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St. Francis of Assisi WWII Memorial Plaque

A grainy purple fringing photo in the St. Francis of Assisi church in Riverside, California. The photo presents the image of a WWII memorial plaque that includes the names of fallen soldiers Dario Vasquez, Venturo Macias, Gus Cabrera, Manuel Rangel, and Theodoro Molindo. There are Christian crosses, flags, and flowers surrounding the plaque. An inscription states that the men were honorable and that their sacrifices in WWII will never be forgotten.
Staff Sergeant Ysmael Villegas Day Declaration

An image of Riverside Mayor Ronald O Loveridge declaring Staff Sergeant Ysmael Villegas Day that was used in the RCMAHS 2010 March calendar cover page. The text states" STAFF SERGEANT YSMAEL VILLEGAS DAY shall be recognized annually on March 21st in the City of Riverside, and on behalf of all our citizens, do hereby pay tribute to the bravery and the spirit of Ysmael Villegas and all that it represents to the City and to our country." Underneath that text is Mayor Loveridge's signature and the date: March 21, 2004. In the bottom left corner is a black and white picture of a medal.
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.
Dr. Lulamae Clemons Interview

Doctor Lulamae Clemons with her son Frank McClanahan came to Riverside in 1955 and began to participate in a series of civil rights movements, dedicated to desegregating the schools in Riverside, as well as those in Rialto. In this interview, Doctor Lumamae Clemons discusses the struggles she went through during her early life, and her experiences in her involvement in various social groups such as NAACP, the Urban League, and so on. Frank McClanahan, who spent more than thirty-five years in Riverside with Doctor Clemons, also shared his experience in witnessing how Riverside transformed from orange groves into a sizable and comprehensive city.
2010 Calendar page 10, October

A calendar cover page for October/ Octubre 2010 presents five photos of soldiers from the Inland Empire who have served in different branches during the Vietnam conflict era. 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. The one exception is Robert E. Erbe, who is only listed as being a retired colonel instead of where he was from. Henry Pasillas, a Vietnam War Army veteran of Casa Blanca. Robert E. Erbe, a Vietnam War Air Force veteran who retired as a colonel. Johnny Lopez, an Army veteran (1965-1967) of Riverside. Peter Campbassa, a Vietnam War USMC veteran of Casa Blanca. Richard (Bobo) Romero, a Vietnam War USMC veteran of Riverside.
2010 Calendar page 1, January

A calendar page for January 2010 featuring a photo of Johnny Sotelo, a WWII Navy veteran originally from Riverside, California. The four photos are in black and white, presumably from his days serving under the navy during WWII (1939-1945). There is a self-portrait in naval regalia, candids of him working, and one of Johnny posing with an unnamed navy mate. On the far right of the calendar page, a memorial description reads, "The 2010 Calendar is dedicated in memory of Johnny Martin Sotelo; Father of the Eastside Community. Johnny came from humble beginnings, born at home on Eleventh Street on January 19, 1925, in Riverside. Growing up during the Depression, he worked with his family doing migrant farm labor work. He was proud of being an American of Hispanic Heritage, serving in the United States Navy submarine squadron in the Pacific during WWII. Family values, caring for others, especially the underprivileged were of great importance to Johnny. He was a definite role model for many, always believing all should be given an equal opportunity to learn and pursue their goals. Johnny was a community advocate, mentor, and businessman. His leadership in community committees and organizations were important to him. Johnny became Riverside's first Latino City Council Member, representing Ward Two in 1963. Johnny shared his wisdom and guided many. His legacy will always be honored, for he opened many doors in being the first. We lost Him on August 26, 2009; we'll all miss our dear friend Johnny. Linda Salinas-Thompson"
2009 Calendar Page 27, End Page 2: Message From the Founding

An end page featuring a message from the founders of the Riverside County Mexican American Historical Society, detailing the compilation of the calendar and the collection of photos and histories from members of the community. The message ends with goals for future activities within the community by the RCMAHS, including a yearly event during Hispanic heritage month and signed by Linda Salinas-Thompson and Rudy Soliz Diaz. A small notice for advertisements or memorials in future calendars follows. In the upper right hand corner, a picture featuring two rows of Latino men dressed in baseball uniforms against a background of people is placed with the inscription "Late 1940's 'Casa Blanca Aces' baseball team."
2009 Calendar Page 23, Month of November

A white, generic calendar page for the month of November, 2009. The month is spelled out at the top in both English and Spanish. The federal holidays of Veteran's Day and Thanksgiving day are demarcated on the eleventh and twenty sixth respectively. Election day is marked on the third and the holiday of Dia de los Muertos is marked on the first. Two advertisements are featured on the bottom of the page in rectangular cutouts, one for Daniel Castro, a bail bond agent, on 14th Street, and one for Riverside Community College District, both in Riverside and Riverside County, California.
2009 Calendar Page 16 - Funeral in a Riverside Cemetery

A picture of a funeral dating from the 1930s. A large group of people ranging in age and gender stand or sit in a wide semi-circle around a coffin in a cemetery in Riverside, California. The coffin is adorned with flowers on top of it and a priest is seen behind the coffin. Most of the people present are looking at the camera, towards the viewer. Many of the people pictured are wearing black mourning clothes or formal dress, while many are wearing informal everyday clothing. An inscription below the picture reads "A funeral attended by family and friends, in the early 1930's, at the Evergreen Cemetery. Photo courtesy of Johnny Sotelo."
Cinco De Mayo in Casa Blanca Calendar Photo

Photograph of a Cinco de Mayo celebration in Casa Blanca, Riverside in 1910. The photo shows a large all-male Mexican band dressed in suits and young girls (likely elected retinas or queens) in white dresses and sashes. The photo is black and white. The image reads "Cico de Mayo, 1910 Casa Blanca, Cal" This image is featured in the 2008 Riverside County Mexican American Historical Society Calendar. See “relation” to learn more.
St. Francis de Assisi Catholic Church Construction Calendar Photo

A black and white photograph of the early construction of St. Francis de Assisi Catholic Church. It appears as the foundation of the church is about to be laid as two men in white shirts and pants stand near a cement mixer, and bags of cement are in the foreground. A man stands holding a blueprint or some other paperwork plan. Two other workers, likely Mexican American workers, are present, one stands near the foundation the other is climbing the scaffolding. The unfinished frame of the building is visible. This image is featured in the 2008 Riverside County Mexican American Historical Society Calendar. See “relation” to learn more.
2008 Calendar Page 28, RCMAHS Calendar Photo Compilation Page

This calendar page features all of the photos that appear with each corresponding month throughout the entirety of the calendar. There is also legal information regarding copyright and the cover photo being a World War II-era image. The calendar text reads "Riverside County Mexican American Historical Society This calendar includes images of the history of Mexican Americans in Riverside County. Cover Photograph: Early 1940s, the picture was taken at St. Francis de Assisi Catholic Church of military personnel, before deploying for WWII. Graphic Design by Bernasconi Graphic Design (951) 640-2976 All possible effort has been made to ensure accuracy with each illustration. As property of RCMAHS, this calendar, photographs or other parts may not be reproduced. All rights reserved, 2007.
2008 Calendar Page 27, RCMAHS "About Us" Page

This calendar page hosts an inscription that states why RCMAHS is looking to preserve Mexican-American history. It also calls for further donations of historic artifacts to build the archives of RCMAHS. It also pledges to produce a yearly calendar. Lastly, it acknowledges those who paid for advertisement placement in the calendar. The calendar text reads "FROM THE FOUNDING TWO As life moves on we move farther from our history in the colonies and barrios of Riverside County. Our Mexican American history has been left with a void, for as we have moved forward we have lost images and stories of our past. We would like to fill this emptiness with shared stores and historic photographs of our people. The past will reveal both joyful and tragic times and we are sure we can all put a personal face on our history, for these are the people who paved our path in life. Let's all remember our 'Familias' with sincere gratitude and proudness for giving of themselves. We have the pledge to have a yearly calendar that consists of good and hard times to share with all we would like to inspire people to bring the stories forth by providing photographs and knowledge of our Mexican American history in Riverside County. Our commitment will make this happen. Please support and join us in this important endeavor. Linda Salinas-Thompson, Rudy Diaz. A SPECIAL THANK YOU We would like to acknowledge those of you who were kind enough to place your business ads and memorial remembrances in the calendar. Also, we thank all who provided pictures to be used in this wonderful project. We need to recognize Vickie Medina (Zacatecas Cafe), Mike and Teresa Thompson (Clone Copy), Dean Ayer (Riverside Metropolitan Museum), Lydia Carmona (Union Bank of California), Richard Romero, and Mary Figueroa for all the help you provided to us."
Marion Ashley Moreno Valley Riverside County District 5 Supervisor 2

Supervisor Marion Ashely talks about his family history and how his mother's side was farmers in the Blythe area and then the Imperial Valley and how his father's side struggled in the "Dust Bowl" during the Great Depression. He explains how the Inland Empire was once a very rich area for the agriculture industry and his connections to agriculture through his job as a field worker. He briefly explains the 100-year plan that the city is enacting that will improve the city to improve the quality of life for its residents. He talks about his life and how he was able to become part of Riverside County’s politics. One of the present issues he brought up was how they were planning on bringing water from the Colorado River to the area and how March Air Force Base is playing a key role in further developing the economics of the city.
Suzie Medina and Melba Scott Oral History

Longtime Eastside Riverside residents Suzie Medina and Melba Scott discuss their life experiences growing up in the Eastside community and its changing nature today. They begin by first detailing their family histories of moving to Eastside before discussing school degradation in Riverside public schools and the Freedom Schools they attended as children. They discuss the racism and discrimination they experienced during this time, but highlight the strong multiracial community support and solidarity networks that Eastside experienced. Later on they detail the changes that took place in the Eastside community, with many new residents moving in without connection to the community and its support system, in addition to the growth of gang activity. Further, they discuss the failures of nonprofits and other outside organizations to support the Eastside in their refusal to listen to resident needs. They also highlight the role of Lincoln Park as a central Eastside community site for celebrations and activities throughout the oral history. They discuss Eastside locations such as the Eastside bungalows, Hollows and Green Hollows, and March Air Force base’s and other industries’ roles in the area. In closing, they conclude by sharing stories of racial segregation and discrimination at Riverside’s Mission Inn.
A Veteran Proposes

A black and white photo of a WWII veteran proposing to a woman inside a living room of a home with another man nearby who is helping out. The veteran is wearing a hat with "Riverside Calif" and a medal. He is wearing a bomber button-up jacket. The woman is looking at the veteran as he is putting a ring on her finger. The other man in the room is holding the box that the ring was in and smiling.
WWII Veteran Mass

A black and white photo of a news article with Nuestros Antepasados is the title. The newspaper article excerpt states, "A look at the past; This photograph of a high Mass for Mexican American World War II veterans of the Eastside in 1945 is among those on the display daily in "Nuestros Antepasados: Riverside's Mexican American Community," at the Riverside Municipal Museum, 3580 Seventh St."The image has a crowd sitting in a building facing the front to the people on the stage. There are decorations and an American flag on the front stage. The photo itself is very grainy.
11th Anniversary of LOGIA

A black and white photo of well-dressed seven family members on a small, ornate stage pose for an anniversary event. Excerpt states, "Reyna y Princessa de la Celebration de la 11th Aniversario de la Logia No. 8-de la A.H.A. Junio 25-1938. Riverside, California." From the left to the right, is a man, a woman, another woman with a regal wear and a crown, a man, a young girl, a woman, and another man. The men are all in suits, and all the women are in dresses and gloves.
1935 Las Estrellas Responden Production

A black and white photo of the people are involved with the production of the play, "Las Estrellas Respondent," which took place in 1935 in the Riverside Community Settlement House. People posing on the stage wearing Mexican clothing. 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 at the back of the photo.
Johnny Carrillo and Sally Soliz Wedding Portrait

A black and white image of Johnny Carrillo and Sally Soliz's wedding. Johnny and Sally are pictured with their wedding party. It is a wedding photo of the couple, two children, six bridesmaids, and six groomsmen. The women are wearing light-colored dresses and are holding bouquets. The men are wearing white suits with black bow ties and flowers. They are standing in front of curtains inside a room.
Julia Hernandez Cutting Plants

A black and white picture of an elderly woman, Julia Hernandez, gardens outside somewhere in the Inland Empire, likely Riverside. She is wearing a large hat and holding a plant. The picture is a bit blurry. Hernandez is outside a front yard gardening, and she is sitting next to a car.
Julia Hernandez Naturalization Certification

An elderly woman, Julia Hernandez, is a widow and was naturalized in Riverside, California. This black and photo of a naturalization certificate for Julia Hernandez says that she was naturalized June 13, 1958. The certificate includes a portrait of Hernandez on the bottom left with the rest of the certificate filled out.
Julia Hernandez photos

Two separate black and white pictures of an elderly woman, Julia Hernandez, gardens in her backyard somewhere in the Inland Empire, likely Riverside. Photo on the left she is standing in front of a fence at a house, and in the right photo Hernandez is sitting down with a large hat on and gardening.
University Heights Middle School 1935

A black and white co-ed school photo of students from University Heights Middle School in 1935. The caption at the bottom of the picture reads: "Class of 1935/ University Heights Junior High School/ Riverside Calif." The students are posing together in rows outside in front of the building of the school.
Evans Bros Citrus Workers

A black and white photo of Evan Bros Citrus Packinghouse workers, men, and women posing for a photo in front of Monte Vista Citrus Association. A sign states "Monte Vista Citrus ASSN" is on a sign on the building at the back. The first row is women posing with on their knees, the second row has both women and men sitting, and the third row is men that are standing. They are posing in front of some type of electrical pole. The caption states: "Evans Bros. Riverside, California. Feb 26, 1948."