Jose Colon Complete Interview
This interview with Jose Colon took place on July 23, 2013 at his home in West Seneca, NY and was conducted by Stephanie Bucalo. The interview is very difficult to understand at times, but his daughter helped share some information about both of their lives. Jose came to the United States in 1952 to work on the farms. He was recruited through Operation Bootstrap which was a governmental initiative encouraging Puerto Ricans to fly north to find employment. The economy in Puerto Rico was very poor and there was a very large unemployment pool with very few available jobs. Once Jose established a home and steady employment in Buffalo, he became a trustworthy member of the community. Newly arriving Puerto Ricans looking for work on the farms would stay with him and his family until they could find their own homes. He would pick them up from the airport, take them to work and then bring them back to the airport so they could fly south. Growing up, Rose Mary struggled in school because of the language barrier and lack of resources in the educational system. Because of this, she became an ESL teacher and now works in the Public Schools.
Esta entrevista con José Colón tomó lugar el 23 de julio del año 2013 a su casa en West Seneca, NY y fue conducida por Stephanie Bucalo. Es muy difíl de entender algunas partes de esta entrevista, pero su hija ayudó compartir un poco de información sobre ambas de sus vidas. José fino a los Estados Unidos en el año 1952 para trabajar en las granjas. Se reclutó por la Operación Mano a las Obras la cual era una iniciativa gubernamental animando a los puertorriqueños que volaban al norte para conseguir empleo. La economía en Puerto Rico era muy pobre y hubo una gran cantidad de desempleados con muy pocos puestos disponibles. Cuando José estableció un hogar y un empleo estable en Búfalo, él se puso un miembro confiable de la comunidad. Los puertorriqueños nuevamente llegando y buscando empleo en las granjas se quedaban con él y su familia hasta cuando se encontraran sus propias casas. Él los recogieron al aeropuerto, les llevó al trabajo, y les llevó de nuevo al aeropuerto para que pudieran volar al sur. Durante su juventud, Rose Mary luchaba en la escuela por la culpa de la barrera lingüística y la falta de recursos en el sistema educativa. Por eso, ella se puso maestra de ESL y ahora trabaja en las Escuelas Públicas.
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Hispanic Heritage "Bring Us Your History!" Project
Buffalo & Erie County Public Library
2013-07-23
<a href="/items/browse?advanced%5B0%5D%5Belement_id%5D=37&advanced%5B0%5D%5Btype%5D=is+exactly&advanced%5B0%5D%5Bterms%5D=Hispanic+Heritage+Council+of+WNY%2C+INC">Hispanic Heritage Council of WNY, INC</a>
Digital collection copyright 2016 by the Buffalo & Erie County Public Library. This collection or portions thereof are not to be used for any commercial purposes without the expressed written permission of the Buffalo & Erie County Public Library. Users of this website are free to utilize material from this collection for non-commercial and educational purposes.
Buffalo & Erie County Public Library Digital Collections
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English
Spanish
Juan Texidor
This interview was conducted on July 31, 2012 with Juan Texidor at his home on Pennsylvania Street in Buffalo, NY by Stephanie Bucalo. The interview took place on his front porch. There are ambient noises from passing cars and people in the neighborhood talking and playing. The entire interview is in Spanish.Juan Texidor was born in Ciudad de Guayama, Puerto Rico and migrated to Western New York in 1951. Juan completed part of his formal education in Puerto Rico but completed his High School degree at Buffalo Evening School at Bennett High School as a full-working adult. Juan was employed by the Ford Motor Company and very active in the Hispanic community. He eventually became a very well-known voice on the airwaves with his weekly Spanish language radio program. Juan was one of the founding fathers of the Pucho Olivencia Center on Swan Street and was a member of the board for various Hispanic organizations until the language at the meetings became English heavy. Juan offers his opinions about the Hispanic community in Buffalo, especially in terms of education and the social changes taking place. He also shares his thoughts on how Puerto Rico has changed since his childhood and where he thinks the island is heading economically, politically and socially.
Esta entrevista fue conducida el 31 de Julio 2012 con Juan Texidor en su casa en la Calle Pennsylvania en Buffalo, NY por Stephanie Bucalo. La entrevista tomó lugar en el porche adelante. Hubo una abundancia de ruidos ambientes de los coches pasando por la casa y los vecinos que estaban hablando y jugando. La entrevista entera es en español. Juan Texidor nació en la Ciudad de Guayama, Puerto Rico y migró al Oeste de Nueva York en 1951. Juan cumplió una parte de su educación formal en Puerto Rico pero la cumplió por completo a Buffalo Evening School a Bennett High School como un adulto trabajando full-time. Juan fue empleado por Ford Motor Company y fue muy activo en la comunidad hispana. Él eventualmente se volvió una voz bien conocida por las alas de radio con su programa de radio en español semanal. Juan fue uno de los fundadores del Centro Pucho Olivencia en la Calle Swan y fue un miembro de juntas varias de unas organizaciones hispanas en la comunidad hasta el momento en que las conversaciones se convirtieron fuertemente en inglés. Juan ofrece sus opiniones sobre la comunidad hispana en Búfalo, especialmente en términos de la educación y los cambios sociales que están tomando lugar en ese momento. También comparte sus pensamientos sobre cómo ha cambiado Puerto Rico desde su niñez y a dónde cree que la isla va económicamente, políticamente y socialmente.
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Hispanic Heritage "Bring Us Your History!" Project
Buffalo & Erie County Public Library
2012-07-31
<a href="/items/browse?advanced%5B0%5D%5Belement_id%5D=37&advanced%5B0%5D%5Btype%5D=is+exactly&advanced%5B0%5D%5Bterms%5D=Hispanic+Heritage+Council+of+WNY%2C+INC">Hispanic Heritage Council of WNY, INC</a>
Digital collection copyright 2016 by the Buffalo & Erie County Public Library. This collection or portions thereof are not to be used for any commercial purposes without the expressed written permission of the Buffalo & Erie County Public Library. Users of this website are free to utilize material from this collection for non-commercial and educational purposes.
Buffalo & Erie County Public Library Digital Collections
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Spanish
Mary Lou Gonzalez Complete Interview
This interview with Mary Lou and Carmen Gonzalez (Along with Carmen’s nephew whose name is currently unavailable) took place on September 15, 2013 in at Carmen’s home in South Buffalo, NY and was conducted by Stephanie Bucalo. Carmen was born in Houston, Texas but grew up in Laredo, Mexico. Mary Lou was born in Monterrey, Mexico but was raised in Texas. Carmen and Mary Lou came to Lackawanna when their families found jobs in industry. Carmen raised her family and worked in a restaurant and Mary Lou started earning a degree in nursing but after beginning a family changed her career to later become a counselor. Carmen, Mary Lou and Carmen’s nephew share stories about becoming a part of the Hispanic community in Western New York, the history of the Mexican Club and different aspects about the Hispanic community over the years. Carmen’s family had an easier time seeking employment in the United States because she and her husband were both born in the United States. Many Mexicans were able to find employment through the Bracero Program, but Carmen and her husband had citizenship. The Gonzalez family discusses community, culture and learning to live in a multicultural environment. They lived in Lackawanna during the majority of their early years in Western New York so they were exposed to great diversity. The Gonzalez family discusses community, culture and learning to live in a multicultural environment. They lived in Lackawanna during the majority of their early years in Western New York so they were exposed to great diversity.
Esta entrevista con Mary Lou y Carmen González (también con el sobrino de Carmen cuyo nombre no está disponible al momento.) y tomó lugar el 15 de septiembre del año 2013 en la casa de Carmen en South Buffalo, NY y fue conducida por Stephanie Bucalo. Carmen nació en Houston, Texas pero se creció en Laredo, México. Mary Lou nació en Monterrey, México pero se creció en Texas. Carmen y Mary Lou vinieron a Lackawanna cuando sus familias encontraron puestos en el sector industrial. Carmen crecía a su familia y trabajaba en un restaurante y Mary Lou empezó su licenciatura en la enfermería pero después de empezar una familia ella cambió su carrera y más tarde se puso consejera. Carmen, Mary Lou y el sobrino de Carmen comparten cuentos sobre su asimilación a la comunidad hispana en el Nueva York del Oeste, la historia del Club Social Mexicano y los aspectos diferentes sobre la comunidad hispana a través de los años. Para la familia de Carmen, era mucho más fácil encontrar empleo porque ella y su esposo nacieron en los Estados Unidos. Muchos mexicanos consiguieron empleo por el Programa Bracero, pero Carmen y su esposo ya tuvieron la ciudadanía estadounidense.La familia González explica la comunidad, la cultura, y el aprendizaje sobre el sentido de vivir dentro de un ambiente multicultural. Ellos vivieron en Lackawanna durante la mayoría de sus primeros años en Nueva York del Oeste, entonces se expusieron a ellos a la gran diversidad.
<a href="/items/browse?advanced%5B0%5D%5Belement_id%5D=39&advanced%5B0%5D%5Btype%5D=is+exactly&advanced%5B0%5D%5Bterms%5D=Mary+Lou+Gonzalez+%28Interviewee%29">Mary Lou Gonzalez (Interviewee)</a>
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Hispanic Heritage "Bring Us Your History!" Project
Buffalo & Erie County Public Library
2013-09-15
<a href="/items/browse?advanced%5B0%5D%5Belement_id%5D=37&advanced%5B0%5D%5Btype%5D=is+exactly&advanced%5B0%5D%5Bterms%5D=Hispanic+Heritage+Council+of+WNY%2C+INC">Hispanic Heritage Council of WNY, INC</a>
Digital collection copyright 2016 by the Buffalo & Erie County Public Library. This collection or portions thereof are not to be used for any commercial purposes without the expressed written permission of the Buffalo & Erie County Public Library. Users of this website are free to utilize material from this collection for non-commercial and educational purposes.
Buffalo & Erie County Public Library Digital Collections
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English
Mina and Ned, Past and Present : Photo Album
Mina and Ned, prominent community members: marriage photograph and recent photograph.
Hispanic Heritage "Bring Us Your History!" Project
Buffalo & Erie County Public Library
<a href="/items/browse?advanced%5B0%5D%5Belement_id%5D=37&advanced%5B0%5D%5Btype%5D=is+exactly&advanced%5B0%5D%5Bterms%5D=Hispanic+Heritage+Council+of+WNY%2C+INC">Hispanic Heritage Council of WNY, INC</a>
Digital collection copyright 2016 by the Buffalo & Erie County Public Library. This collection or portions thereof are not to be used for any commercial purposes without the expressed written permission of the Buffalo & Erie County Public Library. Users of this website are free to utilize material from this collection for non-commercial and educational purposes.
Buffalo & Erie County Public Library Digital Collections
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Reyes Family
Lino and Natividad Reyes, in the arms daughter Myrna.
Hispanic Heritage "Bring Us Your History!" Project
Buffalo & Erie County Public Library
1950s
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Digital collection copyright 2016 by the Buffalo & Erie County Public Library. This collection or portions thereof are not to be used for any commercial purposes without the expressed written permission of the Buffalo & Erie County Public Library. Users of this website are free to utilize material from this collection for non-commercial and educational purposes.
Buffalo & Erie County Public Library Digital Collections
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Rosa Aviles
This interview with Rosa Aviles took place on September 13, 2012 at the Lackawanna Public Library and was conducted by Stephanie Bucalo. Rosa Aviles was born in Puerto Rico and moved to Buffalo at the age of 10 years old in 1953. She attended the Immaculata Academy, Buffalo State College and later began working for the Lackawanna Health Center as a social worker. She worked for the county for 30 years before retiring. Her brothers and father all sought employment at Bethlehem Steel and on the nearby farms. The family temporarily relocated to Utica, NY where her brothers and father were employed at Utica Radiators until they realized there were more opportunities in Buffalo at Bethlehem Steel. She vividly remembers the Church being an integral aspect of her childhood. She and her family actively participated in Church events and found it to be a place for them to be a part of a community. Rosa shares stories from her childhood and especially emphasizes how grateful she is for growing up in a Spanish speaking community and for being able to assimilate into American culture easily through her formal education in an English-only school. Upon completing her formal secondary education, Rosa entered the workforce as a social worker and spent much of her life working and helping people within the Hispanic community. She loved helping people and even extended her services to other Hispanic organizations in the city. All of Rosa’s stories offer an opportunity for her to reflect on the many ways different religious and community organizations made it possible for the Hispanic community to unite and enjoy each other’s company.
Esta entrevista con Rosa Aviles tomó lugar el 13 de septiembre de 2012 a la biblioteca pública en Lackawanna y fue conducida por Stephanie Bucalo. Rosa Aviles nació en Puerto Rico y se mudó a Búfalo a la edad de 10 años en el año 1953. Ella asistió a la Academia de Immaculata, Buffalo State College y más tarde empezó a trabajar para Lackawanna Health Center como trabajadora social. Ella trabajó para el condado por 30 años antes de jubilarse. Sus hermanos y su padre buscaron empleo a bethlehem Steel y a las granjas vecinas. La familia temporalmente se mudaron a Utica, NY donde sus hermanos y su padre fueron empleados a Utica Radiators hasta cuando se dieron cuenta que había más oportunidades en Búfalo a Bethlehem Steel. Ella recuerda vívidamente que la Iglesia era un aspecto integral de sus niñez. Ella y su familia participaban activamente en los eventos de la Iglesia y la encontraron un lugar para ser parte de la comunidad. Rosa comparte unas historias de su niñez y especialmente enfatiza su gratitud de crecer en una comunidad hispano hablante y por ser capaz de asimilarse fácilmente en la cultura estadounidense por sus educación formal en una escuela solo anglosajona. A parte de completar su educación secundaria formal, Rosa entró a la fuerza laboral como trabajadora social y pasó mucho de su vida ayudando a la gente dentro de la comunidad hispana. Ella amaba a ayudar a la gente y aun extendió sus servicios a las otras organizaciones hispanas en la ciudad. Todas de las historias de Rosa le ofrecen la oportunidad de reflejar en las varias maneras en que las organizaciones religiosas y de la comunidad le han hecho posible para la comunidad hispana unirse y disfrutar de la compañía de cada uno.
<a href="/items/browse?advanced%5B0%5D%5Belement_id%5D=39&advanced%5B0%5D%5Btype%5D=is+exactly&advanced%5B0%5D%5Bterms%5D=Rosa+Aviles+%28Interviewee%29">Rosa Aviles (Interviewee)</a>
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Hispanic Heritage "Bring Us Your History!" Project
Buffalo & Erie County Public Library
2012-09-13
<a href="/items/browse?advanced%5B0%5D%5Belement_id%5D=37&advanced%5B0%5D%5Btype%5D=is+exactly&advanced%5B0%5D%5Bterms%5D=Hispanic+Heritage+Council+of+WNY%2C+INC">Hispanic Heritage Council of WNY, INC</a>
Digital collection copyright 2016 by the Buffalo & Erie County Public Library. This collection or portions thereof are not to be used for any commercial purposes without the expressed written permission of the Buffalo & Erie County Public Library. Users of this website are free to utilize material from this collection for non-commercial and educational purposes.
Buffalo & Erie County Public Library Digital Collections
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English
Russi Family
Dennis Gorski (Erie County Executive) and Otilia Russi – At an area Hispanic Festival
Hispanic Heritage "Bring Us Your History!" Project
Buffalo & Erie County Public Library
<a href="/items/browse?advanced%5B0%5D%5Belement_id%5D=37&advanced%5B0%5D%5Btype%5D=is+exactly&advanced%5B0%5D%5Bterms%5D=Hispanic+Heritage+Council+of+WNY%2C+INC">Hispanic Heritage Council of WNY, INC</a>
Digital collection copyright 2016 by the Buffalo & Erie County Public Library. This collection or portions thereof are not to be used for any commercial purposes without the expressed written permission of the Buffalo & Erie County Public Library. Users of this website are free to utilize material from this collection for non-commercial and educational purposes.
Buffalo & Erie County Public Library Digital Collections
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Sanabria Family
Town Casino Main Street (Theatre District) Buffalo, NY. Nicolas, Delores Sanabria, Pete &
Millie Cobo, Josephine Comas Ramos.
Hispanic Heritage "Bring Us Your History!" Project
Buffalo & Erie County Public Library
1946
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Digital collection copyright 2016 by the Buffalo & Erie County Public Library. This collection or portions thereof are not to be used for any commercial purposes without the expressed written permission of the Buffalo & Erie County Public Library. Users of this website are free to utilize material from this collection for non-commercial and educational purposes.
Buffalo & Erie County Public Library Digital Collections
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Sanabria Family
El Buen Gusto Restaurant 381 Michigan St. Buffalo, NY, one of the first Spanish American Restaurants in Buffalo, NY. Pictured: Dolores Sanabria, Josephine Comas, Candida Ramirez, Joaquina Basilly, Francis Ortiz.
Hispanic Heritage "Bring Us Your History!" Project
Buffalo & Erie County Public Library
<a href="/items/browse?advanced%5B0%5D%5Belement_id%5D=37&advanced%5B0%5D%5Btype%5D=is+exactly&advanced%5B0%5D%5Bterms%5D=Hispanic+Heritage+Council+of+WNY%2C+INC">Hispanic Heritage Council of WNY, INC</a>
Digital collection copyright 2016 by the Buffalo & Erie County Public Library. This collection or portions thereof are not to be used for any commercial purposes without the expressed written permission of the Buffalo & Erie County Public Library. Users of this website are free to utilize material from this collection for non-commercial and educational purposes.
Buffalo & Erie County Public Library Digital Collections
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