Blog archive
June 2023
Communications Project with Cal State LA
06/02/2023
Creative Aging
06/01/2023
May 2023
One Villager's Story
05/31/2023
Pasadena Area Literary Arts Center
05/31/2023
Pasadena Village Responds to Rainbow Flag Burning at Pasadena Buddhist Temple
05/31/2023
Plan Ahead - And Be Prepared
05/31/2023
Tuesday, May 23 Pasadena Celebrated Older Americans
05/31/2023
Rumor of Humor #15
05/28/2023
Reparations, Social Justice Activity
05/24/2023
Rumor of Humor #14
05/19/2023
Rumor of Humor #13
05/12/2023
Issue #12
05/09/2023
Science Monday - Review of Meeting on April 10, 2023
05/09/2023
Conversations Re African American Artists Before 1920
05/08/2023
Beyond the Village – Suzi and Phil Hoge
05/01/2023
Congratulations Wayne April! Honored at UNH
05/01/2023
Table Topics
05/01/2023
Volunteer Appreciation at the Village
05/01/2023
“ACCIDENTAL HOST—The Story of Rat Lungworm Disease”
05/01/2023
April 2023
Jumbo Joy
04/24/2023
Pasadenans Recent Experience With Racism
04/23/2023
Recent Events Reflecting Racism
04/23/2023
Fig and Goat Cheese Bruschetta
04/18/2023
Photography for Social Justice
04/11/2023
Issue #8
04/07/2023
BEYOND THE VILLAGE - Catherine Deely
04/06/2023
Creative Writing in Older Adults
04/06/2023
Gifts of Love
04/06/2023
March 2023
Issue #7
03/31/2023
Issue #6
03/26/2023
Great Decisions update
03/14/2023
Dominion Lawsuit, South Africa and 710 Stub
03/08/2023
February 2023
2023 DEI Progress
02/27/2023
BEYOND THE VILLAGE - Doug Colliflower
02/26/2023
CONVERSATIONS WITH ART
02/26/2023
GREAT DECISIONS
02/26/2023
OLDER ADULTS RESOURCE FAIR
02/26/2023
The Important, Influential Books in our Lives - Revisited
02/26/2023
History, Resolution of the 710 Freeway
02/19/2023
Eminent Domain, 710 Highway
02/13/2023
Bernard Garrett, 710 Freeway
02/06/2023
Men's Times Gatherings
02/03/2023
January 2023
Pasadena's Senior Commission
01/30/2023
BEYOND THE VILLAGE - JIM HENDRICK
01/27/2023
GRATITUDE - IT'S GOOD FOR YOU!
01/27/2023
JEFF GUTSTADT - FORENSIC PATHOLOGIST
01/27/2023
Bernard Garrett, Incredible Black Entrepreneur
01/17/2023
What is the "Spirit Talk" Group About?
01/16/2023
Same Ol’ New Year, Brand New Me
01/12/2023
Review of 2022, Consideration of 2023
01/06/2023
BEYOND THE VILLAGE - PATTI LA MARR
01/03/2023
FROM THE CHAIR
01/03/2023
WALK WITH EASE
01/03/2023
Latinos in Pasadena
By Blog MasterPosted: 08/25/2022
Notes Sharon Jarret:
Dick introduced Roberta Martinez, the author of the book "Latinos in Pasadena" (2009). Ms. Martinez is a Pasadena resident, activist, researcher and producer.
Ms. Martinez began by sharing biographical information. She grew up in East Los Angeles, participated in the student walk outs, eventually moving to Pasadena as an adult. She lived in Pasadena fifteen years before she became aware of the history of Latinos in the city. Much of what was known was limited to the local newspapers. As she became more a part of the community she began to learn from the community "elders" history that was not in writing. Using resources at the Huntington Library, Pasadena Museum of History she began to build her knowledge base. Using a series of photographs she shared what she learned and what became her book "Latinos in Pasadena".
Ms. Martinez began with a land acknowledgement...Pasadena is located on the lands of the Tongva people who also used the name Gabrielano.
The San Gabriel Mission
Established in 1771. Was the wealthiest of the missions due to tallow production and olive orchards.
The mission was the early center of life before the downtown plaza of Los Angeles. Dona Eulalia Perez de Guilen de Mari, 1766-1878 was an important figure during the mission period. She was present at Mission San Juan Capistrano in 1812 when an earthquake destroyed the mission and killed her husband.
She migrated to Mission San Gabriel with her son. Over time she became the "holder of the keys" to the mission and provided an early oral history of mission life. She served as a midwife and herbalist of the community.
After the Treaty of Guadalupe, she became the holder of title to what would become Rancho Rincon San Pasqual. This land was transferred eventually to Manual Garfias.
Significant members of the community
Pio Pico. Last Mexican Governor
Arturo Bandini. Establish the tournament which became the prototype for the Rose Parade. In 1903 hired the Greene Brothers to build a house, El Hogar.
Elliott Family. One of the Indiana Colony families. One of their members married into the Bandini Family.
Manual Conteras. Founder of the Mexican American Club of Pasadena
Mauricio Valadez. First Latino member of the Pasadena Fire Department, 1956.
Labor
1910s. Laborers were brought from Mexico. This began the cycle of bringing workers when there was a need and forcing those workers back to Mexico when there was no work. This continued through the 1930s.
Schools and Libraries
From the turn of the century to the 1930s there were 2 schools for Mexican American children, Junipero Serra School and Chihuahita school. Both focused on manual training rather than academics. Serra was closed in 1931 due to under enrollment caused depression era deportations.
Three population centers
Southside
Cypress/Winona in the Northwest
Chihuahita in the eastern part of the city
Cooperative Laundry
Established in the 1930s on what is now Arroyo Parkway. Part of the Social Gospel movement. Provided work to the community.
Our Lady of Guadalupe Church
Raymond and California. Gathering and support structure for the community.
There was a second Catholic Church St John the Baptist which served the Latino community and two Methodist churches in the community.
MEChA -- Movimiento Estudiantil de Chicanos de Aztlan
Founded at Muir High School in 1973. First student organization.
Ms. Martinez then shared a series of photos including:
Liana Yamasaki. First Latina Rose Queen, 1993
Laura Farber. First Latina President of the Tournament of Roses, 2019
Questions and answers followed the presentation. Ms. Martinez concluded by stressing the need for history to be shared within the community "find out about those who were here".
A Bibliography of sources for the presentation will be posted on the group blog.
The participants thanked Ms. Martinez for her thoughtful presentation.
The next meetings will be September 2nd at 10:00 AM PST and September 16th at 12:00 Noon PST.
Brian Biery will continue his exploration on the history of Pasadena at the meeting on the 16th. This presentation is strutured as a question and answer session with a special guests that an provide personal insights regarding Race in Pasadena. Because of this approach, each session is a fresh new insight into the subject. Every session is engagong and informative, because you are hearing te reflections of peoples actual experience.
The video for this presentation can be viewed by clicking on "Latinos in Pasadena."