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September 2002

Hispanic American
Contributions to the
World of Agriculture:
Paving the Way for
Future Generations

Selected References Prepared for
the USDA Hispanic Heritage Month
Celebration, September 15 -
October 15, 2002


Dorothy Heise, Research Librarian, USDA, Agricultural Research Service,
DC Reference Center of the National Agricultural Library

Introduction

 In 1984, the National Agricultural Library published a bibliography in observance of Hispanic Heritage Week. This bibliography expands on that publication. The theme of the 2001 observance of Hispanic Heritage Month was "Paving the Way for Future Generations". In this bibliography, the focus of attention is on the contributions of the Hispanic people to American Agriculture, their influence on American life such as our tastes in food, and the innovations that they contributed. Hispanic people have also passed on many horse, sheep, and cattle ranching practices to areas of the Southwestern United States. These contributions are just a few of the ways that Hispanic Americans have truly paved the way for future generations.

A number of databases, including the National Agricultural Library's AGRICOLA database, were searched in order to produce this product. The National Agricultural Library is one of four national libraries and the principal source in the United States for information about food, agriculture, and natural resources. The library is part of the Agricultural Research Service, the U. S. Department of Agriculture’s chief scientific research agency.

This bibliography makes no claim to comprehensiveness and is intended only as food for thought. Those articles and other materials that have an NAL Call Number are available at the National Agricultural Library. Others may be obtained through most public or academic libraries or through Interlibrary Loans. Citations are arranged alphabetically by title.


"Along the Santa Fe Trail." Rowe Findley. National Geographic, Vol. 179, March 1991, p. 98-123. NAL Call No.: 470.N213
The Santa Fe trail served as a meeting place of Anglo, Native American, and Hispanic culture. The trail harbors bittersweet memories of encounters among the people that shaped the American West.

Americanos: Latino Life in the United States. Edward James Olmos, and others. Boston: Little Brown and Co., 1999. 176 p.
Stirring photographs and rich bilingual text depict the faces of Latino life in America. Some images are familiar from the entertainment world and others are the faces we see every day, down the street, down the hall, or sitting right next to us.

Anglo Over Bracero: A History of the Mexican Worker in the United States from Roosevelt to Nixon. Peter N. Kirstein. San Francisco: R and E Research Associates, 1977, 113 p.
NAL Call No.: HD8081.M6K5

Atlas of Hispanic-American History. George Ochoa. New York, NY: Facts on File, 2001. 224 p.
Covers North, South and Central America. The atlas provides a comprehensive reference of the history of Hispanic America.

"Authentic Mexican Favorites."Processed Prepared Foods, Vol. 151(5), May 1982, p. 146. NAL Call No.: HD9000.1.F64
Several Mexican foods are undiscovered by Americans. Describes ethnic foods such as marinated fish, pipain (a stew made with poultry, meat or fish), chicken with cinnamon, pork cooked in orange juice, and bread pudding.

Autumn Memories: My New Mexico Roots and Traditions. Marie Oralia Duran Triejillo. Pueblo, CO: El Escritorio, 1999. 120 p.

Barefoot Heart: Stories of a Migrant Child. Elva Trevino Hart. Tempe, AZ: Bilingual Review Press, 1999. 236 p.
Recounts the author's childhood memories and growing up in south Texas. She spent her childhood moving back and forth between her home in Texas and migrant camps in Minnesota and Wisconsin. It is also the story of how she overcame the disadvantages of her background, discovered her true talents, and in the process found out who she was.

Barrio Boy: With Connections. Ernesto Galarza. Austin, TX: Holt, Rinehart and Winston, 2000. 321 p.
Autobiography of Ernesto Galarza who was a major force in improving conditions for the western farm worker.

Barrio-Logos: Space and Place in Urban Chicano Literature and Culture. Raul Homero Villa. Austin, TX: University of Texas Press, 2000. 1st ed. 274 p.
The author explores the impact of urban renewal on California's Chicano population. The barrios are considered prime land for redevelopment. He presents their expressive culture to defend a sense of their place identity.

The Basque Kitchen. Gerald Hirigoyen and Cameron Hirigoyen. New York: Harper Collins World, 1999. 208 p.

"The Basque Who Won the West." Suzanne Larronde. Modern Maturity, Vol. 25, August - September 1982, p. 32.
Tells the story of the Basque sheep ranchers of the Western United States.

Beginnings and Evolution of the Mexican-American Hispanic Communities in Dallas County: People, Places and Folklore. Alexander M. Troup. Dallas, TX: M. Troup & Associates, 1998. 247 p.

Beltran, Basque Sheepman of the American West. Beltran Paris as told to William A. Douglass. Reno, NV: University of Nevada Press, 1979. 186 p. NAL Call No.: SF375.32 P37A33

The Biographical Dictionary of Hispanic Americans. Nicholas E. Meyer. New York, NY: Facts on File, 1997. 242 p. NAL Call No.: jE184.S75 M49 1997
Profiles over 100 Hispanic Americans who have made major contributions to American culture.

By the Sweat of Their Brow: Mexican Immigrant Labor in the United States, 1900 - 1940. Mark Reisler. Westport, CT: Greenwood Press, 1976. 298 p.

Captain Blas Maria de la Garza Falcon: Colonizer of South Texas. Clotilde P. Garcia. Corpus Christi, TX: Grunwald Printing Co, 1988. 78 p.
Tells the story of Blas Maris de la Garza Falcon who was a leading settler in the Rio Grande area of south Texas.

Celebracion: Recipes and Traditions Celebrating Latino Family Life. Regina Cordova and Emma Carrasco. Collingdale: DIANE Publishing Co., 1999. 214 p.
An amazing journey through the lives, homes, families, and kitchens of Hispanics. The recipes are chosen from those that bring families together and the cooks share their family histories with the reader.

Cesar Chavez: A Triumph of Spirit. Richard Griswold del Castillo and Richard A. Garcia. Norman, OK: University of Oklahoma Press, 1995. 206 p. NAL Call No.: HD6509 C48G75 1995

Chicanos in a Changing Society: From Mexican Pueblos to American Barrios in Santa Barbara and Southern California, 1848 - 1930. Albert Camarillo. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press, 1996. 326 p.
History of the Mexican experience in Santa Barbara and other southern California places.

Chicanos in America 1540 - 1974: A Chronology and Fact Book.Compiled and edited by Richard A. Garcia. Ethnic Chronology Series No. 26. Dobbs Ferry, NY: Oceana Publications, 1977. 231 p. NAL Call No.: E184 A1E86 No. 26

Chorizos, Beans, and Other Things: A Poetic Look at the Basque Culture. Trisha Clausen Zubizarreta. Boise, ID: Lagun Txiki Press, 1987. 74 p.
Poems about the Basque country and family members.

Chorizos in an Iron Skillet: Memories and Recipes of an American Basque Daughter. Mary Ancho Davis. Reno, NV: University of Nevada Press, 2001. 208 p.
A family's history, traditions, memories, and recipes spanning several generations. The author shares her memories of life on a Basque ranch in Nevada.

Contemporary American Success Stories: Famous People of Hispanic Heritage. Barbara J. Marvis. Childs, MD: Mitchell Lane Publishers, Inc., 1996. 10 volumes.

Crossing Over: A Mexican Family on the Migrant Trail. Ruben Martinez. Riva Hocherman, editor. New York, NY: Metropolitan Books, 2001. 330 p.
An award-winning journalist follows a family as they attempt to cross the United States - Mexico border to find work.

The Decline of the Californios: A Social History of the Spanish-Speaking Californians, 1846 - 1890. Leonard Pitt. Berkeley, CA: University of California Press, 1998. 324 p.
The Decline of the Californios tells of the early Spanish-speaking settlers of California, including its ranchers.

"The Del Valle Family and the Fantasy Heritage." Richard Griswold del Castillo. California History Vol. 59(1), 1980, p. 2-15.
Traces the family from the founding of Rancho San Francisco in 1839 to the death of Reginaldo del Valle in 1938.

The Development of the Migratory Farm Labor in Texas, 1900-1954. George Otis Coalson. San Francisco: R and E Research Associates, 1977. 132 p

Dictionary of Mexican American History. Matt S. Meier and others. Westport, CT: Greenwood Press, 1981. 498 p.

Don Francisco de Paula Marin: A Biography. Ross H. Gast and Francisco de Paula Marin. Honolulu, HI: University Press of Hawaii for the Hawaiian Historical Society, 1973. 344 p.
The letters and journal of Francisco de Paula Marin, known for introducing the pineapple, mango, and guava in Hawaii.

Experiments With Rubber in Mexico, 1785-1798. Silvestre Diaz de la Vega and others. New Orleans, LA: Published by Middle American Research Institute, the Tulane University of Louisiana with the cooperation of the Firestone Tire and Rubber Company, [Philological and Documentary Studies, Vol. 1(3)], 1944. 113 p.
A manuscript report of early rubber experiments conducted under the supervision of Silvestre Diaz de la Vega who invented a process for rubberizing cloth.

Fields of Toil: A Migrant Family's Journey. Isabel Valle. Pullman, WA: Washington State University Press, 1994. 228 p. NAL Call No.: HD5856.U5V35 1994
Tells of one Texas migrant family. The author followed the family for a year experiencing their life of working in Washington and Oregon and wintering in South Texas.

Fight in the Fields: Cesar Chavez on the Farm Workers Movement. Susan Ferriss and others. San Diego, CA: Harcourt Brace, 1998. 333 p.
A photo-filled biography of Cesar Chavez, founder of the United Farm Workers Union. Companion volume to the PBS documentary.

The Food and Life of Oaxaca: Traditional Recipes from Mexico's Heart. Zarela Martinez and Anne Mendelson. New York, NY: Macmillan, 1997. 342 p.
A cultural study disguised as a cookbook. Chefs new to Mexican cuisine will find the glossary of ingredients very helpful.

Harvest of Empire: A History of Latinos in America. Juan Gonzalez. New York, NY: Viking Press, 2000. 346 p.
Accounting of Hispanic immigration history from the Spanish and English conquests to present day. Provides a broad canvas to connect the past to the present, and to glimpse into the future of Hispanics in America.

Hispanic Almanac: From Columbus to Corporate America. Nicholas Kanellos. Detroit, MI: Invisible Ink, 1994. 644 p.

Hispanic American Experience on File: 1492 to the Present. Carter Smith, editor. David Lindroth. New York, NY: Facts on File, 1999. 1 volume, (various pagings).

Hispanic American Material Culture: An Annotated Directory of Collections, Sites, Archives and Festivals in the United States. Joe Stanley Graham. New York: Greenwood Press, 1989. 257 p.

Hispanic American Profiles. Gene Machamer. New York, NY: One World, first edition Ballentine Books, 1996. 182 p.
Includes artists, writers, athletes, business leaders, civic and cultural leaders, entertainers, and military heroes.

Hispanic-American Scientists. Walter G. Oleksy. New York, NY: Facts on File, 1998. 120 p.
Biographical information about Luis Alvarez, David Cardus, Manuel Cardona, Pedro Sanchez, Mario Molina, Henry Diaz, Francisco Dallmeier, Adriana Ocampo, Margarita Colmenares, and Ellen Ochoa.

Hispanic Americans Information Directory. Charles B. Montney. Detroit, MI: Gale Research,
3rd edition, 1994. 515 p.

Hispanic Culture in the Southwest. Arthur L. Campa. Norman, OK: University of Oklahoma Press, 1993. 316 p.

Hispanic Firsts: 500 Years of Extraordinary Achievement. Nicolas Kanellos. Detroit, MI: Gale, 1997. 372 p.
The author offers a rare glimpse into 1500 significant achievements of Latinos.

Hispanic Heritage: Bibliography-In-Brief. M. Alexandra Salinas. Washington, DC: Congressional Research Service, Library of Congress, 1995. 4 p.

Hispanic Resource Directory. Alan Edward Schorr. Juneau, AK: Denali Press, 1988. 347 p. NAL Call No.: E184.S75S28

Hispanics in the United States: An Agenda for the Twenty-First Century. Pastora San Juan Cafferty, editor. David Wells Engstrom. New Brunswick, NJ: Transaction Publishers, 2001. 312 p.

Jose Antonio Alzate y Ramirez: Scientist and Publicist in Late Eighteenth Century New Spain. Peter J. Wagner. Arizona State University, Thesis, 1975. 138 leaves.

Jose Maria Redondo. Mulford Winsor. Phoenix, AZ: State Library, 1934. 41 p.
Biographical and historical information about Jose Maria Redondo, 1830-1878.

Juan N. Cortina and the Struggle for Justice in Texas. Carlos Larriade and others. Dubuque, IA: Kendall/Hunt, 2000. 169 p.
Chronicles the history and struggle for civil rights in Texas in the Lower Rio Grande Valley.

La Gente: Hispanio History and Life in Colorado. Vincent C. DeBaca. Denver, CO: Colorado Historical Society, 1998. 294 p.
A collection of essays by a cross-section of Colorado scholars and writers. It includes biographical sketches and memories of Hispanic-American personalities from Colorado.

"Land Tenure and Rancho Expansion in Alta California, 1784-1846." David Hornbeck. Journal of Historical Geography, Vol. 4(4), 1978, p. 371-390. NAL Call No.: G141.J6
Examines the role of the rancho land grants in changing the land tenure system of Alta California. Examines the patterns of rancho land grants to 1846.

Latino Americans. New York, NY: Macmillan Library Reference, 1999. 465 p.

Legacy of Honor: The Life of Rafael Chacon, A Nineteenth Century New Mexican. Rafael Chacon. Jacqueline Dorgan Meketa. Albuquerque, NM: University of New Mexico Press, 1986. 439 p.
Rafael Chacon (1833-1925) wrote his memoirs in his seventies to record for his family the drama, adventure, and sorrow he had experienced. His account represents one of the few surviving documents from the Hispanic point of view. This is the publication of his memoirs in English.

Los Capitalistas: Hispanio Merchants and the Santa Fe Trail. Susan Calafate Boyle. Albuquerque, NM: University of New Mexico Press, 2000. 256 p.

"Mexican Americans: A Survey of Research by the Texas Agricultural Experiment Station, 1964-1976." D. Medina and W. P. Kuvlesky. Progress Report, Texas Agricultural Experiment Station, (3194), rev., August 1976. 9p. NAL Call No.: 100 T31P

"Mexican Migration into Washington State: A History, 1940-1950." Erasmo Gamboa. Pacific Northwest Quarterly, Vol. 72(3), 1981, p. 121-131.
Tells about the Braceros program whereby Mexican workers came under contract work in the fields. Some remained after the official program ended and became the nucleus of the Hispanic community in the Yakima Valley.

Mexican Workers in the United States: Historical and Political Perspectives. George C. Kiser and Martha Woody Kiser. Albuquerque, NM: University of New Mexico Press, 1979. 295 p.

Mexicanos: A History of Mexicans in the United States. Manuel G. Gonzales. Bloomington, IN: Indiana University Press, 1999. 322 p.
This book presents a thorough survey of events in the history of Mexican-Americans, Chicanos, Mexicanos, Hispanos, and Latinos. It begins with the Spanish conquest of Mexico and ends in the Gringolandia of the 1990's.

"New Mexico's Colonial Agriculture." Marc Simmons. Palacio Vol. 89(1), 1983, p. 3-10.
Comments on crops introduced to New Mexico and the Pueblo Indians by the Spanish. Mentions agricultural methods and tools.

North from Mexico: The Spanish-Speaking People of the United States. Carey McWilliams. New York: Greenwood Press, 1968. 324 p.
First published in 1949, this book provides a comprehensive general history of the Mexican experience. It has been updated to include the period 1945 to 1988.

Nosotros: The Hispanic People of Oregon: Essays and Recollections. Erasmo Gamboa. Portland, OR: Oregon Council for the Humanities, 1995. 160 p.
Recounts the adventures of early Spanish explorers. Tells the story of vaqueros and braceros, and the contributions of Mexican mule packers who brought food and supplies to miners in Colorado.

Occupied America: A History of Chicanos. Rudolph Acuna. New York: Longman, 4th edition, 2000. 554 p.
This book traces the conquest of northern Mexico by the United States. It is written by a historian and political activist.

Puerto Rican Foods and Traditions. Janina M. Czajkowski. Storrs, CT: University of Connecticut, College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Cooperative Extension Service, 1971. 9 p. NAL Call No.: TX360.P9C6

?Que Lejo Hemos Venido? = How Far Have We Come? : Migrant Farm Labor in Iowa, 1975 - A Report Prepared By the Iowa Advisory Committee to the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights. Washington, DC: U. S. Government Printing Office, 1976. 93 p. NAL Call No.: HD1527.I7U54

The Ranch in Spanish Texas, 1691-1800. Sandra L. Myres. Social Science Series No. 2. El Paso, TX: University of El Paso, 1969. 69 p. NAL Call No.: F389.M9

"Ranch Life as Real Life." American Visions, Vol. 6, February 1991, p. 56-57. NAL Call No.: E185.5 A5
The Taylor-Stevenson Ranch is minutes from Houston, Texas. This article describes the ranch owner's museum dedicated to the realities of ranch life for black, Native American, and Hispanic cowboys.

Rio Grande Wetbacks: Mexican Migrant Workers. Carrol Norquest. Albuquerque, NM: University of New Mexico Press, 1972. 159 p. NAL Call No.: HD1527.T4N6

"Sheep Ricos and Sheep Fortunes in the Aftermath of the American Conquest, 1846-1861." Alvin R. Sunseri. Palacio, Vol. 83(1), 1977, p. 2-8.
Beginning from Spanish-supplied stock, Hispanic rancheros amassed fortunes in sheep ranching, food production, and textile manufacture in New Mexico from 1846-1861.

"Sheepmen vs Cattlemen - Battle of San Juan's Day in Apache County, AZ in 1882." Arizona Highways, Vol. 71, February 1995, p. 32-35.
The Battle of San Juan's Day on June 24, 1882, was the climax of an Arizona range war between Hispanic sheepmen and Texas-born cattlemen. This article chronicles the events leading up to the battle and discusses its aftermath.

"Social and Economic Characteristics of Spanish-Origin Hired Farmworkers." Leslie Whitener Smith. Washington, DC: Economic Research Service, U. S. Department of Agriculture, 1976. Agricultural Economic Report No. 349. NAL Call No.: A281.9 Ag8A No. 349

Southwest Flavor: Adela Amado's Tales from the Kitchen. Adela Amador. Sante Fe, NM: New Mexico Magazine, 2000. 128 p.
Dozens of traditional recipes included with slice of life anecdotes. Her childhood recollections take us back to her days growing up in northern New Mexico. A glossary of Spanish food names and terms is included.

Southwestern Cookery, Indian and Spanish Influences. Louis Szathmary. New York: Arno Press, 1973. 264 p. NAL Call No.: TX15.S9 1973

Spanish and Mexican Land Grants in California. Rose Hollenbaugh Avina. San Francisco, CA: R and E Research Associates, 1973. 109 p. NAL Call No.: HD211.C2A93 1973

Spanish and Mexican Land Grants in New Mexico and Colorado. John R. Van Ness and Christine M. Van Ness. Manhattan, KS: Sunflower University Press, 1980. 119 p. NAL Call No.: HD211.N6S67

"The Spanish Cattle Kingdom in the Province of Texas." Sandra L. Myres. Texana, Vol. 4(3), 1966, p. 233-246.
A study of the Spanish attempts to raise cattle on the grazing lands of Texas shows the many ranching practices associated with the American West in the 19th Century and their origin during the days when Texas was a Spanish province. Among the problems the Spanish cattle raisers faced were those arising from the few civilian settlers, inadequate government control, and the frequent Indian attacks.

The Spanish in America, 1513-1979: A Chronology and Fact Book. Compiled and Edited by Arthur A. Natella, Jr.. Ethnic Chronology Series No. 12. Dobbs Ferry, NY: Oceana Publications, 1980. 141 p. NAL Call No.: E184.A1E86 No. 12

"The Spanish in Hawaii: Gaytan to Marin." Donald Cutter. Hawaiian Journal of History, Vol. 14, 1980, p. 16-25.
Spain's interest in Hawaii predated James Cook's discovery and was closely related to Spanish interest in the Pacific Northwest. Spanish explorer Juan Gaytan may have passed the Hawaiian Islands in 1555. Francisco de Paula Marin arrived in Hawaii in 1792 and lived there for the next 30 years.

Speaking Through the Aspens: Basque Tree Carvings in California and Nevada. J. Mallea-Olaetxe. Reno, NV: University of Nevado Press, 2000. 237 p.
Documents Basque records carved on more than 20,000 aspen trees by those who tended sheep in California and Nevada in the mid-eighteenth century.

"Spring Sheep Drive on Arizona Trails: Taking the High Road in Basque Tradition." Carol Ann Bassett. American West, Vol. 20(7), May-June 1983, p. 22.

"Strawberry Cooperative Becomes 'The American Dream' for Salinas Valley (California) Chicano Farmworkers." G. Martin. Farmer Cooperatives, Vol. 44(12), March 1978, p. 10-11. NAL Call No.: 166.2 N47

Tejano Empire: Life on the South Texas Ranchos. Andres Tijerina. Clayton Wheat Williams Texas Life Series No. 7. College Station, TX: Texas A&M University Press, 1998. 159 p.
Tells the stories that were handed down for generations about life on a rancho in South Texas.

Tejano Legacy: Rancheros and Settlers in South Texas. Armondo C. Alonzo. Albuquerque, NM: University of New Mexico Press, 1998. 357 p. NAL Call No.: F392 R5A46 1998
Tells of the legacy of Tejano ranchers and settlers who lost claim to large amounts of lands in south Texas, such as the King ranch. The book is told from the point of view of the Hispanic people.

Trailblazers: African American and Hispanic Firsts at East Texas State University. James W. Byrd, and others. Commerce, TX: East Texas State University, 1996. 32 p.

Undercurrents: New Mexico Stories Then and Now. Adela Amador. Albuquerque, NM: Amador Publishers, 1998. 176 p.
Tells of the traditions of Hispanic life in New Mexico between the pre- and post- World War II years.

"The Vaquero and Ranching in the Southwestern United States, 1600-1970." Nora Ethel Ramirez. Bloomington, IN: Indiana University, 1979. 284 p.

Voices from the Wild Horse Desert: The Vaquero Families of the King and Kennedy Ranches. Jane Clements Monday and Betty Bailey Colley. Austin, TX: University of Texas Press, 1997. 265 p. NAL Call No.: F395.M5M63 1997

Note: The Citations in this publications were selected from:

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Updated September 2002
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