Oral History Commons^™

Charlotte Brewer Interview For A Wright State University History Course, Jodie Walker, Carolyn Abernathy, Charlotte Brewer

Dayton and Miami Valley Oral History Project

On February 16, 2003 Jodie Walker interviewed Charlotte Brewer and Carolyn Abernathy for a class project dealing with oral histories and capturing the history of the Miami Valley. During the interview Charlotte Brewer discusses her life and interesting events that occurred during it with added details from Carolyn Abernathy.

Interview No. 1139, Esteban Saldaña

Combined Interviews

Mr. Saldaña spent his childhood and adolescence helping his father work the land and care for the animals they owned; he married when he was only seventeen years old, and he had children shortly thereafter; when he was twenty-one years old, he stopped working for his father in order to become a bracero and make more money to support his family; he had heard of the Bracero Program through media and news advertisements; for this first contract, he went to Chihuahua, Chihuahua, México, which in turn took him to work in Lovington, New Mexico, for three months; he later went …

Diane L. Rowe Interview For A Wright State University History Course, Paul Downing, Diane L. Rowe

Dayton and Miami Valley Oral History Project

On February 13, 2003 Paul Downing interviewed Diane Rowe, a dental assistant in Oakwood, Ohio, for a class project dealing with oral histories and capturing the history of the Miami Valley. During the interview Diane discusses growing up in North Dayton, working in dentistry, and what it has been like to work in downtown Dayton versus a suburb like Oakwood.

Interview No. 1134, José De La Luz Mares

Combined Interviews

Mr. Mares recalls being trained as a shoemaker by his father; due to financial difficulties, he had to leave his father’s shoe store to look for work elsewhere; in 1955, he began the hiring process for the Bracero Program in Chihuahua, Chihuahua, México; he and other braceros were transported from Chihuahua, to El Paso, Texas, in freight cars that had previously been used to carry concentrated amounts of lead and zinc; the boxcars were not cleaned prior to being used to transported the braceros; in addition, the braceros were sealed in the cars and left there for the entirety of …

Interview No. 1121, Juan Cossio

Combined Interviews

Mr. Cossio recounts the difficulties he faced as a child and during his adolescence; when he heard about the opportunities the Bracero Program provided, he decided to become a bracero; he recalls the hiring process and the contracting center he went through in Ciudad Juárez, Chihuahua, México, as well as the procedures and medical examinations he underwent in Rio Vista, a processing center in Socorro, Texas; in addition, he relates his experiences living on the farms, including what they cooked and ate, what happened when someone was sick, what they did in their spare time and on weekends, the different …

James Fuller Interview For Wright State University Oral History Course 685, Brett Stolle, James Fuller

Dayton and Miami Valley Oral History Project

On February 11, 2003 Brett Stolle interviewed James Fuller, a former mechanic and police detective, for a class project dealing with oral histories and capturing the history of the Miami Valley. During the interview James discusses his childhood in Kentucky, enlisting in the army during World War II, and the variety of jobs he held in Dayton after returning from the War.

Interview No. 1133, Lorenzo Maynes

Combined Interviews

Mr. Maynes recalls his childhood and early adolescence; he briefly describes what life was like for him during World War II; eventually, he became the head foreman on a farm whose primary focus was cotton; he was periodically sent to Rio Vista, a processing center in Socorro, Texas, to pick up braceros and bring them back to the farm; oftentimes, he was responsible for hiring anywhere from 50 to 200 braceros; he explains what Rio Vista was like and how the farmers would choose which men to hire; in addition, he describes what the farm where they lived was like, …

Beatrice Bodiker Interview For Wright State University Oral History Course 685, Elaine Wallace, Beatrice Bodiker

Dayton and Miami Valley Oral History Project

On February 28, 2003 Elaine Wallace interviewed Beatrice Bodiker for a class project dealing with oral histories and capturing the history of the Miami Valley. During the interview Beatrice discusses growing up during World War II, moving to California, her family, and more.

Interview No. 1126, Manuel Enríquez Savignac

Combined Interviews

Mr. Enríquez recalls his childhood and adolescent years; from the ages of fifteen to nineteen, he worked in aviation and consequently traveled often; while traveling and working, he met someone with whom he began a business partnership; together they opened a travel agency in Ciudad Juárez, Chihuahua, México; because so many of their clients were from Fort Bliss, in El Paso, Texas, they eventually came into contact with officials from the American government; they worked out a contract through the Bureau of Employment Services to provide catering for the braceros in Chihuahua, Chihuahua and Ciudad Juárez, México; consequently, they provided …

Interview No. 1131, Alvaro Hernández B.

Combined Interviews

Mr. Hernández briefly recalls his childhood and the financial difficulties he and his family endured; he moved from Julimes, Chihuahua, to Chihuahua, Chihuahua, where he went to school up to the sixth grade, but he left school in order to go back to his hometown of Julimes to help his father work in the fields; in 1943, when he was fourteen years old, he crossed into the United States illegally; he spent a few months working in the cotton fields of Mesquite, New Mexico, and soon returned home; in 1944, he crossed again to work with the same rancher, and …

Interview No. 1657, Ismael Diaz De Leon

Combined Interviews

He recalls that before that he came 15 times as a bracero, that he only attended four years of school, and that first worked when he was 13 years old at a barber shop and then as a barber. He remembers that on another job he had in a hotel is where he learned about the Bracero Program since contractors stayed there, so he, friends, and other people he knew got hired. He describes the requirements for getting hired, that he went to the U.S. as a bracero between 1942 and 1944, mentions the contract centers he went to Irapuato …

Francis And Cheryl Wyatt For Wright State University Oral History Course 685, Steven Glazier, Francis Wyatt

Dayton and Miami Valley Oral History Project

On February 3, 2003 Steven Glazier interviewed Francis, a director of music at Ginghamsburg United Methodist, and Cheryl Wyatt a professional singer, for a class project dealing with oral histories and capturing the history of the Miami Valley. During the interview Francis and Cheryl discuss their respective childhoods, meeting in the Air Force band, and their married life as an interracial couple.

Interview No. 993, Jesús Andrade Rodríguez

Combined Interviews

Mr. Andrade briefly recalls his family and childhood; growing up, he and his family endured extreme economic hardships; in 1948, when he was eighteen years old, he enrolled in the Bracero Program; he describes the difficulties he went through during the hiring process as well as the humiliating medical examinations he and other braceros underwent at the reception center in Eagle Pass, Texas; as a bracero, he picked cotton in New Mexico and Texas, cleaned sugar beet fields in Montana, and he also worked in a pickle bottling factory in Michigan; he goes on to explain the daily activities on …

Interview No. 1016, Jesús Rosales Ríos

Combined Interviews

Mr. Rosales remembers the Cristero Revolution from when he was four years old; he became a bracero in 1956, and recounts his work picking grapes in California and cotton in Texas; additionally, he recalls how he learned to irrigate crops; this duty became his primary job; he recounts how he was hospitalized once and had surgery paid for by his employer; furthermore, he expresses that he received good treatment from his employers, and that he is proud of having been a bracero.

Interview No. 1018, Mauricio Salcido Hernández

Combined Interviews

Mr. Salcido worked in the Bracero Program from 1957 to 1964; he recalls the hiring process for braceros, the medical exams they endured and how they were treated at the reception centers in Empalme, Sonora, México and the United States; additionally, he describes picking cotton in Arizona, cucumbers in Michigan, sugar beets in Montana, and irrigating cotton in Texas; he explains his pride in having been a bracero, the benefits of being a contracted migrant worker, and how his earnings during the Bracero Program helped him purchase the properties he owns.

Interview No. 996, José Guadalupe Blanco Ortega

Combined Interviews

Mr. Blanco recalls his family, childhood, and adolescence; in 1948, he married his wife, and the following year, before the birth of their second child, he decided to enroll in the Bracero Program; he describes how he and a group of men walked through the mountains for three days to get to a town where they could take the train to Durango, Durango, México; from there they traveled to Chihuahua to officially begin the hiring process; he describes the entire hiring and contracting process including the medical exams and disinfecting procedures; as a bracero, he worked picking cotton in New …

Interview No. 1001, Alfredo Fuentes Soto

Combined Interviews

Mr. Fuentes briefly recalls his family, childhood, and adolescence; his family’s financial difficulties led him to enroll in the Bracero Program in 1956; he narrates the entire contracting process as well the medical exams he underwent beginning in Durango, Durango, México, and continuing through to Chihuahua; in addition, he describes how he was transported on a cargo train from the contracting center in Chihuahua to Rio Vista, a processing center in Socorro, Texas; while there, he had to go through disinfecting procedures; in addition, he goes on to explain what daily life was like on the farm, including the work, …

Interview No. 1569, Inez Rios

Combined Interviews

Ms. Rios recalls her childhood and what it was like growing up on a farm near Ysleta, Texas, where her father was the foreman; she recalls that prior to the Bracero Program, there were a number of undocumented workers on the farm; they were often caught by immigration services and returned to México; sometime later, roughly in 1948, braceros were hired to work on the farm; they were contracted through Rio Vista, a processing center in Socorro, Texas; she recalls how the braceros were chosen and transported to the farm; in addition, she remembers what their living conditions were like, …

Eleanor Gerard Interview For Wright State University History Course 485, Jenifer Gerard, Eleanor Gerard

Dayton and Miami Valley Oral History Project

On January 21, 2003 Jenifer Gerard interviewed Eleanor Gerard, centenarian and a former school teacher, for a class project dealing with oral histories and capturing the history of the Miami Valley. During the interview Eleanor highlights her early life, meeting Orville Wright, and more.

Marcia Kingsley Interview For A Wright State University History Course, Regina Guerriero, Marcia Kingsley

Dayton and Miami Valley Oral History Project

On January 19, 2003 Regina Guerriero interviewed Marcia Kingsley, a letter carrier for the post office, for a class project dealing with oral histories and capturing the history of the Miami Valley. During the interview Marcia discusses growing up in a suburb of Sandusky, her life as a young adult, and subsequent job history leading to a position at the post office.

Interview No. 1334, Evangelina Basua

Combined Interviews

Ms. Basua describes her family and what her life was like growing up; when she was young, her brother José worked as a bracero, and he often brought her dolls from the United States; she goes on to discuss the circumstances surrounding her marriage to Virgen Beltrán Ochoa, when she was sixteen; they heard about the bracero program on the radio, and he went to Empalme, Sonora, México to enlist; as a bracero, he worked in Arizona and California picking cotton and cutting lettuce; his hands were ruined, especially because of all the thorns in the cotton; he was usually …

Winter/Spring 2003, 90.9 Wmpg Fm

WMPG Program Guides

Newspaper format

Ua1d We Were One And Two Teammates, Vernon Hornback

WKU Administration Documents

Undated autobiographical sketch written by Ted Hornback. He includes his experiences as a Hilltopper basketball player under E. A. Diddle, work as coach at Elkhorn and experiences working as Diddle's as assistant coach.

Interview No. 987, Herminio Quezada Durán

Combined Interviews

Mr. Quezada briefly recalls having been born and raised in Satevó, Chihuahua, México; his entire family worked on ranches; when his father passed away in 1949, he and his family moved to Chihuahua, Chihuahua; prior to becoming a bracero, he worked illegally in the United States; in 1952, he was hired under the Bracero Program; he recalls that Fort Bliss, in El Paso, Texas, was the first reception center he encountered as a bracero; he was then taken to Rio Vista, a processing center in Socorro, Texas ; he remembers that none of the braceros wanted to go to Pecos, …

William D. Evans Interview, Assistant Professor Emeritus, College Of Business And Former Associate Dean, Wright State University, Marlene Bireley, William D. Evans

Wright State University Retirees Association Oral History Project

Marlene Birely interviewed William D. Evans on December 6, 2002 about the founding of Wright State University and the development of the Raj Soin College of Business. In the interview Dr. Evans discusses his career and his decision to come to Wright State as a founding faculty member.

Sally A. Evans Interview, Former Director Of Student Services, Wright State University, Marlene Bireley, Sally A. Evans

Wright State University Retirees Association Oral History Project

Marlene Birely interviewed Sally A. Evans on December 6, 2002 about the founding of Wright State University and the development of the students services program. In the interview Mrs. Evans discusses her career and her decision to come to Wright State as a founding staff member.

Interview No. 1544, Consolacion Herrera Chaidez

Combined Interviews

He remembers being stopped by immigration after work but was released because he had money and was gainfully employed; he recalls returning in the 1930’s to Carreras; his first attempt to join the Bracero Program was unsuccessful, he waited in Mexico City for three months before returning to Carreras; he recalls many people returning from the program with bad experiences and no money, which did not discourage him; on his next attempt of the Bracero Program he was selected; he recalls receiving injections and having his hands inspected in Durango; he worked in the train and in the fields; on …

Ua12/2/1 Then & Now, Wku Student Affairs

WKU Administration Documents

College Heights Herald homecoming magazine with articles:

• Holm, Hollan. Big Red Evolves from Joke to Icon
• Hellmueller, Anthony. What’s Happening for Homecoming?
• Moore, Michael. Refrigerator Bowl Veterans Reunite
• Farner, Keith. Colonnade Used to Be Place to Watch Pigskin Fly – Stadium
• Lord, Joseph. 1962 Basketball Player Remembers Living with Coach E.A. Diddle – Bobby Rascoe, Diddle Dorm
• Schoenbaechler, Danny & Hollan Holm. 1972 Fraternity Brothers Reunite, Relive Days in Sigma Alpha Epsilon House
• Robinson, Jocelyn. 1983 The Cellar: From Boogie Nights to Study Nights – West Hall
• Hopkins, Shawntaye. 1994 Potter Hall Provided Location Near Classes
• Lowther, Clare. 2002 Tailgating …

Laukitis, Sally Oral History Interview: General Holland History, Geoffrey Reynolds

General Holland History

No abstract provided.

Interview No. 1041, Carlos Rosario Rosario

Combined Interviews

Mr. Rosario recalls growing up Mazatepec, Morelos, México in a catholic household; he remembers sowing rice and driving herds from an early age; in 1955; he joined the Bracero Program; he describes how the hiring process was conducted, how he had to pay bribes to be placed on the selection list, and the long train trip he took to the contracting center at Empalme, Sonora, México; additionally, he states that he worked in California and Texas picking cotton, grapefruits, green beans, lemons, oranges, and strawberries; furthermore, he details daily activities on the farms, the housing braceros had, the food they …