Mexican-American Oral History Project: Interview with Carlos and Marcelina R. Urvina

Titles: Mexican-American Oral History Project: Interview with Carlos and Marcelina R. Urvina (Supplied title)

Description: BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION: Carlos Urvina was born Nov. 11, 1922, in Piedad, Michoacán, Mexico, and came to the United States under a contract to lay railroad tracks when he was eighteen years old. He also worked for a streetcar company. At the time of the interview he worked for the Mason Booth Company. Marcelina Urvina was born Feb. 1, 1918, in Dallas, Texas. Although she was a U.S. citizen, her family had difficulties working in the fields. At age twelve she came to Minnesota with her mother and worked the beet fields near St. Clair, Minn., and at the Green Giant Company in Le Sueur, Minn., until she was sixteen. She is now working for Harrison Elementary School as a nurse's aide. SUBJECTS DISCUSSED: Carlos Urvina describes coming to the United States; working for the railroad and as an iron and metal worker; and the beauty of knowing two languages. Marcelina Urvina describes coming to Minnesota; troubles her mother had as a result of not speaking English; working in beet fields; bringing up their children; the importance of a good education; and Mexican customs in the home. Both emphasize the value of education and bilingualism. COMMENTS ON INTERVIEW: In Spanish, transcribed into English.

Dates

• 07/08/1975 (Creation)

Creation

• interviewee: Urvina, Carlos
• interviewee: Urvina, Mrs. Marcelina R.
• interviewer: Barela, Victor
• interviewer: Moosbrugger, Grant

Identifiers

• Library Call Number: OH 49
• Accession Number: AV1996.92.67

Holding Type: Oral History - Interview

Project

• Oral History - Project, MHS Collection, project: 'Mexican-American Oral History Project' <OH 49>

Quantity: 2 hours sound cassette 24 pages transcript

Format

• Content Category: sound recordings
• Content Category: text

Measurements

• 01:11:57 running time

Subjects

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