Severiano G. Villarreal
Title
Severiano G. Villarreal
Description
Biographical Synopsis of Interviewee: Severiano Villareal was born on January 8, 1931, in Saguaripa, Sonora, México; his father married twice, and he was one of five brothers; he worked in Yuma, Arizona as an undocumented worker from 1951 to 1954 when his boss helped him become a bracero; he worked with him planting and growing trees until 1961; in 1962 he became a resident of the U.S.; in 1979, he arranged for his family to get residency.
Summary of Interview: Mr. Villareal remembers growing up in Saguaripa, Sonora, México; he states that his father worked in agriculture, and after his death, he was had to find work in the U.S.; he recounts that he worked in Yuma, Arizona planting and growing trees as an undocumented worker from 1951 to 1954; in 1954, his boss helped him become a bracero, and he worked for him until 1961; moreover, he recalls that he did not go to contracting centers in México, because he was contracted as a special bracero in San Luis Rio Colorado, Sonora, México through the La Asociación, a group in charge of braceros in El Centro, California; he explains what the process at El Centro was like, how they conducted medical exams, and fumigated them in the nude; furthermore, he states that some braceros got injections; he relates what his life was like on the farm, the work he did, how they were paid, and the treatment he received; additionally, he describes living arrangements, what they cooked, and how they washed their clothes by hand; he also explains that his family lived about thirty minutes away in Sonora, México, so he would return home on weekends; in 1962, he became a resident of the United States, and in 1979, he arranged for his family to get residency as well.
Summary of Interview: Mr. Villareal remembers growing up in Saguaripa, Sonora, México; he states that his father worked in agriculture, and after his death, he was had to find work in the U.S.; he recounts that he worked in Yuma, Arizona planting and growing trees as an undocumented worker from 1951 to 1954; in 1954, his boss helped him become a bracero, and he worked for him until 1961; moreover, he recalls that he did not go to contracting centers in México, because he was contracted as a special bracero in San Luis Rio Colorado, Sonora, México through the La Asociación, a group in charge of braceros in El Centro, California; he explains what the process at El Centro was like, how they conducted medical exams, and fumigated them in the nude; furthermore, he states that some braceros got injections; he relates what his life was like on the farm, the work he did, how they were paid, and the treatment he received; additionally, he describes living arrangements, what they cooked, and how they washed their clothes by hand; he also explains that his family lived about thirty minutes away in Sonora, México, so he would return home on weekends; in 1962, he became a resident of the United States, and in 1979, he arranged for his family to get residency as well.
Creator
Córtez, Verónica
Villarreal, Severiano G.
Date
2006-05-22
Subject
Bracero
Contributor
Cristóbal Borges
Rights
Institute of Oral History, The University of Texas at El Paso
Language
spa
title (Spanish)
Severiano G. Villarreal
creator (Spanish)
Cortez, Veronica
contributor (Spanish)
Cristóbal A. Borges
Rights Holder
Institute of Oral History, The University of Texas at El Paso
Original Format
Mini disc
Duration
50:47
Bit Rate/Frequency
24 bit
96 k
96 k
Interviewer
Córtez, Verónica
Interviewee
Villarreal, Severiano G.
Location
Blythe, CA
File Name Identifier
Villarreal_BLY019
Citation
Córtez, Verónica and Villarreal, Severiano G., “Severiano G. Villarreal,” Bracero History Archive, accessed November 25, 2024, https://braceroarchive.org/es/items/show/301.