Dreams & Life on the Prairie -Mexicans and Illinois Railroads

in the Early 20th CenturyPresenter: Sal Valadez, Representative for Diversity & Outreach

Laborers‟ International Union of North America (LiUNA) - Midwest Region

15th Annual Conference on Illinois History

Springfield, Illinois

27 September 2013

Artist‟s StatementThis painting, entitled Dreams and Life on the Prairie/Sueños y Vida en la Llanura, was

“commissioned” by my husband Sal Valadez to represent the project and discussion. Sal told

me of images he had in mind, what he envisioned the piece to portray and then trusted I would

use my talents as a painter and my experience as a member of my Mexican family to tell a story

through art.

I took the information Sal offered into consideration as well as memories of his father and

mother telling their story of how they came to the United States, and the many stories I have

heard from others who came here for a better life.

The sky, with the sun setting and twilight approaching is representative of dreams; dreams of

better things to come, dreams that family will be reunited. The train represents those that

worked for the railroads. The corn is a familiar and important image of both McLean County

and Mexico. The man, a worker, is seen with a photo of family in his pocket, family he hopes

can join him soon.

I wanted to show only half of his face, but I could not articulate why. Dr. Maura Toro-Morn did

that for me when she first viewed the work. “It is allegorical, many who came here, left part of

themselves and their lives behind.” Maura, gave me the words for what I as an artist tried to

project, but did not have the personal experience to say. It was an extreme honor to be asked

to do the piece for my husband, and for the McLean County Museum of History Latino

History Project‟s use of the image.

Rebecca “Bec” Hawkins-Valadez

This is a story of a journey.

RESEARCH QUESTIONS

Why did they come to Illinois?

When did they get here?

Where did they work?

How did they live?

What did they contribute?

HOW TO CONDUCT RESEARCH

I. Research of the Historical Record (census and immigration records,

newspaper articles, photographs, birth, marriage, and death records,

military service records, employment records)

II. Oral Histories

III. Share their of the stories through research papers, publications, and public

exhibits

WHEN ALL OF OUR STORIES ARE INCLUDED IN THE HISTORY

OF ILLINOIS, OUR LIVES ARE ENRICHED

The Chinese Exclusionary Act 1882

& the Mexican Revolution 1910–1930

World War I 1914 -1918

Mexican Revolution

Execution by the dreaded Rurales

Enforcers for the President of the Mexican Republic, Porfirio Diaz

WW II & The Bracero Program

1942 - 1964

U.S Railroad Ties to MexicoPublished: November 27, 1907

Copyright © The New York Times

Shonts May Head the Alton –

FELTON GOES TO MEXICO

United Mine Workers Journal

July 11, 1918

Mexican Labor

Railway Age Gazette From July 1, 1912 to December 31, 1912 Issue, p. 519, (Google Books)

HARDSHIPS

1928 -Death on the Rails

Cristobal Montañez

Boxcar PeopleThe Story of Galesburg‟s Mexican Railroad Families

A WTVP production written and produced by Will and Luz Schick, Boxcar People tells the story

of Mexican workers recruited in the early 1900s to work the railroads in Galesburg, Illinois.

Mexican Family Living in Boxcar

East St Louis, ILThe International Institute of St. Louis History-Mexican laborers living in boxcars near East St. Louis stockyards

(ca1920)

ZARATE FAMILY, West Chicago, IL

The father, Jacob, worked bor both the EJ&E and Northwestern Railroads. They lived in the

West Chicago Boxcar Camps from the 1920‟s to 1940‟sTraveling Exhibit: Creating Mexican American Identities: Multiple Voices, Shared Dream

Funded in part by the Illinois Humanities Council and the History Channel

The Perez -Valadez Family (circa 1920‟s) from Zacatecas, Mexico

Eola, IllinoisJournal Issue Volume 8, #3, Autumn 2005 (Mexicans in Aurora, IL - Dr. Susan Palmer, Aurora University)

Journal – Inside Cover

The Perez - Valadez Family

Manuel Perez & Eulalia (Valadez) Perez

Mexican Boxcar Community

Eola, IL 1920‟s & „30‟s

Salvador Valadez Rangel

Bracero in California – Southern Pacific Railroad

1940-1944

Left, Salvador Valadez Rangel & Margarita Romero Piña, 1951

Right, Margarita Valadez, Jorge (left,) Sal (right), 1957

Dad retired after 30 years as a diesel mechanic for the CB&Q Railroad

The Valadez Family, 1964

Aurora, IL

(mom took the picture, left)

Silvis, IL

In the early 20th Century, large numbers of

Mexican workers came to Silvis and were

employed by manufacturing and the shops of

the Rock Island Railroad to strengthen an

American workforce diminished by World

War I. These large immigrant families could

not find homes, so they moved into box cars

north of the railroad tracks in Silvis.

Hero St. U.S.A, Silvis, IL

WW II Heroes – The Ultimate Sacrifice

Claro Soliz, Frank Sandoval, Joseph Gomez, Johnny Muños, Joe

Sandoval, Peter Masias, Tony Pompa, and William Sandoval

The Perez -Valadez Family (circa 1920‟s)

Eola, IllinoisJournal Issue Volume 8, #3, Autumn 2005 (Mexicans in Aurora, IL - Dr. Susan Palmer, Aurora University)

“Uncle” Pete Perez, wife, Aunt Marie & Son,

Pat Perez, Kane County Sheriff Uncle Pete is cited in the history books for being one of the first Latino football players to play at

the University of Illinois and the Chicago Bears (in the 1940‟s). He was a long-time Aurora Police

officer and retired as Undersheriff for Kane County, IL.

Dreams & Life on the Prairie

The History of Latinos in McLean County, Illinois

1870 to the Present – Presentation, November 2012

The McLean County Museum of History‟s Latino History Project

WW I Draft

Mexicans in McLean County

WW I Draft

Mexicans in McLean County

The mystery of the boxcar community on the Alton

Railroad right of way.

George Segobiano At age 14, left El Paso as a Water Boy on the Santa Fe RR

From Guanajuato, Mexico to El Paso, TX to Bloomington IL (1,900 miles)

Bloomington Railroad Days, July 15, 1936

1920‟s -Pedro “Pete” and Graciana Chavez

Arrived in El Paso, on foot in 1910 – U.S. Certificate of Arrival

Pedro travelled a total of 2,000 miles from Moroleon, Guanajuato, Mexico to McLean Countu

Why is there urgency to conduct research?

The people, and their memories, are quickly fading away. Their stories will be incomplete and will be missing from our

history books if we do not act with urgency.

Sal ValadezContact Information

309-340-5230

salvaladez85@gmail.com