Upload in Progress - interviews should be uploaded by the end of June 2026
The Chamizal area is a very important part of El Paso’s history. Named after the chamizo plant (the Fourwing Saltbush), which grew abundantly along the Rio Grande, the Chamizal has been home to thousands of people over the past century. In the spring of 2026, a group of UTEP graduate students began interviewing current and past residents of the Chamizal area about their families, education, work, and living in the area. The project came from a conversation between the Chamizal Express Library and the Institute of Oral History at UTEP. We are grateful to the individuals who shared their memories and stories with us.
Submissions from 2026
Interview No. 1815, Michael Davis
Interview No. 1816, Korina Garcia
Interview No. 1817, Adriana Peña
Interview No. 1818, Julianna Esparza
Interview No. 1819, Mark Teran
Interview No. 1820, Alma Chavaria (Alma Najera)
Interview No. 1821, Claudia Beltran
Interview No. 1822, Martha Graciela Orquiz