McLean County Museum of History, Bloomington, Illinois - Latino History Project Panel Discussion, November 3, 2012

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Panel Discussion - Agenda

- The History of Latinos in McLean County - 1880 to the present

- La historia de los latinos en el condado de McLean desde el 1880 hasta el presente

Saturday, November 3, 2012 at 1:00 p.m. in the Governor Fifer Courtroom

Bloomington, IL

I. Welcome and Introduction of Moderator - Greg Koos, Executive Director, McLean County History Museum

II. Moderator - Ingrid Ramirez

a. Brief comments

b. Read Artists Statement (Rebecca Hawkins-Valadez)

c. Recognition of corporate support from Country Financial & support from Illinois State Universitys Latin American and Latino Studies

Program directed by Dr. Maura Toro-Morn

d. Introduction of Panelists

III. Panel Discussion

a. Paul Segobiano, McLean County Board Member - A descendant of the "early" Mexican arrivals in the County, Paul will share his

thoughts on growing up in Bloomington.

b. Sal Valadez, MA - Will provide a summary of research and oral histories related to the project (PowerPoint Presentation)

c. Mark Wyman, PhD - Professor Emeritus, History, Illinois State UniversityMaura will discuss the early history and background of

Mexican migration into the US, the early beginnings in railroad work, then in agriculture and mining and thoughts about how Mexicans

reached Illinois.

d. Maura Toro-Morn, PhD - Director Latino Studies Program, Illinois State University -Maura will discuss ISU Latino Studies Programs

present and future involvement in the project. She will also share her perspectives on what it means to be Hispanic/Latino.

IV. Question & Answer Session

V. La Despedida/Closing Comments - Greg Koos - Thank you for attending, please take the opportunity to visit the Fiesta! Exhibit on the

third floor.


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Artists Statement

This painting entitled was commissioned by

my husband Sal Valadez to represent the project and discussion. Sal told me of images he had in mind, what

he envisioned the piece to portray and then trusted I would use my talents as a painter and my experience as a

member of my Mexican family to tell a story through art.

I took the information Sal offered into consideration as well as memories of his father and mother telling their

story of how they came to the United States, and the many stories I have heard from others who came here

for a better life.

The sky, with the sun setting and twilight approaching is representative of dreams; dreams of better things to

come, dreams that family will be reunited. The train -Alton Railroads Abraham Lincoln (circa 1930s) -represents those that worked for the railroads.

The corn is a familiar and important image of both McLean County and Mexico. The man, a worker, is seen

with a photo of family in his pocket, family he hopes can join him soon.

I wanted to show only half of his face, but I could not articulate why. Dr. Maura Toro-Morn did that for me

when she first viewed the work. It is allegorical, many who came here, left part of themselves and their livesbehind. Maura, gave me the words for what I as an artist tried to project, but did not have the personal

experience to say.

It was an extreme honor to be asked to do the piece for my husband and for the McLean County History

Museums Latino History Project to use the image.


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Project Overview The Story of A Journey

Who is the Latino community?

Why did they come to McLean County?

When did they get here?

Where did they work?

How did they live?

What did they contribute?

I. Research of the Historical Record (census and immigration records,

newspaper articles, photographs, birth, marriage, and death records,

military service records, employment records)

II. Oral Histories

III. The telling of the story (research papers, publications)

IV. Additional research


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The first arrivals were of Spanish and Portuguese descent.

The earliest record is an entry in the 1880 U.S, Census.

The record tells stories of hardship, struggles and sometimes,

of untimely death. It is a story of hope and dreams.

And for many, it is a story of becoming American.


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CARLI: Consortium of Academic and Research Libraries in Illinois http://www.archive.org/details/souvenirofbloomi1912comm
http://www.archive.org/details/souvenirofbloomi1912commhttp://www.archive.org/details/souvenirofbloomi1912comm


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Poster image (left) Courtesy of http://hobnobblog.com/ Soldaderas Photo (Right) Courtesy of www.latinamericanstudies.org
http://hobnobblog.com/http://www.latinamericanstudies.org/http://www.latinamericanstudies.org/http://hobnobblog.com/


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www.latinamericanstudies.org
http://www.latinamericanstudies.org/http://www.latinamericanstudies.org/


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WW II & The Bracero Program 1942 1964www.examiner.com

Right photo courtesy ofwww.santafenewmexican.com
http://www.examiner.com/http://images.search.yahoo.com/r/_ylt=A0PDoVxDIKpQ5QMAtzqjzbkF;_ylu=X3oDMTBtdXBkbHJyBHNlYwNmcC1hdHRyaWIEc2xrA3J1cmw-/SIG=13cup8s9b/EXP=1353355459/**http:/www.santafenewmexican.com/Local%20News/Recording-a-history-of-backbreaking-workhttp://images.search.yahoo.com/r/_ylt=A0PDoVxDIKpQ5QMAtzqjzbkF;_ylu=X3oDMTBtdXBkbHJyBHNlYwNmcC1hdHRyaWIEc2xrA3J1cmw-/SIG=13cup8s9b/EXP=1353355459/**http:/www.santafenewmexican.com/Local%20News/Recording-a-history-of-backbreaking-workhttp://www.examiner.com/


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Published: November 27, 1907

Copyright The New York Times

Shonts May Head the Alton

FELTON GOES TO MEXICO

United Mine Workers

JournalJuly 11, 1918


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Finding:

A preliminary survey of original U.S. Census forms

from 1880-1940 indicates that there were Latinos

(primarily people of Mexican origin) living in

Bloomington, Normal, Towanda, Bellflower, andChenoa.


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1880 U.S. Census Bloomington, IL

Anthony & Catherine Frances

Born in Spain & IrelandSource: Ancestry.com


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The mystery of the boxcar community on the Alton Railroad right of way (see

reference to the boxcars at the lower left margin).Source: Ancestry.com


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Source: Ancestry.com


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Lorenzo Garcia (WW II & Korea) - Chenoa IL

Paul Segobiano (Korea) Bloomington, IL

(more Latinos have served, additional research

is needed)


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Arthur & MattieVasconcellos arrived in B/N around 1912.

Son Arthur (shorter of the two men pictured below) and his wife Antionette were the Flying Concellos. Family is of

Portuguese descent.Circus poster (left ) Courtesy ofwww.mearsonlineauctions.com. Photo (right) Courtesy of the Circus Historical Society www.circushistory.org
http://www.mearsonlineauctions.com/http://images.search.yahoo.com/r/_ylt=A0PDoQ7RHqpQL2EA5tajzbkF;_ylu=X3oDMTBtdXBkbHJyBHNlYwNmcC1hdHRyaWIEc2xrA3J1cmw-/SIG=1298t5vp3/EXP=1353355089/**http:/www.circushistory.org/Bandwagon/bw-1964Mar.htmhttp://images.search.yahoo.com/r/_ylt=A0PDoQ7RHqpQL2EA5tajzbkF;_ylu=X3oDMTBtdXBkbHJyBHNlYwNmcC1hdHRyaWIEc2xrA3J1cmw-/SIG=1298t5vp3/EXP=1353355089/**http:/www.circushistory.org/Bandwagon/bw-1964Mar.htmhttp://www.mearsonlineauctions.com/


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Source: Pantagraph Newspaper

CHENOA Lorenzo Garcia, 86, of

Chenoa passed away at 10:16 p.m.Saturday (March 26, 2011)

Lorenzo was born Aug. 10, 1924, inChenoa, the son of Agapito andFelicia (Flores) Garcia. He marriedPrecentacion Ramirez on Dec. 5,1953, in San Carlos, Mexico.

Lorenzo served our country in theU.S. Army during World War IIand the Korean War. He wasemployed for more than 45 years byGM&O Railroad and later IllinoisCentral Railroad, retiring in 1986.

Presentacion Ramirez Garcia, 83 of

Chenoa, passed away at 10:00 pm,Wednesday, June 20, 2012 at herresidence in Chenoa.

Presentacion was born November21, 1928 in Crowell, TX thedaughter of Tiburcio and MariaRamos Ramirez. She married

Lorenzo Garcia on December 5,1953 in San Carlos, Mexico. Hepassed away March 26, 2011.

Survivors include one son; ErnestGarcia and two grandchildren, AnneMarie and Paul Lorenzo Garcia allof Fairbury; three sisters, FranciscaBorrego of Plainview, TX; GilbertaMartinez of Bloomington; andTeresa (Domingo) Carranza ofChenoa and many loving nieces andnephews.


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Arrived in El Paso, on foot in 1910U.S. Certificate of ArrivalPedro travelled a total of 2,000 miles from Moroleon, Guanajuato, Mexico to McLean County


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Bloomington Railroad Days, July 15, 1936(Courtesy of the McLean County Museum of History)


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Hardships

Hard work and faith

Latino heritage and proud Americans

Family, friends, church and communityCelebration of life events

Education

Humor & Optimism

The telling of Latino stories has just begun.


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Documents

McLean County Museum of History, Bloomington, Illinois - Latino History Project Panel Discussion, November 3, 2012