Efren portrait [5k]

Efren was born in central Mexico in 1928. His father worked as a railroad engineer. Efren attended college and worked in a textile factory in San Luis Potosi. There he married Concepcion Davila, a nurse, in 1951. As the family grew to five members, they started to build a house. Unfortunately, work ran out for Efren and they moved north to Matamoras to join Concepcion's mother, who had arranged for Efren to work across the border in Brownsville, Texas. Efren worked at various jobs for a few months in Brownsville but none offered much hope of financial independence. Efren heard reports of economic opportunities in the northern States and decided to travel to Chicago with five other men to look for work in September of 1956. He found jobs dishwashing in restaurants and making picture frames in a factory. Now, eight months later, he wants to be with his family. Even working two jobs, six days a week, he is only making about $50 per week. But, at least he has work. The details for this story were gathered through a series of oral interviews with Efren and Concepcion.


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© Illinois State Museum 31-Dec-96