Resource: NM Farm & Ranch Heritage Museum Oral Histories

Resource: NM Farm & Ranch Heritage Museum Oral Histories

An oral history found in a random Google search turned out to be a gold mine of information. I go through the highlights, including life growing up on a ranch in 1920s Union County, leaving home to go to WWII, and coming out to NM from New York on an orphan train. Places mentioned: Des Moines, Clayton, Grenville, Roy, La Union, Santa Fe, Folsom, Trinchera (CO), Mexhoma (OK) Names mentioned: Lujan, Martinez, Barela Check out the collection of oral histories here [https://nmfarmandranchmuseum.org/research-collections/oral-history-program/]. To see related photos, I also post episodes on the Luminaria YouTube channel. [https://www.youtube.com/@LuminariaPodcast] Email Kat at luminariapod@gmail.com.

Cultural Recovery w/Maria Clorinda Lucero

A younger prima and I chat about the journey to reclaim a connection to our ancestors, including with food and language. Names mentioned: Garcia, Lucero Places mentioned: Chaperito, Anton Chico, Rocky Ford, Maxwell, Sapello The porridge she mentioned was called chaquegue/chaquehue, and it’s prepared a little differently than atole, but both use the blue corn meal. The article she discusses: "The Loss of a Language That I Never Had: A Story About Linguicide" [https://reflectionsnarrativesofprofessionalhelping.org/index.php/Reflections/article/view/910/732] Another article by Jose Cisneros on "Understanding Oppression and Valuing Diversity" [http://www.interpretereducation.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/Understanding-Oppression-adn-valueing-Diversity-copy.compressed.pdf] The book she mentions: Up from Anton Chico: A Memoir of a New Mexico Hispanic Family as Told by One of its Members, José ("Joe") Sánchez, in Collaboration with His Wife, Elizabeth She mentioned the New Mexico Cooking page on Facebook for recipes and tips. Podcast "Stuff You Should Know" episode called The Fencing of the Commons [https://youtu.be/Qt4Pg1s0ajQ?si=jiGJf7sbuq6gT0aM] You can email Kat at luminariapod@gmail.com.

The South Valley w/Blackie Gonzales

In this episode, we go down to the South Valley with Blackie Gonzales, an octogenarian with deep roots there. Places mentioned: Downtown Albuquerque, South Valley, Carnuel The song he dedicates to his wife is "Un Rinconcito en el Cielo" by Ramon Ayala y Sus Bravos del Norte [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8L51Pi3vy2o]. You can reach out to luminariapod@gmail.com.

Migration to Huerfano County w/Jesus Maria Manzanares

A primo and I chat about his family's migration from Costilla to the San Luis Valley to the Upper Huerfano, the founding of the Plaza de los Manzanares, and general Southern Colorado history. Places mentioned: Walsenburg, Trinidad, Cuchara, Garcia, Costilla, Abiquiu, Las Animas, Redwing, Chama, Plaza do los Manzanares, Crestones, Malachite Names mentioned: Manzanares, Deus, Sharp, Bustos, Gallegos An interesting article from History Colorado [https://www.historycolorado.org/story/do-you-know-place/2019/10/15/where-oldest-town-colorado] on which is the oldest settlement in Colorado. If this is the right resource, back issues of Colorado Magazine are available digitally here [https://www.historycolorado.org/back-issues]. Books mentioned: The People of El Valle, Lopez Tushar Los Primeros Pobladores, Leon Swadesh Quintana First Settlers: Las Cuatro Plazas de la Culebra, Maria C. Martinez Email me at luminariapod@gmail.com.

Old Clayton w/Serafina Mares

Serafina was born in 1927 in Barney, NM. I mistakenly thought Barney was a settlement along the Dry Cimarron River, but it's actual 24 miles SW of Clayton. By 1940, the family had moved to Clayton, perhaps for Dust Bowl reasons. Serafina is a sharp nonagenarian who loves to read, and has lived in Clayton most of her life. Names mentioned: Mares, Sanchez Places mentioned: Barney, Clayton, Raton