Thomas R. Turrey
Title
Thomas R. Turrey
Description
Biographical Synopsis of Interviewee: Thomas Turrey was born on July 25, 1924, in Los Angeles, California; he did his grade school in Merced, California; in 1958, he joined the Bracero Program, and worked as a supervisor for commissary services; his duties included delivering the correct amount of food to ranches, providing kitchen staff, and ensuring proper food quality.
Summary of Interview: Mr. Turrey recalls growing up in Merced, California, and going to grade school; he remembers joining the bracero program, and working as a supervisor for commissary services; his duties included delivering the correct amount of food to ranches, providing kitchen staff, and ensuring proper food quality; he describes his daily work, the food he delivered, the long hours he drove from ranch to ranch, and the different way each ranch operated; additionally, he details that there was never a shortage in food, and that he sometimes arranged for food to be deliver to the workers in the field; he relates that the Mexican government often visited ranches to ensure that braceros had enough food and services; furthermore, he recounts that he also had to take doctors to the camps and the money orders braceros sent home; he explains that the job was very hard on his family due to his long hours, and that he felt content with the work itself.
Summary of Interview: Mr. Turrey recalls growing up in Merced, California, and going to grade school; he remembers joining the bracero program, and working as a supervisor for commissary services; his duties included delivering the correct amount of food to ranches, providing kitchen staff, and ensuring proper food quality; he describes his daily work, the food he delivered, the long hours he drove from ranch to ranch, and the different way each ranch operated; additionally, he details that there was never a shortage in food, and that he sometimes arranged for food to be deliver to the workers in the field; he relates that the Mexican government often visited ranches to ensure that braceros had enough food and services; furthermore, he recounts that he also had to take doctors to the camps and the money orders braceros sent home; he explains that the job was very hard on his family due to his long hours, and that he felt content with the work itself.
Creator
Navarro, Kristine
Turrey, Thomas R.
Date
2005-07-27
Subject
Supervisor for commissary services
Contributor
Cristóbal Borges
Rights
Institute of Oral History, The University of Texas at El Paso
Language
eng
title (Spanish)
Thomas Turrey
creator (Spanish)
Navarro, Kristine
contributor (Spanish)
Cristóbal A. Borges
Rights Holder
Institute of Oral History, The University of Texas at El Paso
Original Format
Mini Disc
Duration
36:00
Bit Rate/Frequency
24 bit
96 k
96 k
Interviewer
Navarro, Kristine
Interviewee
Turrey, Thomas R.
Location
San Jose, California
File Name Identifier
Turrey_SJC006
Citation
Navarro, Kristine and Turrey, Thomas R., “Thomas R. Turrey,” Bracero History Archive, accessed April 27, 2024, https://braceroarchive.org/es/items/show/149.