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Community Historical Archaeology Project with Schools (CHAPS) Oral Histories

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Interview with Thomas Alexander Eubanks

Thomas Alexander Eubanks and Serafin Hernandez

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

Kenneth Scott Eubanks

Supporting oral interview conducted for the The Eubanks Family: a porción of Edinburg publication.
Interview with Hazel Atwood Baldridge

Hazel Atwood Baldridge and Alexis Casiano

Supporting oral interview conducted for the Atwood acres: a porción of Edinburg publication.
Interview with Irene Atwood Evins - 01

Irene Atwood Evins, Jenarae Alaniz, Jimmy Lopez, and Jorge Hernandez

Supporting oral interview conducted for the Atwood acres: a porción of Edinburg publication.
Interview with Irene Atwood Evins - 02

Irene Atwood Evins, Ryann Fink, Colin Newton, Joanie Meave, and Richard Pena

Supporting oral interview conducted for the Atwood acres: a porción of Edinburg publication.
Interview with James Evins

James Evins, Norma Perez, Denis Neal, and Ramiro Garza

Supporting oral interview conducted for the Atwood acres: a porción of Edinburg publication.
Interview with Esperanza and Emilio Benitez Ayala

Esperanza Benitez Ayala, Emilio Benitez Ayala, Yanet Olesini, and Eloise Montemayor

An interview with RGV community members that explores their experiences in the border region. Conducted by a school teacher participating in the Porciones to Colonias project.

Interviewees: Esperanza Benitez Ayala, Emilio Benitez Ayala

Interviewer: Yanet Olesini

Video/Audio Equipment: Eloise Montemayor
Interview with Lyman Ricot Bounous: Growing up in 1950s Edinburg

Lyman Ricot Bounous, Janine Marie Buonous, Juliana Buonous, and Mayra Zepeda

Interviewer: Janine Marie Bounous

Interviewee: Lyman Ricot Bounous

Videographers: Juliana Bounous and Mayra Zepeda
Interview with Hermelinda Cantu and Maria Cantu

Hermelinda Cantu, Maria Cantu, and Jesus Ramos

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

Hermelinda Cantu and Jesus Ramos

Supporting oral interview conducted for the The Cantú Family: a porción of Edinburg publication.
Interview with Ruben Cantu Jr.

Ruben Cantu Jr., Alyssa Aparicio, Arturo Cortez, and Ryan Lanoy

Supporting oral interview conducted for the The Cantú Family: a porción of Edinburg publication.
Interview with Rogelio Cantu Jr.

Rogelio Cantu Jr. and Rolando Silva

Supporting oral interview conducted for the The Cantú Family: a porción of Edinburg publication.
Interview with Clarita Fajutag on Filipino Communities in the Rio Grande Valley

Clarita Fajutag and Courtney Wai

The interview took place at Clarita’s house, in her living room. Both participants are local school teachers, who participated in the Porciones to Colonias project.

The transcription that follows details Clarita’s experience as a Filipino in the Valley. As one of the first families, Clarita has witnessed a small community of just five families blossom into a larger network of Filipinos that now needs to rent a ballroom to host Christmas parties. Most depictions of the Valley—both historical and academic—paint the evolving relationship between whites and Mexicans, but in doing so, they hide a very important narrative: that of a growing and thriving Filipino community, rich with a fresh perspective on everyday life.
Interview with Rodrigus Kentavis Graham: Life as an African-American in the Rio Grande Valley

Rodrigus Kentavis Graham and Anne-Marie Huff

Anne Marie Huff conducted an interview with Rodrigus Kentavis Graham at residence in Mission, TX. Mr. Graham grew up in a predominantly African-American area of Atlanta and graduated from Morehouse College, and came to the Rio Grande Valley with the Teach for America program. He discusses Black-Brown relations in the RGV and social justice commonalities that can unite Latinos and African Americans toward a higher purpose.

This interview was conducted as part of the CHAPS Porciones to Colonias project.
Interview with Eliseo Hernandez concerning music, guitar playing on Cedro Street in the 1940s, 50s and 60s

Eliseo Hernandez and Jose Hernandez

An interview with Eliseo Hernandez, an RGV musician and community member, explores his experience in the border region. Conducted by Jose Hernandez, a school teacher participating in the Porciones to Colonias project.
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

Supporting oral interview conducted for the The Norquest Family: a porción of Edinburg publication.
Interview with Maria Rita Ochoa - Part 02

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

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

Marcos Ramirez, Daniel Nicholson, Stephanie Cavin, Francisco Gonzalez, and Randall Ramirez
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 Alva Whitsitt "Purple Communion Shoes"

Alva Mae Whitsitt, Lara Speights, and Monica Anzaldua-Arraiza

Oral History Interview conducted on 6/16/2012, 10 a.m. – 11:30 AM, as part of the Porciones to Colonias project where RGV community members are interviewed by local school teachers about lived experiences in the border region.

Purple Communion Shoes: Growing up as 1 of 12 in Brownsville, Texas
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.
Interview with Neil Norquest

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

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

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

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