Los Del Valle

The Los del Valle Oral History Project, begun in 1993, 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.

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Volume 01 – En palabras de nuestra gente

Manuel F. Medrano

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

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

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

Manuel F. Medrano

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

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

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

Manuel F. Medrano

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.
Volume 08 – Los camaroneros

Manuel F. Medrano

This history of shrimping in the Brownsville area includes comments by two generations of shrimpers with photos and footage. This business once made Brownsville the shrimping capital of the world.

Interviewees include: John Bateau, Buster Harris, Clyde Hebert, Harris Lasseigne, Aars Kaan, Tony Lewis, Lawrence Pompa, Joe Teachout, Fred Vidos, and Gordon Williams.
Volume 09 – The Episcopal Day School, the First Fifty Years

Manuel F. Medrano

This school celebrates fifty years of quality private education. Directors, teacher and students comment about their experiences in the school and its legacy.

Interviewees include: Leta Mallet, Sharon Stevens Putegnat, Lenora Going Rentfro, Reverend J. Rufus Stewart, Mary Katherine Tipton, Sara Villalon, and Charles Zavala.
Volume 10 – Barbara Warburton, La maestra

Manuel F. Medrano

For over three decades, this biology teacher established a rich tradition of classroom teaching and research at Texas Southmost College. She helped to establish the Rancho del Cielo biological research station in northern Mexico.

Interviewees include: Juliet V. Garcia, Paula Gomez, Eloisa Thelma Gonzalez, Tony Gonzalez, Manuel Guajardo, Larry Lof, Alma Solis, Martha Warburton, and Barbara Warburton.
Volume 11 – Las Raíces en los Ranchitos de San Isidro

Manuel F. Medrano

The Rio Grande Valley has a rich ranching heritage. Three generations of a small ranching family speak about their lives on a South Texas rancho in San Isidro. Historian Armando Alonzo comments about the history of Tejano ranching.

Interviewees include: Armando Alonzo, Anita Garza, Felix Garza, Omar Garza and Rodolfo Garza.
Volume 12 – Los bomberos del Los Fresnos: Los primeros 50 años

Manuel F. Medrano

[Los Fresnos Fire Department] The volunteer fire department in Los Fresnos, Texas celebrates fifty years of service. Firefighters across generations reminisce about their experiences, challenges and loyalty to firefighting.
Volume 13 – Benito Treviño: Lo que comemos, lo que nos cura, los que usamos. The many uses of South Texas plants

Manuel F. Medrano

This ethnobotanist speaks about his youth and his family rancho in the northern Rio Grande Valley. Additionally, he gives a tour of his Las Lomitas rancho and comments about edible and medicinal plants in South Texas.
Volume 14 – Carmen Lomas Garza, Chicana Artist

Manuel F. Medrano

One of the most successful Chicana artists speaks about her youth in Kingsville, Texas and her motivation to become an artist. Lomas Garza also presents and comments about some of her art.
Volume 15 – Celebrating Our People: Los del Valle

Manuel F. Medrano

This Hispanic Heritage Month tribute focuses on individuals who have enriched and preserved the history and culture of the Rio Grande Valley. Among these are folklorists Américo Paredes and Jovita Gonzalez. Individuals highlighted: Rosa Maria Hinojosa de Balli, Jovita Gonzales, Jose Mendoza Lopez, Americo Paredes, Chelo (Consuelo Silva), Rolando Hinojosa Smith, Frank Yturria, Mary Rose Cardenas, and Juliet V. Garcia.
Volume 16 – José M. Lopez: Un hombre valiente

Manuel F. Medrano

This military hero received numerous medals for bravery during World War II, including the Medal of Honor. Lopez and family members speak about his early years in Mexico and the Rio Grande Valley, his career as a boxer and his celebrated military career.
Volume 17 – Olga Lozano: Frontera Pharmacist

Manuel F. Medrano

This Harlingen, Texas native was one of the first Latinas to receive a pharmacy degree from The University of Texas at Austin. She recalls her early years in the Rio Grande Valley, her educational experiences in Austin and her later career.
Volume 18 – Américo Paredes: En sus propias palabras

Manuel F. Medrano

This great folklorists' life is chronicled through interviews, video clips and personal recollections. Comments about his legacy are included from colleagues and family.
Volume 19 – El Día de los muertos, Two Days in November

Manuel F. Medrano

Images of the Day of the Dead celebrations in the United States and Mexico are presented with original music and popular recordings as a background.
Volume 20 – Dr. Juliet V. García – Against the Odds

Manuel F. Medrano

A native of Brownsville, Texas, Dr. Juliet V. García is the first Hispanic woman to head a four-year university in the United States. As one of the most influential educators in the country, she shares her life story and her experiences at The University of Texas at Brownsville and Texas Southmost College.
Volume 21 – Dr. José Angel Gutierrez – Never Let the Flag Fall

Manuel F. Medrano

A native of Crystal City, Texas, Dr. José Angel Gutierrez is one of the most influential civil rights leaders in Texas history. Founder of the Mexican American Youth Organization and La Raza Unida Party, he is currently a college professor and attorney in the Dallas area. In this autobiographical profile, Gutierrez speaks about his life as an activist and educator.
Volume 22 – Mary Helen Berlanga, Education Advocate

Manuel F. Medrano

This immigration attorney and twenty-five year member of the Texas State Board of Education has championed textbook and curriculum equity for children much of her professional life. Her life struggles and achievements are chronicled in this profile.
Volume 23 – Don Jacinto Tzab Chac, Pasó por aquí

Manuel F. Medrano

At the dawn of the new millennium in January 2000, Don Jacinto Tzab Chac, a traditional Mayan shaman, visited a professor in the lower Rio Grande Valley. During his stay, he shared his life story and a ritual over 2000 years old, the bringing of the rain.
Volume 24 - Juan Luis Longoria, El Último Vaquero

Manuel F. Medrano

Born on a South Texas rancho, Juan Luis Longoria worked as a cowboy and foreman at the McAllen Ranch for over 40 years. He reminisces about why he became a cowboy, his most memorable experiences and how cowboy life has changed.
Volume 25 - Carmen Tafolla, From the Whispers of Her People

Manuel F. Medrano

This award-winning author and poet from San Antonio comments about how her family and barrio inspired her writing. Tafolla encourages young writers to find their own voices.
Volume 26 - Oscar Casares, Soy del Valle

Manuel F. Medrano

Brownsville native and acclaimed writer, Oscar Casares uses his childhood memories and the culture of the Rio Grande Valley to create stories with a universal appeal. He recalls turning points in his own life that impacted his career.
Volume 27 – David Montejano, Mi Vida de Roller Coaster

Manuel F. Medrano

With a professional career spanning over three decades, Dr. Montejano is a San Antonio native, Yale graduate and recipient of the prestigious Frederick Jackson Turner award for his groundbreaking book, Anglos and Mexicans in the Making of Texas, 1836-1986.
Volume 28 – Valerio Longoria: For a Quarter a Song

Manuel F. Medrano

Valerio Longoria, innovative and legendary conjunto musician, speaks about his life and career. Flavio Longoria, his son, comments about his famous father.
Volume 29 – Eva Ybarra: Siempre La Reina

Manuel F. Medrano

The Queen of the Accordion talks about her life and the many challenges of being a female conjunto accordionist.
Volume 30 – From Accordion Roots to Conjunto Music

Manuel F. Medrano

The origin of the European accordion is traced to the Chinese sheng. South Texas conjunto music evolved from both.