A People’s History of the Inland Empire Digital Archive

Manuel Reynosa Interview

2019.003.051

Sound

1997 interview with road layer Manuel Reynosa and his wife Patricia Reynosa. The interview begins with a discussion of Reynosa's family history including immigration from Silao in Guanajuato and building a home in Colton, CA. The Reynosas discuss Manuel's stepfather, Elvenjez Nuñez's work selling fertilizer and magazines from Mexico for extra money, working in agriculture with citrus and walnuts, and working on the canals in Riverside. During the depression, Manuel's first job was picking mustard plants out of the alfalfa fields in Cooley Ranch for 25 cents a day, then putting fertilizer on orange groves, irrigating and picking oranges in Highgrove, Agua Mansa, and Bryn Mawr. After WWII Manuel worked laying roads in San Bernardino and at a winery in Colton, construction, and irrigating for Western Fruit Growers. Patricia Reynosa discusses some of the local organizations they were involved in including the Progrestista and the Feminil which started in 1970 and was still in existence at the time of the interview. Patricia also discusses her work at Norton Airforce Base. At the conclusion of the interview, they discuss the 1938 flood and other floods in the region.

Railroads

Grape Industry

Chicano History

Citrus Fruit Industry, Labor

Bracero Program

Entertainment and Leisure Activities

Mutual Aid Organizations

Colton (Calif.)
Bloomington (Calif.)
Redlands (Calif.)
Bryn Mawr (Calif.)
Highgrove (Calif.)

1940s
1930s

Antonio Vasquez

December 5, 1997

Reynoza, Manuel

Audio Cassette

English

Tape 1: 00:31:27
Tape 2: 00:31:22
Total: 1:02:49