Spanish-speaking peoples in Utah oral histories

Collection

Identifier: MS 0096

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

In 1970, a small grant from the Institutional Council of the University of Utah to the American West Center provided the initial funding for an oral history project aimed at a number of Utah’s ethnic populations. Research was undertaken on the role of the Spanish-speaking, Black, Asian, American Indian, Southern European, and Jewish communities in Utah’s history. A grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities in 1972, specifically emphasizing the Spanish-speaking community, further supported the project. The oral history collection consists of 166 interviews conducted in the early 1970s. The interview subjects lived in Utah, Idaho, Wyoming, and the San Luis Valley of Colorado. The material deals with such topics as cultural norms and traditions, relations with the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, union activities, employment opportunities, discrimination, the Depression years of the 1930s, the experiences of migrant farm workers, and various other issues relevant to the lives of the Hispanic community.

Dates

1972-1975

Creator

University of Utah. American West Center (Organization)

Conditions Governing Access

Twenty-four hour advanced notice encouraged. Materials must be used on-site. Access to parts of this collection may be restricted under provisions of state or federal law.

Conditions Governing Use

The library does not claim to control copyright for all materials in the collection. An individual depicted in a reproduction has privacy rights as outlined in Title 45 CFR, part 46 (Protection of Human Subjects). For further information, please review the J. Willard Marriott Library’s Use Agreement and Reproduction Request forms.

Extent

6.25 Linear Feet

Language of Materials

English

Spanish; Castilian

Additional Description

Abstract

This oral history collection consists of 166 interviews conducted in the early 1970s. The interview subjects lived in Utah, Idaho, Wyoming, and the San Luis Valley of Colorado. The material deals with such topics as cultural norms and traditions, relations with the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, union activities, employment opportunities, discrimination, the Depression years of the 1930s, the experiences of migrant farm workers, and various other issues relevant to the lives of the Hispanic community.

Arrangement

Most of the interview transcripts were obtained in the mid-1970s. At that time they were organized according to interview number and bound in 15 volumes. (Not all interviews were transcribed and permission forms obtained from the interviewee; therefore, there are gaps in the numerical sequence of these volumes.) These transcripts are located in boxes one through five. Another batch of transcripts of the original set of interviews conducted in the early 1970s were received in 1996. These transcripts, found in box six, have been individually bound and are organized alphabetically. Box seven contains materials on the history of Spanish-speaking peoples which were produced by the American West Center.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Transferred from the American West Center in the 1970s.

Processing Information

Processed by Karen Carver and the staff of the Manuscripts Division in 1970s and 2010.

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