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2012 Calendar Page 26, RCMAHS and Augustine "Teen" Flores

The left side has the Riverside County Mexican American Historical Society's mission statement: "Riverside County Mexican American Historical Society is dedicated to bring our communities together through the preservation and sharing of historic photographs, stories, and artifacts that illustrate the local history followed of the Mexican American communities toward the unique history of the County of Riverside." This is followed by a list of RCMAHS advisory board members: Mary Figueroa, Elaine Kist, Ralph Nunez, Dvonne Pitrnzzelo, Kenny Sotelo, Sue Strickland, Gilbert Vasquez. Under that is a text: "RCMAHS takes great honor in being involved with The City of Riverside and The Human Relations Commission in bringing honor to Mr. Augustine "Teen" Flores 2011 Grier Icon." The rest is dedicated to Augustine "Teen Flores" written by Linda Salinas-Thompson for the 2011 Frier Icon that continues on the right side of the page under a headshot of Flores with a military side cap. "'Teen' Flores (1926-1987) was a resident of the Casa Blanca community of Riverside and a civic leader who worked tirelessly to build bridges between the Hispanic community of Riverside and the City's other communities. He, in large part, helped shape the character and direction of the Casa Blanca community. He was instrumental in establishing the Villegas Park in Casa Blanca neighborhood." The next paragraph reads: "A 1942 graduate Poly High and a veteran of the United States military, "Teen" was a Riverside firefighter; founder of the Riverside Chapter of the American G.I. Forum, and NAACP national chair; an entrepreneur who founded several businesses; and, a member of the Riverside Planning Commission who was recognized for his accomplishments by the Riverside Justice Chamber of Commerce which named him as its outstanding young man of the year in 1961." The dedication ends with this paragraph: "In recognition of his civic contributions, President Lyndon Johnson invited "Teen" Flores to participate in a White House conference on Hispanic in 1961. He passed away on December 15, 1967, after leaving an indelible mark on Riverside."The middle of the page advertises the 2011 Riverside Heroes Awards by Riverside Human Relations Commission would be on December 1, 2011, at 3:30.
Connie Confer Oral History

Connie Confer moved to Riverside in 1969 and since then has been an active organizer for LGBTQ+ and women’s issues in Riverside, holding leadership positions in organizations such as the Inland AIDS Project and the Political Action Coalition for Elections (PACE). The oral history begins with Confer discussing how she came to Riverside in 1969. She reflects on homophobia she experienced early on in the area. She then describes how after the Stonewall Riots in 1969 and California Proposition 6 in 1978, she became involved in political organizing for LGBTQ+ rights. Confer details her belief in the political and social power of the act of coming out, and her coming out in Riverside’s conservative climate. She then recounts her career working as Assistant City Attorney for Riverside for over 20 years and the work of the Inland AIDS Project and the Political Action Coalition for Elections, both of which she was president of. Confer then discusses the local battle over the AIDS Anti-Discrimination Ordinance, the backlash from the conservative Riverside Citizens for Responsible Behavior, and the work of her partner Kay Berryhill-Smith on the Human Relations Commission at the time. She also describes the work of the Inland AIDS Project in supporting and providing care for individuals with HIV/AIDS during the AIDS epidemic. Confer then details the AIDS Name Project Quilt and its community impact, which was brought to the Riverside Convention Center in 1987. She discusses the political fundraising work of PACE and its connection with the Menagerie. Confer recalls gay pride celebrations in the Riverside area which took place in the 80s and 90s and the Inland AIDS Project AIDS walks in downtown Riverside. She then describes PAC, a social group for LGBTQ+ men and women, women’s music, and lesbian cruises in the 1980s and 1990s. Confer discusses her work in women’s rights issues, including with the Spouse Abuse Coalition and Riverside County Coalition for Alternatives to Domestic Violence. The oral history closes with Conner reflecting on the state of LGBTQ+ rights today, including the fight for transgender rights and the recent overturning of Roe v. Wade.
Jane Carney Oral History

Jane Carney moved to Riverside in 1977 as a business lawyer and was highly active in political organizing in the area. She ran for California State assembly in 1992, helped bring the Federal District and Appellate Courts to downtown Riverside and had a large role in the legal history of Riverside’s AIDS Anti-Discrimination Ordinance battle in the early 1990s. The oral history begins with Carney discussing how she came to Riverside and her early legal career in the area. She details meeting Connie Confer and their work to help confirm California Supreme Court Justice Rose Bird, afterwhich Carney became closely involved in election campaigns and political fundraisers. Carney then provides details on the work of the Riverside Coalition Against Discrimination and the homophobic climate in context of the ballot battle of the AIDS Anti-Discrimination Ordinance in Riverside. She details the overruling of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell, and the important role of Riverside’s Virginia Philips in writing the case opinion. Carney also discusses her close involvement with the formation of the Riverside Justice Center through the Riverside County Bar Association. The oral history closes out with Carney reflecting on the role of drag in the acceptance of lesbian and gay people as well as the climate of coming out in the 1980s in Riverside.
5-Day Fair on Tap Tomorrow

An old black and white Riverside Daily Press newspaper article clipping titled "5-Day Fair on Tap Tomorrow." Linda Bermudez will be crowned queen by the Riverside mayor E.V. Dales next to the Riverside Plaza. Linda Bermudez was making plans to attend Riverside Polytechnic High School. The text states "Riverside Community Fair will begin a five-day run at 6 p.m. tomorrow with Linda Bermudez reigning as queen of the Knights of Columbus sponsored event. Linda, candidate of the Club was declared winner of the six-weeks-long queen contest last night as she made a whirlwind finish to top the field of 10 contestants. The pretty brunette held top place in the contest during the final two weeks of the contest, piling up a plurality of votes over runnersup Susan Ann Sweeney and Dorothy Mae Elliot. Queen Linda is scheduled to be crowned at 8:30 p.m. tomorrow by Mayor E. V. Dales during opening night festivities at the fair. The queen is a native Californian and she will have her 17th birthday in Oct. 6 during her reign. She is a student at Riverside Polytechnic High School. Her future plans include going on to college." Next to the article is a portrait of Linda with the caption "Linda Bermudez, winner of the Riverside Community Fair queen contest, will be crowned at 8:30 p.m. tomorrow by Mayor E. V. Dales" underneath. Another section of the article describes the fair: "Workmen at the community fair site [...] The groups are Uptown Optimist Club, Uptown Kiwanis... (Turn to FAIR, Pafe B-2).
Linda Bermudez's portrait in a newspaper

A black and white Riverside Daily News newspaper article clipping that is worn out and yellow with Linda Bermudez's portrait of her smiling. Underneath the portrait is the caption: Linda Bermudez, winner of the Riverside Community Fair queen contest, will be crowned at 8:30 p.m. today by Mayor E. V. Dales."The news article details the detrimental effects of smog on Riverside crops. A carnival is advertised at the top of the page; it will take place at Riverside Plaza. Bermudez is the queen of Riverside Community Fair. The newspaper clipping has been teared.
2008 Calendar Page 26, RCMA Historical Society Mission Statement

Page featuring a photo of five young women, the Soliz sisters, standing atop Mt. Rubidoux in Riverside, California. The page also features a missions statement aiming to preserve and share the Mexican-American History of Riverside. Lastly, there is information regarding the cost of including advertisements in the commemorational calendar for those interested. Calendar text reads "Riverside County Mexican American Historical Society, Mission Statement: Riverside County Mexican American Historical Society is dedicated to bring together in sharing, preserving, of historic photographs, stories, and artifacts that illustrate the communities of Mexican Americans in the County of Riverside. AD's and Memorial Rememberances: Business Ad's, Memorial Remembbrances, and Tributes of loved ones may be placed for $120.00 each. We need a business card with correct information and a short written dedication of tribute to the honored person. "It is important to know where we have been, where we are, and to see where we are going." Soliz sisters enjoying the view atop of Mt. Rubidoux."
2010 Calendar page 9, September

A calendar cover for September/ Septiembre 2010 presents six pictures of soldiers from the Inland Empire who served in different branches during the 1950s. This is continuing from the previous calendar pages before this one in the calendar for starting from the June calendar page. Each image is captioned with the soldier's name, their military branch, and where they were from. Roberto Garcia, an Air Force veteran of Riverside. Johnny Soliz, a WWII veteran (1955-1957) of Riverside. Johnny Carrillo, an Army veteran (1950-1952) of Riverside. Emmo Soliz, a Navy veteran (1951-1955) of Riverside. Nick Valadez, a Korean War Army veteran of Riverside. Jose F. Araiza, an Army veteran (1955-1957) of Coachella.
2010 Calendar page 7, July

A calendar cover page for July/ Julio 2010 presents six pictures of soldiers from the Inland Empire who served in different branches during WWII. This is continuing from the June calendar page from the previous page. Each image is captioned with the soldier's name, their military branch, and where they were from. Pictured left to right: Zeke Hernandez, a WWII Army veteran of Riverside. Leonard Zaragoza, a WWII Army veteran of Riverside. Manuel Bermudz, a WWII Army veteran of Riverside. Tom Valerria, a WWII Army veteran of Casa Blanca. Lupe Nevarez, a WWII Air Force veteran of Riverside. Joe M. Romero, a WWII Army veteran of Riverside.
Soliz Sisters on Mt. Rubidoux Calendar Photo

This piece demonstrates a photo of five young women, the Soliz sisters, standing atop Mt. Rubidoux in Riverside, California. The calendar page it originates from features a missions statement aiming to preserve and share the Mexican-American History of Riverside. Calendar text reads "Riverside County Mexican American Historical Society, Mission Statement: Riverside County Mexican American Historical Society is dedicated to bring together in sharing, preserving, of historic photographs, stories, and artifacts that illustrate the communities of Mexican Americans in the County of Riverside. AD's and Memorial Remembrances: Business Ad's, Memorial Remembrances, and Tributes of loved ones may be placed for $120.00 each. We need a business card with correct information and a short written dedication of tribute to the honored person. "It is important to know where we have been, where we are, and to see where we are going." Soliz sisters enjoying the view atop of Mt. Rubidoux." Full calendar image: 2021.001.026.
2008 Calendar Commemorative Page, In Memory of Jesse Reyes Ybarra

A professional black and white photograph of Jesse Reyes Ybarra, wearing glasses and a light-colored 5-piece suit. He was born on Sep. 18, 1916, and passed away on April 13, 2007 at the age of 91. He was the Director of the Community Settlement House in Riverside from 1959-1981. It was his wish that this historical Riverside calendar project is brought into being, and the image states he was a beloved community leader. Calendar text reads "In Loving Memory Jesse Reyes Ybarra Born September 18, 1916, San Antonio, Texas Passed Away April 13, 2007, Riverside, California Graveside Service Riverside National Cemetery Thursday, 11:15 A.M. April 19, 2007. This Calendar is dedicated in memory of Mr. Jesse Ybarra due to his enthusiasm and motivation in launching this project. Mr. Ybarra was the Executive Director at the Community Settlement House in Riverside from 1959 to 1981. He touched many lives with his dedication, kindness, and goodwill; truly exemplifying the character of a very giving man. Mr. Ybarra will be greatly missed for his unselfish contribution of kindness and leadership to an entire community."
Chani Beeman Homegrown Heroes Full Interview

This interview with Chani Beeman was conducted on April 10, 2023. Chani Beeman is a prominent community activist that advocates for LGBTQ Rights and police accountability. Born and raised in Riverside, California, Beeman shares her experiences growing up in the Inland Empire and coming to terms with her queer identity. After studying at Riverside Community College, UC Riverside, and Cal State San Bernardino, Beeman discusses her work in community activism, specifically with the Inland Congregations United for Change (ICUC) and her involvement with the Riverside Coalition for Police Accountability, where she worked to ensure transparency and accountability with Riverside law enforcement.
Philip Bailey Oral History

Phillip Bailey has been a long time drag organizer and celebrity in Riverside since moving to the city in 1996. He discusses his long involvement in Riverside’s drag community and its beginnings in Riverside’s Menagerie and V.I.P. gay bars during the late 1980s and 1990s. Bailey details the activism role of the Riverside drag community during the AIDS epidemic, during which drag performers held fundraiser events for the Inland AIDS Project. He discusses how the LGBTQ+ community’s organized after the murder of Jeffrey Owens in which a “We Will Not Be Silent” march took place in the city and the Jeffrey Owens Community Center was founded. He talks about Riverside drag events that he has organized, including the annual Throwdown Drag Down Drag Race, his Fant-A-Shes productions beginning in 1997, and various drag shows at the V.I.P. and Menagerie bars over the years. Bailey also discusses key factors to drag history in the Inland Empire, including the famous Halston drag family, the impact of Ru Paul’s Drag Race locally, and the triangulation between Riverside, Palm Springs, and L.A. 's drag communities. He also notes the historic and contemporary relationship between the drag community and trans people and comments on the current attacks on drag performance and trans rights in the United States today.
Students at Doctor's Office

A black and white Riverside Daily Press newspaper clipping of students at the doctor's office news article. The excerpt states, "Out with those tonsils. That...of the day today for these seven Riverside. Each with a thermometer under his... clad youngsters wait to have they're liked at Riverside Osteopathic Hospital... the children of Mr. and Mrs. John Romo, 2158 Ninth St. The operations began shortly after 8 a.m. under the direction of Dr. Ben Thompson and the last tonsil was clipped at noon. George G. Kieser, the hospital administrator, said each of the seven Romos was urgently in need of tonsil removal. Never before had so many from one family had surgery at the same time? Ready to go to the operating room are (left to right), Sylvia, 4: Patricia, 6; Daniel, 8; Bernard, 9; Joe, 10; Robert, 15 and Johnnie, 16. The Romos also have other children, whose tonsils are doing fine, thanks." The image is of seven kids sitting together in a row wearing hospital gowns. From left to right, they are named Sylvia, Patsy, Danny, Bernie, Joey, Bobby, and Johnny. Their names are handwritten onto the photograph.
Children at Riverside Court House

A photo in color of three printed black and white photos of a family with children on a white piece of paper. At the bottom is a picture of children in cowboy costumes posing in front of what appears to be the Riverside Court House. The top left is of the children wearing cowboy hats in an outdoor area in front and posing in front of a tree. The top right image is a rotated image of a family posing on top of Mt. Rubidoux in Riverside, California.
2012 Calendar Page 28, Back Cover

Back cover of RCMAHS calendar. Includes all pictures used for calendar pages with a caption reading "This calendar includes images of the history of Mexican American families living in the communities of Riverside County." The bottom left section text is written by Linda Salinas-Thompson about the cover photograph of the Riverside Community Settlement House and Issue #4. The title states: Cover photograph: 'Riverside Community Settlement House'", and the following text states: "Jane Addams and Ellen Gates Starr are the direct descendents of the Settlement House founded in 1889, located in Chicaho. The purpose is to 'Aide in the solutions of life, to help our neighbors build responsible, self-sufficient lives for themselves and their families' The basic principles; Live in the community as an equal participant in the local issues of the day. Believe in the fundamental dignity of all individuals and accord every person with equal respect regardless of their ethnic origins, gender, and age. Believe that poverty and the lack of opportunity breed the problems of the ghetto. The charter was to 'Provide a Center for a higher social and civil life, to maintain education and improve the condition of life for all.' Services included night school for adults, family support services that stressed literacy, and parenting skill development. The Riverside Community Settlement House opened there doors in September, 1911. Located on the grounds of Lincoln Park, on Park Avenue, where many activities, classes, and meetings took place. The play, 'Las Estrellas Responden'' took place in 1935, a production of the Community Settlement House." There are two typos in this text. The bottom right states the copyright, graphic design company used, and price.
2012 Calendar page 1, "Sharing our History" Cover

A black and white 2012 calendar cover page with the title: "Sharing Our History 2012 Calendar." At the bottom reads "Riverside County Mexican American Historical Society" in all caps. The bottom right has a circular symbol, like a medal, of a guitar with "Riverside County Mexican American Historical Society." Many Mexican American men, women, and children are standing in front of a home outside near a tree. Most are wearing clothing such as skirts, blouses, button-ups, ponchos, and sombreros. There are a few who are holding instruments while there are some children that are standing on a balcony. There is a small picture in the upper left corner of Mt. Rubidoux in Riverside, CA.
2009 Calendar page 5, Month of February

2009 Month of February Calendar. There is an advertisement in the bottom left corner that reads" "Riverside Community College District Moreno Valley Campus, Riverside City College, Norco Campus, Mr. Jose Medina Board of Trustees, Chair - Academic Affairs and Student Support Services Board Committee, 4800 Magnolia Avenue, Riverside, California 92506-1299" In the advertisement is a circle picture with an oil lamp sitting on a stack of three books. On the rim of the circle it reads "Riverside Community College 1915". At the bottom right of the calendar is a memorial dedication that reads: "We proudly dedicate in his honor to my Father, Dari Reyes Villegas, who proudly dedicated and served his God, Family, Community, and Country with honor. With Great Honor, John, Amanda (Villegas) Gullett & Family". Next to the memorial is a headshot photo of Dario Reyes wearing a garisson cap with a patch on it above his left eye. Holidays on the calendar includes: Lincoln's birthday, Thursday Feb. 12th; Valentines day, Saturday Feb. 14th; President's day, Monday Feb 16th; Washington's birthday, Sunday, Feb. 22nd; Ash Wednesdy, Feb. 25th.
2010 Calendar page 11, November

A calendar cover page for November/ Noviembr 2010 presents five pictures of soldiers from the Inland Empire who served in different military branches over the 20th century. This is continuing from the previous calendar pages before this one in the calendar for starting from the June calendar page. Each image is captioned with the soldier's name, their army branch, and where they were from.Michael S. Lozano, a Vietnam War USMC veteran of Riverside. Manuel H. Venegas, a Vietnam War USMC veteran of Riverside. Edward P. Sandoval, an Army veteran (1969-1975) of Riverside. Adrian P. Ruiz, an Army veteran (1976-1982) of Belltown/Riverside. Angel Martinez, a WWII Army veteran of Riverside.
Deborah Wong Homegrown Heroes Full Interview

This interview with Dr. Deborah Wong, conducted on May 8, 2024, explores her life and work as an ethnomusicologist and social justice advocate. Born in New York City in 1959 to a Chinese-American father and white-American mother, Dr. Wong reflects on her multicultural upbringing and the racial dynamics she experienced while growing up on the East Coast and in Richmond, Virginia. Her academic path began with a love for music, leading her to ethnomusicology, which allowed her to study music in its cultural and social context. After earning her PhD, Dr. Wong taught at Pomona College before joining UC Riverside in 1996, where she focused on Asian American performance and music as tools for community building and racial justice. Her research includes documenting Riverside's Asian American history, preserving the city's Chinatown, and serving on the Riverside Coalition for Police Accountability following the 1998 police killing of Tyisha Miller. Dr. Wong emphasizes the power of music in shaping identity and social change, especially within marginalized communities. She continues to champion public-facing research and activism, hoping her work will inspire future generations to build on the legacy of community-based justice and equity.
Rose Mayes Homegrown Heroes Full Interview

This interview with Rose Mayes was conducted on December 5th, 2023. In this interview, Rose shares her life journey, growing up in Millville, Louisiana to moving to Riverside and establishing multiple organizations that advocate for social justice and fair housing. Rose begins by sharing stories of her childhood, being one of fourteen childreen and growing up with a close-knit family. She moved from Louisiana to Texas where she graduated high school and eventually started her own store, "Rose's Record Store" which became successful in Houston. It was during this time she navigated racial discrimination in business. After selling her business, Rose moved to Riverside where she earned her bachelor's and master's degree in business, worked for the Wall Street Journal, and became involved in activism. Rose became the executive director of the Fair Housing Council in Riverside County, fighting against housing discrimination, organizing out reach programs, and providing education on home ownership. Rose also founded the Eleanor Jean Grier Leadership Academy in 2007 to train community members to servce in leadership roles, such as city boards. Rose is still committed to serving the city of Riverside, citing the Dr. Martin Luther King monument site as another project she is currently working on.
Lalit Acharya Homegrown Heroes Full Interview

This transcription of Lalit Acharya gives a detailed account of his experience as an immigrant in Riverside, California and his involvement with the community. Lalit is the president of the Ghandi Foundation in Riverside and board member of the Civil Rights Institute of Inland Southern California. Lalit shares the process of getting the Ghandi monument to Riverside, while also sharing the history of the Harada House, another notable historic site in Riverside that was the home of Jukichi and Ken Haradan and how the house was involved in a longstanding legal battle with the city of Riverside to reclaim the property. The rest of the transcription has Lalit describe his personal journey with his involvement in the Riverside community and community involvement.
Quinceañera News Article

A black and whiteRiverside Daily Press news article about a quinceañera. Someone has written names on the image in blue ink on each guest. The expert states, "AN ANCIENT CUSTOM-On a girl's fifteenth birthday in the countries and some European Countries, Catholic churches observe an-.... years to come. Yesterday at the St. Francis of Assisi Church in Riverside such as a bride followed by her godparents, Mr. and Mrs. Tony Esquibel, and at-..." The photo was taken by Joe Kennedy.
Elephant and Girl in Pan American Ball News Article

A photo of a black and white Riverside Daily Press newspaper clipping displaying an elephant playing with a girl. The excerpt states, "SUZIE MEETS LINDS-Linda Bermudez, queen of the 1956 Riverside Community Fair, meets with Suzie, the baby elephant, by the pool of the Ambassador Hotel in Los Angeles before the "Miss Pan American Ball" honoring 23 ladies who reigned as queens of community fairs during 1956. The queens were honored with a day-long series of events culminating in dinner and ball attended by over 300 people. The fete was sponsored by the Pan American Amusement Corporation which sponsors the community fairs in cooperation with civic and service organizations throughout the West Coast area." At the top of the clipping is printed "B-2 Tuesday, December 11, 1956, Daily Press" and next to it is written illegible writing and "12-1-56."
2012 Calendar page 14, July

The 2012 RCMAHS July calendar cover is black and white and "July" is written in both English and Spanish. The photo on the left is of Manuel Quiroz in a car waving. Next to his photo is a description of his life and experiences. The calendar text reads: "Manuel Quiroz was born at home on 11th Street in Riverside on July 30, 1921. At the age of 90 years, he holds on to the stories of the past to share with all. He served in WWII on the Europe campaign. In returning home, he married Connie Torres. He and Connie celebrated 62 years of marriage before her death. They had four children, Manuel Jr., Rose, Margie, and Albert. Mr. Quiroz was always volunteering and serving on many committees in Riverside. He served as assistant to the City Council, The Riverside County Office of Aging, and was very committed at the Villegas Center to providing an array of services. He is to be honored in December 2011 for 65 years of his membership in The International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers. - Linda Thompson September, 2011." The background is a travel notebook.
2009 Calendar Cover Page, Riverside County Mexican American Historical Society, 'Ventanas in Time'

Calendar cover that is in both English and Spanish. Calendar text reads: "Vetanas in Time Riverside County Mexican American Historical Society 2009". The photo is from the 1940's and is of the crowning of the Virgin Mary at Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church in Riverside, Ca. 24 young Latinas pose inside the bell tower. The girls are wearing knee length white dresses, white hats, hair scarves. The 3 youngest girls are wearing floral crowns and holding candles with flowers. In the background is a statue of the Virgin Mary surrounded by flowers, a statue of Christ, a crucifix, and 10 tappered candles. Behind the girls there is a doorway to each side and wooden church pews in front of the girls to each side.