Oral History Commons^™

Interview No. 1102, Ismael Z. Nicolás Osorio

Combined Interviews

Mr. Osorio briefly discusses his childhood and adolescence; he went to school only through the sixth grade, because there were no secondary schools in his hometown; while searching for a school, he became aware of the bracero contracting center in México, Distrito Federal; in spite of the rumors he had heard that he might have to fight in the war as a bracero, he decided to begin the enrollment process in 1944; he initially began the procedures by paying to get his name on the county’s list of workers in Oaxaca, México; from there, he traveled to Ciudad México, and …

Interview No. 1101, J. Jesus Hernandez Medrano

Combined Interviews

Mr. Hernandez briefly recounts his childhood and adolescence growing up on a farm; he would often help his father work the land and care for the animals; in 1944, he went to México, Distrito Federal, to begin the enrollment process for the Bracero Program; he describes the processing center and the various procedures he underwent there, including the medical exams and the train trip to Ciudad Juárez, Chihuahua, México; as a bracero, he picked cotton as well as a range of fruits and vegetables; he goes on to describe his daily routine, the living arrangements, what he did during his …

Interview No. 1103, Pedro Del Real

Combined Interviews

Mr. Del Real describes how he initially heard of the Bracero Program through word of mouth; in 1952, when he began the enrollment process, he was already married and had children; he went through contracting centers in Chihuahua, Chihuahua, México, and Empalme, Sonora; there were huge crowds of people at these centers, which proved to be problematic due to the long waiting periods; he explains the procedures he underwent, including the medical exams and the delousing process; furthermore, he describes the delousing procedures as discriminatory; as a bracero, he was able to obtain eight working contracts, which took him to …

Interview No. 1104, Ma. Irma Davalos

Combined Interviews

Ms. Davalos recalls her childhood, and how she learned about farming from her father when she was only five years old; he was very strict with her, and she would often get in trouble or yelled at for not doing things correctly; when she was about six years old, her father came to the United Stated to work as a bracero because they were in desperate need of money; she remembers that while he was away, he would often send letters, but not necessarily money; on the occasions when he was able to send money, it was a great help; …

Interview No. 1105, Audmaro G. Zepeda

Combined Interviews

Mr. Zepeda recalls his childhood and adolescence; because his uncles had worked as braceros, he knew that would be his one chance for a better future; in 1957, he began the hiring process by paying $300.00 to go on the county’s list of eligible workers; he then went to the contracting center in Empalme, Sonora, México, and he was sent by train to Mexicali, Baja California, Mexico, where he was medically examined and deloused; as a bracero, he worked throughout California, picking beets, broccoli, cauliflower, celery, chile, and cotton; when he worked in Salinas, California, there were between 400 and …

Interview No. 1575, Sally Gutierrez Mcquinn

Combined Interviews

Ms. Gutierrez briefly describes her childhood and family; in the early 1940s she was hired as a bookkeeper for an operational office in Gilroy, California; she was in charge of payroll for the braceros, and she saw firsthand that 10 percent was discounted from their salary; it was her understanding that there was an agreement between the United States and Mexico that the money would be mailed to Mexico so that the braceros would have it available to them when they returned; bracero complaints went through her, because she was the only one in the office; she recalls one instance …

Interview No. 1586, Fred Deyoung

Combined Interviews

Mr. DeYoung describes the work-a-day lives of Braceros on a lettuce harvesting crew; he defines “hoeing and thinning” and the difference between this type of work and “harvesting;” he details the process of harvesting lettuce and provides job descriptions for the multiple roles this process requires including, cutters, spreaders, clampers, stitches, wind rowers, and loaders; he lists the type of clothing items the workers would wear in the fields; he discusses the quality and type of food Braceros ate, as well as the conditions of the labor camps and barracks; Mr. DeYoung also describes the leisure and weekend activities of …

Ua1b2/1/9 Oral History Part Ii, Paula Trafton, Owen Lawson

WKU Administration Documents

Part II of an interview conducted by Paula Trafton with Owen Lawson former WKU Physical Plant director.

Ua1b2/1/8 Oral History Part I, Paula Trafton, Owen Lawson

WKU Administration Documents

Part I of an interview conducted by Paula Trafton with Owen Lawson former WKU Physical Plant director.

Interview No. 1111, Guadalupe Gonzalez

Combined Interviews

Mr. Gonzalez recalls growing up in Aguililla, Michoacan, México; he states that he never received formal schooling, and was taught by an aunt to read and write; additionally, he details that he began working at the age of eight; he explains that he joined the Bracero Program after hearing about it from men who had already done it; furthermore, he describes picking cotton and fruits in the United States; he also discusses laboring as an undocumented worker; to conclude, he expresses that he has positive memories of the program.

Interview No. 1106, Juan Baez Barragán

Combined Interviews

Mr. Baez briefly describes his family and childhood; later, he worked in the United States illegally for a short time before returning to México through Mexicali, Baja California, and obtaining a bracero contract in 1949; he goes on to explain the requirements, including how their hands were checked, physical exams, x-rays, and blood samples; consequently, he underwent similar procedures when going through the contracting center in Empalme, Sonora; he also talks about transportation from the centers to the border by bus and train; as a bracero he worked in Arizona and California; he also details the various worksites, daily routines, …

Interview No. 1112, Alberto Montes

Combined Interviews

Mr. Montes recalls growing up in Huejuquilla el Alto, Jalisco, México with seven siblings; he states that at age eleven he began working in agriculture; he explains that he heard about the Bracero Program in 1952, and decided to enlist in 1953; additionally, he details what the hiring process was like in Empalme, Sonora, México; he describes what the medical exams were like, the process he went through, and his trip to the border; furthermore, he remembers working in New Mexico picking cotton, and what his daily work day was like; he presents what food braceros had, what their living …

Interview No. 1113, Raúl Canela

Combined Interviews

Mr. Canela recalls growing up in Emiliano Zapata, Michoacán, México; he states that he attended formal schooling through the high school level, and afterwards began working in agriculture; additionally, he explains that he joined the Bracero Program at age twenty-two; as a bracero, he worked in California picking tomatoes; he describes the hiring process at Empalme, Sonora, México, the medical exams he endured, and the disinfection process; furthermore, he details what daily life was like on the camp, the length of his work week, and the treatment he received; he remembers that the braceros would often play soccer and boxing …

Interview No. 1108, Matilde Gallegos

Combined Interviews

Mr. Gallegos recalls growing up in Benito Juárez, Chihuahua, México; he states that he began working in agriculture when he was twelve years old; at age eighteen, he remembers traveling to Chihuahua, Chihuahua, México to join the Bracero Program, and describes the conditions he endured there; he details that he had to spend twenty days waiting to be contracted, a time he spent homeless; additionally, he explains the contracting process, the medical exams he endured, and how he was transported to the United States in a train car that was normally used for animals; he worked in Texas picking cotton; …

Interview No. 1110, Justo G. Montes

Combined Interviews

Mr. Montes briefly mentions his family and childhood; when he was eighteen years old, he came to the United States illegally, but shortly thereafter he enlisted in the bracero program; he often went through contracting centers in Chihuahua, Chihuahua, Empalme, Sonora, and Monterrey, Nuevo León, México; the medical exams he underwent included x-rays and blood samples; he goes on to chronicle the various worksites, duties, daily routines, living conditions, amenities, provisions, payments, deductions, remittances, contract renewals, and recreational activities; in addition, he explains that he spent three years in Big Spring, Texas; he stayed there year-round and handled all aspects …

Interview No. 1109, Luis Zamudio

Combined Interviews

Mr. Zamudio recalls his childhood in Moroleón, Guanajuato, México, and how he started working with his father in agriculture at age eleven; he states that, at age eighteen, he joined the Bracero Program; as a bracero he worked in Arkansas, California and Texas picking cotton and lettuce; additionally, he remembers what life was like in the bracero camps, how they had to cook their own food, and the hardships they endured in the fields; he describes how he renewed his contract, and the treatment he received from foremen; furthermore, he details how he was able to secure residency in the …

Interview No. 1114, Pedro Cantor

Combined Interviews

Mr. Cantor recalls his childhood in Sacualco de las Torres, Jalisco, México; he remembers attending school as a child, but stopping his education because he was often hit by the teacher; additionally, he describes how he began working in agriculture at age fourteen, and how he decided to join the Bracero Program in 1956 with his brothers; he details the process he went through at the contracting center in Empalme, Sonora, México, his trip to the border, and his experience entering the United States; he worked in California gathering lettuce and picking peppers; furthermore, he outlines how daily life was …

Interview No. 1115, María Cantor

Combined Interviews

Mrs. Cantor briefly recalls her childhood and the financial difficulties her family endured; she recalls that her father decided to enlist in the bracero program in 1946; she recalls how difficult it was for her father to become a bracero; her father was contracted approximately four or five times; she mentions that he went through a processing center in Empalme, Sonora, México; as a part of the process, he was medically examined, vaccinated and deloused; she goes on to talk about his payments and his correspondence with her mother; as a bracero, her father worked for the railroad and labored …

Interview No. 1107, Faustina Flores

Combined Interviews

Ms. Flores recalls growing up in Tapalpa, Jalisco, México, never going to school, and marrying Timoteo Flores when she was nineteen; she states that she never learned to write, but does read some; additionally, she relates how they were forced to move to Venustiano Carranza, Jalisco, México after having their eighth child due to a lack of work in their hometown; they later had three more children; she explains how her husband found out about the Bracero Program in the newspaper, and how he decided to join it in 1957; furthermore, she details how her husband traveled to the contracting …

Interview No. 1117, Vicente Ramírez

Combined Interviews

Mr. Ramírez briefly recalls his childhood and the financial difficulties his family endured; in 1955 he heard about a call for braceros and decided to quit his job for the chance to work in the United States; he traveled to the processing center in Empalme, Sonora, México; he details the harsh conditions he and other men endured while waiting there; in addition, he talks about how painful the physical exams were and how rudely they were conducted; as a bracero, he completed several contracts and labored in the fields of Salinas, California; he briefly details the living conditions, provisions, duties, …

Ua1b2/1/5 Oral History, Paula Trafton, Charles Anderson

WKU Administration Documents

Interview conducted by Paula Trafton with Charles Anderson, retired Vice President for Information Technology.

Interview No. 1116, Isidoro Ramírez

Combined Interviews

Mr. Ramírez recalls growing up in Tepatitlán, Jalisco, México, and attending formal schooling for a brief period; he states that his parents worked in agriculture, and that he began laboring with them at an early age; additionally, he remembers hearing about the Bracero Program from men who had returned from the Unites States, and deciding to enlist at age twenty-one; he details his experience in the contracting center of Empalme, Sonora, México, how he had to wait three weeks to sign his contract, and the humiliation of the medical exams; furthermore, he describes his trip to the border, and the …

Ua1b2/1/4 Oral History, Paula Trafton, Ray Buckberry

WKU Administration Documents

Interview conducted by Paula Trafton with Ray Buckberry, WKU alum.

Summer 2005, 90.9 Wmpg Fm

WMPG Program Guides

Summer 2005

Interview With Colonel Gao Moua, Peter Chou Vang

Hmong Oral History Project

Interview with Colonel Gao Moua discussing his experiences as a Hmong soldier working with General Vang Pao during the "Secret War" in Laos in the mid-1960s to early 1970s.

Interview conducted by student interviewer, Peter Chou Vang.

Interview With Jim Anderson, Paul Hillmer

Hmong Oral History Project

James Anderson is Ramsey County Department of Human Services’ Planner for Immigrants, Refugees, and the Homeless. He spent about ten years working in Thailand in various capacities, helping Hmong and Cambodian refugees under the auspices of the International Rescue Committee.

Interview With Arthur Bruce Boenau, June 9, 2005, Arthur Bruce Boenau, Michael J. Birkner

Oral Histories

Arthur Bruce Boenau was interviewed on June 9, 2005 by Michael Birkner about his life and time as a professor of Political Science at Gettysburg College. He discusses his childhood, his experiences during World War II and the Korean War in the Counterintelligence Corps, and finally his memories of the faculty, administrators, and students at Gettysburg.

Length of Interview: 94 minutes

Collection Note: This oral history was selected from the Oral History Collection maintained by Special Collections & College Archives. Transcripts are available for browsing in the Special Collections Reading Room, 4^th floor, Musselman Library. GettDigital contains the complete …

Interview No. 1144, Juan Sanchez Abasta

Combined Interviews

Mr. Sanchez briefly recalls his childhood and family; his father worked as a foreman for the railroads in México and helped his son gain employment there; Mr. Sánchez had worked on the railroads for sometime before hearing of the Bracero Program; because the program needed experienced railroad workers, he went to México, Distrito Federal, to begin the hiring process; he gives a detailed description of all the medical examination procedures, including vaccinations, delousing, and x-rays; in 1942, his first contract took him to work in California for South Pacific; for his second contract, he only had to get x-rays, and …

James B. Crooks, James B. Crooks, Elinor A. Scheirer

Creating a University: UNF Oral History Project

UNF Oral History Project Interview of James B. Crooks by Elinor A. Scheirer on May 25, 2005

Dalman, Curly Oral History Interview: General Holland History, Geoffrey Reynolds

General Holland History

No abstract provided.