Items · A People’s History of the Inland Empire Digital Archive

Manuel Reynosa Interview

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.

Connie McFarland Interview

1997 Interview with Connie Mcfarland. Connie talks about her experience in high school and church choir in Redlands CA.

Joe Arredondo Water Interview

1999 interview with Joe Arredondo April 30, 1999, focusing specifically on water as Arredondo is the water man for the Greenspot Mutual and Greenspot Mutual Well in addition to being the treasurer and secretary for the water companies. He describes how he diverts the water, the process of shares, the use of Mundi water during dry years, and the growing cost of maintaining the pipes. He discusses the division of water between cities like Highland, Mentone, Redlands, Colton, as well as Riverside and Orange County.

Joe Arredondo and Evelyn Pedro Interview

1997 interview with Joe Arredondo, editors note: Part 1 of the interview was lost due to equipment failure. Joe Arredondo discusses citrus picking crews and the state of the citrus industry and citrus properties at the moment (1990s). The conversation turns to water rights and the possibility of Highland or Redlands annexing Greenspot, they discuss zanjeros, well water, and the construction of larger water pipes in the region. Evelyn Pedro reminds Arredondo about his involvement in the Progretista and he describes his negative experience with the organization.

Isabel "Al" Alva Interview

1995 interview with Isabel "Al' Alva describing his life beginning with attending school in a segreagted "Latino" elementary and junior high school in Mt. Vernon, CA, his move to Redlands, CA, time spent in the citrus industry, and deploying to Korea during the Korean War after enlisting in the Air Force. Kaiser and Santa Fe railroad and Norton military base are also noted. Al's experience with Lincoln School in Redlands during the 1960's desegregation is addressed as well as his fight to launch Head Start, a community ran program designed to support low-income families and families of color. He describes Redlands "Anglo-Saxon" elites dissent of Head Start.

Sierra Vista Label

The picture is a label from the Sierra Vista citrus plant in which much of the Venegas family, including Joe and Robert Venegas, worked for many years.

Blythe Story Share Reel 63

Pete Reyes, Maria Caldera, and Gilbert Carmouche share their stories about living in Blythe and particularly the Mexican history in the region. They are interviewed by Antonio Vasquez while Alfredo Figueroa prompts conversation. Reyes, Caldera, and Carmouche discuss the Bracero Program, Americanization Schools, Repatriation of the Brotherhood Club, Unions as well as family histories. Maria for instance recalls her early life in Blythe living in tents and her memories of what she calls the "Great Tamale Raid."

Raquel Aguirre Interview

Raquel Aguirre describes her early life in Mexico and immigrating to the United States for work opportunities. With no family, she details meeting her husband and the nuances of working in a packinghouse from supervisors, and unions to her personal life aspirations.

Macias Family Interview Beaumont and Leslie Rios (2 of 3)

The second part of the Macias Family interview. The family discusses the Marcias brothers' and Mr. Marcias' work on the railroads in the 1940s. The family also addresses wishes for aid and renovations in the Sapo barrio, pollution, and hopes to preserve the neighborhood.

Macias Family Interview by Leslie Rios in Beaumont (1 of 3)

Dolores Macias retells her early life and immigration from Mexico to the US as a railroad family pioneer. Her family and she discuss growing up in the Mexican American barrio "Chancla Miada" in Banning CA, as well as the social and financial changes due to the construction of the I-10 Freeway.

Hal Embshoff Banning CA

Hal Embshoff describes his family's migration from Ohio to Banning California and the development of his horseradish family business that was founded in 1952. He also discusses the changes he faced with the development of the freeway.

Maurice Calderon and Caroline Avila

Caroline Avila and Maurice Calderon describe their life in Banning California and the neighborhood barriers. They discuss changes due to the construction of the freeway as well as hardships and segregation they experienced as Hispanic Americans.

Penny Newman

Penny Newman discusses the various climate struggles that the Center for Community Action and Environmental Justice was confronting at the time of the interview, namely high levels of air contamination, a rising number of warehouses, cattle ranches, and new housing which was unaffordable. She also gives a tour of the new CCAEJ headquarters and explains what they plan to do with the property to make it a community space.

San Timoteo School House tape 2 of 2 Ray Flores

One of four tapes discussing the San Timoteo Canyon Schoolhouse. Reyes Flores discusses how the construction of the canyon in Beaumont and the prior construction of the I-10 freeway affected Mexican communities in the Inland Empire. Flores also recounts the secularization of missions and the prior work of Indian ranchhands.

Colton, Pascual Olivas Reunion (Part Two)

The second part of the Colton, Pascual Olivas Reunion. Dominic Philaseda recounts experiences as a musician. Angel Olivas recounts experiences in the military, the Second World War, the Post American Legion, discrimination, and benefits for Mexican Americans following the Second World War.

Robert Renfro Interview Tape #1

Interview with Robert Renfro, manager of National Orange Co. discusses his family and life at King Ranch in Luverne and labor in the citrus industry.

Carmelo Tepezano, Dr. Tobey, Lee August Interview

Carmelo Tepezano describes his and his family's history in the Citrus industry working at Rancho Sespe. Discusses the Bracero Program, Japanese workers, his time in the army, and racial discrimination at Rancho Sespe.

History for Breakfast Redlands, Community Presbyterian Church

Interviewees gather at a breakfast club and recount memories of their lives, upbringings, and personal struggles, particularly brought upon by discrimination in Redlands, California throughout the twentieth to the twenty-first century. Each interviewee takes a turn to briefly discuss their ancestry and their experiences.