Institute of Oral History, The University of Texas at El Paso
Plutarco Chavez Ruiz's Bracero ID Card (front side).
Plutarco Chavez Ruiz's indentification card (backside).
Backside of Plutarco Chavez Ruiz's photograph of himself in the fields at Salinas, CA. Inscription gives date of 1959 and location of Salinas, CA.
Color picture of Plutareo in the fields in Salinas, California.
Biographical Synopsis of Interviewee: Herminio Quezada Durán was born in Satevó, Chihuahua, México, in 1925, to a family of farmers; he had ten siblings; upon his father’s passing in 1949, he and his family moved to Chihuahua, Chihuahua; he became a bracero in 1952, at the age of twenty-seven; he worked in Colorado, Texas, New Mexico, and Utah. Summary of Interview: Mr. Quezada briefly recalls having been born and raised in Satevó, Chihuahua, México; his entire family worked on ranches; when his father passed away in 1949, he and his family moved to Chihuahua, Chihuahua; prior to becoming a bracero, he worked illegally in the United States; in 1952, he was hired under the Bracero Program; he recalls that Fort Bliss, in El Paso, Texas, was the first reception center he encountered as a bracero; he was then taken to Rio Vista, a processing center in Socorro, Texas ; he remembers that none of the braceros wanted to go to Pecos, Texas, because the fields there were enormous; for this reason, many braceros were hired; the ranchers often had agreements between each other to exchange or trade braceros as necessary for work; many braceros preferred working in the central United States; braceros cooked their own meals; stewards would take them to grocery stores to buy their supplies.
Mexican passport issued in San Diego, California on June 23, 1960
Rafael Hernandez's Mexican passport issued to him in San Diego, California on June 23, 1960.
Rafael Hernandez's Mexican passport issued to him in San Diego, California on June 23, 1960 expiring June 22, 1962.
This photo of Rafael Hernandez was taken with him next to a tractor machine. It's cut off from the picture. The picture was taken in 1956.
Rafael Hernandez on a John Deer tractor in 1956
Photo of Rafael Hernandez holding a jumper in 1956
You are being asked to contribute your story to the Bracero History Archive, which is developing a permanent digital record of the Bracero program. Your participation in the project will allow future historians, and people such as yourself, to gain a greater understanding of this program and its effect on the people involved. You must be 13 years of age or older to submit material to us. Your submission of material constitutes your permission for, and consent to, its dissemination and use in connection with the Bracero History Archive in all media in perpetuity. If you have so indicated on the form, your material will be published on the Bracero History Archive website (with or without your name, depending on what you have indicated). Otherwise, your response will only be available to approved researchers using the Bracero History Archive. The material you submit must have been created by you, wholly original, and shall not be copied from or based, in whole or part, upon any other photographic, literary, or other material, except to the extent that such material is in the public domain. Further, such material must not violate any confidentiality, privacy, security or other laws. By submitting to the Bracero History Archive you release, discharge, and agree to hold harmless the Bracero History Archive and persons acting under its permission or authority, including a public library to which the collection might be donated for purposes of long-term preservation, from any claims or liability arising out of the Bracero History Archive's use of the material, including, without limitation, claims for violation of privacy, defamation, or misrepresentation. The Bracero History Archive has no obligation to use your material.
Alianza Bracero PROA identification card
Alianza Bracero PROA identification card in Mexicali, Baja California
This Alianza Bracero ProA membership card is for Raul Hernandez of Mexicali, Baja California.
Alianza Bracero PROA identification card (back)
This notice explains the new procedures for a MICA card in 1958. It states that MICA cards are only to notify that these men have completed their work as braceros. However, the card could be used to enter the country, if and only if, they are still finishing a contract in the United States and had to travel back to Mexico.
This syphilis test card attests that Raul Hernandez was diagnosed with syphilis and that he was given the appropriate medication.
U.S. Department of Public Health Service
Raul Hernandez' Alien laborer's identification card (MICA). Its was issued to him in 1962.
Alien laborer's identification card (back)
Continuation of Standard Work Contract for Cresenciano Perez Vasquez from 1957.