The Curanderismo Collection is comprised of materials from the College of Health Sciences and Human Services. Curanderismo, or folk healing, involves a trained healer, or curandero(a), who treats a person experiencing physical or spiritual illness.
Dr. Robert Trotter (Medical Anthropologist) and Juan Antonio Chavira (Medical Sociologist/Anthropologist) produced the curanderismo materials in a project during the late 1970s in South Texas. The project, "Proyecto Comprender" served as a valuable source of information for regional public health and medical professionals who sought to better understand Mexican American concepts of health and illness. The original materials include 35 mm photographic slides, 16 mm moving image film, and cassette and reel-to-reel audio recordings used to create a film, a slide series with an accompanying soundtrack, and a monograph).
The collection is open for research. All materials have been digitized and are available online.
Grant Funding: Digitization of the collection materials for online access was made possible by the Institute of Museum and Library Services and the Texas State Library and Archives Commission through the 2013-2014 TexTreasures Grant Program.
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Interview with Partera_13
Interview with partera about her life, how she became a partera, her experiences in the field, her interaction with doctors and other health clinics. Tape1Copy_27-McAllen-Hidalgo_Side1andSide2
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Interview with Partera_14
Interview with partera about her life, how she became a partera, her experiences in the field, her interaction with doctors and other health clinics. Tape1Copy_28-Donna-Hidalgo_Side1andSide2
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Interview with Partera_15
Interview with partera about her life, how she became a partera, her experiences in the field, her interaction with doctors and other health clinics. Tape1Copy_30-Weslaco-Hidalgo_Side1andSide2
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Interview with Partera_17
Interview with partera about her life, how she became a partera, her experiences in the field, her interaction with doctors and other health clinics.
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Interview with Partera_18
Interview with partera about her life, how she became a partera, her experiences in the field, her interaction with doctors and other health clinics. Tape1Copy_34-McAllen-Hidalgo_Side1andSide2
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Interview with Partera_19
Interview with partera about her life, how she became a partera, her experiences in the field, her interaction with doctors and other health clinics. Tape1Copy_35-McAllen-Hidalgo_Side1andSide2
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Interview with Partera_20
Interview with partera about her life, how she became a partera, her experiences in the field, her interaction with doctors and other health clinics. Tape1Copy_38-Progreso-Hidalgo_Side1andSide2
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Interview with Partera_21
Doña Maria
Interview with partera, her life, her experiences in the field, her interaction with doctors and other health institutions. Dona Maria Gutierrez-Partera by Trotter and Hurtado.
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Interview with Poncho
Audio recording for the film "Los Que Curan" for the interview with the curandero Poncho. R1-12-635' Los que curan
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Interview with Sobadora
Doña Maria
Conversation with a sobadora about her field of work, how she learned it and how she heals specific injuries. Dona Maria_Como Sobar and some interesting observations on food stamps.
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Introductory Narration
Introductory Narration for the film "Los Que Curan". Fields Curandero Interview.
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Los Que Curan
Pan American University
"The people of the Lower Rio Grande Valley made this film possible. Our grateful thanks to them. Especially to Marta Balderas, Socorro Bravo, Jose Meave, and Guadalupe Meave."
"The production of this film was supported by Grant No. 75-108G from the Regional Medical Program of Texas. However, its contents are solely the responsibility of Pan American University and are in no way the responsibility of the Regional Medical Services, The Health Services and Mental Health Administration or the Department of Health, Education and Welfare."
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Mental and Spiritual Healing Narration
Description of the mental and spiritual method of healing. Curan G Mixed
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Mexican American Culture Narration
Narration about the Mexican-American population, its culture, economic and social status and its relation to curanderismo. Curan A—D Mixed
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Origins and Evolution
Narration. Origins and Evolution. Program C-Origins and Eval_Overview and Practices of curanderos. Program D-Levels of Curanderismo.
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Prayer for Spiritual Sessions
Recording of the prayers used on a spiritual session in which a medium is possessed by a spirit, this recording was used for the film "Los Que Curan".
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Prayers Against Evil Spirits
Doña Maria
Prayers done by Doña Maria against evil spirits. She also explains about the process of "curacion" against evil.; she also explains the use of different candles in curanderismo practices, different procedures for Barrida and the meaning of cards.
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Project Planning_01
Señor Treviño
Conversation about possible interviewees and curanderismo experiences.
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Project Planning_02
Señor Treviño, Mrs. Bravo, and Mrs. Balderas
Conversation about curanderismo experiences and planning of the project. Senor Trevino and Mrs. Bravo and Mrs. Balderas; Curanderismo-Spiritualism
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Project Planning_03
Doña Maria Curandera
Conversation about curanderos, curanderismo, and Mexican American culture; other idle talk. Side3_8-27-74 Chavira y Trotter
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Spirit Possession_01
Doña Maria Curandera, Aida Hurtado, and Robert Noriega
Conversation about spirit possession, woman speaking about her experiences.
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Spirit Possession_02
Doña Maria Curandera and Aida Hurtado
Prayers done by a woman and explanation of her experiences and knowledge of spiritual possession. Conversation about curanderismo practices. Last file is only testing recording.
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Spiritual Session_01
Recording of a spiritual session in which a medium is possessed by a spirit. Warning: graphic content.
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Spiritual Session_02
Recording of a spiritual session in which a medium is possessed by a spirit. Warning: graphic content.
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Spiritual Session_03
Recording of a spiritual session in which a medium is possessed by a spirit. Séance Poncho in Weslaco
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Spiritual Session_04
Recording of a spiritual session in which a medium is possessed by a spirit. Séance with Poncho_Part1andPart2
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Spiritual Session_05; Health Services
Gloria Gonzales
Recording of a spiritual session in which a medium is possessed by a spirit. Audio recording about health services for individuals with alcoholic problems. Gloria Gonzales.
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Spiritual Session_06
Recording of a spiritual session in which a medium is possessed by a spirit. Cure—Middle.
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Spiritual Session_07
Recording of part of a spiritual session in which a medium is possessed by a spirit. End of men's cure (blue jacket) Tails out.
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Spiritual Session_08
Recording of part of a spiritual session in which a medium is possessed by a spirit. End of men's cap then woman seated Heads out.
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Spiritual Session_09
Recording of a spiritual session in which a medium is possessed by a spirit, this recording was used for the film "Los Que Curan". Sound on takes- mixed directions.
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STEP Program Narration
Don Ignacio
Narration about programs offered to the elderly and low income population. Don Ignacio Voice Master 2 reel.
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Summary Narration
Narration about the work field of parteras, sobadores and curanderos. Curan E—F Mixed.
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Typical Work Day for a Partera
Audio recording of a work day for a partera. Dona Hernira_Reynosa_Partera_BabyBorn
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Videncia and Spiritual Experiences
Conversation about a spiritual experience foreseen through the gift of videncia. Part2_Interview with Dona Maria-Silver-Oraciones.