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Blog archive

November 2024

Event of Remembrance
11/22/2024

Phishing Scams: What You Need to Know
11/22/2024

Pupusas Family Style: Another Adventurous Dining Winner
11/22/2024

Celebrating the Holidays
11/21/2024

Genealogy Group: Discovering Our Pasts
11/21/2024

Nathan Wolford – From Tragedy to Ministry
11/21/2024

Pasadena Village Board of Directors: A Brief Overview
11/21/2024

President's Message
11/21/2024

The Day of the Dead (Dia de muertos)/ Mexican Culture/Community
11/21/2024

Vintage Celebration: Aging Like a Fine Wine
11/21/2024

Review of Racism in Our Local Past
11/20/2024

Creative Juices Flow in The Village
11/19/2024

Checking In by Ed Rinderle
11/15/2024

Eagle Poem by Joy Harjo
11/15/2024

I Shall Forget You Presently, My Dear (Sonnet IV) by Edna St. Vincent Millay
11/15/2024

Pictures From Brueghel by William Carlos Williams
11/15/2024

October 2024

ARBORIST WALK: NOT FOR TREE HUGGERS ONLY!
10/29/2024

Bill Wishner: Visual Hunter
10/29/2024

Can a Village Group Fix Our Healthcare System?
10/29/2024

Community Board Directors Strengthen Village Board
10/29/2024

Connecting with Village Connections: The A, B, C, & D’s of Medicare @ 65+
10/29/2024

Grief is a Journey: Two Paths Taken
10/29/2024

Message from the President
10/29/2024

Promoting Informed & Involved Voters
10/29/2024

What Will Be Your Legacy?
10/29/2024

1619, Approaching the Election...
10/27/2024

Beyond and Within the Village - A Star is Born
10/17/2024

Happiness by Priscilla Leonard
10/11/2024

Those Winter Sundays by Robert Hayden
10/11/2024

Unpainted Door by Louise Gluck
10/11/2024

In the Evening by Billy Collins
10/10/2024

Wild Geese by Mary Oliver
10/10/2024

Betty Kilby, A Family History
10/01/2024

Betty Kilby, A Family History
10/01/2024

Betty Kilby, A Family History
10/01/2024

September 2024

August 2024

1619 Wide Ranging Interests
08/19/2024

1619 Wide Ranging Interests
08/19/2024

First Anniversary
08/19/2024

Alexandra Leaving by Leonard Cohen
08/16/2024

Muse des Beaux Arts by W. H. Auden
08/16/2024

The God Abandons Antony by Constantinos P. Cavafy
08/16/2024

Ch – Ch – Ch –Changes
08/15/2024

Cultural Activities Team offers an ‘embarrassment of riches’
08/15/2024

Engaging in Pasadena Village
08/15/2024

Future Housing Options
08/15/2024

Message from the President
08/15/2024

There Are Authors Among Us
08/15/2024

Villagers Welcome New Members at the Tournament Park Picnic
08/15/2024

Do Not Go Gentle Into That Good Night by Dylan Thomas
08/14/2024

A narrow Fellow in the Grass by Emily Dickinson
08/13/2024

Haikus
08/13/2024

One Art by Elizabeth Bishop
08/13/2024

Poem 20 by Pablo Neruda
08/13/2024

Still I Rise by Maya Angelou
08/13/2024

Trees by Joyce Kilmer
08/13/2024

July 2024

June 2024

May 2024

Emergency Preparedness: Are You Ready?
05/28/2024

Farewell from the 2023/24 Social Work Interns
05/28/2024

Gina on the Horizon
05/28/2024

Mark Your Calendars for the Healthy Aging Research California Virtual Summit
05/28/2024

Meet Our New Development Associate
05/28/2024

Putting the Strategic Plan into Practice
05/28/2024

Washington Park: Pasadena’s Rediscovered Gem
05/28/2024

Introducing Civil Rights Discussions
05/22/2024

Rumor of Humor #2416
05/14/2024

Rumor of Humor #2417
05/14/2024

Rumor of Humor #2417
05/14/2024

Rumor of Humor #2418
05/14/2024

Springtime Visitors
05/07/2024

Freezing for a Good Cause – Credit, That Is
05/02/2024

No Discussion Meeting on May 3rd
05/02/2024

An Apparently Normal Person Author Presentation and Book-signing
05/01/2024

Flintridge Center: Pasadena Village’s Neighbor That Changes Lives
05/01/2024

Pasadena Celebrates Older Americans Month 2024
05/01/2024

The 2024 Pasadena Village Volunteer Appreciation Lunch
05/01/2024

Woman of the Year: Katy Townsend
05/01/2024

April 2024

March 2024

February 2024

January 2024

Latinos in Pasadena

By Blog Master
Posted: 08/25/2022
Tags:

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."

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