the time she was twenty, she was married and pregnant with her first child; her first born son was two years old when her husband enlisted in the bracero program; he went to Irapuato, Guanajuato, México, and waited for fifteen days before getting called; while he was gone she suffered greatly; shortly after he left, their son became very ill and ultimately passed away; it was not until later that she learned the day her husband left for the United …

Interview No. 1288, J. Carmen Quezada Morales

Combined Interviews

Mr. Quezada talks about his family, his parents in particular and their variety of trades; when the bracero program started in 1942, he often heard people talk about it; many men were afraid of being taken to war if they enlisted; in 1949, he joined the program, and he went with a group of friends to the contracting center in Irapuato, Guanajuato, México; he describes the long waiting time and the medical exams, including injections and blood samples; as a bracero, he labored in the fields of California, Colorado, Texas, and Wyoming, picking, cleaning, and pruning different fruits and vegetables; …

Interview No. 1280, Librado Briceño Domínguez

Combined Interviews

Mr. Briceño talks about his family and what life was like growing up on a ranch; his older brother, Guadalupe, and a number of his friends and cousins worked as braceros; when Librado was roughly twenty-three years old, he decided to enlist in the bracero program with his brother; they left for Empalme, Sonora, México, and Librado left behind his wife and two children; he describes the process of getting his name on the list of available workers, which included payment, even if not using a coyote; while waiting in Empalme, sometimes for up to two months, he worked on …

Interview No. 1287, Mercedes Pérez Salazar

Combined Interviews

Ms. Pérez talks about her family and what life was like growing up with her grandmother; in addition, she remembers always having to carry water home from the well, which was far away; she describes meeting José Biurquis Hernández and their ensuing courtship; when she was twenty-four years old, they were married; they lived with his mother and sisters, and they all got along very well; José worked selling ice and sweet potatoes in town; a year later, José and Mercedes had their first daughter; not long after, he was not making enough money, and he decided to enlist in …

Interview No. 1281, Plutarco Chávez Ruiz

Combined Interviews

Mr. Chávez talks about his family and growing up on a ranch; when he was roughly sixteen years old, his older brother enlisted in the bracero program; a number of his friends did as well, so he often heard about the program; by the time he was twenty-four years old, he was married and had two children; hoping for a better life, he also enlisted as a bracero; he describes the difficulties he faced in Empalme, Sonora, México, and what it was like for him while he waited there; in addition, he underwent brief physical exams while there and much …

Interview No. 1282, Dionisio Hernández Canchola

Combined Interviews

Mr. Hernández recalls that sometime during the late fifties or early sixties, he enlisted in the bracero program, and he went through a contracting center in Monterrey, Nuevo León, México; he comments that he went with one of his brothers-in-law, but they were separated during the x-ray portion of their processing; they did, however, meet up later while in the United States, and they picked cotton together; as a bracero, Dionisio labored in the fields of California and Texas until the program ended in 1964; he goes on to briefly recount the different worksites, housing, payment, treatment, and recreational activities; …