Oral History Collaborations

The Regional History Project has been documenting the history of the Central Coast of California and the institutional history of UC Santa Cruz since 1963, through oral history, a method of conducting historical research through recorded interviews between a narrator with personal experience of historically significant events and a well-informed interviewer, with the goal of adding to the historical record.

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Paul Phillip DeOcampo interviewed by Dr. Kathleen "Kat" Cruz Gutierrez

(2024)

In the first part of this three part interview, Paul Phillip DeOcampo speaks with Dr. Kathleen "Kat" Cruz Gutierrez, a member of the Watsonville is in the Heart project team. DeOcampo briefly discusses his father and mother's migration history and their relationship. He briefly recounts a trip he took back to the Philippines at the age of eleven. Lastly, he details his experiences growing up in the small town of Aromas, California, and the racial demographic of his school.

3 supplemental audio files

Veronica Hernandez interviewed by Dioscoro "Roy" Respino Recio Jr. and Amanda Gamban

(2024)

In this interview, originally recorded via Zoom, Veronica Hernandez speaks with Dioscoro "Roy" Respino Recio, Jr. and Amanda Gamban who are members of the Watsonville is in the Heart project team. Hernandez gives a broad overview of her family's immigration history and experience living in the Pajaro Valley as agricultural workers. She discusses her father's immigration from the Philippines to the United States in 1928 and her mother's experience moving from Texas to California. Hernandez details memories of working in agricultural fields with her parents. She also discusses her experience growing up as mixed-race and her encounters with racism. Lastly, she discusses how working in the fields inspired her to pursue a career as an ESL teacher and her employment after leaving the fields in her 20s.

1 supplemental video

Eva Alminiana Monroe interviewed by Christina Ayson Plank

(2021)

In this interview conducted in person, Eva Alminiana Monroe speaks with Christina Ayson Plank, a member of the Watsonville is in the Heart project team. Monroe discusses her father's immigration story and the establishment of his barbershop in Watsonville called The Universal Barbershop. She also discusses her father's enlistment in the First Filipino Infantry Regiment and her mother's work as a nurse during World War II in the Philippines where they met. Monroe recalls memories of growing up in Watsonville and the events that her mother organized in association with the Filipino Women's Club. She also discusses her uncle's work in the agricultural fields, experiences with racism, and memories of other manongs in the community.

2 supplemental ZIPs