Sommerville, Barbara 1970, 1976

Tape 1: Barbara Sommerville, director of the Guadalupe Center, describes their operations in the aftermath of the Lubbock tornado of May 11, 1970. Tape 2: She discusses the Guadalupe Community Center, its goals, problems and activities, along with Mexican-American lifestyles in Lubbock.

General Interview Information

Interviewee Name: Barbara Sommerville

Additional Parties Recorded: None

Date: August 19, 1970; October 21, 1976

Location: Lubbock, Texas

Interviewer: Harry Krenek and David G. Zepeda

Length: 1 hour 5 minutes

Abstract

Tape 1, Side 1: May 11, 1970, Activities, Guadalupe Neighborhood, Damages, Police protection, Catholic Church, Communication problems, Donations, Red Cross, Salvation Army, Mennonites, Homes destroyed, Transportation, Insurance fraud, Legal problems, Cars destroyed, Rebuilding, Urban renewal, Housing, Streets and sidewalks, Zoning, KFLB Radio, Residents’ attitudes, Relocation loans.

Tape 1, Side 2: Blank

Tape 2, Side 1: Guadalupe Community Center, Director, Problems with culture in job, Needs for project, Goals for community center, Description of neighborhood, Migrant workers, Differences in nations and citizens, Center as referral agency, Organization of neighborhood council, Discussion of problems, Effects of Lubbock tornado (May 11, 1970), Center’s handling of problems, Loan programs, Injustices toward Mexican-Americans, Changing role of women, Mexican culture, Voter registration, Anglo attitude toward Mexican-Americans (1962), Tornado aftermath, Changing cultural patterns.

Tape 2, Side 2: Changing cultural patterns (continued), Language, Overcrowding, Family roles, Generation gap, Mexican independence activities, Dancers, Fiestas, Future of Guadalupe Community, Problems in neighborhood, Significance of tornado.

Range Dates: 1962-1976

Bulk Dates: 1970-1976

Access Information

Original Recording Format:

Recording Format Notes:

Transcript:

---

Thank you for your interest in this oral history interview. Our oral history collection is available to patrons in the Southwest Collection's Reading Room, located on the campus of Texas Tech University. For reading room hours, visit our website. Please contact Reference Staff at least one week prior to your visit to ensure the oral history you are interested in will be available. Due to copyright issues, duplications of our oral histories can only be made for family members. If an oral history transcript has been made available online, the link will be provided on this page. More information on accessing our oral histories is located here. Preferred citation style can be found here.