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1998 interview with Rose S. Lawson May 7, 1998. Rose S. Lawson briefly mentions her family history in Redlands and her detailed experience working in the citrus industry as a "rot girl" and a quality grader.
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Interview Lupe R. Yglesias & Margaret Castro focusing on their childhood upbringing, the various types of labor their family were engaged with, and their educational progress and social mobility spanning across multiple generations.
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1994 interview with Joe Howard Herrera on his citrus work, including the "girdling" process, his WWII drafting experience, experiencing segregation and discrimination, and how the Mayor of Redlands stood up against it. He lived most of his life in Redlands.
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1995 interview with Graziano Gomez as he speaks of his family migration, military service, and co-founding the American Legion 650 chapter with other Mexican American Veterans of WWII.
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1992 remastered interview with Rafael V. Gonzales, note: audio is of poor quality, the transcript contains many blanks due to this. Rafael Gonzales begins by discussing his work as a cobbler as well as his life growing up in Mexico City. In 1940 he immigrated to the U.S. first arriving first in Arizona and then in Montana where he worked as a bracero before picking oranges in Redlands. He discusses what it was like to work in the citrus industry and his decision to stay in the U.S. rather than return to Mexico.
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One of the earliest interviews conducted for this project was done on a rainy Valentine’s day in 1995 with Prudence Gonzales. Mrs. Gonzales or ‘Lencha’ as she was known to countless friends, neighbors, and relatives was a native of Redlands and at 92 the oldest woman interviewed for this project to date. Our conversation dealt mostly with her youth and early Redlands. A self-professed tomboy, Lencha worked with animals and frequently drove a wagon for her uncle’s manure business. Her observations on married life are also unique to this series. Born a generation earlier than most of the women interviewed for the project who generally worked outside of the home and reflect less on home life and personal relationships, her story is compelling for its depth and strength in these areas. Her keen memory, wit, and directness shine through in this far too short conversation. Mrs. Gonzales’ son Joe and daughter-in-law Irene were present during parts of a 90-minute interview conducted at their Webster Street home. Joe Gonzales was also interviewed the same day, his comments are included in a separate volume of this series.
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1994 interview with Eunice Romero Gonzales. Eunice details her early years growing up in the Redland's citrus ranching industry, and the changes that occurred after the War and the Bracero Program. Part B discusses Education in Redlands and Racial discrimination as well as Eunice's adult life employment.
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1995 interview with Bob Garcia on his upbringing, citrus and farm labor, and becoming a foreman.
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1997 Interview with Andres & Reyna Garcia. Mr. Andres Garcia accounts for living in the Labor housing and everyday life in Cone camp. He also discusses discrimination by the local police against National Mexicans and Braceros and labor organizing and strikes during the 60s.
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1997 Interview with Andres & Reyna Garcia. Andres Garcia discusses his experience working in Redlands California under the Bracero Program. He discusses discrimination as well as financial challenges under the Cone Camp employers. Claims to have been the first Bracero to become a foreman.
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1997 interview with Catherine Guzman Dennison. Catherine Guzman Dennison describes her childhood years growing up in Redlands California and the social tensions between the North and South as she looks through family photographs of her parents and grandparents.
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1997 interview with Sam Coyazo. Sam speaks about his upbringing, the development of surrounding communities, his education and pleasures, his work as a packer and his military experience, and the process of "smudging" at citrus groves.
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2000 interview with Angelina Cosme and Margaret Castro begins with their earliest memories of Redlands in what they call "the Barrio Judio" on Harold Street because "it belonged to some Jews, Jewish people." They both discuss their family's histories and particularly immigration to the U.S. Both Cosme and Castro attended Lugonia school and St Mary's church and have vivid memories of the Great Depression and World War II in Redlands. Both worked at citrus packinghouses and recall the work as well as the pay, Castro explains that due to her asthma she had to stop packing. They discuss the photographs they brought and the different people in them.
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2000 interview with Amado & Jose Casillas. Mr. Amado Casillas and his son Jose Casillas who translate discuss coming to the US under the bracero program in 1956. Amado retells his experience in the program, the employee living conditions as well as social discrimination he faced.
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1995 interview with Simona (Sammy) Castillo part 1. Reflects on her life and the life of her father who was one of the first Mexican workers in East Highland. For 66 years her dad worked at East Highland Ranch. He lived in Colton, her mother in Bryn Mawr before marrying. Parents arrived in the region c. 1884 from Mexico by way of El Paso. Sammy reflects on her childhood in East Highland followed by her graduation from the University of Redlands and her 42 years as a nurse which she cherished. The audio continues for two minutes after the transcript indicates the interview has ended.
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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.
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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.
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Mary Bermudez and friends working in a citrus packing house. They are standing in front of a conveyor belt laden with citrus and behind them are boxes stacked high to the ceiling. All of them are wearing semi-formal and casual dress attire. This image is featured in the 2008 Riverside County Mexican American Historical Society Calendar. See “relation” to learn more.
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The photo is from the set of the Disney movie Los Tres Caballeros. Walt Disney is standing while wearing a poncho and sombrero while several Latino/a actors wear sombraros and ponchos while congregating around him. The actors all wear costumes from the movie. A young Abbie Chavez, from Riverside, stands on the right.
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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."
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Photo of several Mexican orange pickers in a grove in the Casa Blanca neighborhood of Riverside, California in the early 1940s. They pose with a ladder and orange crate. The photo is courtesy of Semona Valero. The calendar text reads, "Orange pickers of the Casa Blanca area in the early 1940s. Photo courtesy of Semona Valero."
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2000 interview with Alfred Armendarez in which he discusses his early life, including his earliest memory: the 1930s fire at Elephant Orchard Packing House. Armendarez discusses both citrus picking and packing in Redlands as well as his family's experience picking grapes in August. As Armendarez recalls life growing up in Redlands he briefly mentions Lincoln School, Redlands High School, Sylvan Plunge, and the House of Neighborly Service. Armendarez was drafted right out of high school and recalls his experience in the Navy and the transition into civilan life in which he went back to agricultural work for a brief time before working at Universal Rundle until they closed in 1982. Armendarez shares his songbook with old songs dating back to the 1940s and discusses some of the organizations he was involved in such as LULAC and the Menudo Club.
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A pamphlet celebrating the Pentecost and 90 years of service and worship at the Divine Savior United Presbyterian Church (1913-2003). The program includes the schedule for the celebration.
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This letter tells the story of the Conception Church known also as the Divine Savior United Presbyterian Church starting with Jacinto Romero in 1893. The history of the church is intertwined with the history of the Romero family.
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Simona Valera stands in front of a house with sunglasses on and her hands in her pockets. The window of the house is photographed and plants are growing by the house.