Roberto Heynes García
subject: Bracero
description: Biographical Synopsis of Interviewee: Roberto Heynes was born on May 1, 1917, in Tepehuanes, Durango, México; he was the youngest of four siblings; their parents died when he was only a year old, and they were raised by their maternal relatives; during his teenage years, he worked in the mines; in spite of the fear instilled by rumors that Mexican workers could also be sent to fight in World War II, he enrolled in the bracero program in 1944; as a bracero, he worked in California and Illinois as a railroad line worker until 1956. Summary of Interview: Mr. Heynes recalls his childhood and adolescence; sometime later, he had heard of the bracero program and the rumors that Mexican workers could also be sent to fight in World War II; in spite of this, he and a friend enrolled in the program in 1944; they signed their contracts in Querétaro, Querétaro, México; from there, they were transported by train to the border; as a bracero, he worked in California and Illinois as a railroad line worker, shoveling gravel on roadbeds and repairing the rails; he goes on to explain, what his first activities for the railroad company were, the training he underwent, his work hours, wages, methods of payment, contract amendments and extensions, the housing in hotel rooms, and the food; in addition, he comments that he was treated well by his American employers and the people in general; he concludes with fond memories of his experiences as a bracero and with the thought that the program should be reinstated.
creator: Martínez, Laureano
creator: Heynes García, Roberto
date: 2003-05-31
rights: Institute of Oral History, The University of Texas at El Paso
language: spa

Ramón Ávila Hernández
subject: Bracero
description: Nombre del entrevistado: Ramón Ávila Hernández Fecha de la entrevista: 2 de junio de 2003 Nombre del entrevistador: Laureano Martínez Esta es una entrevista con el señor Ramón Ávila Hernández, en la ciudad de Durango, Durango, el día 2 de junio de 2003, conducida por Laureano Martínez, para el Proyecto Bracero del Instituto de Historia Oral, de la Universidad de Texas en El Paso. LM: Buenas tardes don Ramón, ¿cómo está? RA: Bien, bendito sea Dios. LM: Me gustaría comenzar esta entrevista preguntándole, ¿dónde y cuándo nació? RA: Pos nací en Durango, Durango. LM: ¿Cuándo? RA: El 20 de octubre de 1939. LM: ¿Cuántos años tiene? RA: Voy en sesenta y cuatro, treinta y nueve cumplidos, ya ando en los sesenta y cuatro. LM: ¿Cómo se llama su papá? RA: Ramón Ávila Lizardo. LM: Y, ¿su mamá? RA: Francisca Hernández Reyes. LM: ¿De dónde son originarios ellos? RA: Pos de aquí de Durango, ¿no? 2do: De Zacatecas. RA: ¿Mande? 2do: De Zacatecas. RA: De Zacatecas es mi papá. LM: De Zacatecas, ajá. Y, ¿su mamá? 2do: De aquí de Durango. LM: ¿A qué se dedicaba su papá o a qué se dedica su papá? RA: Bueno, cuando yo tuve uso de razón mi papá trabajaba en el Cerro Mercado. LM: En el Cerro Mercado. Es una mina, ¿verdad? RA: Sí. LM: ¿Qué hacía su papá ahí? RA: Pos era barretero, ¿verdad? LM: Barretero. Y, ¿su mamá? RA: Pos ama de casa. LM: Al hogar. RA: Exactamente. LM: ¿Cuántos fueron ustedes de familia? RA: Catorce. LM: Catorce, ¿cuántos hombres y cuántas mujeres? RA: Somos… 2do: Cuatro hombres. RA: Cuatro hombres y diez mujeres. LM: De esos, ¿tú eres el mayor? RA: El mayor de todos. LM: ¿Fue usted a la escuela, don Ramón? RA: Sí. LM: ¿Hasta qué año? RA: Hasta el cuarto año. LM: Hasta el cuarto año. ¿Por qué? RA: Porque ya no había más en el rancho onde estábamos nosotros ahí, hasta ahí había nada más. LM: ¿Dónde vivían?, ¿en qué rancho? RA: En Benjamín Aranda, Municipio de Canatlán. LM: O sea que nació usted aquí en Durango y se fue. RA: Sí, de la edad de once años nos fuimos para el ran…
creator: Martínez, Laureano
creator: Ávila Hernández, Ramón
date: 2003-06-02
rights: Institute of Oral History, The University of Texas at El Paso
language: spa

Miguel Jáquez López
subject: Bracero
description: Biographical Synopsis of Interviewee: Miguel Jáquez was born on May 7, 1931, in Chalchihuites, Zacatecas, México; he grew up in Súchil, Durango, with his nine siblings; when he was eight years old, he began working cutting wood and planting beans and corn; one of his brothers was a bracero and encouraged him to enroll in the bracero program; in 1953, he enlisted, and he worked in Arizona, Arkansas, and Texas, picking cotton; he continued working with the program until 1959. Summary of Interview: Mr. Jaquez recalls his family, childhood, and adolescence; one of his brothers was a bracero and encouraged him to enroll in the bracero program; in 1953, he enlisted, and began the hiring process; he describes the contracting centers in Durango, Durango, Monterrey, Nuevo León, and Empalme, Sonora, México, and the entire hiring process, as well as the extensive medical exams; as a bracero, he worked in Arizona, Arkansas, and Texas, picking cotton; he goes on to explain what daily life was like on the farm, including work, wages, payments, contract amendments and extensions, housing, food, weekend outings, and common complaints; in addition, he mentions specific instances of racism the braceros experienced in various towns; he concludes with fond memories of his overall experiences as a bracero.
creator: Martínez, Laureano
creator: Jaquez López, Miguel
date: 2003-05-27
rights: Institute of Oral History, The University of Texas at El Paso
language: spa

José Isidro Vidaña Canales
subject: Bracero
description: Biographical Synopsis of Interviewee: José Vidaña was born on February 15, 1923, in Cuencamé, Durango, México; he was an only child; at the age of two, his father died; he worked in agriculture from age eight until he was twenty; in 1942, he enlisted in the bracero program; as a bracero, he worked in Arkansas, California, Michigan, Texas, and Washington; he picked apples, cotton, grapes, pears, peas, pickles, potatoes, prunes, strawberries, and sugar beets; he did these activities until 1960. Summary of Interview: Mr. Vidaña grew up with his mother after his father, a general in the Mexican Revolution, died; he remembers the Cristero Revolution, and explains why the conflict began; a bracero from 1942 to 1960, he worked in Arkansas, California, Michigan, Texas, and Washington; he describes the hiring process at the contracting center in Durango, Durango, México; additionally, he discusses the medical exams he endured, a train trip he took to the border, and his time at Rio Vista, a processing center in Socorro, Texas; he recalls their arrival at a military camp in Washington state, their daily activities on a pea cannery, and their work on farms; furthermore, he states what kind of clothing they had, their housing, and the food they prepared; he also details the fears braceros had about World War II; moreover, he explains the good treatment they received from Americans during weekend outings, the relationship braceros had with Japanese workers, and visits from representatives of the Mexican consulate to their camps; he discusses feeling homesick, the benefits of being a bracero, his decision to stay in México, and his positive memories of the program.
creator: Martínez, Laureano
creator: Vidaña Canales, José Isidro
date: 2003-06-03
rights: Institute of Oral History, The University of Texas at El Paso
language: spa

José Isabel Domínguez Hernández
subject: Bracero
description: Biographical Synopsis of Interviewee: José Domínguez was born on July 8, 1926, in Vicente Guerrero, Durango, México; he was the eldest of two brothers; when he was eight years old, he began helping his father by sowing beans, corn, and squash; the extreme economic hardships his family faced convinced him to join the bracero program in 1952; as a bracero, he worked in California, Colorado, Michigan, and Texas, picking apples, cucumbers, grapes, oranges, and sugar beets; he continued working with the program until 1957. Summary of Interview: Mr. Domínguez briefly relates what his family and childhood were like; the extreme economic hardships his family faced convinced him to join the bracero program in 1952; as a bracero, he worked in California, Colorado, Michigan, and Texas, picking apples, cucumbers, grapes, oranges, and sugar beets; he describes the hiring process he went through at the contracting centers in Chihuahua, Chihuahua, and Irapuato, Guanajuato, México, as well as the long waiting periods and the disinfecting procedures; some of the braceros at these centers preferred working only in certain states; he details what life was like on the farms including the various kinds of work performed, wages, contract amendments and extensions, housing, food, weekend activities and hobbies, and how some braceros were able to send money home to México; in addition, he also recalls that representatives from the Mexican consulate would often visit; he concludes by describing what the benefits of having worked as a bracero were, and how he has fond memories of the program.
creator: Martínez, Laureano
creator: Domínguez Hernández, José Isabel
date: 2003-06-03
rights: Institute of Oral History, The University of Texas at El Paso
language: spa

José Ignacio Astorga Corral
subject: Bracero
description: Nombre del entrevistado: José Ignacio Astorga Corral Facha de la entrevista: 17 de marzo de 2003 Nombre del entrevistador: Laureano Martínez Esta es una entrevista con el señor José Ignacio Astorga Corral, en la ciudad de Durango, Durango, el día 17 de marzo de 2003. Conducida por Laureano Martínez para el Projecto Bracero del Instituto de Historia Oral de la Universidad de Texas en El Paso. LM: Buenos días don José. JA: Buenos días. LM: ¿Cómo está? JA: Pos bien, y, ¿ustedes cómo están? LM: Muy bien, gracias a Dios. JA: Con su trabajo, ¿cómo andan? LM: Pos bien, aquí. JA: Pos nosostros aquí andamos echándole ganas a ver qué es lo que nos dicen ustedes. LM: Muy bien, don José, me gustaría comenzar esta entrevista preguntándole, ¿dónde y cuándo nació usted? JA: Agárrate, yo nací en Palomas Canelas, Durango. LM: ¿En qué año? JA: El año [19]33, el 31 de julio a las seis de la tarde. LM: ¿Cómo se llamó su papá? JA: Francisco Astorga Chávez. LM: Y, ¿su mamá? JA: Pastora Corral González. LM: ¿Cuántos hermanos tuvo, don José? JA: Mire, tuve muchos, ahí le va, pero de mi mamá juimos ocho. LM: ¿Se acuerda de los nombres de sus hermanos? JA: Sí, el primero fue yo, José Ignacio y luego sigue Rosalba Astorga Corral, Carolina Astorga Corral, Austriberto Astorga Corral, Ricardo Astorga Corral, Jesús Astorga Corral, Aureleano Astorga Corral, el socoyote Fidel Astorga Corral, los ocho. LM: ¿Usted era el mayor de ellos? JA: Así es, el primero. LM: ¿A qué se dedicaba su papá, don José? JA: Agricultor, ganadero y campesino. Hay que hablar la cosa como es, él era agricultor, ganadero y campesino. LM: ¿Qué sembraban, don José? JA: Maíz, papa y frijol, era lo que se levantaba en esa sierra de Durango, es en la Madre Sierra de Durango donde está ese rancho. LM: Maíz, papa y frijol. Y, ¿tenían ganado?, ¿tenían vaquitas? JA: Ey, vaquitas, bestias. LM: Y, ¿tuvo usted oportunidad de ir a la escuela? JA: No, estábamos en un rancho incomunicado de maestros, de todo, ya cuando quisimos salir a es…
creator: Martínez, Laureano
creator: Astorga Corral, José Ignacio
date: 2003-03-17
rights: Institute of Oral History, The University of Texas at El Paso
language: spa

José Guadalupe Jurado Pérez
subject: Bracero
description: Biographical Synopsis of Interviewee: José Jurado was born on December 10, 1935, in Canatlán, Durango, México; he was the oldest of four siblings; to help his father, he worked in agricultural from an early age; at age eleven, his father left the family and he was forced to grow up with paternal relatives; in 1951, he enrolled in the bracero program, and worked in New Mexico and Texas picking cotton; he performed these duties until 1956. Summary of Interview: Mr. Jurado recalls crossing the United States-México border with his father; once there, they were hired as undocumented workers at a cotton field in El Paso, Texas; after one year, they both decided to enlist in the bracero program in Chihuahua, Chihuahua, México; he describes the bracero contracting center there, the questioning process they endured, the medical exams performed on them and the reception center in El Paso, Texas; a bracero from 1951 to 1956, he worked in New Mexico and Texas; he remembers daily activities on the farms, their housing, the furniture they were provided, and the food they prepared; additionally, he discusses the different contracts given to braceros, the lengths of those contracts, and their extensions; he also recounts what their wages were, how they were paid, and the treatment they received from foremen; furthermore, he relates how they received visits from representatives of the Mexican consulate; he continues to detail how he sent money to his family in México, the relationships braceros had with each other, the trips they took to Ciudad Juárez, Chihuahua, México and what they did on weekends; moreover, he explains his happiness and pride in having been a bracero.
creator: Martínez, Laureano
creator: Jurado Pérez, José Guadalupe
date: 2003-05-29
rights: Institute of Oral History, The University of Texas at El Paso
language: spa

José Guadalupe Blanco Ortega
subject: Bracero
description: Biographical Synopsis of Interviewee: José Blanco was born on December 12, 1923, in Canelas, Durango, México; he was formally schooled through the second grade; when he was eight years old, he left his family to work with his father; they farmed together well into his teenage years; later he married and began a family; in 1949, he decided to enroll in the bracero program; as a bracero, he worked picking cotton in New Mexico and Texas. Summary of Interview: 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 Mexico and Texas; he explains how he picked the cotton, the wages he earned, the methods of payment, and how he was able to obtain amendments and extensions to his contracts; in addition, he tells what daily life was like on the farms including the housing and food; in general, he was treated well by his American employers; he also recalls his return trip to México; overall, he benefited greatly from the program, and he concludes that he is proud to have been a part of it.
creator: Martínez, Laureano
creator: Blanco Ortega, José Guadalupe
date: 2003-01-31
rights: Institute of Oral History, The University of Texas at El Paso
language: spa

Jesús Andrade Rodríguez
subject: Bracero
description: Nombre del entrevistado: Jesús Andrade Rodríguez Fecha de la entrevista: 1º de febrero de 2003 Nombre del entrevistador: Laureano Martínez Esta es una entrevista con el señor Jesús Andrade Rodríguez en la ciudad de Durango, Durango el día primero de febrero de 2003. Dirigiendo la entrevista para el Proyecto Bracero del Instituto de Historia Oral de la Universidad de Texas en El Paso, Laureano Martínez. LM: Don Jesús, buenas tardes. JA: Buenas tardes. LM: Primero que nada don Jesús, quiero que me cuente, dónde y cuándo nació usted. JA: Nací en Escamilla, Municipio de Canatlán, Durango. En el estado de Durango. LM: ¿Cuándo fue eso? JA: En 1930 nací yo, el 15 de septiembre de 1930. LM: Muy bien. JA: Así es. LM: Cuénteme un poquito de ese lugar, ¿cómo es Escamilla? JA: Es una hacienda que tiene ya ahorita va en los doscientos años. Una hacienda de agricultura de los hacendados de antes, nomás que cuando vino la, la lía esa del agrarismo, mi padre y mis tíos hicieron solicitud para ejido. Y se hizo ejido pero muy raquíticamente según me platicaban mis tíos, mi papá pos no lo conocí. Sembraban con bueyes que les prestaban otras personas que tenían ganado. Entonces muy pobre, entonces nosotros le hicimos también a la agricultura económicamente. Pero no alcanzábamos para mantener nostra familia y empezó a haber ese programa de que contrataciones, empezó aquí en Durango y, y ya veníamos a contratarnos. LM: Cuénteme, ¿cómo se llamaba su papá? JA: Juan de Dios Andrade. LM: Y, ¿su mamá? JA: García, Catalina Rodríguez Valdez. LM: ¿Cuántos años tiene usted, don Jesús? JA: Yo tengo setenta y un año[s] cumplidos. LM: Setenta y un años. ¿Cuántos hermanos tuvo? JA: Tengo ahorita bueno, bueno todos, aunque hayan muertos, por nomás los que haya, aunque se hayan muerto. LM: No, no importa. JA: Sí, sí, pos tuve, era, Maclovio, David, Leonardo, ya murió pero, ¿usted me pregunta de todos los hermanos, verdad? LM: Sí. JA: ¿Con todo y hermanas?, o, puros hermanos. LM: Hermanas y hermanos. JA…
creator: Martínez, Laureano
creator: Andrade Rodríguez, Jesús
date: 2003-02-01
rights: Institute of Oral History, The University of Texas at El Paso
language: spa

Javier García Robles
subject: Bracero
description: Biographical Synopsis of Interviewee: Javier García was born on May 23, 1937, in Estación Progreso, Durango, México; when he was eight years old, he began farming and working in the fields; the financial hardships he experienced during the 1950s led him to enroll in the bracero program in 1957; as a bracero, he worked in California picking and packaging tomatoes. Summary of Interview: Mr. García briefly recalls his family, childhood, and adolescence; in 1957, during his first year of marriage, he found himself out of work, and he decided to enroll in the bracero program; in order to begin the hiring process, he had to take a bus from Durango, Durango, to Guadalajara, Jalisco, México, and from there to the border; he details the various procedures of the hiring process at the contracting center in Guadalajara and the reception center in El Centro, California, as well as the medical examinations he underwent; as a bracero, he worked in California picking and packaging tomatoes; in addition, he describes what daily life was like for braceros on the farms, including work, wages, payments, contract extensions and amendments, housing, food, their weekend outings, and how they were treated by their American employers; he comments that the quality of the food was extremely poor, and they were also served very small portions; following his description of what his life was like after having worked as a bracero, he concludes that he is proud to have been part of the program because it benefited him greatly.
creator: Martínez, Laureano
creator: García Robles, Javier
date: 2003-05-28
rights: Institute of Oral History, The University of Texas at El Paso
language: spa

Isidro Abrego Alvarado
subject: Bracero
description: Nombre del entrevistado: Isidro Ábrego Alvarado Fecha de la entrevista: 2 de junio de 2003 Nombre del entrevistador: Laureano Martínez Esta es una entrevista con el señor Isidro Ábrego Alvarado en la cuidad de Durango, Durango, el día 2 de junio de 2003 conducida por Laureano Martínez para el Proyecto Bracero del Instituto de Historia Oral de la Universidad de Texas en El Paso. LM: Buenas tardes don Isidro. IA: Buenas tardes. LM: Don Isidro, me gustaría comenzar esta entrevista preguntándole, ¿dónde y cuándo nació usted? IA: Yo nací el día 4 de abril de 1931, en un pueblito que está aquí cercas que se llama el Sauz Bendito. LM: El Sauz Bendito, ¿municipio de dónde? IA: Municipio de Canatlán. LM: Canatlán, Durango, ¿verdad? IA: Sí. LM: ¿Cuántos años tiene? IA: Tengo setenta y tres años. LM: ¿Cómo se llamó su papá? IA: Se llamaba Luis Ábrego. LM: Y, ¿su mamá? IA: Juana de la Cruz. LM: ¿De dónde eran originarios ellos? IA: Ellos eran originarios de un pueblito que se llama Miguel Allende. LM: Miguel Allende, ¿dónde está ese pueblito? IA: Allá está por el Municipio de Nuevo Villado. LM: Nuevo Villado, Durango. ¿Cuántos fueron ustedes de familia? IA: Nosotros fuimos cuatro de familia nada más. LM: Cuatro, ¿cuántos hombres y cuántas mujeres? IA: Tres hombres y una mujer. LM: De esos cuatro, ¿qué lugar ocupaba usted, don Isidro? IA: Yo era campesino allá en aquellos tiempos, era campesino. Yo sembraba maíz y frijol. LM: Y, ¿era usted el más chico o el más grande? IA: El más chico de la familia. LM: Era el menor. IA: Sí, el menor. LM: ¿A qué se dedicaba su papá? IA: Era también campesino él también. Sí, también era campesino. LM: Tenían tierras propias. IA: Sí. Bueno, era ejido. LM: Era ejido. IA: Es ejido todavía. LM: ¿Qué sembraba su papá? IA: Maíz, frijol. LM: Su mamá, ¿se dedicaba al hogar? IA: Sí, al hogar. Ella ahí en la casa nomás, trabajaba ahí en la casa. LM: ¿Tenían gallinitas? IA: Sí, pos sí, cómo no. Pos ni modo, ahí gallinitas, marranos, una vaca y mulas pa sem…
creator: Martínez, Laureano
creator: Abrego Alvarado, Isidro
date: 2003-06-02
rights: Institute of Oral History, The University of Texas at El Paso
language: spa

Heriberto Galvéz Saldivar
subject: Bracero
description: Biographical Synopsis of Interviewee: Heriberto Galvéz was born on March 16, 1939, in Chalchihuites, Zacatecas, México; he was the third of four siblings; when he was two years old, his father died, and he was in turn raised by an abusive step-father; his family’s economic difficulties coupled with the continual abuse by his step-father led him to enroll in the bracero program in 1963; as a bracero, he worked in Arkansas, California, and Michigan, picking cucumbers, cotton, and sorghum. Summary of Interview: Mr. Galvéz recalls his childhood, adolescence, and early adulthood; he vividly relives his experiences with his abusive step-father; in spite of his step-father’s disapproval, he decided to enroll in the bracero program, in 1963; he describes what the hiring process was like in the rural areas of México, including how the hands of potential braceros were often examined for calluses as signs of hard work; upon arriving at the contracting center in Durango, Durango, he underwent similar questioning and had to present official documents; from there, he was taken to a reception center in Eagle Pass, Texas, where he was medically examined; as a bracero, he worked in Arkansas, California, and Michigan, picking cucumbers, cotton, and sorghum; he goes on to explain what daily life on the farm was like for braceros, as well as work, wages, payments, contract amendments and extensions, housing, food, how they were treated by the foremen, and their weekend outings.
creator: Martínez, Laureano
creator: Galvéz Saldivar, Heriberto
date: 2003-05-26
rights: Institute of Oral History, The University of Texas at El Paso
language: spa

Gonzalo Soto Núñez
subject: Bracero
description: Biographical Synopsis of Interviewee: Gonzalo Soto was born in San Pedro de Azafranes, Durango, México; he was the fourth of eleven siblings; at age eight, he started working in agriculture to help his father; at age seventeen, he decided to cross the México/United States border to acquire work as an undocumented laborer; in 1954, he joined the bracero program and worked in Arizona, California, Nevada, and Texas; there, he picked and irrigated carrots, cotton, lettuce, limes, potatoes, and tomatoes; he performed these duties until 1963. Summary of Interview: Mr. Soto grew up in Otáez, Durango, México; in 1954, he joined the bracero program; he worked in Arizona, California, Nevada, and Texas; recalling the hiring process, he discusses the contracting center in Mexicali, Baja California, México; he describes the medical exams performed by Mexican and American doctors, and the bracero reception center in El Centro, California; additionally, he remembers their daily activities, their housing, the food they ate and their curfew; he also details the kinds of contracts they had, the wages they got, and the treatment they received from foremen; furthermore, he relates what the relationship between braceros was like, how they used interpreters on the farms, and the complaints brought up by braceros; he recounts the activities they engaged in during weekends, their hobbies, and how he sent money to his family in México; moreover, he explains his life after the program, why he decided to return to the U.S. as an undocumented worker, and the difficulty he had finding a job; he continues to discuss the time when he decided to move back to México and why he has positive memories of his experience as a bracero.
creator: Martínez, Laureano
creator: Soto Núñez, Gonzalo
date: 2003-06-03
rights: Institute of Oral History, The University of Texas at El Paso
language: spa

Felipe Hernández Zapata
subject: Bracero
description: Biographical Synopsis of Interviewee: Felipe Hernández was born on June 6, 1927, in Coneto de Comonfort, Durango, México; at an early age, he began working in the mines by completing simple tasks, and he later worked in construction; in 1952, he decided to enroll in the bracero program; as a bracero, he worked in Texas, picking cotton, grapefruits, oranges, and peas; he continued working in the program until 1959. Summary of Interview: Mr. Hernández briefly recalls his family, childhood, and early adolescence; the poverty he experienced growing up coupled with his desire to earn money and have a better life led him to enroll in the bracero program in 1952; he chronicles the hiring and contracting process he went through in Durango, Durango, México, including the requirements for enlisting and the medical exams he endured; from there he was transported to the border via bus; as a bracero, he worked in Texas, picking cotton, grapefruits, oranges, and peas; he explains how the various tasks were carried out, the different events that transpired throughout the course of a typical work day, contract amendments and extensions, the treatment he received from the foremen, and the methods of payment; in addition, he goes on to describe daily life on the farm, as well as the food, housing, furniture, weekend trips into town, recreational activities, and how he sent money home to his family in México; for him, working in Texas was not a good experience; he also mentions that there were many braceros who preferred to work in any state other than Texas; overall, he does admit that being a bracero had its definite benefits.
creator: Martínez, Laureano
creator: Hernández Zapata, Felipe
date: 2003-06-04
rights: Institute of Oral History, The University of Texas at El Paso
language: spa

Enrique Torres Sánchez
subject: Bracero
description: Biographical Synopsis of Interviewee: Enrique Torres was born on July 15, 1929, in Santiago Papasquiaro, Durango, México; he was the second of six brothers; his father died when he was six years old; at an early age, he started working in agriculture; in 1952, he joined the bracero program, and worked in Arizona, Arkansas, and Texas; he picked carrots, green peppers, lemons, oranges, and tomatoes; he did these activities until 1959. Summary of Interview: Mr. Torres grew up with his paternal relatives; he worked sowing beans and corn during his childhood; due to economic hardship and debts held by his family, he joined the bracero program in 1952; he worked in Arizona, Arkansas, and Texas; additionally, he describes how he found out about the program, and the hiring process he encountered at the processing center in Durango, Durango, México; at this center, he details the humiliation he experienced during the medical exams conducted by American doctors, and then he continues to outline his bus trip to Reynosa, Tamaulipas, México; while at a bracero reception center in Texas, he signed a contract and went through the disinfection process; he narrates the daily activities of the braceros, their work distribution, their housing, and the food they prepared; furthermore, he relates how they were paid, their different contracts, and the treatment received from foremen; he remembers what the braceros did on weekends, and how prostitution was allowed in the camps; beyond these recollections, he explains how his life changed after being a bracero, why he decided to cross into the United States to become an undocumented worker in the 1970s, and why he believes the program should be reinstated.
creator: Martínez, Laureano
creator: Torres Sánchez, Enrique
date: 2003-05-29
rights: Institute of Oral History, The University of Texas at El Paso
language: spa

Antonio Chávez Betancourt
subject: Bracero
description: Biographical Synopsis of Interviewee: Antonio Chávez was born on January 17, 1928, in Canatlán, Durango, México; he was the youngest of nine siblings; his father died when he was only a year old; when he was eight years old, he began helping his family by sowing beans and corn; in 1950, he enrolled in the bracero program; as a bracero, he worked in Nebraska and New Mexico, harvesting and picking cotton, cucumbers, and sugar beets; he continued working with the program until 1960. Summary of Interview: Mr. Chávez briefly recalls his family and childhood; his yearning for a better life led him to enlist in the bracero program in 1950; he began the hiring process at a contracting center in Chihuahua, México; while there he presented legal documents, and he was interviewed and medically examined; from there, he was taken to a processing center in Ysleta, Texas; as a bracero, he worked in Nebraska and New Mexico, harvesting and picking cotton, cucumbers, and sugar beets; he describes his various jobs and how he carried them out, the hours he worked, the different types of contracts and their amendments and extensions, the methods of payment, and the corresponding tax deductions; in addition, he explains what daily life was like on the farms, including housing, trips into the towns to buy provisions, weekend outings, how he managed to send money home, and what the relationships among the braceros were like; overall, he was treated well by the farmers; he also describes his return trip to México; for him, being a bracero is something he continues to be very proud of.
creator: Martínez, Laureano
creator: Chávez Betancourt, Antonio
date: 2003-05-28
rights: Institute of Oral History, The University of Texas at El Paso
language: spa

Belisario Luna Pulido
subject: Bracero
description: Biographical Synopsis of Interviewee: Belisrio Luna was born on June 26, 1936, in Guadalupe Victoria, Durango, México; he was the sixth of eleven children; his father died when he was six years old; he was forced to work in agriculture at the age of thirteen; due to economic hardship, his mother also rented him out as a laborer; in 1951, he enlisted in the bracero program and worked in Arizona, California, and Texas; he picked and harvested cotton, lemons, lettuce, and oranges; he did these jobs until 1963. Summary of Interview: Mr. Luna worked in Arizona, California and Texas from 1951 to 1963; he recalls how he found out about the bracero program, the hiring process in rural areas, and the hardship braceros experienced outside contracting centers; additionally, he describes the medical examinations performed on him and the bracero facilities in Monterrey, Nuevo León, México, Chihuahua, Chihuahua, México, and Empalme, Sonora, México; he also details his trip to the border and the disinfecting stations he went through; furthermore, he recounts his first farming activities, the different jobs he performed, the different kinds of cotton he picked, and the details of his workdays; he remembers the food they ate, the housing they had, their weekend outings, and the relationships among braceros; moreover, he discusses the contracts they signed, their wages, the methods of payment, and the treatment they received from foremen; beyond daily activities, he recollects a time when he was sick, and the severe weather he experienced in Arizona; he explains his definition of the word bracero, the pride he feels in having taken part in the program, and his sadness when the program was terminated.
creator: Martínez, Laureano
creator: Luna Pulido, Belisario
date: 2003-05-31
contributor: Cristóbal Borges
rights: Institute of Oral History, The University of Texas at El Paso
language: spa

Alonso Venegas Batres
subject: Bracero
description: Biographical Synopsis of Interviewee: Alonso Venegas was born on October 20, 1940, in Mezquital, Durango, México; he was the only male in a family of four; at the age of eight, he worked planting beans and corn in an effort to help his father with their ranching duties; he labored as a bracero from 1959 to 1964 in California; he picked lemons, oranges, sugar beets, and tomatoes. Summary of Interview: Mr. Venegas worked as a bracero in California from 1959 to 1964; he recalls the hiring process in rural areas and the bracero contracting center in Empalme, Sonora, México; additionally, he states how Sonora ranchers had agreements with workers to allow them to enlist in the bracero program; he describes daily activities, the extreme weather conditions they were exposed to, their housing, and the food they prepared; furthermore, he discusses the different contracts offered to them, the way they were paid, and how they sent money to México; he also relates an occasion when he suffered from dehydration; moreover, he explains the benefits of having been a bracero; beyond this work, he recounts why he crossed to the United States in 1972 and 1973 to be an undocumented worker, and why he would like to be a legal U.S. resident; he also expresses his pride in having been a bracero and how that experience helped him and his family to better their lives.
creator: Martínez, Laureano
creator: Venegas Batres, Alonso
date: 2003-05-26
rights: Institute of Oral History, The University of Texas at El Paso
language: spa

Alfredo Fuentes Soto
subject: Bracero
description: Biographical Synopsis of Interviewee: Alfredo Fuentes was born on January 30, 1936, in La Constancia, Durango, México; when he was five years old, he began helping his father by working in the fields; the financial hardships he and his family endured throughout his childhood and adolescence led him to enroll in the bracero program in 1956; as a bracero, he worked picking cotton in New Mexico and Texas; he continued working in the program until 1964. Summary of Interview: 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, wages, payments, housing, and food; furthermore, he comments that he was treated well by his American employers; he also tells what his return trip to México in 1964 was like, and he concludes that he is very proud to have worked as a bracero.
creator: Martínez, Laureano
creator: Fuentes Soto, Alfredo
date: 2003-01-31
rights: Institute of Oral History, The University of Texas at El Paso
language: spa

Alejandro Ruteaga Rivas
subject: Bracero
description: Biographical Synopsis of Interviewee: Alejandro Ruteaga was born on April 12, 1932, in Rodeo, Durango, México; he was the third of ten siblings; at the age of eight, he began helping his father with agricultural tasks; when he was eighteen, he crossed the border into the United States to become an undocumented worker in California; he entered the bracero program in 1953, and he worked in Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Louisiana, Michigan, Nebraska, New Mexico, Texas, and Wyoming; his jobs included picking almonds, apricots, asparagus, cauliflower, cotton, grapes, lettuce, olives, and strawberries; he performed these duties until 1964. Summary of Interview: Mr. Ruteaga recalls his childhood and the stories his father told about the Mexican Revolution; in 1953, he entered the bracero program; he describes the hiring process in Durango, Durango, México, the requirements, and the medical exams performed by American doctors at Rio Vista, a processing center in Socorro, Texas; he worked in Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Louisiana, Michigan, Nebraska, New Mexico, Texas and Wyoming; additionally, he recounts daily activities, what braceros did on weekends, their contracts, and their wages; he states that ranchers hired undocumented workers along with braceros; furthermore, he relates how representatives from the Mexican consulate visited their camps to settle their complaints; he also discusses the discrimination the braceros suffered; addressing his time after the program, he explains why he became an undocumented worker, his thoughts on why ranchers hire undocumented workers, and his pride in having been a bracero; he concludes by stating his reasons for living in México and not migrating to the United States.
creator: Martínez, Laureano
creator: Ruteaga Rivas, Alejandro
date: 2003-06-04
rights: Institute of Oral History, The University of Texas at El Paso
language: spa

Agustín Martínez Olivares
subject: Bracero
description: Biographical Synopsis of Interviewee: Agustín Martínez was born on May 15, 1918, in Torreón, Coahuila, México; he was the oldest of three siblings; his father died when he was three years old; at the age of fifteen, he began sowing beans and corn to help his family financially; hard economic conditions and positive stories from first time braceros led him to enlist in the bracero program in 1942; he worked in California, New Mexico, and Texas until 1959; his jobs included picking cotton and tomatoes. Summary of Interview: Mr. Martínez worked in California, New Mexico, and Texas from 1942 to 1959; he recalls the hiring process at the bracero contracting centers in Monterrey, Nuevo León, México and Tlaquepaque, Jalisco, México; additionally, he describes his train trip to the border, the disinfecting process at the reception center in Eagle Pass, Texas, and the signing of his contract; he relates details about the types of contracts they had, their lengths, and contract extensions; furthermore, he discusses their daily activities, the work they performed, their wages, their housing, and the food they ate; he also recounts how he saved money to send back to México; moreover, he remembers the relationships that existed between braceros, the problems he had with one bracero, in particular, their weekend trips, and the good treatment they received from ranchers; he also explains what the term bracero means to him, why he is proud of having been a bracero, and his positive memories of the experience.
creator: Martínez, Laureano
creator: Martínez Olivares, Agustín
date: 2003-06-02
rights: Institute of Oral History, The University of Texas at El Paso
language: spa

Agustín González Flores
subject: Bracero
description: Biographical Synopsis of Interviewee: Agustín González was born on August 28, 1928, in Pueblo Nuevo, Durango, Mexico; he had thirteen siblings; the spreading rumors of first time braceros making a substantial amount of money along with his brother’s insistence led him to enroll in the program in 1943; he worked in California and Texas, picking cotton, lemons, and oranges. Summary of Interview: Mr. González briefly recalls his family, childhood, and early adolescence; the spreading rumors of first time braceros making a substantial amount of money aroused his curiosity in the bracero program; in 1943, he and one of his brothers enrolled in the program; together they went through the contracting center in Chihuahua, Chihuahua, México; he describes the official documents that were required, the humiliating medical exams they underwent, and how some of the men suffered from cold and hunger while waiting outside of the center; the guards at the center were also particularly cruel and even killed some of the men; from the center in Chihuahua, he and his brother were transported to the reception center in El Paso, Texas, by trains in cattle cars; as a bracero, he worked in California and Texas, picking cotton, lemons, and oranges; he goes on to describe what daily life was like on the farms, including work, wages, contracts, housing, food, weekend outings, and the relationships between the braceros and their American employers; in addition, he comments that he and other braceros were often discriminated against by Mexican-Americans; he concludes that his memories of the program are both happy and sad, but even so, he is proud to have been a bracero.
creator: Martínez, Laureano
creator: González Flores, Agustín
date: 2003-05-30
rights: Institute of Oral History, The University of Texas at El Paso
language: spa

Agustín Flores Contreras
subject: Bracero
description: Biographical Synopsis of Interviewee: Agustín Flores was born on April 1, 1940, in Poanas, Durango, México; he was the eldest of eight siblings, and as such began working in the fields at the age of seven in order to help his family; in spite of his continuing efforts to work and bring in money, his family’s financial situation continued to worsen; in a final effort to relieve his family’s economic burden, he traveled to Durango, Durango, to enroll in the bracero program in 1959; as a bracero, he worked in Texas picking oranges. Summary of Interview: Mr. Flores relives the hunger, sadness, and desperation that indelibly marked his childhood and adolescence; some of his uncles worked as braceros, and they had warned him that he would suffer greatly if he were to join them and work in the United States; in 1959, in spite of their admonitions, he decided to enroll in the bracero program with the hopes of alleviating some of his family’s financial burdens; he describes the long waiting periods during the hiring process he went through in Durango, Durango, México; in addition, he details the medical exams at the contracting center in Monterrey, Nuevo León, and the disinfecting procedures at the reception center in Del Rio, Texas; as a bracero, he worked in Texas at an orange orchard; he goes on to explain the daily activities, work, wages, payments, contract amendments and extensions, food, housing, common problems, and what some of the braceros often did on weekends; furthermore, he comments on what his life was like after the program, and he concludes that even after a year of working as a bracero, his financial situation did not improve.
creator: Martínez, Laureano
creator: Flores Contreras, Agustín
date: 2003-06-02
rights: Institute of Oral History, The University of Texas at El Paso
language: spa

Guadalupe Mena Arizmendi
subject: Bracero
description: Biographical Synopsis of Interviewee: Guadalupe Mena Arizmendi was born on a ranch near Buenavista, Guerrero, México, on December 26, 1928; his family worked in agriculture, and he had little formal schooling; he married at age eighteen, and when he was twenty, he entered the bracero program; as a bracero he worked in California, Minnesota, and Texas, picking beets, cabbage, carrots, cotton, and potatoes. Summary of Interview: Mr. Mena recalls growing up on a small ranch where his family worked in agriculture; he only had a few years of formal schooling, because he had to help with daily chores; at age eighteen, he married, and when he was twenty, he entered the bracero program; he details what the contracting process was like in Empalme, Sonora, México, as well as in Chihuahua, Chihuahua, and Monterrey, Nuevo León, México; additionally, he states that more than twenty-five thousand men waited to be processed in those centers every day; in Irapuato, Guanajuato, México, many fights broke out amongst the men; he also describes the medical exams they were given, how they were forced to be naked, and how their hands were inspected for calluses; moreover, he discusses what his trips to the border were like and how he crossed through Calexico, California, and El Paso, Texas; he explains how employers picked workers, and what food they received at Rio Vista, a processing center in El Paso; as a bracero he worked in California, Minnesota, and Texas picking beets, cabbage, carrots, cotton, and potatoes; furthermore, he discusses his daily work and the treatment he received from employers and foremen, which was often very poor; he states what their living quarters were like, the bad food he received in California, and how he was treated well in Minnesota; consequently, he sent money to his family every fifteen days; he goes on to explain how he brought his family to the United States in the late seventies; although he suffered many hardships, he feels good about having worked…
creator: Barrios, Crystal
creator: Mena Arizmendi, Guadalupe
date: 2005-09-01
contributor: Cristóbal Borges
rights: Institute of Oral History, The University of Texas at El Paso
language: spa

Gabriel Martínez Angel
subject: Bracero
description: Biographical Synopsis of Interviewee: Gabriel Martínez Ángel was born in San Martín Texmelucan, Puebla, México, on March 24, 1938; his uncles worked as braceros in the late forties, which ultimately inspired him to do the same; in 1960, he enlisted in the bracero program, and he worked in California, Colorado, Michigan, and Texas, picking beans, beets, cucumbers, strawberries, and tomatoes; in 1970, he obtained a visa, which was later taken away from him, but he was able to help the rest of his family legally emigrate to the United States. Summary of Interview: Mr. Martínez briefly recalls his family and childhood; his uncles worked as braceros in the late forties, which ultimately inspired him to do the same; in 1960, he enlisted in the bracero program; he describes the entire process he went through both in México and in the United States, including obtaining his military ID card, getting his name on the county’s list of available workers, physical examinations, and being deloused; as a bracero he worked in California, Colorado, Michigan, and Texas, picking beans, beets, cucumbers, strawberries, and tomatoes; he goes on to detail the various worksites, duties, contract lengths, payments, deductions, housing, living amenities, provisions, remittances, and recreational activities; moreover, he relates how there were occasional problems and confrontations among workers and between workers and foremen; he also talks about celebrating Mexican holidays among themselves; Texas was the worst place for him to work, because they were treated like animals there; while working as a bracero people offered to help him gain legal status, but it never happened; consequently, he mentions that the political situation under Díaz Ordaz factored into his inability to gain legal status; he stayed in México until 1970, when he entered the United States with a visa, and he was also able to obtain visas for the rest of his family; later, he had his visa taken away from him and was sent ba…
creator: Ubeda, Edwin R.
creator: Martínez Angel, Gabriel
date: 2005-09-01
contributor: Cristóbal Borges
rights: Institute of Oral History, The University of Texas at El Paso
language: spa