Finding Aid for the Elaine K. Miller Oral History Collection 1966 - 1972
In addition to this project Ms. Miller has produced a number of illustrated presentations on the Chicano murals in the area, based, among them are: Charles Felix (Estrada Courts project in Los Angeles), Judith Baca (The Great Wall in Burbank), and Manuel Unzueta (the Quarantina Street Mural in Santa Barbara).
**Please note that accents have been eliminated inorder to accomodate and facilitate the use of all types of web browsers.
Researchers who would like to indicate errors of fact or omissions in this finding aid can contact the research center at www.chicano.ucla.edu
For the past 30 years she has taught at various colleges, most recently at the State University of New York, College at Brockport , where she was Dean of the Alternate College, Director of Women's Studies, Chair of the Department of Foreign Languages and Literatures, and directed a Peace Corps/College Degree Program that trained math and science majors for service in Latin America and Francophone Africa.
Ms. Miller retired in 2004, and continues to do presentations and workshops and produce videos on editorial cartooning, through e k miller Productions (www.ekmillerproductions.com). Her first video, "Running Mate: Gender and Politics in the Editorial Cartoons" (1993) is based on portrayals of Geraldine Ferraro from the 1984 Vice Presidential campaign. Her second video is titled "Drawing Conclusions: Editorial Cartoonists Consider Hilary Rodham Clinton" (1998). Both are in distribution with First Run Icarus Films. Her most recent video production is "Trailblazer: The Editorial Cartoons of Etta Hulme" (2004), is on Ms. Hulme who is the editorial cartoonist for the Ft. Worth Star-Telegram, one of the very few women in the field.
In addition to this project Ms. Miller has produced a number of illustrated presentations on the Chicano murals in the area, based, among them are: Charles Felix (Estrada Courts project in Los Angeles), Judith Baca (The Great Wall in Burbank), and Manuel Unzueta (the Quarantina Street Mural in Santa Barbara).
**Please note that accents have been eliminated inorder to accomodate and facilitate the use of all types of web browsers.
Researchers who would like to indicate errors of fact or omissions in this finding aid can contact the archivist at archivist@chicano.ucla.edu
This collection consists of sixteen volumes of audio tapes and their transcriptions. The collection was originally recorded on open reel audio tape. The collection has been updated with casette transfers of the original tapes.
Elaine K. Miller Oral History Collection March / May 1966
Scope and Content Note
Hugo Massa, Rafael Gudino, and Lorenza Rodriguez.
Includes 18p. t.ms. transcript
original 1/4 inch open reel tapes
And audio cassette transfers.
Note
The three interviewees give short narratives
of various Mayan figures and culture.
Some of the narratives include La Xtabay
who seduces men who are out
during late hours. When they approach her she
becomes a venomous serpent.
Chilam Bilam is a Mayan priest that foresaw
the conquest of the Americas. Tutul Xiu
walked out towards the ocean and turned
himself into a ball of fire and rose
upwards to the heavens during the Spanish
conquest. The Midget of Uxmal is about a
midget who lives with his mother, the witch
(hechicera). Includes various other narratives
of Mayan figures and culture.
Elaine K. Miller Oral History Collection May / December 1966
Scope and Content Note
Josefina Marquez and Candelario Gallardo.
Includes 21p. t.ms. transcript
original 1/4 inch open reel tapes
And audio cassette transfers.
Note
Josefina Marquez recounts narratives of miracles
she has experienced. These include
la Virgen de San Juan, who cured her cancer.
Another miracle narrative is of the
Santo Nino de Plateros, who restored her vision.
After a discussion about faith and miracles
the discussion turns towards the appearance
of the Virgin Mary in various places.
Afterwards, Josefina Marquez talks about
la Llorona [the weeping woman],
duendes [goblins], and other figures.
Candelario Gallardo recounts a narrative
of a widowed man and his daughter.
A woman appears to the man and pleads
with him to take her to his daughter so she
can be the daughter's guardian/step-mother.
The woman/step-mother gives the daughter
impossible tasks and, when the tasks are
not done well, beats her. The narrative
includes a magical bird that
aids the daughter in her tasks. Finally,
the daughter runs away and encounters
a lost boy named Antonio Malverde.
Elaine K. Miller Oral History Collection May 1966
Scope and Content Note
Isaura Benicia, Amalia Hernandez,
Elisa Contreras, Lola Cruz, and Luis Cruz.
Includes 37p. t.ms. transcript
original 1/4 inch open reel tapes
And audio cassette transfers.
Note
Isaura Benicia tells stories about appeals
for help to the santo Nino de Atocha and
la Virgen de Talpa. The last two narratives
involve the devil in San Jose and also
his appearance in the form of a dog.
Amalia Hernandez recounts narratives of
buried treasures guarded by animas [souls]
and other ghosts. Elisa Contreras recounts
the story of a treasure in a cave called
la cueva de la fabrica, which belonged to thieves
during the Mexican revolution.
Lola Cruz recounts narratives of animas [souls]
taking her cousin away and another version of la Llorona [the weeping woman]
Throughout these two tapes there are
various narratives of animas [souls] that
make appearances and frighten people.
Elaine K. Miller Oral History Collection May 1966
Scope and Content Note
Alicia Salinas.
Includes 38p. t.ms. transcript
original 1/4 inch open reel tapes
And audio cassette transfers.
Note
Alicia Salinas recounts a story about
smoking a charmed cigar that caused
her to be bedridden for days
and lose her memory. Then she recounts
a story about an anima [wandering soul]
that informs an old man about a large
buried treasure left behind by guerrillas.
Elaine K. Miller Oral History Collection October 1966
Scope and Content Note
Ismeria Garay, Alfonso Dominguez, Inocente Rocha,
Padre Jose de Jesus Madera, Tecla Rocha.
Includes 38p. t.ms. transcript
original 1/4 inch open reel tapes
And audio cassette transfers.
Note
Ismeria Garay recounts narratives about
different statues or appearancesof the Virgin
and of la Llorona [weeping woman], ghosts,
and goblins (duendes). Alfonso Dominquez Franco
recounts narratives of Christ apparitions.
Inocente Rocha recounts narratives
of a hungry man who encounters various
figures, god, the virgin, and death,
while walking in the woods.
Padre Jose recounts narratives of diabolic posession.
Tecla Rocha recounts experiences about
ghosts (espantos), and sightings of
la Llorona [the weeping woman].
Elaine K. Miller Oral History Collection November 1966
Scope and Content Note
Inocente Rocha, Sandy Franco, and Candelario Gallardo
Includes 31p. t.ms. transcript
original 1/4 inch open reel tapes
And audio cassette transfers.
Note
Inocente Rocha recounts a story about
pacts made with the devil.
Candelario Gallardo recounts various tales.
One is about a couple deeply in love.
They decide to make a pact that binds them
through death. When one of them dies,
the other will also die. Another tale is about,
a man who encounters a snake. The snake is trapped
underneath a rock and the man decides
to unburden the snake. The snake returns
the favor by trying to bite the man.
Other tales are about Blancaflor,
Juan del Oso, and Juan Tonto.
Elaine K. Miller Oral History Collection December 1966
Scope and Content Note
Ana María Romero, Sandy Franco,and Lola Cruz
Includes 36p. t.ms. transcript
original 1/4 inch open reel tapes
And audio cassette transfers.
Note
Ana María Romero recounts tales from her childhood.
They concern a bear that kidnaps a woman
from a town. Another tale concerns
a mysterious man that is seen
sitting on a rock, apparently guarding
a treasure, while children play
at night. A third tale is about a ring that
brings poverty to a wealthy woman.
Another is about an old snake that
attempts to devour a man's foot.
Sandy Franco narrates a story she read
as a small child. The story is about
a convent where a bell would ring whenever
the nun's were lacking food.
Lola Cruz narrates stories about Juan Tonto,
a tale about a Queen Isabel, a story of
the good fisherman, and finally,
a narrative about a city mouse
and a country mouse.
Elaine K. Miller Oral History Collection December 1966
Scope and Content Note
Lola Cruz, Candelario Gallardo, Angel Flores
Includes 45p. t.ms. transcript
original 1/4 inch open reel tapes
And audio cassette transfers.
Note
The tape opens with a song, apparently
sung by Lola Cruz, titled Granada.
Afterwards Lola Cruz recounts narratives
about kings. The first narrative is
about three kings who marry three
princesses that make grand promises
if the kings will marry them.
Another narrative is about a king
with three daughters. The king
questions the daughters about their
love for the king and the queen.
Candelario Gallardo recounts two tales.
The first is about a peasant
and a princess and three magic rocks.
The second is about a good boy
and his flock of sheep.Angel Flores
tells the story about two travelers.
Elaine K. Miller Oral History Collection July 1967
Scope and Content Note
Candelario Gallardo
Includes 18p. t.ms. transcript
original 1/4 inch open reel tapes
And audio cassette transfers.
Note
Candelario Gallardo recounts two
tales in this tape. The first one is
about a husband and wife mired in poverty.
To unburden themselves, they decide
to rid themselves of their children
by taking them out to the woods
and abandoning them. The children
encounter a seven headedserpent. Another tale
concerns two travelers and their adventures.
Elaine K. Miller Oral History Collection February 1970
Scope and Content Note
Lola Cruz
Includes 23p. t.ms. transcript
original 1/4 inch open reel tapes
And audio cassette transfers.
Note
Lola Cruz recounts the narrative
of the birth of Jesus.
Afterwards she talks about the
development, over the years,
of her nativity scene display.
Elaine K. Miller Oral History Collection March 1970
Scope and Content Note
Lola Cruz
Includes 22p. t.ms. transcript
original 1/4 inch open reel tapes
And audio cassette transfers.
Note
Lola Cruz comments on a series of
photographs of her nativity scene
displays over the years. The photographs
are not provided but Ms. Cruz
discusses the photographs in detail.
Elaine K. Miller Oral History Collection December 1970
Scope and Content Note
Lola Cruz
Includes 10p. t.ms. transcript
original 1/4 inch open reel tapes
And audio cassette transfers.
Note
The interview is with Lola Cruz discussing
her nativity scene. Ms. Cruz presents
the nacimiento yearly during the
Christmas season. Ms. Cruz recounts
various narratives in relation to her
nativity scene, such as the Original Sin
narrative, Jesus' crucifixion, his burial
and resurrection. Ms. Cruz also talks
about the various children that she has
known and helped to rear. At one point she
recounts the story of the Original Sin.
The interviewer asks Ms. Cruz about changes,
over the years, in the nativity scene and
Ms. Cruz recounts some of the changes.
Throughout, she recounts aspects of Jesus'
crucifixion, his burial, and his
resurrection,incorporating objects in
the scene as part of the narrative. Later in
the interview there is a discussion
about a 'mysterious' glass boat.
Luis' old boss, a Mrs. Hickler?
( the exact name is never stated), gave
Lola a glass boat six days before she died.
the last part of the interview is
a recital of a verse that is embroidered
on a sheet, "Quien lo Sabe,"
a verse about the birth of Jesus
and the mystery of Jesus as savior of the
world.
Elaine K. Miller Oral History Collection December 1970
Scope and Content Note
Lola Cruz
Includes 24p. t.ms. transcript
original 1/4 inch open reel tapes
And audio cassette transfers.
Note
This tape continues Lola Cruz' reading
from the verse embroidered
on a sheet.The narrative
includes the birth of Jesus and
Mary and Joseph's subsequent flight
towards Egypt. The angel, Saint Gabriel,
guides them away from danger.
The interviewer asks questions about
the embroidery on the sheet. Lola Cruz
recounts how she learned the verses
of "la posada" and the significance of
the various figures in the embroidery
(she recounts that the embroidering
took a month working every day to finish).
Lola Cruz tells the story of Lucifer,
who wanted to rule the world,
and the hermit who believed in Jesus'
birth as the birth of the savior.
She then recounts the story of Isabel
and Simon who gave birth to John
the Baptist. The conversation of the
different figures and objects in the
nativity scene continues. Figures
discussed include sea gulls, San Pascual
(Santa Claus), japanese houses, and
turtles. The interviewer continues
with questions about the nativity scene,
how long it has taken to construct,
who brings figures to add to the scene, etc.
Ms. Cruz continues with narratives
about king Melchor and John the Baptist.
Elaine K. Miller Oral History Collection December 1974
Scope and Content Note
Lola Cruz
Includes 21p. t.ms. transcript
original 1/4 inch open reel tapes
And audio cassette transfers.
Note
Ms. Cruz recounts details of her life
growing up in the 1910s in Mexico.
Ms. Cruz talks about her experiences
during difficult times of poverty
and homelessness growing up in Mexico City.
Ms. Cruz then recounts her experiences
immigrating to the United States.
Ms. Cruz talks about her marriage
to an American citizen (by force) and her
subsequent travails after his death.
Afterwards, there are more conversations
about the nativity scene and the yearly
rituals that take place.
Elaine K. Miller Oral History Collection December 1974
Scope and Content Note
Lola Cruz
Includes 12p. t.ms. transcript
original 1/4 inch open reel tapes
And audio cassette transfers.
Note
The conversation is about a haunted
house in Mexico City when Lola
Cruz was 10 years old. Lola Cruz
talks about the old large house and
a miserly old man who lived
there, died, and remained as a spirit
to guard his belongings.
Another story involves a husband
his lazy wife and their three children.
After the wife dies, she returns
to care for the children.
During the conversation,
children arrive to sing and
to see the nativity scene.
Afterwards, the interviewer, Lola
and Luis open the presents
brought by the children.
Elaine K. Miller Oral History Collection January 1975
Scope and Content Note
Lola Cruz
Includes 18p. t.ms. transcript
original 1/4 inch open reel tapes
And audio cassette transfers.
Note
In this tape, Lola Cruz recounts
the story of "Santa Rosa de Lima."
The story is about a husband (Spaniard),
a count, and a wife who have a child.
The couple argue over the child's name.
The Count's wishes prevail and
the child is named Rosa. After going
to Lima, Peru, the maid comes running
to the wife to tell her that the child's
face has turned into a rose.
Afterwards, Ms. Cruz recounts various
miracles performed by Saint Rosa de Lima
and the subsequent conflicts over
the meaning of these miraculous acts.
Afterwards, Ms. Cruz recounts the
narrative of La Virgen de los Remedios.
Elaine K. Miller Oral History Collection 1966 - 1967
Scope and Content Note
t.ms. tape transcripts for tapes 1 - 8
Elaine K. Miller Oral History Collection 1966 - 1967
Scope and Content Note
t.ms. transcript of tapes 10 - 21
Elaine K. Miller Oral History Collection 1967
Scope and Content Note
Elaine K. Miller Oral History Collection 1966 - 1967
Scope and Content Note