Part 2 of an audio recording of an oral history of Dr. Toshio Inahara, speaking about his experience as a Japanese American in Washington County, Oregon. Topics in this section include: birth in 1921 in Tacoma, WA; moving to Hillside near Forest Grove, OR in 1931; his father learning to farm and raising strawberries; education in a one-room schoolhouse; playing baseball; going to the Japanese School in Banks on Sundays; driving a truck beginning at age 10; moving to other farm properties near Hillsboro and Helvetia; building a house near Hillsboro in 1941; hearing about Pearl Harbor and facing discrimination and restrictions; getting a special permit for his family to spend the war farming in Eastern Oregon, avoiding detention at Minidoka internment camp; moving to Vale, Oregon; renting a former chicken hatchery as a house; losing most of their land in Washington County; leasing their house to a white family during the war; going to college to become a doctor; the postwar Japanese community; and other topics. There is a transcript of this interview.
An audio recording of a group oral history interview on the Japanese Community in Washington County at a Nikkei event at the Washington County Museum. There is a transcript of this interview.
Sister Ina Marie Nosack was born in 1926 in Gervais, Oregon. She spent her senior year of high school at Saint Mary of the Valley (now Valley Catholic) and after high school entered the convent at Sisters of Saint Mary. While working as a teacher, Sister Ina earned a bachelor’s degree and master’s degree in education. She spent several months in Mexico learning Spanish, then worked in the Amazon region of Peru as the principal of a school from 1966 – 1973. After returning from Peru, Sister Ina resumed work as an educator, but after some years made a conscious decision to work with the Hispanic community and became the director of religious education at the Saint Alexander parish in Cornelius. St. Alexander was the first church in the area to offer mass in both Spanish and English.
Sister Ina Marie details the ways she sought to assist families and individuals in and beyond her formal duties at Saint Alexander parish. Sister Ina recounts the pain of seeing migrant families struggle to survive or support loved ones, but also the joy of seeing migrant workers and their children build successful lives for themselves in Oregon. She recounts tension between different groups, but also how individuals from different backgrounds came together to provide aid and form bonds with newer arrivals. There is a transcript of this interview.
An audio recording of an oral history of Salvador Rodriguez Marquez, who was a Bracero in California and Texas. He is primarily interviewed over the phone by his son, Jaime Rodriguez. The interview begins with Salvador recounting when he first heard of the Bracero program and other reactions he observed in Mexico. He details the process of being contracted, the emotions he felt being in a new and unknown country, and the journey that he and other Bracero had to go through to get to the contract sites. He talks about arriving to Los Angeles and his experiences with language barriers when purchasing food, and remembers the treatment they received from their bosses at the time. He gives more details of what the contracts would entail in minute 18:00 and recounts how braceros were processed in Calexico before coming to the US, which included being checked for lice and being hosed down with dust. At minute 22:50 he remembers what people would do for the weekends and at minute 25:00, Ilene O'Malley asks him some questions about the 'barajas' where he and and other braceros prepared food. He mentions an immigration checkpoint in San Clemente and remembers the environment of the small Mexican-American towns that their bosses would take them to. At minute 30:00 he compares his working experience between Texas and Los Angeles and at minute 31:15, Beth Dehn inquires about Salvador's reasoning at the time for not applying for permanent legal status in the US. In minute 38:00, he recounts a story where he was robbed and nearly murdered by some 'Chicanos,' how he managed to escape, and the brief aftermath of that incident. At about minute 45:45 he starts talking fatal car accidents that he witnessed in the US, and recounts the time he went to a morgue that mainly served Mexicans and saw their bodies being hung en masse from the heel like pigs. From 49:00-51:15 the interviewers and Salvador are wrapping up and saying their goodbyes. After the phone call is over, the interviewers touch base amongst themselves and clarify a view of the stories they heard, including the car accidents/treatment of the deceased Mexican bodies. Jaime also recounts further details of this topic that he father hadn't mentioned in the phone call. They also clarify the story of when he father was almost killed, how he escaped, and the aftermath. At minute 59:30 the interview detract from the topic and the interviewers say their goodbyes, mentioning they would like to speak with Jaime's father again in the future. //// Una grabación de audio la historia oral de Salvador Rodríguez Márquez, que fue un Bracero en California y Texas. Es entrevistado principalmente por su hijo, Jaime Rodríguez via telefono. La entrevista comienza con Salvador relatando cuando escuchó por primera vez sobre el programa Bracero y la reacciones de otros que observó en México. Detalla el proceso de ser contratado, las emociones que sentía en un país nuevo y desconocido, y el viaje que él y otro Bracero tuvieron que pasar para llegar a los sitios de contratación. Habla de llegar a Los Ángeles y de sus experiencias con su barreras de lenguaje al comprar comida, y recuerda el tratamiento que recibieron de sus jefes durante ese tiempo. Da más detalles de lo que los contratos en minuto 18:00 y relata cómo los braceros fueron procesados en Calexico antes de venir a los EEUU, que incluyó ser comprobado para los piojos y ser bañados con mangeras llenas de polvo. Al minuto 22:50, recuerda lo que la gente hacia durante los fines de semana ya las 25:00, O'Malley le hace algunas preguntas sobre las 'barajas' donde él y otros braceros preparaban comida. Menciona un puesto de redada de inmigración en San Clemente y recuerda el ambiente de los pequeños pueblos mexicano-americanos a donde sus jefes les llevaban. Al minuto 30:00 compara su experiencia de trabajo entre Texas y Los Ángeles y al minuto 31:15, Beth Dehn pregunta sobre la razones de Salvador por no solicitar un estatus legal permanente en los Estados Unidos durante ese tiempo. En el minuto 38:00, él relata una historia en la que fue robado y casi asesinado por unos 'Chicanos', cómo logró escapar, y lo que ocurrio despues del incidente. Alrededor del minuto 45:45 comienza a hablar de accidentes mortales de automóvil que miro en los Estados Unidos, y cuenta de un tiempo en que fue a una morgue que servía principalmente a mexicanos y miro sus cuerpos colgando en masa del talón como cerdos. A partir de las 49:00 - 51:15 los entrevistadores y Salvador se despiden. Después de concluir la llamada telefonica, los entrevistadores hablan entre sí y aclaran alguans de las historias que oyeron, incluyendo los accidentes de tráfico / el tratamiento de los cuerpos mexicanos fallecidos. Jaime también cuenta otros detalles sobre este tema que su padre no había mencionado en la llamada telefónica. También aclaran la historia de cuando Salvador casi fue asesinado, cómo se escapo, y lo que paso despues. A las 59:30 la entrevista desvirtúa el tema y los entrevistadores se despiden, mencionando que les gustaría volver a hablar con el padre de Jaime en el futuro.
An audio recording of an oral history of Jose Jaime regarding Latino migrant laborers and the Bracero program in the 1940s-1960s. Topics include: his oldest brother's work as a bracero in California beginning in the late 1940s; another brother's work as a bracero in Arizona; hearing about work in America while living in Mexico; reasons for leaving Mexico; meaning of the word 'bracero'; Jose's arrival in Washington County, Oregon in 1965; migrant laborers being hired by Tektronix; several churches subsidizing 12 families so that they could settle permanently in the county; abuses of migrant laborers; how the Hispanic community enriches the county. This recording is accompanied by a transcript.
An audio recording of an oral history with Theresa Clark regarding Latino migrant laborers and the Bracero program in California and Oregon. Topics include: working as a payroll clerk for braceros in California beginning in 1956; her family's Mexican background; pay and conditions in migrant camps in California; laborers sending most of their pay back to their families; racist incidents later in life while working for Kaiser in Oregon; hard work done by the braceros; what clothes they wore; moving to Oregon in 1966; racist attitudes in Washington County, Oregon; and other topics. There is a transcript of this interview.
An audio recording of an oral history of Robert A. (Bob) Clarke, Pacific University Alumnus, on Cherry Grove, Oregon. There is a transcript of this interview.
An audio recording of an oral history of Detective Troy Dolyniuk on trends in crime and law enforcement in Hillsboro, Oregon from 1980-2005. There is a transcript of this interview. Detective Dolyniuk has worked with both Washington County Sheriff’s Office and Beaverton's. He joined Hillsboro's law enforcement team in 1993. Recently there has been an increase in Internet based crimes and methamphetamine problems. Computer fraud is being investigated by local police. However the issue of hacking into computer systems is handled at the federal level. Within the community, WinCo food store has had a large problem with fraudulent checks. Also as a result of the technological evolution, the rise in E-mail and IRC used in high tech child abuse has become a rising issue. Gangs are now utilizing the internet to commit fraud as well as purchase and sell drugs online. Cases can be difficult to investigate and prosecute as they sometimes cross state lines or happen outside of the U.S. Criminals have also been using computers to print counterfeit money; these bills often pass in garage sales and farmer’s markets where no one checks authenticity of bills. During 1998-2000 Dolyniuk worked the gang unit, MS 13 or Mara Salvatucha Trece is a paramilitary gang from El Salvador, based in Southern California but spreading throughout the United States. Brown Pride Locos is an up and coming small gang. Dolyniuk explains a horrible incident years back when the Brown Pride Locos shot a 12 year old girl on Main St. in Hillsboro. He goes on to discuss the recent spike in gang activity among younger kids – middle school and high school. He also touches on the 90’s methamphetamine made from pseudoephedrine and other household chemicals, and how it slowly became more widespread. Restrictive laws on pseudoephedrine in place around 2000.
An audio recording of an oral history of Betsy Biller, Assistant Superintendent of Hillsboro School District, on trends in crime and law enforcement in Hillsboro, Oregon from 1980-2005. There is a transcript of this interview. Ms. Biller has worked in Hillsboro for 29 years, part of her job involves interfacing with agencies that deal with criminal rehabilitation, juvenile crimes, and juvenile crime prevention. She also supplies a staff member to Parkins House, a residential center for students/youths waiting to go through the court system. One of her bigger concerns recently has been the rise in methamphetamines, identity theft and the violence that somes with them. Law enforcement provides resource officers to the schools, Pat Hess at Century H.S. Puts students and police together in positive situation. The cost of incarceration is very expensive; budget cuts cause problems. Biller discusses Measure 11 and it has made the system more punitive and less rehabilitative. The “Understanding Racism Foundation” has given training sessions to staff and students at Century High School. Since 1995 the government has doing more economically to help all citizens in the community. Biller also expresses her feelings regarding the way in which media can often be manipulative when dealing with juvenile crime. Ms. Biller believes that parents need to get more involved with their children; talking to and supervising them., this can help to combat future problems. Recent student surveys show slight increase in drug use but bigger increase of use in younger students. The D.A.R.E program has proven helpful.
An audio recording of an oral history of Janae Davis on trends in crime and law enforcement in Hillsboro, Oregon from 1980-2005. Audio quality not good. There is a transcript of this interview.
An audio recording of a talk by Mrs. Wayne Gurley on Washington County donation land claim owners. Sponsored by the David Hill Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution.
An audio recording of a talk by May Ringle Lepschat and Ethyl Johnson on the early churches of the valley. Sponsored by the David Hill Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution and originally created for radio broadcast.
An audio recording of a talk by May Ringle Lepschat on the early settlements of Washington County. The talk was sponsored by the David Hill Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution. The program was originally presented over radio KOAC in Corvallis, March 5, 1956. This recording includes a transcript.
