Prisoners of War in New Mexico Agriculture

Abstract of Interview

CONSULTANT:  Ruth Pickard

TAPE NUMBER:  RG2000-024

DATE OF BIRTH:  (not available)

SEX:  Female

DATE(S) OF INTERVIEW:  June 14, 2000

LOCATION OF INTERVIEW:  Ruth Pickard’s home in Las Cruces, New Mexico.

INTERVIEWER:  Ron Nelson

SOURCE OF INTERVIEW:  NMF&RHM__x___OTHER________

TRANSCRIBED:               YES____x___            NO_______

NUMBER OF TAPES:  1

ABSTRACTOR:  Ron Nelson

DATE ABSTRACTED:  July 3, 2000

QUALITY OF RECORDING (SPECIFY):  good

SCOPE AND CONTENT NOTE:  Use of Italian prisoners of war on Brazito, New Mexico, farm.

DATE RANGE: 1940 to post-World War II.

ABSTRACT (IMPORTANT TOPICS IN ORDER OF APPEARANCE):

TAPE ONE, SIDE ONE (only):

Mrs. Pickard stated that she and her husband, at that time Mr. Clifford Field, grew cotton on their 40-acre farm at Brazito during the war. She discusses laborers coming from Arizona after they had harvested the cotton crop there and that they had living quarters for them. As the pool of laborers dried up they got Italian prisoners of war because her husband spoke Spanish and could communicate better with them. She said they were “awful pleasant people”, sang a lot, did a good job and would bring her three-year-old daughter candy. They also hired “Okies” during the war. Her most impressive memory is of the Italians bringing her daughter candy.

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