Interview with Florencio Morales
InterviewerInterviewed by
Ruth Glasser
(American)
InterviewerInterviewed by
Amanda Rivera-López
Date2000 May 11
Mediumdigitized audio cassette tape
DimensionsDuration (tape 1, side 1): 46 Minutes, 49 Seconds
Duration (tape 1, side 2): 46 Minutes, 5 Seconds
Duration (tape 2): 17 Minutes, 9 Seconds
Duration (total runtime): 1 Hour, 50 Minutes, 4 Seconds
ClassificationsInformation Artifacts
Credit LineGift of the CHS Exhibitions Department
Object number2013.27.4.1-.2
DescriptionTwo audio cassette tapes of an interview with Florencio Morales. Interviewed by Ruth Glasser and Amanda Rivera-López on May 11, 2000. The interview was conducted in English.
Florencio Morales immigrated from Puerto Rico in 1948 to South Bronx, New York and lived there from 1948-1953, and then moved to Guilford, Connecticut. He graduated from high school in 1936 in Coamo, Puerto Rico. After high school he moved to San Juan, Puerto Rico and became involved with the labor movement acting as a steward for the organization of the hotels and restaurants union of Puerto Rico. He served with the U.S. Navy during World War II.
He had trouble finding a job after moving to New York, but eventually got a job as a dishwasher in a restaurant. He worked his way up the job ladder and became an elevator operator. He moved to Guilford, Connecticut in 1952/3 with his brother. He found work at Victor's Foundry.
He experienced discrimination in Guilford. After the creation of the Spanish-American Association, the Puerto Rican community had a gathering place. In 1954, Morales' wife moved from New York to Guilford and worked at Guilford Laundry. He discusses buying a house. In 1960, he left the foundry and started working at Cheseborough-Ponds in Clinton cleaning floors in the compound department. He joined the Community Renewal Team of Greater Hartford in 1964. In 1965, he worked in urban renewal in Norwalk. In 1966, he returned to Hartford and became the supervisor of neighborhood centers and worked under Carrie Saxon Perry. He then began working for the federal government with the Department of Defense Affirmative Action Program.
He helped create the New England Farmworkers Council to assist Puerto Ricans arriving in the United States. He discusses why a lot of Puerto Ricans were living in public housing, having trouble finding jobs, and had a lack of education. He discusses his work with the Affirmative Action Program. He retired in 1985 at age 77.
He discusses involvement with and the various chapters of the Puerto Rican Parade. He discusses Sacred Heart Church in Hartford. He discusses all his work to help improve the lives and rights of Puerto Ricans. He ends the interview discussing his childhood and his family.
2013.27.4.1a-d: two digital files, J-card, and tape
2013.27.4.2a-c: one digital file, J-card, and tape
Florencio Morales immigrated from Puerto Rico in 1948 to South Bronx, New York and lived there from 1948-1953, and then moved to Guilford, Connecticut. He graduated from high school in 1936 in Coamo, Puerto Rico. After high school he moved to San Juan, Puerto Rico and became involved with the labor movement acting as a steward for the organization of the hotels and restaurants union of Puerto Rico. He served with the U.S. Navy during World War II.
He had trouble finding a job after moving to New York, but eventually got a job as a dishwasher in a restaurant. He worked his way up the job ladder and became an elevator operator. He moved to Guilford, Connecticut in 1952/3 with his brother. He found work at Victor's Foundry.
He experienced discrimination in Guilford. After the creation of the Spanish-American Association, the Puerto Rican community had a gathering place. In 1954, Morales' wife moved from New York to Guilford and worked at Guilford Laundry. He discusses buying a house. In 1960, he left the foundry and started working at Cheseborough-Ponds in Clinton cleaning floors in the compound department. He joined the Community Renewal Team of Greater Hartford in 1964. In 1965, he worked in urban renewal in Norwalk. In 1966, he returned to Hartford and became the supervisor of neighborhood centers and worked under Carrie Saxon Perry. He then began working for the federal government with the Department of Defense Affirmative Action Program.
He helped create the New England Farmworkers Council to assist Puerto Ricans arriving in the United States. He discusses why a lot of Puerto Ricans were living in public housing, having trouble finding jobs, and had a lack of education. He discusses his work with the Affirmative Action Program. He retired in 1985 at age 77.
He discusses involvement with and the various chapters of the Puerto Rican Parade. He discusses Sacred Heart Church in Hartford. He discusses all his work to help improve the lives and rights of Puerto Ricans. He ends the interview discussing his childhood and his family.
2013.27.4.1a-d: two digital files, J-card, and tape
2013.27.4.2a-c: one digital file, J-card, and tape
Label TextListen to interview at http://hdl.handle.net/11134/40002:19645787
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