Interview with Juan Colón
IntervieweeInterview with
Juan Colón
(Puerto Rican)
InterviewerInterviewed by
Ruth Glasser
(American)
InterviewerInterviewed by
Amanda Rivera-López
Date2000 May 25
Mediumdigitized audio cassette tape
DimensionsDuration (side 1): 46 Minutes, 24 Seconds
Duration (side 2): 22 Minutes, 15 Seconds
Duration (total runtime): 1 Hour, 8 Minutes, 40 Seconds
ClassificationsInformation Artifacts
Credit LineGift of the CHS Exhibitions Department
Object number2013.27.6a-d
DescriptionAudio cassette tape of an interview with Juan Colón. Interviewed by Ruth Glasser and Amanda Rivera-López on May 25, 2000. The interview was conducted in Spanish. A transcript of the interview is available in both English and Spanish.
Juan Colón was botn in Gurabo, Puerto Rico in 1950. He was one of six children. His father, Ramon Colón, worked as a carpenter, bricklayer, and machinist in Puerto Rico. His mother, Luz Maria Ramos, worked at a factory in Puerto Rico. His family worked at the Consolidated Cigar Corporation in Puerto Rico processing tobacco. Colón's family came to the United States in 1964. His father worked at Colt Manufacturing Co. and the Royal Typewriter Co. in Hartford. His father had previously traveled to Hartford, and he was recruited to be a crew leader at a tobacco camp since he knew English. The crew leaders were in charge of the administrative part of the camps.
Colón attended the University of Connecticut and graduated as a health educator and then took the police exam. He worked as a coordinator for health programs for the migrant workers in the tobacco camps in Windsor. He explains that the agricultural workers' conditions were poor. He describes the different areas of Hartford where the Puerto Rican community lived and the discrimination they faced.
He explains that a number of factories in Hartford hired Puerto Rican workers - Colt Mfg. Co., Underwood Typewriter Co., and Royal Typewriter Co. - and that they were treated well at these companies. Colón worked at Arrowhead Electric Company.
He explains that women didn't work on the tobacco farms, but they did work in the tobacco sheds.
He also discusses protests he participated in within the Hartford Puerto Rican community and the 1967 Hartford Riot. He discusses how the Puerto Rican community wanted to become involved in politics, so they could make improvements from a position of power. He explains Maria Sanchez's involvement in politics. He discusses Title 7 of the Civil Rights Act, which makes it unlawful to discriminate against someone because of: race, color, religion, sex, or natural origin.
2013.27.6a-d: two digital files, J-card, and tape
Juan Colón was botn in Gurabo, Puerto Rico in 1950. He was one of six children. His father, Ramon Colón, worked as a carpenter, bricklayer, and machinist in Puerto Rico. His mother, Luz Maria Ramos, worked at a factory in Puerto Rico. His family worked at the Consolidated Cigar Corporation in Puerto Rico processing tobacco. Colón's family came to the United States in 1964. His father worked at Colt Manufacturing Co. and the Royal Typewriter Co. in Hartford. His father had previously traveled to Hartford, and he was recruited to be a crew leader at a tobacco camp since he knew English. The crew leaders were in charge of the administrative part of the camps.
Colón attended the University of Connecticut and graduated as a health educator and then took the police exam. He worked as a coordinator for health programs for the migrant workers in the tobacco camps in Windsor. He explains that the agricultural workers' conditions were poor. He describes the different areas of Hartford where the Puerto Rican community lived and the discrimination they faced.
He explains that a number of factories in Hartford hired Puerto Rican workers - Colt Mfg. Co., Underwood Typewriter Co., and Royal Typewriter Co. - and that they were treated well at these companies. Colón worked at Arrowhead Electric Company.
He explains that women didn't work on the tobacco farms, but they did work in the tobacco sheds.
He also discusses protests he participated in within the Hartford Puerto Rican community and the 1967 Hartford Riot. He discusses how the Puerto Rican community wanted to become involved in politics, so they could make improvements from a position of power. He explains Maria Sanchez's involvement in politics. He discusses Title 7 of the Civil Rights Act, which makes it unlawful to discriminate against someone because of: race, color, religion, sex, or natural origin.
2013.27.6a-d: two digital files, J-card, and tape
Label TextListen to interview at http://hdl.handle.net/11134/40002:19645805
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
