Interviewer
Myrna Parra-Mantilla
Project
Bracero Oral History
Biographical Synopsis of Interviewee
Elías García Venzor was born in Gran Morelos, Chihuahua, México, in 1925; his parents passed away when he was only seven years old; in 1950, he learned about the Bracero Program; he was married and had children at the time; he worked in the cotton and beet fields of Texas, New Mexico, and Colorado.
Summary of Interview
Upon entering the United States, Mr. García was sent to Rio Vista, a processing center in Socorro, Texas, where he was given a physical exam; those who were sick or physically unable to work were sent back to México; he worked for about ten or eleven years as a bracero; his four brothers were also braceros; his worst experience was when he worked in Pecos, Texas, because he earned very little money for very difficult work there; the living conditions were also difficult because there were between 200-300 braceros per barracks; because they had no showers, they filled steel tanks with water and left them outside to be warmed by the sun; he was unaware of any medical services; his best working experience was in Colorado, where he earned up to $500.00 for forty-five days of work.
Date of Interview
5-9-2003
Length of Interview
41 minutes
Listen to the Interview
Tape Number
No. 972
Transcript Number
No. 972
Length of Transcript
22 pages
Interview Number
No. 972
Terms of Use
Unrestrcited
Recommended Citation
Interview with Elías García Venzor by Myrna Parra-Mantilla, 2003, "Interview no. 972," Institute of Oral History, University of Texas at El Paso.
Comments
Interview in Spanish.