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Los Del Valle

Los Del Valle

The Los del Valle Oral History Project, begun in 1993 by Manuel F. Medrano, includes edited autobiographical sketches of people from the Rio Grande Valley and South Texas and accounts of historical and cultural events that document the rich heritage of the area. The thirty volume series includes personal interviews, photographs, film clips and music that convey the uniqueness of the area not usually found in traditional sources.

Individual clips utilized to compile interviews can be found here.

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[LDV Project Archive] Brownsville Historical Pictures

Manuel F. Medrano

Footage of black and white photographs of people and buildings in Brownsville.
[LDV Project Archive] Bruce Aiken Pictures with Dialogue

Manuel F. Medrano and Bruce Tansil Aiken

A conversation with historian Bruce Aiken who talks about different photographs depicting the Brownsville area. Aiken talks about the reconfiguration of the landscape of Fort Brown. Aiken shares photographs of the infantry and the housing design in the Fort Brown area.
[LDV Project Archive] Charro Days Pictures, Part 1 of 5

Manuel F. Medrano

A raw video compilation of pictures, including newspaper articles, photographs, and posters of the Sombrero Festival during Charro Days capturing the activities of the event.
[LDV Project Archive] Classroom lecture and interview with Juliet V. Garcia

Manuel F. Medrano and Juliet V. Garcia

Dr. Juliet V. García speaks to a classroom about the importance of advocacy, barriers Mexican Americans face in access to education, her family history, her experiences in education, and the influence of her parents on her values. She also answers interview questions about leadership and the importance of social responsibility in higher education.
[LDV Project Archive] Dedication Gala to Yturria Family

Manuel F. Medrano

A raw video of The Valley Land Fund's Vision of South Texas Book Premier and Dedication Gala. A presentation of the commitment of the Yturria family to Ocelot Conservation by Michael Tewes. Speakers recall the Yturria family and their support for the conservation of the Aplomado Falcon and the habitat of the ocelot in the Rio Grande Valley. A documentary of Mary and Larry Yturria and their contributions to the South Texas area. Mr. and Mrs. Yturria talk about the influences in their life that led them to advocate for the conservation of wildlife in South Texas. The Gala ends with an auction of the original book Visions of South Texas Beyond the Ranch Gate. Oher speakers include Barry Horn, Amy Jonson, Audrey Martin, and Peter Janney.
[LDV Project Archive] Doña Rosita's Travelin' Jalapeño Kitchen with Ruby Nelda Perez, Part 1 of 2

Manuel F. Medrano and Ruby Nelda Perez

This footage is part 1 of 2 of the one woman play \Doña Rosita's Travelin' Jalapeño Kitchen\. Performed by Ruby Velda Perez and filmed by Manuel Medrano.
[LDV Project Archive] Footage of Dance Halls: El Jardin, La Villita, and El Mesquiton

Manuel F. Medrano

Compilation: Footage of El Jardin community dance hall infrastructure and its surroundings; interior decoration of La Villita Patio; and El Mesquiton's mesquite plants on Mesquite Street.
[LDV Project Archive] Footage of H. Yturria Cattle Company, Punta Del Monte Main Entrance

Manuel F. Medrano

Footage of the main entrance and the landscape of the surroundings of the H. Yturria Cattle Company in Punta Del Monte.
[LDV Project Archive] Images of the Rio Grande Valley

Manuel F. Medrano

Compilation: A video showing people and infrastructure of Brownsville with the song \My Little Town\ playing in the background. Footage of a collection of photographs, postcards, and maps of the Rio Grande Valley area which depict people and infrastructure in the early twentieth century.
[LDV Project Archive] Interviews about the Brownsville Shrimp Basin, Part 1 of 2

Manuel F. Medrano

Interviews with Buster Harris and John Bateau about the shrimp industry and its challenges in the Shrimp Basin in Texas. Recording also includes footage of a day's work in the port of Brownsville and the way to navigate a boat.
[LDV Project Archive] Interviews with Balli Family

Manuel F. Medrano and Concepcion Gonzales

Concepcion (Connie) Gonzales gathers together family members from the United States and Mexico to speak about the Padre Island law settlement, which their ancestors, the Ballí family, used to own. Interviews with family members are shown, as well as B-roll clips of family members conversing and checking in to the event. Hector Cardenas, attorney of the case, shares that the claim is about recovering the mineral rights of Padre Island. Other interviewees include Lupe Madrigal, Amado Juarez, Aurora Juarez, Rosa Rodgers, Raquel Solis, Juan Suarez, Elia Suarez, Benito Suarez, Jacobo Solis, Isabel Solis, Elba Solis, Solia Reyes Garza, Santos Garcia, Jose Garcia Jr, and Don Cuate.
[LDV Project Archive] Interviews with Members of the 124th Cavalry Regiment at the 30th Annual Reunion, Part 1 of 8

Manuel F. Medrano

This raw footage contains interviews with members of the 124th Cavalry Regiment about their background, their memories of World War II, and what the reunion means to them. Interviewees include Milton Kloesel, Louis Huse, Bill Hatcher, Mr. Webber, and David Scott.
[LDV Project Archive] Interview with Américo Paredes, Part 1 of 5

Manuel F. Medrano and Americo Paredes

This raw footage is part one of an interview with Dr. Américo Paredes. Dr. Paredes discusses how his parents came to Brownsville, his advice for writers, and the publication of his dissertation \With a Pistol in His Hand.
[LDV Project Archive] Interview with Armando C. Alonzo

Manuel F. Medrano and Armando C. Alonzo

An interview with Dr. Armando Alonzo, professor at Texas A&M, who published a book titled Los Rancheros in South Texas: The Tejano Legacy. Dr. Alonzo explains the legacy of ranching in South Texas.
[LDV Project Archive] Interview with Bruce Aiken on the History of Fort Brown, Part 1 of 6

Manuel F. Medrano and Bruce Tansil Aiken

A continuing interview with Bruce Aiken, director of the Historic Brownsville Museum, who talks about the history of the Fort Brown. Aiken recalls his memories growing up close to Fort Brown in the 1920s.
[LDV Project Archive] Interview with Carmen Lomas Garza

Manuel F. Medrano and Carmen Lomas Garza

Compilation: An interview with Carmen Lomas Garza, a Chicana artist born in Kingsville, Texas, who talks about her art career. Lomas Garza talks about racial discrimination toward Mexican American families, and shares the influence and involvement of the Chicano movement in her life. A partial video of Benito Treviño, an ethnobotanist who was born in Starr County.
[LDV Project Archive] Interview with Clarisa Garcia

Manuel F. Medrano and Clarissa Garcia

An interview with Clarissa Garcia on her memories of the Charro Days celebration. The celebration is an attempt to honor the cultural roots of the Rio Grande Valley.
[LDV Project Archive] Interview with Frank Yturria

Manuel F. Medrano and Frank D. Yturria

This footage consists of Frank Yturria speaking about the history of Yturria Ranch and his life working on a ranch.
[LDV Project Archive] Interview with Henry Montalvo

Manuel F. Medrano and Henry Montalvo

Interview with Henry Montalvo, who was born in San Benito, Texas. Montalvo, a World War II veteran, talks about his experience as a naval aviator in the Hawaiian Islands, and also describes his life as principal of the Brownsville District School.
[LDV Project Archive] Interview with Juliet V. Garcia and Photographs

Manuel F. Medrano and Juliet Garcia

Compilation: Interview with Dr. Juliet García, the first Mexican American woman to become president of a college or university in the United States. Dr. García talks about being president of The University of Texas at Brownsville. Also includes a speech by Dr. García at the opening of Dr. Juliet García Middle School in Brownsville, and an interview of Dr. García and the principal after her speech.
[LDV Project Archive] Interview with Larry Löf

Manuel F. Medrano and Lawrence Victor Lof

An interview with Larry Löf, one of Barbara Warburton's former students, who talks about his recollections of Warburton. Löf explains the importance of Rancho del Cielo (biological research station) for the people of Brownsville.
[LDV Project Archive] Interview with Lorenzo Paredes

Manuel F. Medrano and Lorenzo Paredes

This raw footage is an interview with Dr. Américo Paredes' brother, Lorenzo Paredes. Paredes talks about Américo and his other brothers, as he and Dr. Manuel F. Medrano look through a photo album and a book of poetry. Paredes also discusses his life, education, and work in Brownsville, Texas. The interview finishes with Paredes talking about his family history.
[LDV Project Archive] Interview with Manuel Medrano about Los Del Valle, Part 2

Manuel F. Medrano

An interview with Dr. Manuel Medrano who talks about the meaning of Los del Valle Project. Dr. Medrano shares the importance of collecting family history.
[LDV Project Archive] Interview with Maricela Flores

Manuel F. Medrano and Maricela Flores

Raw footage of Maricela Flores, as she discusses her life, goals, and achievements. Flores graduated from Harlingen High School and was recruited to attend Southern Methodist University. After graduating from Southern Methodist University, she worked for the U.S. Department of Commerce in Washington D.C. Flores went on to pursue a fellowship in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
[LDV Project Archive] Interview with Mario E. Ramírez

Manuel F. Medrano, Mario E. Ramirez, and Letty Fernandez

This raw footage is an interview with Dr. Mario Ramírez about his new position as the Vice President for the South Texas Border Initiatives for the UT Health Science Center at San Antonio. Dr. Ramírez speaks about his hopes for the future of higher education and health sciences in South Texas.
[LDV Project Archive] Interview with Narciso Martínez, Copy 1 of 3

Manuel F. Medrano and Narciso Martinez

A video honoring Narciso Martínez, son of Anastacio and Cenovia Martínez, who was born in Reynosa, Tamaulipas. Martínez, a musician known as \El Huracán del Valle\, talks about his career and the origin of his musician moniker. Martínez plays music using his accordion. Other interviewees include Américo Paredes, Sabino Salinas, Rogelio Nuñez, and Oscar Hernandez.
[LDV Project Archive] Interview with Reynaldo Garza, Part 1 of 3

Manuel F. Medrano and Reynaldo Garza

An interview with Judge Reynaldo Garza who talks about pictures with John Kennedy and Lyndon B. Johnson that are displayed on his office wall. Judge Garza shares memories of his career and the importance of education for Mexican American children.
[LDV Project Archive] Interview with Rodolfo de la Garza

Manuel F. Medrano and Rodolfo De la Garza

An interview with Rodolfo de la Garza, Vice President of the Tomas Rivera Policy Institute and Professor in the Department of Government at the University of Texas at Austin, for the University of Texas at Brownsville Faculty Study. Dr. de la Garza talks about his family, his upbringing in Tuscon, Arizona, his experiences at the University of Arizona, and how he came to understand discrimination during his time in graduate school and early academic career.
[LDV Project Archive] Interview with Rogelio Nuñez, Narcíso Martinez Cultural Art Center

Manuel F. Medrano and Rogelio Nuñez

Compilation: An interview with Rogelio Nuñez, the Narciso Martínez Cultural Art Center director, about his background and the origins of the Cultural Center. Recording includes an accordion class taught by Oscar Hernandez at the Cultural Center.
[LDV Project Archive] Interview with Ruben Garcia, Part 1 of 2

Manuel F. Medrano and Anthony K. Knopp

A raw video of an interview with Ruben Garcia, captain of the police department, who talks about his experience in the police department of Brownsville, and the way it operated after World War II.
[LDV Project Archive] Interview with Ruby Woolridge, Part 1 of 4

Manuel F. Medrano and Ruby A. Woolridge

Part 1 of 4 of Ruby Woolridge's oral history. Woolridge recalls her time spent in catholic school, her transition to public school and how she became interested in social science, her experience as a student at Texas A&I, the 1932/1933 hurricanes, and her upbringing in Brownsville, Texas.
[LDV Project Archive] Interview with Rudolfo Anaya

Manuel F. Medrano and Rudolfo Anaya

An interview with Rudolfo Anaya, a Chicano writer who was born in Llano Estacado, New Mexico. Anaya talks about his childhood and the Chicano movement in the early 1970s. He recalls life changes and writing.
[LDV Project Archive] Interview with Santiago Jimenez, Jr., Part 1 of 3

Manuel F. Medrano and Santiago Jimenez

A video of Santiago Jimenez, Jr. performing at the Science and Engineering Technology Building (SETB), the University of Texas at Brownsville. David Champion, associate director of the Narciso Martínez Cultural Center, introduces Jimenez to the audience. Jimenez performs with his accordion different conjunto music, and, in between songs, he tells his family's history.
[LDV Project Archive] Interview with Tish Hinojosa

Manuel F. Medrano and Tish Hinojosa

In this interview for the Américo Paredes Endowment Fund, Tish Hinojosa talks about her relationship with Dr. Américo Paredes, her musical inspiration, the importance of Mexican American culture, and her children.
[LDV Project Archive] Latinos and Latinas in World War II Forum, Part 1 of 2

Manuel F. Medrano and Maggie Rivas-Rodriguez

National Forum of The Latino and Latina World War II Oral History Project at the Naval Heritage Center. First panel: Dr. Manuel Medrano talks about the José M. López oral history. R. Álvarez Curbelo talks about \The Color of War: Puerto Ricans and discrimination during World War II\. Dr. Emilio Zamora presents on Mexico and the unity in Latin American during the War. Dr. Maggie Rivas Rodriguez talks about \A Cultural Lifeline: Spanish Language Radio Heard by U.S Latinos overseas in WWII\. James Garcia and two actors read a theatrical play script about veteran stories. Second panel: Dr. Rea Ann Trotter talks about \God and War: The impact of Combat Upon Latino Soldiers\. Dr. Violeta Dominguez talks about the labor force crisis in the Bracero program. Dr. Brian Lucero presents on mine workers. Documentary \Wings Over Berlin\ based on William Carrillo's life. Other panelists include Dionisio Valdez.
[LDV Project Archive] Photographs of Los Braceros

Manuel F. Medrano

Photographs of men who participated in the Bracero program. Images include identification cards, photographs of men working in fields, certificates, checks, and other official documents.
[LDV Project Archive] Reynaldo Garza Photographs

Manuel F. Medrano and Reynaldo Garza

Footage of photographs from Judge Reynaldo Garza which depict his family and career at different moments of his life.
[LDV Project Archive] Rio Grande City Interviews, Part 1 of 2

Manuel F. Medrano and Omar Garza

Compilation: Footage from Omar Garza's office in the Starr County Court House in Rio Grande City. Footage of photographs of the Garza family and San Isidro Ranch.
[LDV Project Archive] Rio Grande Valley Images and Interviews and Recipients of the Veteran's Upward Bound Award

Manuel F. Medrano and Maricela Flores

Compilation: A video showing people, and infrastructure of Brownsville with the song \My Little Town\ playing on the background. Footage of photographs, postcards, maps of the Rio Grande Valley area which depict people and infrastructure in the early twentieth century. The video includes interviews with José Mendoza López and Américo Paredes, and footage of other notable figures of the Rio Grande Valley such as Jovita Gonzalez. The second portion of the video contains interviews with recipients of the Veteran's Upward Bound Scholarship.
[LDV Project Archive] Ruben Garcia and The Brownsville Police Department

Manuel F. Medrano and Ruben Garcia

A documentary honoring Captain Ruben Garcia after a career of forty-three years. Captain Garcia talks about his experience in the Brownsville police department, and the history of the department after World War II. Garcia was the founder of the police academy in Brownsville.
[LDV Project Archive] Texas State Historical Association Presentation, Part 1 of 2

Manuel F. Medrano

Part 1 of 2 of the Texas State Historical Association Presentation (TSHA) conference 25th session titled \Conjuntos, Corridos y Cancioneros: Folk Music of the Rio Grande Valley.\ Panel speakers Dr. Manuel Medrano and Ramón de León discuss the historical context of the musical traditions of South Texas. Dr. Medrano presents about corridos and the hero themes within music, focusing on the legacies of Américo Paredes and Narciso Martínez. Includes a performance of \Gregorio Cortez\ by Rigo Garza (from San Benito, playing bajo sexto), and Moreno (from Mexico, playing accordion).
[LDV Project Archive] Textbook Hearing at the Texas State Board of Education / Frank and Mary Yturria: Stewards of the Land

Manuel F. Medrano

Compilation: A textbook hearing at the Texas State Board of Education, July 2002. Maricela Flores, who works at the University of Texas at Brownsville, talks about the role of women in society and their inclusion in textbooks. Lupita Ramirez, from the Colonia Cameron Park, discussed the need for greater representation of Mexican American people and culture in textbooks. Tomas Gomez talks about the lack of information of the pre-Colombian era and the influence of Latin America in the United States.

A documentary about Mary and Larry Yturria and their contributions to the South Texas area. Mr. and Mrs. Yturria talks about the influences in their life which led them to advocate for the conservation of wildlife in South Texas. Other interviewees include Richard Moore, Jim Chapman, Linda Laack, John Martin, and Larry Ditto.
[LDV Project Archive] Tish Hinojosa Concert at UTB/TSC

Manuel F. Medrano and Tish Hinojosa

A B-Roll videorecording of a Tish Hinojosa concert with footage of Américo Paredes books and Tish Hinojosa merchandise. Shows Tish Hinojosa performance for Américo Paredes tribute.
Volume 01 - En palabras de nuestra gente

Manuel F. Medrano, Antonio Medrano, Oliver Brenner, and Narcisco Martinez

Antonia Medrano from Brownsville, Oliver Brenner from Port Isabel and Narciso Martinez from La Paloma speak about their lives, the 1933 hurricane and the importance of a formal education.
Volume 02 - Dr. Américo Paredes

Manuel F. Medrano and Americo Paredes

This eminent, folklorist and scholar, speaks about his life in Brownsville, the importance of oral history and his professorial career. Singer Tish Hinojosa also performs a folksong dedicated to Americo Paredes and Dr. Rolando Hinojosa, a well known Mexican-American author, discusses the work of Paredes.
Volume 03 - Rolando Hinojosa, Tejano Author

Manuel F. Medrano and Rolando Hinojosa

Hinojosa reads passages from his short stories and novels.
Volume 04 - La música en la sangre, Sabino Salinas

Manuel F. Medrano and Sabino Salinas

Several long-time friends and musicians of música regional, conjunto and norteña speak about their lives and their love of music. They also perform some favorite songs.
Volume 05 - La música en la sangre, Joe Lopez

Manuel F. Medrano and Joe Lopez

Joe Lopez, co-founder of the acclaimed Tejano group Mazz, speaks about his life and musical career.
Volume 06 - Charro Days, the First Sixty Years

Manuel F. Medrano, Bruce Aiken, Americo Paredes, Ruby Woolridge, Ralph Cowen, Clarissa Garcia, Vincent Crixell, and Danny Loff

This is a history of a border celebration recognizing the friendship and common culture and heritage of the border cities of Brownsville and Matamoros. Interviewees include: Bruce Aiken, Americo Paredes, Ruby Woolridge, Ralph Cowen, Clarissa Garcia, Vincent Crixell, and Danny Loff.
Volume 07 - El huracán del Valle, Narciso Martinez

Manuel F. Medrano and Narciso Martinez

The pioneer of conjunto music reminisces about his musical career, his life in the Valley and changes in contemporary music. Fellow musicians and scholars comment about his legacy.