A People’s History of the Inland Empire Digital Archive

Items

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  Blas Coyazo and Military Police Unit

  Blas Coyazo posing with the rest of the Military Police Unit at the Columbia Army Base in South Carolina where he was stationed in 1944 during World War II. "After experiencing segregation at home, from barbershops to the local roller rink, Coyazo was amazed to find himself in an all-white unit with access to facilities far superior to his black comrades, who were housed at and fought in segregated units. The following letter was sent on January 1, 1945 to "Pelanchos" and Charlie: 'Here I am with the boys from the 2nd Relief. I have white gloves, white leggings an M.P. band and a holster with my lassito around my shoulder, only it can't be seen, it's too bad. But anyway here I am, hope you can find me. With all my love, Blas.'" (Vasquez and Carpio, 35)
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  Consuela Coyazo Scrapbook Page 4

  This is one page of a large scrapbook maintained by Consuela Coyazo. The book contains over 100 images from candid scenes of every day life in the barrio to penny arcade booth photographs, to formal portraits.
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  Consuela Coyazo Scrapbook Page 3

  This is one page of a large scrapbook maintained by Consuela Coyazo. The book contains over 100 images from candid scenes of every day life in the barrio to penny arcade booth photographs, to formal portraits. One identified image is of Simona "Sammy" Castillo (third row down, far right) with a bow in her hair. Sammy was born in East Highland and spent most of her career at St. Bernardine's Hospital as a surgical registered nurse.
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  Consuela Coyazo Scrapbook Page 2

  This is one page of a large scrapbook maintained by Consuela Coyazo. The book contains over 100 images from candid scenes of every day life in the barrio to penny arcade booth photographs, to formal portraits.
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  Consuela Coyazo Scrapbook Page 1

  This is one page of a large scrapbook maintained by Consuela Coyazo. The book contains over 100 images from candid scenes of everyday life in the barrio to penny arcade booth photographs, to formal portraits.

• Unidentified Soldier "After" Photograph

  This small black and white photograph is one of a series of two photograph showing the unidentified young man "after" and "after" donning military uniform for World War II. From unknown civilian to unknown soldier.
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  Unidentified Soldier "After" Photograph

  This small black and white photograph is one of a series of two photograph showing the unidentified young man "after" and "after" donning military uniform for World War II. From unknown civilian to unknown soldier.
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  Unidentified Civilian "Before" Photograph

  This small black and white photograph is one of a series of two photograph showing the unidentified young man "before" and "after" donning military uniform for World War II. From unknown civilian to unknown soldier.
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  Soldiers in Panama City, 1947

  Three solders identified from left to right as "Babe," Mac," and Nello" pose at a Panama City Bar in 1947. The back reads: "Taken in Panama City, Sept 13, 1947" Nello, Mac, Me, My love (Babe).
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  Soldiers, World War II

  Three soldiers sitting on a rock or log near a forest. They are in military dress and are posing for the camera.
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  Rosa the Riveter

  Black and white photograph of an unidentified woman heading to work at Norton Airforce base during the 1940s. Her hair is short with a headband and she wears overalls. During World War II many women entered the workforce especially in the defense industry. While the common image was Rosie the Riveter, women workers were of all races and ethnicities. Due to federal rules against segregation in the defense industry, Mexican American, African American, Asian American and white women worked side by side on production lines.
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  Unknown Naval Seaman

  A portrait of an unidentified Mexican American naval seaman in military dress taken at a photography studio. The image is also a post card and has written on back "Daniel, Taken 3 months ago at Fresno"
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  Rafael Gonzalez with daughter Melinda

  Black and white image of Rafael Gonzalez sitting on the lawn with his daughter Melinda on his lap in the early 1950s. Rafael Gonzalez apprenticed as a shoemaker in Mexico before coming to the United States as a Bracero in 1942. Gonzalez dreamed of returning home and establishing a business but was delayed during the war and was among a group of Braceros stranded in San Bernardino without a contract or transportation home. Later, Gonzales met Eunice Romero while working for her father, Jacinto Romero, at Fairbanks Ranch.
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  Eunice and Rafael Gonzalez with grandaughter Bianca

  Color image of Eunice and Rafael Gonzalez holding Bianca, their granddaughter, at their home on Ohio Street in the 1970s. Rafael Gonzalez apprenticed as a shoemaker in Mexico before coming to the United States as a Bracero in 1942. Gonzalez dreamed of returning home and establishing a business but was delayed during the war and was among a group of Braceros stranded in San Bernardino without a contract or transportation home. Later, Gonzales met Eunice Romero while working for her father, Jacinto Romero, at Fairbanks Ranch.
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  Rafael Gonzalez, 1943

  Rafael Gonzalez is pictured here at Cone Camp in 1943. Gonzalez was recruited from Mexico City as part of the United States - Mexico Bracero labor program during World War II. "Coney Camp" as it was known to the local Mexican population, was a former jail and Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) training center located on the banks of the Santa Ana River in East Highlands. Converted to house Mexican laborers, the facility held up to 1,500 men at a time. Despite federal mandates for reasonable living conditions, wages, and medical care many braceros like those living in Cone Camp lived in wooden barracks and sometimes in tents where the men endured severe winter weather and extreme heat in the summer. The Bracero Program officially ended in 1964.
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  Concepcion (Concha) Romero at Fairbanks Ranch, 1960

  Color photograph of Concepcion (Concha) Romero standing in front of the orange groves at Fairbanks Ranch. Concepcion Romero was an active member of the Divine Savior Church and was an entreprenuer. She ran restuarants and made tamales and tortillas. Her daughter Eunice Romero (Gonzales) noted, "My mother had a restaurant right here on Colton Avenue, on Lawton and Colton. There was a gas station and then a little restaurant up on old Third Street, and then her final restaurant was on Stuart and Third Street, and they were all Romero restaurants."
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  Eunice Romero Gonzales as a child

  Eunice Romero (Gonzales) is pictured at right as a child at Fairbanks Ranch.
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  Jacinto and Concepcion Romero at Fairbanks Ranch

  Black and white photograph of Jacinto and Concepcion Romero at Fairbanks Ranch in the early 1950s. They pose in front of some of the many orange groves comprising Fairbanks Ranch.
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  Jacinto Romero and Jesus Chacon

  Black and white photograph of Jacinto Romero and his brother-in-law Jesus Chacon (wearing hat) arriving for services at Divine Savior Church on Union Avenue in the late 1930s.
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  Joe, Abe, and Ben Romero

  "Ramon Romero, one of the founders of Divine Savior Church, sits with his granddaughter Esther Romero at 1140 Ohio Street in the 120s. The Romero family lived on the same street for over 100 years. Another granddaughter, Ramona Romero Dalhberg wrote a letter stating, 'My grandfather used to have a horse named Jack and a cart and on Sunday mornings they would hold church meetings on street corners, like Calhoun Street and Brockton and different places. Then the men got together to talk about forming a Presbyterian Church. Gavino Trevino owned property on the corner of Webster and Union, which he donated, and they drew plans for a building. The building consisted of one large room with the front door facing Webster Street. It was a very well made building with a big porch in front.'" (Vasquez and Carpio, 31)
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  Concepcion Romero and Jesus Chacon

  Concepcion Romero and her brother, Jesus Chacon, leaving services at Divine Savior Church. Concepcion wears a coat with flowers and holds her purse under her arm. Jesus wears a trench coat and a hat which is pulled low over his face in the image.
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  Abraham Romero in Front of Orange Groves

  Abraham "Abe" Romero stands in front of an orange grove, he has glasses wears a suit and tie, in the back is a trailer with some orange crates. On the back is writen: "November 19, 1945 Uncle Abe worked for Gordon Doueed?? for many years then worked at Norton Base during War II. Church Elder of Divine Savior Church Parish."
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  Dallas Holmes Interview

  Interview with longtime Riverside resident Dallas Holmes: Holmes was a lawyer and judge in Riverside and Corona, as well as an activist for the green zone in Riverside that allowed for the preservation of many citrus groves along Arlington and Victoria avenues, respectively. There are also frequent mentions of the history and local, bureaucratic, and corrupt politics of the area that ultimately led to the downfall of the Citrus industry in Riverside in favor of industry and housing development for commuters from Orange and LA counties. Citrus agriculture and air pollution are also discussed rather briefly.
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  Steve Reyes Interview

  This interview largely focuses on the practices involved in working in a citrus grove. Steve Reyes recalls his time as a "rata" a child laborer working in the citrus industry. The main practice outlined in the interview was smudging, a process in which smoke was used to prevent frost accumulation on the citrus plants. Reyes emphasis on a united family unit being core to the old values of Mexican American life.
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  Gary Lemos and Lupe Perez Interview

  The interviewee goes into great depth and detail describing the nature of mid-twentieth-century American citrus industry practices and culture in Southern California among primarily Mexican immigrant communities (Filipinos are occasionally mentioned). He describes what it meant to be a child laborer (termed ratas) experiencing discrimination, and political impacts on the citrus industry over time. There is also an emphasis on resilience and making the best out of less than optimal situations, such as remaining steadfast in obtaining an education while simultaneously facing the ongoing threat of deportation.