Image
homelogo
photo Standing by car 1930s Fernando Chavez
1919 Weed, CA Ceferino Villareal Sr,brothers Charlie, Ralph
Mexican Juvenile Band of San Jose
SJHP Orchard in bloom, c. 1925 (1997-300-1009)
photo representing bands
8. 8th photo_
5th Photo representing Orchard workers
photo alternate for bands
Represents Pre-Story
Photo representing cannery work

March 31, 2023

Cesar Chavez Memorial Day
Soft / Preview Website Launch

Sept. 30, 2023

Hispanic Heritage Month
Full Website Launch

THIS WEBSITE IS A WORK-IN-PROGRESS UNTIL SEPTEMBER 30, 2023. 

Before “Silicon Valley,” Santa Clara County was the largest fruit and vegetable producing and processing (canning) region in the United States with Mexicans serving as a majority of the labor force in the post WWII era. Before Silicon Valley:  Mexican Agricultural and Cannery Workers of Santa Clara County, 1920-1960 is a bilingual website research and education project highlighting the little-documented history of ethnic Mexican migration, work, cultural life, and civil rights activism in Santa Clara County from 1920 to 1960.  This website project is under the fiscal sponsorship of San José Parks Foundation and the co-sponsorship of San José State University Library, La Raza Historical Society of Santa Clara Valley, and the Arhoolie Foundation.  

Visit our website soft/preview launch on César Chávez Day, March 31, 2023, when we host an abbreviated online exhibit “Before Silicon Valley” linked to four mini-documentaries and scholar talks. The full website launch on September 30, 2023, (during Hispanic Heritage Month) will include a complete online exhibit with timeline, story map, grade 4-university level lesson plans, project history and our oral history interview and photo collection.

Celebrate, learn, and explore Santa Clara County’s Mexican American agricultural and cannery worker history with our exciting free Public Programs in April & May 2023 for the Soft/Preview Launch and September & October 2023 for the Full Launch. Follow our project on Instagram and Facebook

Public Programs

aPRIL 23

Cannery Workers, Cannery Lives

GUEST SPEAKER:
Dr. Glenna Matthews, Ph.D. Independent U.S. Women’s Historian and Author.
DATE: Sunday April 23, 2023 1:30-3:30 pm.   
HOST: LA BIBLIOTECA LATINOAMERICANA BRANCH LIBRARY
PLACE: 921 South 1st Street, San Jose, CA 95110

mAY 6TH

Mexican American Civil Rights

GUEST SPEAKER:
Dr. Gregorio Mora-Torres Ph.D. Emeritus Faculty Chicana and Chicano Studies Department
DATE: Saturday May 6, 2023 1:30-3:30 pm
HOST: THE CALIFORNIA HISTORY CENTER, DE ANZA COLLEGE
PLACE: 21250 Stevens Creek Blvd., Cupertino, CA 95014

MAY 7TH

Mexican American Civil Rights

GUEST SPEAKER:
Dr. Gregorio Mora-Torres Ph.D. Emeritus Faculty Chicana and Chicano Studies Department
DATE: Sunday May 7, 2023 1:30-3:30 pm
HOST: MOUNTAIN VIEW HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION, WITH LOS ALTOS HISTORY MUSEUM
PLACE: 157 Moffett Blvd. Mountain View, CA. 94043  

MAY 13

Migration, Housing and Orchard /Field Work

GUEST SPEAKER:
Dr. Alberto García Ph.D. Assistant Professor History Dept. SJSU, Author
DATE: Saturday May 13, 2023 1:30-3:30 pm
HOST: GAVILAN COLLEGE Room SS 214,
PLACE: 5055 Santa Teresa Blvd, Gilroy, CA 95020

May27

The Influence of Mexican Music and Bands in San José, 1920-1960

GUEST SPEAKER:
Juan Antonio Cuellar, Frontera Collection Curator, Arhoolie Foundation
DATE: Saturday May 27, 2023 1:30-3:30 pm
HOST: LA RAZA HISTORICAL SOCIETY, HISTORY PARK AT KELLEY PARK Empire Firehouse,

PLACE: 635 Phelan Avenue, San José, CA. 95112

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