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Community Historical Archaeology Project with Schools (CHAPS) Oral Histories

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Interview with Judy Houts

Judy Houts, Cassandra Ramirez, and Leonel Hinojosa

Supporting oral interview conducted for the The Houts Farm: a porción of Edinburg publication.
Interview with Marylin Houts

Marylin Houts, Shantal M. Brissette, Daniella Gutierrez, and Fernando Luna

Supporting oral interview conducted for the The Houts Farm: a porción of Edinburg publication.
Interview with Percy Houts

Percy Houts and Aaron Cuevas

Supporting oral interview conducted for the The Houts Farm: a porción of Edinburg publication.
Interview with Jacob Howell

Jacob Howell and Tommy Johnson

The interviewee was Mr. Jacob Howell, a football strength and conditioning coach at Mercedes High School. He was able to provided information regarding how the COVID-19 pandemic has affected life for high school athletes, not only in Mercedes, but across the entire Rio Grande Valley.
Interview with Santos Jackson Baize

Santos Jackson Baize and Roseann Bacha-Garza

Supporting oral interviews conducted for Rio Grande Civil War Trail publication.
Interview with Jerry Kaml

Jerry Kaml, Ramiro Carcedo, and Santiago Torres Jr.

Supporting oral interview conducted for the The Houts Farm: a porción of Edinburg publication.
Interview with Rebecca Kieffer Connolly

Rebecca Kieffer Connolly, Mirsa Trevino, and Andrea Avendano

The interviewee was Mrs. Rebecca Connolly. She is a family member of the Kieffer’s Family. Mrs. Connolly left the Rio Grande Valley when she got married. She lived in the farm with her siblings throughout her childhood. Base on her accounts she was able to provide us information regarding how her life was growing up in the farm.
Interview with Greg Kieffer

Greg Kieffer, Aaron Cervantez, Leslie Torres, and Stephanie Medellin
Interview with Margaret Kieffer Hesler

Margaret Kieffer Hesler, Brandon Trevon, David Barron, and Thania Morin

This interview is part of a research effort on the Kieffer Farm located in Edinburg, TX. Margaret is the aunt of Martha “Angie” Kieffer Hoke. She currently lives in Claremont, Illinois. The goal of the interview is to gain different perspectives of family members who lived at the Kieffer Farm at various times and their impacts. Margaret is older than Angie and could give deeper insights to the farm and its history as well as some social history of the valley during the 1950’s and 1960’s.
Interview with Angie Kieffer Hoke - Part 02

Angie Kieffer Hoke, Gustavo Benitez, Rigo Hernandez, and Laney Gonzalez

In this interview, I discuss the future of farming with Angela (Angie) Kieffer Hoke. We discussed what she dreams of planting in the future and why she has not done it yet. We also discuss the ups and downs of owning heavy machinery and how the community needs to have more farmers in the future in order for us to function as a society.
Interview with Angie Kieffer Hoke - Part 01

Angie Kieffer Hoke, Laney Gonzalez, Gustavo Benitez, and Rigo Hernandez

The person interviewed is Angie Kieffer Hoke. The interview was conducted outside Ms. Hoke’s home in Edinburg, Texas. Both interviewers and interviewee conducted the interview in the same place at the same time. Next is Ms. Hoke’s memories and knowledge of the Journey of migration from Germany to Edinburg.
Interview with Kimberly Kieffer Orr

Kimberly Kieffer Orr, Julio Cuestas, Reyna Garcia, and Keila Barajas

The interviewee is Ms. Kimberly Kieffer. She is the eldest sister of the previous generation Kieffer children. She used to live in Edinburg, Texas, but then moved to Texas A&M University for her completion of her degree. She is currently residing in Burleson, Texas, and provided us with her story as a family member of the Kieffer family.
Interview with Fr. Mishael Koday

Mishael Koday Fr. and Gabriel Ozuna

The interviewee was Rev. Mishael Koday, a chaplain for the Catholic Diocese of Brownsville’s Health Ministry. He discusses his role as chaplain at one of the Edinburg hospitals during the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as his thoughts as to how it has affected the spiritual life of Catholics under his care. Social distancing measures were taken to ensure the safety of both the interviewer and interviewee.
Interview with Fr. Greg Labus

Greg Labus Fr. and Gabriel Ozuna

The interviewee was Rev. Gregory Labus, the pastor at St. Joseph Catholic Church. He discusses his role as a parish priest in the Catholic Diocese of Brownsville during the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as his thoughts about how he believes the pandemic will impact life for Catholics in the Rio Grande Valley. Social distancing measures were taken to ensure the safety of both the interviewer and interviewee.
Interview with Roberto Lopez

Roberto Lopez and Fatima Garza

The interviewee was Roberto Lopez. He is a community organizer/activist and works with the Texas Civil Rights Project (TCRP). He has been working before and during the COVID-19 pandemic towards racial and economic justice—focusing generally on the assault on asylum and border militarization. Lopez has an insight on how the COVID-19 pandemic has affected the Rio Grande Valley as a border region and how it plays a role on migration and border crossings.
Interview with Bobby Luna and Robert Luna - Part 01

Bobby Luna and Robert Luna

Supporting oral interview conducted for the Luna Farming Legacy: A Porción of Edinburg publication.
Interview with Bobby Luna and Robert Luna - Part 02

Bobby Luna and Robert Luna

Supporting oral interview conducted for the Luna Farming Legacy: A Porción of Edinburg publication.
Interview with Janie Luna, Fernan Luna, Norma Rydl Luna, and Luisa Luna

Janie Luna, Fernan Luna, Norma Luna Rydl, and Luisa Luna

Supporting oral interview conducted for the Luna Farming Legacy: A Porción of Edinburg publication.
Interview with Ralph Luna, Norma Luna Rydl, Janie Luna Navarro, and Luisa Luna

Ralph Luna, Norma Rydl, Janie Luna Navarro, Luisa Luna, Julio Smith, and Rafael Martinez

Supporting oral interview conducted for the Luna Farming Legacy: A Porción of Edinburg publication.
Interview with Rodolfo Luna, Selza Luna, and Joshua Valadez

Rodolfo Luna, Selza Luna, Joshua Valadez, John Guiterrez, and Abby Espinoza

Supporting oral interview conducted for the Luna Farming Legacy: A Porción of Edinburg publication.
Interview with Norma Luna Rydl, Juanita Luna Navarro, and Ralph Luna - Part 01

Norma Luna Rydl, Juanita Luna, Ralph Luna, Roseann Bacha Garza, Daniel Riveros, and Loretta Bryant

Supporting oral interview conducted for the Luna Farming Legacy: A Porción of Edinburg publication.
Interview with Norma Luna Rydl, Juanita Luna Navarro, and Ralph Luna - Part 02

Norma Luna Rydl, Juanita Luna, Ralph Luna, Roseann Bacha Garza, Daniel Riveros, and Loretta Bryant

Supporting oral interview conducted for the Luna Farming Legacy: A Porción of Edinburg publication.
Interview with Norma Luna Rydl and Esther Luna Montemayor

Norma Luna Rydl, Esther Luna Montemayor, Olga Moya, and Cullen Turk

Supporting oral interview conducted for the Luna Farming Legacy: A Porción of Edinburg publication.
Interview with Norma Luna Rydl, Maria D. Luna Vega, Maria J. Luna Navarro, Ralph Luna, and Teresa Luna Medrano - Part 01

Norma Luna Rydl, Maria Dolores Luna Vega, Maria Juanita Luna Navarro, Ralph Luna, and Teresa Luna Medrano

Supporting oral interview conducted for the Luna Farming Legacy: A Porción of Edinburg publication.
Interview with Norma Luna Rydl, Maria D. Luna Vega, Maria J. Luna Navarro, Ralph Luna, and Teresa Luna Medrano - Part 02

Norma Luna Rydl, Maria Dolores Luna Vega, Maria Juanita Luna Navarro, Ralph Luna, and Teresa Luna Medrano

Supporting oral interview conducted for the Luna Farming Legacy: A Porción of Edinburg publication.
Interview with Norma Luna Rydl, Maria D. Luna Vega, Maria J. Luna Navarro, Ralph Luna, and Teresa Luna Medrano - Part 03

Norma Luna Rydl, Maria Dolores Luna Vega, Maria Juanita Luna Navarro, Ralph Luna, and Teresa Luna Medrano

Supporting oral interview conducted for the Luna Farming Legacy: A Porción of Edinburg publication.
Interview with Norma Luna Rydl, Maria D. Luna Vega, Maria J. Luna Navarro, Ralph Luna, and Teresa Luna Medrano - Part 04

Norma Luna Rydl, Maria Dolores Luna Vega, Maria Juanita Luna Navarro, Ralph Luna, and Teresa Luna Medrano

Supporting oral interview conducted for the Luna Farming Legacy: A Porción of Edinburg publication.
Interview with Norma Luna Rydl, Maria D. Luna Vega, Maria J. Luna Navarro, Ralph Luna, and Teresa Luna Medrano - Part 05

Norma Luna Rydl, Maria Dolores Luna Vega, Maria Juanita Luna Navarro, Ralph Luna, and Teresa Luna Medrano

Supporting oral interview conducted for the Luna Farming Legacy: A Porción of Edinburg publication.
Interview with Hector Marquez

Hector Marquez and Luis Barreda

This interview was conducted in person at the establishment of Chick-Fil-A where Hector is employed. The purpose of this interview is to gain insight about the restaurants business and how is it holding up in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic. This interview is given from the perspective of an employee rather than a manger whose views and responsibilities are much different than those who just worked in a basic position.
Interview with Karina Martinez

Karina Martinez and Alyssa Martinez

The interviewee was Ms. Karina Martinez who works as a Special Education Instructor at IDEA Public Schools. Based on her accounts she was able to provide me information regarding what it’s personally like for her working as an educator during the coronavirus pandemic.
Interview with George Carpenter

Rusty McDaniel, George Carpenter, Stephanie Montalvo, Yazmin Soto, and Jessica Tanguma

Supporting oral interview conducted for the Fike Family Farm: A Porción of Edinburg publication.
Interview with Rosabel Mendiola

Rosabel Mendiola and Valeria Garza

The interviewee is Rosabel Mendiola, an events organizer at a banquet center in Mission. The interview lasted approximately seven minutes and explored the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on businesses that specialize in hosting events in the Rio Grande Valley.
Interview with Joe Metz

Joe Metz, John Gonzalez, Joey Rios, and Roseann Bacha-Garza

The interviewee is Joe Metz who is a citrus farmer in South Texas with more than 60 years of experience in the citrus industry. Metz was born and raised in Edinburg, Texas and only later in his farming career did he move his operations to Mission, Texas. This interview can provide background on the Metz-Kieffer family heritage and also covers agricultural life in South Texas.
Interview with Anabella Navarro

Anabella Navarro, Nidia Guzman-Gutierrez, Jose Guzman, Ashley Navarro, Catalina Gutierrez-Gomez, and Jose L. Garcia III

The intent of my research is to better understand the public's perception of the COVID-19 pandemic and how they process the information distributed regarding the pandemic. Specifically, I am interested in how the information that is reported by the media and shared from person to person affects the public’s views of this pandemic. This initial question was directed to the whole crowd, however Mrs. Gutierrez-Gomez decided she did not want to participate any longer. However, she can be heard throughout the interview speaking with different people about unrelated events. These are people I have known my whole life, but more importantly I wanted to capture the true essence of their feelings surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic. The setting for the interview was at my grandmother’s house. We had all just gathered, as we always do to just enjoy each other’s company, and talk story. As the conversation progresses, I felt the timing was right to begin the interview. I did not give out copies of my questions to add authenticity and to focus on the “meat and potatoes” of my research: the media’s influence on the Rio Grande Valley populace.
Interview with Carrol (Kelly) Norquest

Carrol (Kelly) Norquest, Jenarae Alaniz, Joel Rodriguez, Ryann Fink, and Raul David Lopez

Supporting oral interview conducted for the The Norquest Family: a porción of Edinburg publication.
Oral History Transcript - Carrol Norquest, Jr.

Carrol (Kelly) Norquest, Adrian Alonzo, Rogelio Paez Jr., Sergio Elizondo, Erica Rivera, and
Interview with Neil Norquest

Neil Norquest, Sarah Garza, Myriam Lopez, Cassandra Davila, and Randy Castañeda

Neil Norquest talks about plants, animals, as well as historical events that occurred and impacted the Lower Rio Grande Valley in some way. Interview conducted on October 28, 2011. Mr. Norquest is the youngest child of Mr. and Mrs. Carrol Norquest. The interview took place at the law office where Mr. Norquest is employed as a Counsel. My group composed questions in context to plants and animals as well as historical events that occurred here or could have impacted the LRGV in some way. The interview presented insightful information that will benefit the examination of the class concerning land and human interaction.
Interview with Odilia Norquest

Odilia Norquest, Lupita Olivarez, Samuel Victoriano, Michelle Martinez, and Geoffrey Schwarz

The interview helps to contextualize the impact the Norquest family has made in the Edinburg region over the past four decades and provides a unique perspective on the rich Norquest family history.

The proceeding is a transcription of an interview conducted with Mrs. Odilia (Odie) Norquest. Odilia Peña married Carrol Norquest, Jr. over forty years ago and together they have lived in the Edinburg region for most of their lives. Mrs. Norquest’s family has a long history in the Rio Grande Valley. Her genealogy can be traced back over two-hundred years in the Valley and in Northern Mexico. As a lifelong Valley resident Mrs. Norquest provided us with valuable insights as to how the region has progressed and changed over the years. Our interview helps to contextualize the impact the Norquest family has made in the Edinburg region over the past four decades and provides a unique perspective on the rich Norquest family history.
Interview with Marie Norquest Sleeth

Marie Norquest Sleeth, Carrol Norquest Jr., Sandra Salinas, Amanda de la Fuete, Eduardo Robles, and Miguel Gutierrez

Themes that were focused on throughout the interview were archaeological, biological and geological matters of the property, but there were oral histories, and historical matters of the family brought to life in this wonderful interview.

This interview was done with Carrol Norquest, Jr. (Kelly) and Marie Sleeth, the eldest son and the eldest daughter of the Norquest family. The group doing the interview included Sandra Salinas, Amanda de la Fuente, Eduardo Robles, and Miguel Gutierrez of the UTPA Anthropology class, Discovering the RGV. This interview segment was conducted as an indoor interview with Marie Sleeth at first, and then later moved onto a tour with Carrol Norquest, Jr. of the family’s property on Sugar and Chapin Rd. in Edinburg, Texas. Themes that were focused on throughout the interview were archaeological, biological and geological matters of the property, but there were oral histories, and historical matters of the family brought to life in this wonderful interview.
Interview with Virginia Norquest

Virginia Norquest, Aaron Pena, and Oscar Ysasi

Supporting oral interview conducted for the The Norquest Family: a porción of Edinburg publication.
Interview with BJ Noser Ingram on the History of the Land Used in South McAllen

Beth Jo Noser Ingram, Claudia Tijerina, and Eloise Montemayor

An interview with a RGV community member that explores her experience in the border region. Conducted by a school teacher participating in the Porciones to Colonias project.
Interview with Betty Jean Oaks

Betty J. Oaks, Ruby A. Aguilar, and Mayra Zepeda

An interview with Betty Jean (Hamilton) Oaks, an RGV community member, talks about farm life in Primera, Cameron County, Texas during 1920s and 1930 and also explores her experience in the border region. Conducted by Ruby Aguilar, a local school teacher participating in the Porciones to Colonias project.

Betty Jean was born in 1925 in Primera, TX. Mrs. Oaks provides an overview of her genealogy and describes farm life in the Valley, providing details about crops and harvests, transportation, local businesses, and more.
Interview with Maria Rita Ochoa - Part 01

Maria Rita Ochoa, Raul Zavala Soto, and Sandra Hernandez-Salinas

The interview was conducted at Rita Ochoa’s, daughter’s home in San Juan, Texas, where she was temporarily staying. This interview focused on her experience as a farmworker and factory worker that was connected to a farmhand contracting agency located in the Dickie’s Factory in McAllen, Texas.
Interview with Maria Rita Ochoa - Part 02

Maria Rita Ochoa, Raul Zavala Soto, Sandra Hernandez-Salinas, and Lupe Flores

The interview was conducted at Rita Ochoa’s, daughter’s home in San Juan, Texas, where she was temporarily staying. This interview focused on her experience as a farmworker and factory worker that was connected to a farmhand contracting agency located in the Dickie’s Factory in McAllen, Texas.
Texas Mexican Railway Company - Part 02

Rogelio Paez Jr. and

Lot Number One, Section Number Two Hundred Thirty-Six, Hidalgo County, Edinburg, Hoehn Drive Subdivision.
Texas Mexican Railway Company - Part 01

and Rogelio Paez Jr.

Lot Number One, Section Number Two Hundred Thirty-Six, Hidalgo County, Edinburg, Hoehn Drive Subdivision.
Interview with Dollie Pope Olsen - 01

Dollie Pope Olsen
Interview with Dollie Pope Olsen - 02

Dollie Pope Olsen
Interview with Linda Quinn

Linda Quinn and Colleen DeGuzman

The interviewee was Linda Quinn. She is a 74-year-old Pharr resident who has been diabetic since she was 13, placing her in two categories of people who are most vulnerable during the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2000, Linda founded 'In'sulin Survivors, a support group for people diagnosed with diabetes in the Rio Grande Valley. She was able to provide insight on the local diabetic population during the pandemic.
Interview with Marcos Ramirez

Marcos Ramirez, Daniel Nicholson, Stephanie Cavin, Francisco Gonzalez, and Randall Ramirez
Oral History Transcript - Lino Garcia Jr.

Jessica Y. Rodriguez and Lino Garcia Jr.
Interview with Nero Rodriguez

Nero Rodriguez and David Cantu

The interviewee was Nero Rodriguez. He is a family member of the Alexis-Mata-Rodriguez family. Mr. Rodriguez was born in Mexico, raised and then immigrated over to Texas for an education. He volunteered to share his accounts on how COVID-19 has affected his finances, relationships, and his mind.
Porcion 72, Jose Maria Balli

Pedro Rodriguez and

Jose Maria Balli, Hidalgo County, Alamo, North Alamo Heights Subdivision.
Interview with Linda Roegiers - Part 01

Linda Roegiers, Sarah Chavez, and Lizbeth Leon

An interview with a Roegiers family member that explores their family history.
Interview with Linda Roegiers - Part 02

Linda Roegiers, Sarah Chavez, and Lizbeth Leon

An interview with a Roegiers family member that explores their family history.
Interview with Roy Roegiers - Part 01

Roy Roegiers, Jesus Cerda, and Lucas Torres

An interview with a Roegiers family member that explores their family history.
Interview with Roy Roegiers - Part 02

Roy Roegiers, Jesus Cerda, and Lucas Torres

An interview with a Roegiers family member that explores their family history.
Interview with Roy Roegiers and Clara Roegiers - Part 01

Roy Roegiers, Clara Roegiers, Jennifer Quintero, Steven Cantu, and Aaron Rivera

An interview with Roegiers family members that explores their family history.
Interview with Roy Roegiers and Clara Roegiers - Part 02

Roy Roegiers, Clara Roegiers, Jennifer Quintero, Steven Cantu, and Aaron Rivera

An interview with Roegiers family members that explores their family history.
Interview with Yamile Sarkis

Yamile Sarkis and Melinda Cantu

Officer Yamile Sarkis is a police officer for the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley and takes time to talk about the challenges, procedure and her hopes for the future considering COVID-19.
Interview with Rebecca Sauceda

Rebecca Sauceda and Gabriel Ozuna

The interviewee was Rebecca Sauceda who worked as an ICU nurse at a hospital in Edinburg, Texas, during the early part of the COVID-19 pandemic. She discusses her experiences as a nurse as well as a practicing Catholic in caring for her patients and the challenges that the pandemic placed on her and the hospital staff. Social distancing measures were taken to ensure the safety of both the interviewer and interviewee.
Interview with Trevor Schneider

Trevor Schneider and Jonathan Gutierrez

Trevor Schneider, the interviewee, is a native of Canada but has been living in the Rio Grande Valley because he is a Division 1 student athlete playing for the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley. The purpose of this interview is to capture the effects of the pandemic on his life, focused specifically on collegiate sports, and how it has affected his daily life and future plans, and also to see what he truly thinks how the pandemic is being handled here in the RGV.
Interview with Kenneth Scott Eubanks

Kenneth Scott Eubanks

Supporting oral interview conducted for the The Eubanks Family: a porción of Edinburg publication.
Interview with Dixie Setti

Dixie Setti, Robin Galloso, Mary Noell, and Maria Vallejo

Supporting oral interview conducted for the The Norquest Family: a porción of Edinburg publication.
Interview with Jeffrey Kieffer

Jeffrey Spence Kieffer, Robert P. Del Barrio, Kepler Dimas, and Britney J Munos

The interview ranged in questions from family life to what it was like growing up in the RGV. The interview lasts for about 55 minutes where we cover the life as told by Jeffery Kieffer including activates he partook in around the farm and what were some of his deciding factors for leaving farm life behind. The interview was conducted as part of the 11th series of the UTRGV CHAPS program where we tell the story of how our city developed around the lives of our agricultural settlers and the important role they played in all of our lives.
Interview with Garrett Tanner

Garrett Tanner, Gabriela Domingo, and Daryl Dean

Supporting oral interview conducted for the The Houts Farm: a porción of Edinburg publication.
Interview with Vivian Torres

Vivian Torres and Selena Alvarado

The interviewee is named Vivian Torres. She has been a server/cashier at Buffalo Wings and Rings on North 10th for about three years. She will provide us with a server’s/cashier’s perspective and discuss her personal experiences on how the virus has affected her life and work since it started.
Interview with Mariah Trejo

Mariah Trejo and Mark A. Trejo

The interviewee was Ms. Trejo. She is an educator in the local area. She has been teaching for about 4-5 years and has experience in both the physical classroom and remote learning. This interview explores her accounts of the COVID-19 pandemic and its impact on the local education system.
Interview with Caroline Twist

Caroline Twist, Geoffrey Waters, David Garcia, Michal Hartman, and Liza Soria

Supporting oral interview conducted for the The Norquest Family: a porción of Edinburg publication.
Interview with Patrick Twist

Patrick Twist, Maria Barrera, Lupe Flores, and Vanessa Saenz

Supporting oral interview conducted for the The Norquest Family: a porción of Edinburg publication.
Interview with Norma Valdez

Norma Valdez, Alexis Casiano, Ramiro Garza, and Randy Rosa

Supporting oral interview conducted for the The Cantú Family: a porción of Edinburg publication.
Interview with Sam Vallejo

Sam Vallejo and Luis Barreda

This interview was conducted in person at the establishment of Chick-Fil-A where Sam is employed. The purpose of this interview is to gain insight about how COVID-19 has affected restaurants and their business. Sam is a training director and a leader on the management team at the Chick-Fil-A on Ruben Torres in Brownsville. Based on his account, we can gain perspective on how management responded to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Porcion 54, Llano Grande & Oral History Transcript

Santos Vallejo and

Llano Grande, Hidalgo County, McAllen, Spiker Subdivision.
Interview with Dr. Rosalynn Vega

Rosalynn A. Vega and Chelsey Sandoval

Interview with Dr. Rosalynn Vega, anthropologist and scholar who focuses on Global Health and Migration, regarding research on medical migration in the Rio Grande Valley.
Oral History Transcript - Basilio David Villarreal IV

Basilio David Villarreal IV, Nancy Jasmine Serna, and