About the Barrios Oral History Project
In 1992, research at the Tempe Historical Museum focused on the
history of Hispanic families in the Tempe area since 1870, in
preparation for an exhibit, "The Barrios," which opened in
October, 1992. After the first phase of research, it was evident
that documentation on the history of Hispanic people in central
Arizona was virtually non-existent. The compilation of research
materials in this area has continued through the Tempe Oral History
Project. With the cooperation of the Barrios Exhibit Advisory
Committee and Los Amigos de Tempe, the Tempe Historical
Museum maintains an ongoing project to locate and interview members
of Hispanic families from Tempe. In addition, numerous supporting
documents have been collected, including genealogies and
photographs.
The Tempe Barrios Oral History Project is a compilation of a
series of 10 interviews. The reference materials for each oral
history include unedited audio cassette tapes of the interview, a
typed transcript, a brief biography of the narrator, and a summary
of the topics discussed. There are two indexes to this research
collection -- an abridged index of general topics and a more
detailed index which includes most references to specific people,
places, events, and organizations. This research collection as a
whole provides a valuable resource for understanding the
experiences of Hispanic people in central Arizona. It should be of
interest to the serious researcher as well as the general
public.
The transcription and compilation of these oral history
interviews was completed in 1996 with the support of a grant from
the Arizona Humanities
Council.
- Project Director:
Scott Solliday, Curator of History (1991-1999)
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