Marcelino Burciaga
subject: bracero
description: Biographical Synopsis of Interviewee: Marcelino Burciaga was born on September 24, 1938, in Canatlan, Durango, México; his father was a carpenter and a shoemaker; he is the youngest of three brothers; from 1961 to 1962, he worked as a bracero in California picking cucumbers, green beans, lemons, and oranges. Summary of Interview: Mr. Burciaga recalls growing up in Canatlan, Durango, México; he states that his father was a carpenter and a shoemaker; at an early age, he began working in agriculture; he states that in 1961 he decided to join the bracero program because of financial difficulties; he describes being contracted in Mexicali, Baja California, México and being sent to Empalme, Sonora, México for processing; while in Empalme, he states that he was given medical exams; he details the treatment he received in that center, and then he explains how he was transported to the United States-México border; once he became a bracero, he worked in California picking cucumbers, green beans, lemons, and oranges from 1961 to 1962; furthermore, he relates what a typical workday was for him as a bracero, the type of work that he did, and how he was treated by foremen; he also discusses the pay he received for his labor and the food he was given; moreover, he states what he did for recreation, and how he would spend his days off doing laundry and going to the movies; he remembers saving money and having ten percent of his pay deducted from each paycheck; he concludes by explaining what the program meant for him.
creator: Sifuentez, Mario
creator: Burciaga, Marcelino
date: 2006-05-20
rights: Institute of Oral History, The University of Texas at El Paso
language: spa

Francisco Murillo Almaráz
subject: bracero
description: Biographical Synopsis of Interviewee: Francisco Murrillo Almaráz was born in Tabasco, Zacatecas, México; he never attended formal schooling, and began working in agriculture at an early age; he was the only boy among three siblings; in 1942, he was contracted as a bracero in Mexico City, México; he worked in Arizona, California, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, and Washington; there he picked apples, beets, lemons, oranges, and peaches and also cut lettuce; he worked in the United States for fifty-seven years, and has never become a U.S. citizen. Summary of Interview: Mr. Murrillo Almaráz remembers growing up in Tabasco, Zacatecas, México and working from an early age in agriculture; he states that he never had formal schooling; in 1942, he explains that he was contracted as a bracero in Mexico City, México; he details that many people, in 1942, did not want to join the bracero program because they were worried that they might be sent to the war; moreover, he worked in Arizona, California, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, and Washington; there he picked apples, beets, lemons, oranges, and peaches and also cut lettuce; he recalls the contracting process, his trip to the border, the medical exams they endured, and crossing into the U.S.; he describes what daily life was like on the farms, the living conditions they had, the pay they received, and the food they ate; furthermore, he relates what braceros did for recreation; he says that he worked in the United States for over fifty-seven years, and that in that time he never wanted to become a U.S. citizen.
creator: Murillo Almaráz, Francisco
date: 2006-05-22
contributor: Cristóbal Borges
rights: Institute of Oral History, The University of Texas at El Paso
language: spa

Perfecta Rivas de Rodríguez
subject: Daughter of a bracero
description: Biographical Synopsis of Interviewee: Perfecta Rivas de Rodríguez was born in Valparaíso, Zacatecas, México, on December 11, 1947; her mother, Consuelo Garcia, was a housewife, and her father, Juan Rivas Bañuelo, made marble headstones for cemeteries; Perfecta is the eldest of her twelve siblings; in the midfifties her father enlisted in the bracero program, which financially helped her family; later, in the early seventies she immigrated to the United States. Summary of Interview: Ms. Rivas de Rodríguez briefly discusses her family and childhood; she recalls hearing about the courtship between her mother and father; in the midfifties her father enlisted in the bracero program, which financially helped her family, and they were able to move out of her paternal grandfather’s home and into their own; she remembers that there were always notices around town to sign up for the program; the men had to stay anywhere between eight and fifteen days in Empalme, Sonora, México; while waiting some men ate banana peels or nothing at all, and they used cardboard as blankets; the fumigations they underwent were also difficult, but necessity drove them; when her father left, the entire family was sad and worried about what could happen to him; upon receiving their first letter from him they were elated and relieved; every fifteen days her father sent letters and money home; her mother cashed the money orders at local stores, because they offered a better dollar to peso ratio than the banks; at the time they were able to receive twelve pesos for every dollar, which went a long way; with this money, some of her younger siblings were even able to attend secondary schools; they were able to buy their necessities instead of having to depend on whatever the crops would yield if there was even enough rain in a given season; one of her father’s employers offered to help him and his family obtain legal documentation, but her grandfather did not want to let them leave; overall, her family b…
creator: Esparza, Araceli
creator: Rivas de Rodríguez, Perfecta
date: 2006-05-13
rights: Institute of Oral History, The University of Texas at El Paso
language: spa

Nicolás Saldaña Sandoval
subject: Bracero
description: Biographical Synopsis of Interviewee: Nicolás Saldaña was born on a small ranch just outside of Tlaltenango, Zacatecas, México; he has three sisters and one brother; as a child he helped work the land and care for the animals; in 1957, he enlisted in the bracero program; as a bracero, he worked in Arkansas, Oregon, and Washington, picking corn, cotton, and pears. Summary of Interview: Mr. Saldaña describes his very humble upbringing; his father was an undocumented worker in the United States and initially sent money home to his family, but he eventually stopped; his mother and sisters were left on their own, and he weeps at the recollection of how much they suffered; in 1957, he decided to enlist as a bracero with the hopes of earning money to help his family; he explains what he went through at the different processing centers in México, including paying money to gather all the required documents, the hundreds of thousands of men waiting for contracts, how hard it was waiting for weeks on end, and enduring harsh conditions throughout the entire time; in addition, he depicts his ride on a train without seats, the lingering smell of the animals that had previously been in there, and how the straw used to feed the animals was left on the floor of the train when he boarded; upon arriving in the United States, he recounts how he was examined, deloused, and taken to a holding area where ranchers would pick the workers they wanted; as a bracero, he worked in Arkansas, Oregon, and Washington, picking corn, cotton, and pears; he goes on to describe the various worksites, duties, payment, living conditions, and provisions; while working in Medford, Oregon, picking pears, he fell off a fifteen foot ladder; although he was not seriously injured, he was given monetary compensation; while working as a bracero, he was able to communicate with his mother and sister who had since emigrated to the United States; upon finishing one of his contracts he had to return to México and cons…
creator: Guerrero, Perla
creator: Saldaña Sandoval, Nicolás
date: 2006-05-12
rights: Institute of Oral History, The University of Texas at El Paso
language: spa

Nemencio Meza
subject: Bracero
description: Biographical Synopsis of Interviewee: Nemencio Meza was born on October 31, 1931, in Molcaxac, Puebla, México; he has two brothers and two sisters; his parents worked in the fields planting barley, beans, corn, and wheat; he was formally educated through the second grade; in 1959, he enlisted in the bracero program, where he continued working on and off until 1962; he primarily labored in the fields of California picking various fruits and vegetables; during the mideighties his entire family immigrated to the United States. Summary of Interview: Mr. Meza very briefly discusses his family; in 1959, he and his father went to Empalme, Sonora, México, to enlist in the bracero program; although they were both sent to California, they worked in different cities; he talks about braceros generally being mistreated throughout the contracting process, because the medical exams were painful, money was frequently stolen from them, they were often left hungry, and in Calexico, California, they were stripped and deloused; they endured whatever they had to out of necessity; the camps, unfortunately, were not much better; as a bracero, he worked on and off from 1959 to 1962, primarily in California picking various fruits and vegetables; he goes on to detail various worksites, housing, provisions, duties, daily routines, payments, deductions, remittances, contract renewals, and recreational activities; once, while on a forty-five day contact, he left after only thirty days, because he was treated so badly; he also describes the grueling use of the short hoe, which was only about two feet long, and having to be hunched over all day; in addition, he states that some braceros spoke Náhuatl, not Spanish, and did not always have an interpreter; he goes on to explain how his hometown had changed as a result of the program, including new homes, paved roads, mail service, phones, and the advent of government operated stores known as CONASUPO, Compañia Nacional de Subsistencia Popular; durin…
creator: Loza, Mireya
creator: Meza, Nemencio
date: 2006-05-12
rights: Institute of Oral History, The University of Texas at El Paso
language: spa

Nicolás Martínez
subject: bracero
description: Biographical Synopsis of Interviewee: Nicolás Martínez was born on September 9, 1926, in Puebla, México; he came from a family of campesinos, whose main crops were beans and corn; when he was roughly thirty-five years old, he enlisted in the bracero program; after the program ended, he traveled back and forth between the United States and México in order to work; he later became a U.S. citizen; in addition, he became involved with different civic organizations intended to help field workers. Summary of Interview: Mr. Martínez begins by stating that many men left their homes in México, because there was not enough work to support their families; when he was roughly thirty-five years old, he enlisted in the bracero program; he explains that in order to get on the list of eligible workers in his home town he had to work in the fields there; once he was on that list, along with several hundred other men, he went through the contracting center in Empalme, Sonora, México; after waiting for up to one month, he was transported to Mexicali, Baja California, México, where he and the other men were treated like livestock; the medical exams were particularly embarrassing, because they were stripped in front of everyone and fumigated; the testicular exams were especially difficult and painful; as a bracero, he labored in the fields of Arkansas, California, and Michigan, picking apples, beets, cotton, cucumbers, lettuce, and peaches; he goes on to detail the various worksites, housing, provisions, payments, deductions, remittances, contract renewals, and recreational activities; more specifically, he reveals that after four or five months of working, employers would bring women into the camps for the men; in addition, he explains that if there were any complaints, the Mexican government would send investigators to look into the allegations; he also describes the various jobs he had after the program ended, and how he later became part of a group named Hermandad Mexicana, which he…
creator: González, Pablo
date: 2006-05-12
rights: Institute of Oral History, The University of Texas at El Paso
language: spa

Aurelio Marín Luna
subject: Bracero
description: Biographical Synopsis of Interviewee: Aurelio Marín was born on July 27, 1941, in Tepechitlán, Zacatecas, México; he is the eldest of his five brothers and two sisters; he was formally educated for six years, and during that time he helped his father work the land and care for the animals; his father and two of his uncles worked as braceros; at the age of eighteen, he decided to follow in their footsteps with the hopes of earning enough money to return to México and buy land; as a bracero, he worked in Arizona and California, picking grapes, lettuce, and tomatoes; after the bracero program finished in 1964, he came to the United States as an undocumented worker; later in 1967, he was able to emigrate, and he was ultimately able to help the rest of his family do the same. Summary of Interview: Mr. Marín recalls his father and uncles working as braceros; they would often tell him what life was like in the United States; at the age of eighteen, he decided to follow in their footsteps with the hopes of earning enough money to return to México and buy land; after receiving his military ID card and the required letter of recommendation, he went to Empalme, Sonora, México, but he had to pay money and pick cotton before being able to begin the contracting process; there were thousands of men waiting for a contract; the men were examined while there, but they were also given more comprehensive assessments upon arriving in the United States where they were consequently deloused; as a bracero, he worked throughout Arizona and California, picking grapes, lettuce, and tomatoes; he goes on to describe his various worksites, duties, housing, provisions, payment, treatment, remittances, and recreational activities; oftentimes, he was transferred to different locations, but he maintained employment with the same company; after the program ended, he was an undocumented worker for a few years, and he comments on how it was easier to work illegally than as a bracero; in 1967, he was ab…
creator: Velasquez, Steve
creator: Marín Luna, Aurelio
date: 2006-05-13
rights: Institute of Oral History, The University of Texas at El Paso
language: spa

Sabas Luna
subject: Bracero
description: Biographical Synopsis of Interviewee: Sabas Luna was born in 1939, in Tlaltenango [de Sánchez Román], Zacatecas, México; his parents were campesinos whose main crop was corn, and he was the fourth of nine children; he was formally educated through the fourth grade, during which time he also helped his parents work the land; when he was eighteen, he followed in his father’s footsteps and enlisted in the bracero program; as a bracero, he labored in the fields of Arkansas, California, and Texas, picking avocado, cotton, lemons, and tomatoes; he also worked at a dairy caring for livestock; in the late sixties he immigrated to the United States with his family. Summary of Interview: Mr. Luna recounts his childhood and adolescence, particularly his experiences as a young campesino; he recalls his dad working as a bracero, which helped his family financially, but left him without a father’s guidance; consequently, he and his older brother had to care for the family and show their younger siblings how to work; at eighteen, he obtained his first bracero contract in Monterrey, Nuevo León, México, which took him to Arkansas; it rained too much there for him to earn any money; the following year, he went through a center in Chihuahua, Chihuahua, México, which took him to a dairy farm just outside of Amarillo, Texas, where he stayed for three years; he initially hesitates to talk about how he was treated at the contracting centers, but he goes on to describe being stripped, medically examined, and deloused, which he found offensive; moreover, he details the various worksites, living conditions, provisions, housing, duties, daily routines, contract renewals, payments, remittances, and recreational activities; after the program ended, he met and married his wife; he stayed with a longing to return to the United States and make a better life for himself and his family; in the late sixties he and his family moved to United States; he notes that he is grateful he did not have a wife …
creator: Benavides Lopez, Corina
creator: Luna, Sabas
date: 2006-05-13
rights: Institute of Oral History, The University of Texas at El Paso
language: spa

Refugio López de Saldaña-Sandoval
subject: Bracero
description: Biographical Synopsis of Interviewee: Refugio López Saldaña Sandoval was born in Tlaltenango [de Sánchez Román], Zacatecas, México, on December 21, 1939; she was the fourth born of her three brothers and two sisters; her father was a metal worker, and her mother was a housewife; she was formally educated through the sixth grade; in addition, she grew up surrounded by a very close-knit family, which included extended relatives; in December of 1958, when she was nineteen years old, she married a man named Nicolás, who served in the bracero program both before and after their marriage. Summary of Interview: Ms. López describes her childhood and adolescence; she recalls meeting Nicolás, her husband, when she was fifteen, and she details their four year courtship; in 1959, a few months after their marriage, he returned to the United States on a new contract; while he was away, she stayed with her parents; shortly after his first return home, she became pregnant; his mother and sister, who lived in Santa Ana, California, insisted that Refugio have the baby in the United States; Refugio was hesitant at first, but she eventually agreed; Nicolás obtained a visitor’s permit and worked at a bakery in San Bernardino, California, while she lived with her mother-in-law in Santa Ana; consequently, all six children were born in the U.S.; Refugio goes on to chronicle the different places she worked and how her husband studied to become a realtor; although she did not suffer very much, because she was surrounded by her family, her husband did; he often cries when reflecting upon his experiences as a bracero; even so, these memories served as motivation for him to work hard so his children would have a better life; traveling to the United States was especially difficult, because he was transported in trains used for animals, which smelled horribly; Refugio concludes by stating that what helped her the most, especially in dealing with the clash between two cultures, was her family and …
creator: Mota, Annabel
creator: López de Saldaña-Sandoval, Refugio
date: 2006-05-12
rights: Institute of Oral History, The University of Texas at El Paso
language: spa

José Luis Gazca
subject: Bracero
description: Biographical Synopsis of Interviewee: José Luis Gazca was born on October 22, 1935, in Romita, Guanajuato, México; his parents worked in agriculture; as the eldest son among his six siblings, he went to school for only a brief time, because he had to help support his family; in 1955, he enlisted in the bracero program; he continued working on and off with the program until it ended in 1964; as a bracero, he labored in the fields of California and Texas, picking apples, cotton, cucumber, green beans, lettuce, plums, and tomatoes; he later returned to the United States as an undocumented worker, but he was ultimately able to obtain legal status. Summary of Interview: Mr. Gazca describes his family, childhood, and adolescence; in 1955, he decided to enlist in the bracero program; to begin the contracting process, he went to Irapuato, Guanajuato, México, where he spent a day, then he traveled to Empalme, Sonora, where he spent roughly three days, before heading to Mexicali, Baja California, and finally to Calexico, California; moreover, he details the different centers he went through as well as the range of procedures he underwent; as a bracero, he labored in the fields of California and Texas, picking apples, cotton, cucumber, green beans, lettuce, plums, and tomatoes; in addition, he explains the various worksites, duties, housing, amenities, provisions, treatment, payment, remittances, and recreational activities; more specifically, he mentions being so close to the border, at times, that he could cross over on a bus whenever he had time off; he also talks about a foreman, in Chula Vista, California, that gave him extra work, so he could earn more money to send to his family; while he was in Texas, however, he was always pushed to work harder, which was difficult to do when there was so little to pick and, consequently, even less to earn; he continued working on and off with the program until it ended in 1964; during the late sixties, he returned to the United State…
creator: Rosas, Ana
creator: Gazca, José Luis
date: 2006-05-12
rights: Institute of Oral History, The University of Texas at El Paso
language: spa

Guadalupe García González
subject: Bracero
description: Biographical Synopsis of Interviewee: Guadalupe García was born in La Concha, Sinaloa, México; he was the second eldest of his eleven brothers and three sisters; his parents worked in agriculture and with cattle; he was formally educated through the third grade, but he left school in order to help his family work the land; for a time he was an undocumented worker in California, but he was later able to obtain proper documentation under the bracero program; as a bracero, he continued working throughout California picking celery, lettuce, and tomato, and he also operated heavy machinery, including a Caterpillar; he was ultimately able to emigrate to the United States. Summary of Interview: Mr. García briefly describes his family; as a child, he recalls hearing about braceros and seeing them pass him by in trains; for a time, he was an undocumented worker in California; in 1953, farmers were fined for hiring such employees, and as a result he was let go; upon returning to México, he began the contracting process for the bracero program in Mexicali, Baja California; he goes on to detail the required documentation, the different contracting centers he went through, the extraordinarily long waiting times, and the thousands of men vying for contracts; in addition, he explains how the medical exams grew more stringent over time and how during the delousing process many men would vomit from the smell; he goes on to describe his various worksites, duties, housing, provisions, payment, treatment, remittances, and recreational activities; moreover, he relates how he was able to buy a car and obtain a driver’s license; although he did have some good employers, the foremen were often mean and mistreated the braceros; he even organized a strike once due to insufficient payment; even so, his memories of having worked as a bracero are positive; he was ultimately able to emigrate to the United States.
creator: Loza, Mireya
creator: García González, Guadalupe
date: 2006-05-11
rights: Institute of Oral History, The University of Texas at El Paso
language: spa

Rafael Covarrubias
subject: Bracero
description: Biographical Synopsis of Interviewee: Rafael Covarrubias was born in Tlaltenango [de Sánchez Román], Zacatecas, México; he was the youngest of his two sisters and four brothers; his parents owned a small ranch, where they worked the land; when he was roughly twenty-one years old, he enlisted in the bracero program; at the time, he as married and had a son, which put him in great need of financial assistance; as a bracero, he labored in the fields of New Mexico and Texas, irrigating and picking various crops and driving a tractor; he continued working with program for a total of ten years. Summary of Interview: Mr. Covarrubias briefly mentions his family and childhood; by the time he was twenty-two, he had a wife and a son, but they were in desperate need of financial assistance, which prompted him to join the bracero program; he traveled to the contracting center in Chihuahua, Chihuahua, México, where his paperwork was thoroughly checked, and he was medically examined; from there, he was transported, free of cost, by cargo train to Ciudad Juárez, Chihuahua, México, then he crossed into El Paso, Texas, and finally, he was taken by bus to Rio Vista, a processing center in Socorro, Texas; later, as he continued to re-enlist, he was transferred by bus from Chihuahua to Ciudad Juárez, and once he had money, he traveled by passenger train; while at Rio Vista, he again underwent medical assessments before being given the necessary contractual documentation; as a bracero, he labored in the fields of New Mexico and Texas, irrigating and picking various crops and driving a tractor, for a total of ten years; during this time, he worked seasonally with the same employers in Las Cruces, New Mexico and Big Spring, Texas; sometimes, he had to go to different farms, either because there were already enough workers or he could not wait to be picked up; overall, being a bracero was a positive experience for him, because it changed his life for the better; with the money he earned, he…
creator: Guerrero, Perla
creator: Covarrrubias, Rafael
date: 2006-05-12
rights: Institute of Oral History, The University of Texas at El Paso
language: spa

María Belén Acevedo
subject: Wife of bracero
description: Biographical Synopsis of Interviewee: María Belén Acevedo was born in 1941, in Jerez, Zacatecas, México; her mother was born in the United States, but she was raised in México; María’s father spent his childhood in the United States, but he later went to México with his brother; her parents met in México, and in due course, María was the fifth born of her nine sisters and three brothers; at the age of seventeen, she married; her husband had previously worked with the bracero program; in addition, several of her family members were also braceros; she later immigrated to the United States with her family, and she went on to labor in the fields of Anaheim, California, picking strawberries, for fourteen seasons. Summary of Interview: Ms. Acevedo vividly describes her family and her parents in particular; she was formally educated through the fourth grade, but in spite of her desire to continue with school, she ultimately had to stay home to help her mother with household duties; when she was seventeen, she married José Ezequiel Acevedo Pérez [See also No. 257]; she explains how they met, their courtship, and how he had worked in the United States with the bracero program prior to their nuptials; in addition, several of her family members, including her in-laws, were also braceros; she talks about what a great experience it was for them, because they were able to earn enough money to make a better life for themselves; although a number of men did meet with incredible success, many of them died while in the states due to accidents, heat stroke, or other such unfortunate incidents; after her husband stopped working as a bracero, they had two children, and they later decided to immigrate to the United States; she goes on to detail the entire process they went through, and the subsequent difficulties they faced; while in the United States, she labored in the fields of Anaheim, California, picking strawberries, for fourteen seasons; many of the pickers became feverish and cou…
creator: Mota, Annabel
creator: Acevedo, María Belén
date: 2006-05-12
contributor: Cristóbal Borges
rights: Institute of Oral History, The University of Texas at El Paso
language: spa

David Alfaro Sandoval
subject: Bracero
description: Biographical Synopsis of Interviewee: David Alfaro Sandoval was born on April 18, 1930, in Romito, Guanajuato, México; his parents worked in agriculture, and he had two sisters; he was formally educated through the sixth grade; when his father died, he was forced to become the man of the family; in 1954, he enlisted in the bracero program, where he continued working on and off until 1962; as a bracero, he labored in the fields of Arizona and California picking various crops; he later returned to the United States, and he was ultimately able to obtain citizenship. Summary of Interview: Mr. Alfaro briefly discusses his family and childhood; he initially learned about the bracero program through people in town; in 1954, he went to Irapuato, Guanajuato, México, to enlist in the program; he explains that there were between thirty and fifty thousand people on the waiting list, which was organized according to states and municipalities; as part of the contracting process he was stripped, medically examined, and deloused; the men had to wait for an hour before they could dress; as a bracero, he labored on and off in the fields of Arizona and California until 1962; the work was very difficult, and he suffered greatly; he recalls that he was paid 60¢ an hour, which totaled $6.00 a day; after all the deductions he was only left with $2.00; oftentimes, he did not have enough money to buy clothes or send very much to his family; in spite of this, he had to stay and work, because he could not even afford the expense of the trip home; when he deserted his contract he was able to earn in a day what took him a week to earn as a bracero; he goes on to detail how he would leave the bracero camp and go to Fresno, California, for more lucrative work; moreover, he talks about the various worksites, labor populations, living conditions, provisions, treatment, payments, remittances, and recreational activities; he concludes that the life of a bracero was especially difficult, because they …
creator: Rosas, Abagail
creator: Alfaro Sandoval, David
date: 2006-05-12
rights: Institute of Oral History, The University of Texas at El Paso
language: spa

José Ezequiel Acevedo Pérez
subject: Bracero
description: Biographical Synopsis of Interviewee: José Ezequiel Acevedo was born on April 13, 1934, in Jerez, Zacatecas, México; he received very little formal education, because as the eldest of his siblings, he had to help support his family; his father often labored on the railroads in the United States under the bracero program; in the early fifties, José joined his father in the program; as a bracero, he worked in Arizona, California, Texas, and Utah, picking asparagus, blackberries, carrots, cotton, and oranges; in addition, he also irrigated crops and helped care for livestock; he later returned to the United States, and he ultimately became a citizen. Summary of Interview: Mr. Acevedo talks about his family and childhood; as a child, his father often labored on the railroads in the United States under the bracero program; whenever he was gone, José was left to care for his younger siblings; when he was roughly seventeen, he traveled to Irapuato, Guanajuato, México, with his father, to join the program; José describes the process he underwent while there, as well as how embarrassing the physical exams were, because he was stripped naked in front of everyone; moreover, upon arriving in the United States he endured similar assessments, and he was also deloused; as a bracero, he worked in Arizona, California, Texas, and Utah, picking asparagus, blackberries, carrots, cotton, and oranges; in addition, he irrigated crops and helped care for livestock; he goes on to detail the various worksites, labor populations, living conditions, provisions, treatment, payments, remittances, and recreational activities; more specifically, he explains one instance in which he was injured while working and the resulting difficulties he faced; he also mentions that representatives from the Mexican consul were often seen at the campsites in support of the braceros; additionally, he states that while working in Arizona, it was unbearably hot, and the construction of the barracks only made it wor…
creator: Mota, Annabel
creator: Acevedo Pérez, José Ezequiel
date: 2006-05-12
rights: Institute of Oral History, The University of Texas at El Paso
language: spa

Eduardo De Santiago
subject: Bracero
description: Biographical Synopsis of Interviewee: Eduardo de Santiago was born on October 13, 1916, in Jerez, Zacatecas, México; he is the fifth of eight brothers and sisters; as a child, he helped his father work in the fields, and he stopped attending school when his father needed more help; he was an elected commissioner of his hometown, which made him responsible for compiling the lists of aspiring braceros for his area; his position led to him enlisting in the bracero program in 1954; as a bracero, he worked in Balmorhea, Texas, for six years, where he weighed and picked cotton; he legalized residency for himself and his family. Summary of Interview: Mr. de Santiago grew up with his parents, who were agricultural workers, and his seven brothers and sisters; he describes his commissioner position and the way in which he came to enlist as a bracero, in 1954; he was transported from his hometown of Jerez, Zacatecas, México, to Chihuahua, Chihuahua, where he was examined and then transferred to Rio Vista, a processing center in Socorro, Texas; as a bracero, he worked in Balmorhea, Texas, for six years, where he weighed and picked cotton; in addition, he also learned to drive a tractor; he describes his close relationship with the grower, wages, duties, living and working arrangements, and recreational activities; furthermore, he explains how his family came to legalize their residency, which was not that difficult, because although he and his wife met in México, she was born in the United States; sometime after finishing his last contract, he worked at a chile and tomato farm in New Mexico, where he subsequently became the field boss; he concludes by discussing what the term bracero means to him and how happy he was to have worked with the program.
creator: Loza, Mireya
creator: De Santiago, Eduardo
date: 2005-11-12
contributor: Cristóbal Borges
rights: Institute of Oral History, The University of Texas at El Paso
language: spa

Jesús Martínez
subject: Bracero
description: Biographical Synopsis of Interviewee: Jesús Martínez was born on April 7, 1932, in Rincón de Romos, Aguascalientes, México; as a child, he helped his family with the farming duties, which took precedence over attending school; when he was twelve years old, his father died, which forced him to take on more family responsibilities, including helping to care for his younger siblings; in 1952, he enlisted in the bracero program in order to help support his family; as a bracero he worked with various crops in Arizona, California, Michigan, Nebraska, and Texas; in addition, he became the foreman for three separate farms; he continued working with the program until 1961, and he was ultimately able to arrange legal residency for his family. Summary of Interview: Mr. Martínez describes his family and childhood; in 1952, he enlisted in the bracero program in order to help support his family; he provides a detailed explanation of the necessary documentation to become a bracero, including letters of recommendation; in addition, he describes the various contracting procedures, that consisted of long waiting lines, physical exams, collections of blood samples, and delousing, which was the most embarrassing for him; as a bracero, he worked in Arizona, California, Michigan, Nebraska, and Texas; he goes on to discuss wages, living and working conditions, treatment, provisions, remittances, and the range of relationships among employees and employers; eventually, he became the foreman for three separate farms, and he attended an agricultural school in Las Cruces, New Mexico, to learn more about cultivating crops; he continued working with the program until 1961, and he was ultimately able to arrange legal residency for his family; he concludes by expressing the importance of working hard and being honest.
creator: Chew, Selfa
creator: Martínez, Jesús
date: 2005-11-12
contributor: Cristóbal Borges
rights: Institute of Oral History, The University of Texas at El Paso
language: spa

Rosendo Alarcón Carrera
subject: Bracero
description: Nombre del entrevistado: Rosendo Alarcón Carrera Fecha de la entrevista: 28 de mayo de 2003 Nombre del entrevistador: Laureano Martínez Esta es una entrevista con el señor Rosendo Alarcón Carrera en la ciudad de Durango, Durango, el día 28 de mayo de 2003 conducido por Laureano Martínez para el Proyecto Bracero del Instituto de Historia Oral de la Universidad de Texas en El Paso. LM: Don Rosendo, buenos días. RA: Buenos días. LM: Don Rosendo me gustaría comenzar esta entrevista preguntándole, ¿dónde y cuándo nació usted? RA: Yo nací en San José de la Boca, Municipio de Tepehuanes. LM: ¿Cuándo? RA: En 1938, el día primero de este, el 27 de enero. LM: Veintisiete de enero. RA: De 1938. LM: ¿Cuántos años tiene usted, don Rosendo? RA: Sesenta y cinco. LM: Sesenta y cinco, muy bien. ¿Cómo se llamó su papá? RA: Juan Alarcón Quiñónez. LM: Y, ¿su mamá? RA: Catalina Carrera Cervantes. LM: ¿A qué se dedicaban sus padres? RA: Pos agricultores. LM: Era agricultor su papá. RA: Ey, trabajaba en el campo. LM: ¿Sembraban? RA: Sí. LM: ¿Qué sembraban? RA: Maíz, frijol, chile. LM: Y, ¿su mamá? RA: Pos ama de casa. LM: Qué bien, ¿tenía gallinitas ahí donde vivían? RA: Ey, gallinitas, marranos, vacas, chivas. LM: ¿Cuántos fueron ustedes de familia? RA: Diez. LM: Diez, ¿cuántos hombres y cuantas…? RA: Seis hombres y cuatro mujeres. LM: De esos diez, ¿usted que lugar ocupa? RA: El segundo. LM: Usted fue el segundo de los más grandes. RA: Sí. LM: ¿Tiene un hermano, un hermana? RA: Un hermano, mayor que yo. LM: ¿Sus padres eran originarios de ahí de la región? RA: Sí. LM: ¿De ahí mismo? RA: Sí, de ahí mismo. LM: Cuéntenos un poquito, ¿cómo es ese lugar donde usted nació?, ¿cómo es San José de la Boca? RA: Pos es un pueblito muy bonito, porque hay un río que es el Río Tepehuanes, es agua muy cristalina, muy bonita. Nosotros de ahí salimos como de nueve años a un rancho que se llama El Agua Caliente, acá en Melchor Ocampo a un lado de Santiago Papasquiaro. Y ahí vivimos bastante tiempo, hasta…
creator: Martínez, Laureano
creator: Alarcón Carrera, Rosendo
date: 2003-05-28
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 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 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

Ignacio Magallanes Hernández
subject: Bracero
description: Biographical Synopsis of Interviewee: Ignacio Magallanes was born on July 31, 1932, in Chalchihuites, Zacatecas, México; he was the third of seven brothers; at the age of ten, he worked in agriculture; his father joined the bracero program in 1942; at the age of eighteen, he moved to Durango, Durango, México and worked in construction; economic hardship and his father’s insistence pushed him to enlist in the Bracero Program in 1954; he worked in California, Michigan, and Texas picking cantaloupes, lettuce, sugar beets, tomatoes, and watermelons; these activities he performed until 1961. Summary of Interview: Mr. Magallanes describes the economic situation that led him to the bracero program in 1954; he worked in California, Michigan, and Texas; additionally, he details what the contracting center in Empalme, Sonora, México was like, the treatment he received from American doctors, and his train trip to the México-United States border; he recalls daily activities on farms, the work braceros did, and the way they were paid; furthermore, he discusses the different types of contracts they had and their lengths; he states what braceros did during weekends, and the racism they encountered in the United States; he remembers the benefits of being a bracero, the things he liked and disliked in the U.S., and his fond memories of the program.
creator: Martínez, Laureano
creator: Magallanes Hernández, Ignacio
date: 2003-05-26
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

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