Interview with Juan Román
IntervieweeInterview with
Juan Román
(Puerto Rican, 1928 - 2020)
InterviewerInterviewed by
Ruth Glasser
(American)
InterviewerInterviewed by
Amanda Rivera-López
Date2000 May 8
Mediumdigitized audio cassette tape
DimensionsDuration (side 1): 46 Minutes, 24 Seconds
Duration (side 2): 43 Minutes, 50 Seconds
Duration (total runtime): 1 Hour, 30 Minutes, 14 Seconds
ClassificationsInformation Artifacts
Credit LineGift of the CHS Exhibitions Department
Object number2013.27.2a-d
DescriptionAudio cassette tape of an interview with Juan Román. Interviewed by Ruth Glasser and Amanda Rivera-López on May 8, 2000. The interview was conducted in English.
Juan Román was born in Añasco, Puerto Rico in 1928. His father was a farmer. He was the oldest of ten siblings. His father would rent two schools to the Puerto Rican government. He attended high school in Añasco. His family lived outside of town in an area near Rincon. He first worked for his father making 11 dollars a week, which he shared with his mother. He helped with the sugar cane and picked coffee. His mother didn't work, but stayed at home with her eleven children.
Before graduating high school Juan Román came to the United States with the migrant workers and settled in Niles, Michigan in 1945. He finished high school at nights in Michigan while also learning English. He was a supervisor on a mushroom farm and also served as an interpreter for the other farm workers. In 1948, he moved to Milwaukee, Wisconsin and worked there for 2-3 years as a truck driver. In 1950, he enlisted in the Marine Corps to serve in the Korean War. In 1952, he moved to Hartford, Connecticut. He did experience some housing discrimination for being Puerto Rican. In 1955, he became the first Puerto Rican police officer within the Hartford Police Department. He stayed with the Hartford Police Department until 1965, at which time he returned to Puerto Rico. When he was back in Puerto Rico he was employed by the Shade Tobacco Growers Association for ten years. He returned to Connecticut in 1975. In 1977, Juan began working with the State of Connecticut as a member of the Support Enforcement Unit of the Family Relations Divisions of the Superior Court.
He also discusses other Puerto Ricans he knew in the Hartford community and changes over time in the Puerto Rican community.
2013.27.2a-d: two digital files, J-card, and cassette tape
Juan Román was born in Añasco, Puerto Rico in 1928. His father was a farmer. He was the oldest of ten siblings. His father would rent two schools to the Puerto Rican government. He attended high school in Añasco. His family lived outside of town in an area near Rincon. He first worked for his father making 11 dollars a week, which he shared with his mother. He helped with the sugar cane and picked coffee. His mother didn't work, but stayed at home with her eleven children.
Before graduating high school Juan Román came to the United States with the migrant workers and settled in Niles, Michigan in 1945. He finished high school at nights in Michigan while also learning English. He was a supervisor on a mushroom farm and also served as an interpreter for the other farm workers. In 1948, he moved to Milwaukee, Wisconsin and worked there for 2-3 years as a truck driver. In 1950, he enlisted in the Marine Corps to serve in the Korean War. In 1952, he moved to Hartford, Connecticut. He did experience some housing discrimination for being Puerto Rican. In 1955, he became the first Puerto Rican police officer within the Hartford Police Department. He stayed with the Hartford Police Department until 1965, at which time he returned to Puerto Rico. When he was back in Puerto Rico he was employed by the Shade Tobacco Growers Association for ten years. He returned to Connecticut in 1975. In 1977, Juan began working with the State of Connecticut as a member of the Support Enforcement Unit of the Family Relations Divisions of the Superior Court.
He also discusses other Puerto Ricans he knew in the Hartford community and changes over time in the Puerto Rican community.
2013.27.2a-d: two digital files, J-card, and cassette tape
Label TextListen to interview at http://hdl.handle.net/11134/40002:19645785
NotesSubject Note: Through the Nuestras Historias - Our Stories project, the Connecticut Historical Society collected oral histories and photographs from a few of those who helped establish the Puerto Rican community in Hartford. It was an online exhibition presenting the story through the words and images of the pioneers themselves.Nuestras Historias was funded by the Hartford Foundation for Public Giving, the State of Connecticut, Department of Economic and Community Development, and the Connecticut Historical Society.
Status
Not on view2000 May 10
2000 May 11
