Interview with José Colón
IntervieweeInterview with
José Colón
(Puerto Rican)
InterviewerInterviewed by
Ruth Glasser
(American)
InterviewerInterviewed by
Amanda Rivera-López
Date2000 June 7
Mediumdigitized audio cassette tape
DimensionsDuration (tape 1, side 1): 46 Minutes, 6 Seconds
Duration (tape 1, side 2): 44 Minutes, 47 Seconds
Duration (side 2): 46 Minutes, 45 Seconds
Duration (total runtime): 2 Hours, 17 Minutes, 39 Seconds
ClassificationsInformation Artifacts
Credit LineGift of the CHS Exhibitions Department
Object number2013.27.10.1-.2
DescriptionTwo audio cassette tapes of an interview with José Colón. Interviewed by Ruth Glasser and Amanda Rivera-López on June 7, 2000.
José Colón was born in Comerio, Puerto Rico. He immigrated to Hartford, Connecticut in 1966 at age 24. He lived with his sister, Maria Colón Sanchez, when he first arrived in Connecticut. He discusses the Sacred Heart Church in Hartford.
He discusses his sister's life and the activities she was involved with. Maria opened a store at 246 Albany Avenue in Hartford called "Maria's News Stand." José would work at her store on the weekends doing paperwork, prep, and purchasing.
In 1968, hired under the Equal Opportunity Employment Act, José became one of the first Hispanics in Connecticut to work for the Department of Motor Vehicles. He faced discrimination in this job. He discusses how he came to work at the DMV and the challenges he faced in his job and applying for promotions.
Maria started becoming involved with politics because of her involvement with the Puerto Rican community and seeing a need to make people's lives better. She was an advocate for bilingual education. Her first political position was serving on the Hartford Board of Education. She was involved with starting the first Hispanic radio station in Connecticut, WLVH. She became good friends with Ella Grasso. In 1988, Maria Sanchez became the first Hispanic woman elected to the Connecticut General Assembly. She was involved with the founding of the Puerto Rican Parade, La Casa de Puerto Rico, the Spanish-American Merchants Association, and the Community Renewal Team. After her death, a school on Babcock Street in Hartford was named after her as the Maria C. Sanchez Elementary School.
He discusses urban renewal and the decline of neighborhoods in Hartford. He also discusses the riots in Hartford that involved the Puerto Rican community.
José is the youngest of five siblings. His parents worked in the tobacco farms and didn't receive any education.
2013.27.10.1a-d: two digital files, J-card, and tape
2013.27.10.2a-c: one digital file, J-card, and tape
José Colón was born in Comerio, Puerto Rico. He immigrated to Hartford, Connecticut in 1966 at age 24. He lived with his sister, Maria Colón Sanchez, when he first arrived in Connecticut. He discusses the Sacred Heart Church in Hartford.
He discusses his sister's life and the activities she was involved with. Maria opened a store at 246 Albany Avenue in Hartford called "Maria's News Stand." José would work at her store on the weekends doing paperwork, prep, and purchasing.
In 1968, hired under the Equal Opportunity Employment Act, José became one of the first Hispanics in Connecticut to work for the Department of Motor Vehicles. He faced discrimination in this job. He discusses how he came to work at the DMV and the challenges he faced in his job and applying for promotions.
Maria started becoming involved with politics because of her involvement with the Puerto Rican community and seeing a need to make people's lives better. She was an advocate for bilingual education. Her first political position was serving on the Hartford Board of Education. She was involved with starting the first Hispanic radio station in Connecticut, WLVH. She became good friends with Ella Grasso. In 1988, Maria Sanchez became the first Hispanic woman elected to the Connecticut General Assembly. She was involved with the founding of the Puerto Rican Parade, La Casa de Puerto Rico, the Spanish-American Merchants Association, and the Community Renewal Team. After her death, a school on Babcock Street in Hartford was named after her as the Maria C. Sanchez Elementary School.
He discusses urban renewal and the decline of neighborhoods in Hartford. He also discusses the riots in Hartford that involved the Puerto Rican community.
José is the youngest of five siblings. His parents worked in the tobacco farms and didn't receive any education.
2013.27.10.1a-d: two digital files, J-card, and tape
2013.27.10.2a-c: one digital file, J-card, and tape
Label TextListen to interview at http://hdl.handle.net/11134/40002:19645861
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
