My Family History

Jonathan A. Vazquez
History 301-02
May 06, 2013
(323) 217-5838

Table of Contents
Chapter 1 Construction of Comparative Timelines

pg. 4
History of California- 1000 AD to the present
pg. 5-9
b) History of the South Bay 1521-present
pg. 10-12
c) Oliveros and Vazquez Timelines
pg. 14-19
d) Jonathan Vazquez Timeline- Birth through today
pg. 20-21
a)

Chapter II Narratives
a)
2

Family History Narrative

pg 23-38

pg. 22

Table of Contents con.

Chapter III History of the Region
a) The Spanish Legacy
b) Marriage
c)
Movies and Films that Impact our Perception of Marriage
and Family
d) Banning Museum Experience
e) Class Demographics
Chapter IV Culture and Heirlooms
a) Rites of Passage
b) Family Heirlooms
c) Personal Heirlooms
Chapter V References
3

Chapter 1 Construction of
Comparative Timelines

History of California1000 AD to the Present

TimelineHistory of California1000 AD to the Present

1000
Asians
come over
Bering
Straight
and settled
in
Americas

1300
Indian tribes
established

1400
Aztecs in
Mexico

1500
Early
European
explorers

History of California1000 AD to the Present

Francisco de Ulloa

Spanish
Spanish govt
discovers it is not
galleon San
abandons
an island
exploration for
Francis DrakeAgustin is
1539
driven
aground
Cortez sends
167 yrs
lands on
at Point Reyes
expedition
1602
Northern CA
1595
1532
1579

1535

1587
Cortez founds
Pedro
settlement on
Unamumo
Santa Cruz
1542
Bay Cabrillo exploresenters Morro
Bay
CA
7

1602
Sebastian
Vizcaino
lands in
Monterrey
Bay

1697
Jesuits
establish first
18 missions in
Baja

History of California1000 AD to the PresentArmy captain John

Founding of
Los Angeles
1781
San Gabriel
Mission Founded
1771

1777

Governor
Pablo Frages
corporal guard
instructions
1787

1795
Neve Toured
Pablo Cotaled
Alta
expedition on
1784
California
through San
Los Agneles
Fernando
Chapel Built
Valley

Mexico gains
Independence
1821

1835
Mexican
Congress
makes L.A
a city

Charles Fremont
raises the
American flag atop
Gavilan Peak
1846

1841
Sir George
Simpson
negotiates
trading
agreements with
Mexican

History of California1000 AD to the Present

Californi
a
became
a US
Territory
in 1847

1847

California is
admitted as a
slave free
state on
September 9,
1850
1848

The
Gold
rush
began
in 1848

1850

Chinese
exclusion
act was
establishe
d in 1882

1851

California
vigilance
first
committee is
formed in
San
Francisco in

1882

Los Angeles
harbor
commission
was founded
in 1907

1901

The
General
strike of
1901

1907

The Great
depression
cripples
California's
agricultural
economy

1922

The
Hollywood
bowl was
establish on
1922

1930

1941

The Bracero
program was
establish in
1941

History of California1000 AD to the Present

L. Ron
Hubbard
founds
Church of
Scientology
1954

1954

10

1955

1955
Disneyland
open in
Anaheim in
July

Free speech
movement
erupts at UC
Berkeley,
1964

1964

1965

Charles
Manson and
followers go
on a killing
spree
1969
1969

1965
Rioting breaks
out in Watts
district of
L.A.

Voters pass
proposition
209
outlawing
affirmative
action
1996

1995

1995
Jury acquits
O.J. Simpson
of murder

1996

2001

Antonio
Villaraigosa is
elected the first
Hispanic mayor
of L.A.
2005

2005

2001
California experiences
blackouts as the
deregulated energy
system goes into
meltdown

History of the South Bay

1521- Present

11

History of the South Bay

1805 - The
first
American
trading ship
arrives at
San Pedro
Bay, south
of the
Pueblo.
1805

12

1821

1821 Mexico
achieves
independen
ce from

1826 The
Dominguez
Rancho
Adobe was
Built on the
Dominguez
Ranch
1826

1828

1846
Battle of
Dominguez
Rancho
erupts in the
San Pedro
Harbor

1846

1828
Rancho San
Pedro was
one of the
first California
land grants,
and the first
to win a

1858
Banning
founds the
town of
Wilmington
CA. naming it
after his
hometown of
Wilmington,
Delaware

1851

1851
Phineas
Banning
arrives in
San Pedro

1858

1859

1860 Banning
began his
own staging
and shipping
company.
Banning
wagons
1860

1859 - The first

Ocean-going
vessel anchored
in Los AngelesWilmington harbor

History of the South Bay

Dynamic growth
of the Ports due
to petroleum,
lumber, and
citrus trade.

1940s:
Shipbuilding
becomes
prominent due
to the war.

Sears building
opens on
September 30,
1959

American Olympic
athletes won over 15
medals at the 1984
Olympics at the
Carson Velodrome.

1920 1930 1940 1950 1960-70 1980-90 2000

13

October 5, 1926
Shell Oil
company buys
322 acres to build
an oil refinery.

90,000 Men and

Women
employed and
rationing comes
into play.

Carson was
incorporated as a
city in 1968

Family Timeline

14

Merceds Quinonez
Timeline (Great Grandmother)
Birth:
May 10, 1898

1890

Birth of two
daughters (Myrna
and Dora) and son
(Alfonso)
Unknown dates

1920

Birth of her
daughter Zoila
July 11, 1921

Death July 1963

1940

Birth of her
grandchild Jose
Casteneda
Jan 15, 1943

1960

Zoila Mialgro Quinonez Clara

Timeline (Grandmother)
Birth:
July 11.
1921

1920

Birth: of her
daughter Estela
Oliveros
April 26, 1947

1940

Birth of her son

Jose
Casteneda
Jan. 15, 1943

Birth: of her
daughter Ruth
Rosales
August 22, 1957

1950 1960

Birth of her
daughter Elsa
Oliveros
October 20, 1949
(My Mother)

Milagros Death
July 1977

1970

Mercedes
Quinonez Dies
(Zoilas mother)
July 1963

Elsa Haydee Quinonez Vazquez

Timeline (Mother)
Birth:
October 20,
1949

1950

Immigrates to
the United
States Feb.
1971

Mother dies on
July 1977

1970

Birth of her
daughter Ivy in
Guatemala on
April 6, 1970.

I am born on
April 25, 1992

1980

Married Terry
Jackson in 1972

1990

My mother meets
my father in 1983
in a dance club.

Juanita Vazquez Guiterrez

(Grandmother )
Married
Juan
Vazquez at
the age of
17.

Birth:
October 10,
1942

1940

1950

Birth of her
daughter
Maria Luisa
in 1965.

1960

Birth of my
father Jose
Vazquez on
March 15,
1963.

1970

Birth of her
son Virgilio
in 1971

1980

Death in 1989
due to cancer.

Juan Vazquez
(Grandfather )
Married
Juanita at
the age of
19 in 1957.

Birth: June
15, 1938

1940

1950

Started
working on his
fathers ranch
in 1959.

Birth of her
daughter
Maria Luisa
in 1965.

1960

Birth of my
father Jose
Vazquez on
March 15,
1963.

1970

Birth of his
son Virgilio
in 1971 .

1990

Death in 1995
due to a
stroke.

Jose Guadalupe Vazquez

(Father )
In 1978 he
immigrates to
the United
States.

1960
Birth of my
father Jose
Vazquez on
March 15,
1963

1970

His
daughter
Carla was
born on
April 08,
1985

1980

Met my mother
in a dance club
in 1983

My birth on
April 25,
1992

1990

2000

His son Jeff

Vazquez is
born on Feb.
22, 2007.

Personal Timeline

21

Jonathan Vazquez
Timeline
Birth April
25, 1992

199
2

199
5

1995
Psoriasis
appeared
22

Elementar
y School
Kindergart
en
199
7

Middle
School
Graduatio
n

200
3

Begins
Middle
School

200
6

Started
CSUDH

201
0

High
School
Graduation

201
0

201
3
Job as a Campus
Aide at Liberty
Blvd. Elementary
School

Chapter 2
Narratives

23

Juan Vazquez Narrative

Juan Vazquez was born on Jun 15, 1938 in Colotln Jalisco

Mexico. Like all my grandparents his story has not been shared
with me. I only have a few facts of information that are told to me
when I do happen to see my father and his siblings. One
interesting fact I do know is that at the age of nineteen he
married my grandmother who was only seventeen. All his life he
had worked on a ranch that his father owned. He would pass
down the skills he learned on the ranch to his two sons, and
show them that hard work would get them far. Another interesting
fact is that he only had three children two boys and one girl. I
believe that this is interesting because from these three children
he obtained many grandchildren. In total he had about ten
grandchildren, but only one of them he did get to meet. That one
person was my sister Carla, and he met her when my father
went to Mexico to see how his father was doing. My father and
sister say he was overjoyed to meet his granddaughter because
she has a very strong resemblance to his daughter and wife. He
loved Carla so much that he gave her one of his horses and
allowed her to name it Cookie. I would never get to meet him
because my grandfather died in 1995 due to a stroke.
24

Juanita Gutierrez Narrative

Juanita Gutierrez is my grandmother from my fathers side, and like my other

grandmother much of her history has been lost. Either my father does not like to
share much about her parents lives, or he really cannot recall much since he
was small. One interesting fact about my grandmother is that she was married
at a very young age. At the age of seventeen she married my grandfather Juan
Vazquez, and from here on out the Vazquez name would be passed down.
According to my mother Juanita was not a very large women, she was petite
with brown hair. She was born on October 10, 1942 and would die in 1989 due
to cervical cancer. Juanita was the ideal Mexican wife because she followed the
traditions passed down to her. She always had a cooked meal for her husband,
and cleaning was what she was taught to do. My father says that the Vazquez
lived in area in Colotln Jalisco Mexico, where no matter what corner you went
to a Vazquez lived there. My mom has also told me that this is true because the
Vazquez lived in one whole block. I know that Juanita had three children and
they go as followed, the first born was my father Jose on March 15, 1963. She
then had her one and only daughter Maria Luisa in 1965. In 1971 Juanita had
her second son Virgilio Vazquez. My father says his mother was a hard worker
and did what she had to do to keep her family stable. Therefore, it was
surprising to them when all of a sudden she began to look fragile and grow
weaker. My grandfather loved her so much that all the money he had from his
ranch was used for proper medical care, but it was to no avail. None of the
doctors they visited could determine what was wrong with her, thus my
grandfather went as far as to take her to witch doctors. Yet, it was too late and
when they diagnosed her with having cancer there was no way of treating her.
25
So Juanita my grandmother, died in 1989.Juanitas life represented that of a
traditional Mexican housewife, but her traditions are what kept her strong. She

Zoila Narrative
The history of my grandmother has been lost for many reasons. One reason is that she abandoned my
mother and her siblings at a very young age. Second, my mother did not speak with her for many years
until she went back to Guatemala. I cannot say that she a horrible person for abandoning her children,
because without my grandmother I would not have my mother, nor be born. My grandmother was born in
Escuintla, Guatemala on July 11, 1921. Her full name is Zoila Mialgro Quinonez Clara, and she is one of
four children. Life for Zoila was also difficult because she did not have the support of her mother, and
often struggled to survive. One thing that my mother shares about my grandmother is that she was also a
hard worker. In order to provide food for her children, she often baked and sold Guatemalan candies
called Tartaritas. My mother says that she taught her children the value of hard work and money by
making her children sell the candies in local centers. According to my mom, Tartaritas shaped like cookies
and are spread with a jelly. My grandmother would make the jelly, and it is described as being white with
the flavor of coconut. Zoila banned my mother from selling candies because she would eat them instead
of selling them. Aside from her struggle to survive in Guatemala, Zoila also faced many tragedies in her
life.In 1954 my mothers dad left her, and alone she had to provide a future for her children. She made the
choice to move to Guatemala City where she hoped that a better life was awaiting her. Her hope was
answered as she did gain help from President Carlos Castillo Armas as he provided many Guatemalans
with shoes and food in 1964. When he took the role of President, Guatemalans were able to sleep with
their doors unlocked because crime was at an all-time low. Thus, Guatemala was the answer to Zoilas
prayers. Yet, it did not change some of the obstacles she faced. The largest obstacle she faced was
having twelve children. Growing up in Guatemala was and continues to be difficult. Now imagine trying to
raise children there and still be able to support yourself. From the twelve children only four survived. My
mother recalls that when she was about six she remembered her mother having another child, but says
that the little girl died of pneumonia. According to my aunt and uncle three more of these children died
from the same causes, and the rest were born ill. Although she lost her children she tried to make her life,
and I can applaud her for that. She made up abandoning my mother by helping her raise my sister Ivy.
She would raise my sister Ivy until my mother and Terry were able to bring her to the United States.
26 Rumor has it in the family that my grandmother died while laughing. For a long time I questioned this story
until my aunts and uncle confirmed it. They say while having a gathering with her friends she began

Elsa Haydee Vazquez Oliveros

My mothers name is Elsa Haydee Vazquez and to this day she is the strongest

27

women I know. She has overcome many obstacles in her life, and constantly
picks herself up again. Elsa was born in Guatemala City and is the second
smallest sibling. Her mother Zoila would have twelve children but only four of
these children would survive. She cannot recall much of her childhood because
both her mother and father would walk out of her life, but she has instilled this
idea in her children that struggles and obstacles make a person stronger. At the
age of fifthteen my mother along with her sister and brother would live on their
own, and the start of her newly found freedom would change her life forever. My
mother says that the reason she no longer lived with her parents was due to the
abandonment of her mother. My mother was living with her older brother and
sister until he got married and left them alone. Elsa was only fifteen years old
and her sister Estela was barely seventeen years old. The thought of starving
and not having a home constantly crossed the mind of my mother. Therefore,
when she turned sixteen years old she began her first job in a shoe department.
The money she made here was used to pay the small room they lived in, and
help provide some food for her and my aunt. My money needed more money to
survive and support herself and her sister, so she began working in a pharmacy
at seventeen years old. Her world turned upside down when at the age of
twenty-one she found out she was pregnant. Fear ran through her mind because
she knew she could not be able to provide for her sister and let alone a child.

Elsas Narrative con.

On February 1971 my mom immigrated to the United States and would create the life that
revolves around many children and grandchildren. Once she arrived to the United States, my
mother began work as a cleaning lady. She sought out this work because she needed to
provide money for my sister in Guatemala. She would then meet my sisters father in 1972,
and become a citizen of the United States. While married to Terry, she obtained a job in his
company as the head of payroll. She shares stories of how his painting company had become
so successful that they painted rooms in Capital Records, and would no longer live the life she
had lived. My mother often compares her relationship to that of Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz.
She explains to us that there was a large language barrier because she did not know English
and Terry did not understand Spanish. Yet, they managed to find love, and she had two
daughters with him named Madeline and Paola Jackson. However, with the years their
marriage was hit hard because of his addiction to alcohol and she moved back to Guatemala
to start her life over again. She packed her bags and took my sisters Ivy, Paola, and
Madeline to Guatemala were she reunited with her mother. There are a couple of interesting
facts that I would like to share about my mother. The first being that even now at her age of 65
she continues to work because she says it bring her a sense of independence and hard
work. The second fact is that she learned to speak English by watching television. She knew
in order to be successful in the United States she had to learn the language. Therefore, she
began watching shows like the Andy Griffin show, Golden Girls, Soul Train, I Love Lucy,
Laverne and Shirley, and Happy Days. One day she said while watching these shows she
began understanding what they were saying. She began imitating the things she heard on
these shows, and is now capable of speaking English. Another interesting fact is that all six of
her children are either attending or have gone to college. One idea that she instilled in us is
28
that to be successful we must have an education, thus she constantly pushes us to go to

Jose Vazquez Narrative

My father was born on March 15, 1963 in Colotln Jalisco Mexico. He

has one brother named Virgilio and a sister named Maria Luisa. Most
importantly, he has three children, my sister Carla and my half-brother
Jeff. He had lived in Colotln Jalisco Mexico for many years until he
immigrated to the United States in 1978. My father immigrated to the
United States in 1978 because he was in search of a new life, and
possibly a better opportunity. My fathers first job in the United States
was packaging parts of metals. He did this job for many years and
would send money to his family back in Mexico. Due to him immigrating
here illegally he was not able to obtain many jobs here in the United
States. Therefore, he always had a job doing hard labor that no one
was willing to do. Aside from working he maintained a social life
because he was a young man in the land of hopes and dreams. He has
always enjoyed dancing, and thus it is no surprise that he met my
mother in a nightclub in 1983. He says when he saw her he fell for her
in that instant, and what do anything to sweep her off her feet. He must
have done something right because my mother would end up marrying
him in 1987, and later have two children with him. He was able to obtain
a visa because of his marriage to my mother, and finally be able to work
in other trades. His cousin/brother gave him an opportunity to work in
his business printing posters. My tio Raul showed my father the skills it
took to work in his shop, and my dad would work there for many years.
My father would leave the business when he heard about his mother
29
and father being ill. Therefore, he went back to Mexico to take care of
his father and mother for a couple months. Once he returned he tried to

Jose Vazquez Cont.

My mother and father grew apart especially after my

30

mother found out about his affair. Therefore, when I

was about three years old, he left and since then on I
really have no connection to him. Things I do know
about my father I have had to learn through other
people, but have never really experienced them.
According to my sisters and brothers he was a good
man, caring, and a role model to them. They say he
taught them how to drive, how to play soccer, and
how to ride a horse. I can say that whenever I do
happen to run into him, he will check my car to make
sure it is running smoothly. He even took a couple
days to show me how to drive, but due to the distance
between us two we are driven apart.

No. Type Of Item

Artifacts

Approximate Description Location

Date

Grandfather,
Tio, and Tia

1.

1948

2.

February 6, Grandmother
postcard
1940

Guatemala
City

Escuintla,
Guatemala

No. Type Of Item

Approximate Description
Date

3.

1976

Grandmother
and her close
friends.

4.

1977

My father riding Colotln

his horse.
Jalisco

Location

Guatemala
City

Mexico

No. Type Of Item

Approximate Description
Date

5.

1972

My mother and La Mirada,

Terry Jackson California

6.

1974

Terry, my mom, La Mirada,

and sister
California
Paola

Location

No. Type Of Item

Approximate Description
Date

7.

1987

At the alter
waiting to be
wed.

Los
Angeles,
California

8.

1994

My father and
I.

South
Gate,
California

Location

Historical Event #1
President Carlos
Castillo Armas
Became President of

Guatemala in 1964, after

President Jacobo Guzman
was forced to resign.
Created a better environment
for Guatemalans.
Provided shoes and food for
the poor.

Historical Event #2
Black and White Television
1965 Television sets

arrive in Guatemala
Changed the my
mothers perspective
of how advanced
other parts of the
world were.

Historical Fact #3
Assassination of John F. Kennedy
People in Guatemala

felt in limbo, because

Guatemala and the
United States had a
good relationship.

Historical Fact #3
Assassination of John F. Kennedy

Family Map

38

Oliveros Family Map

From Escuintla, Guatemala to Guatemala City,

then all the way to Los Angeles, California

39

Vazquez Family Map

40

Vazquez Surname

41

Surname Origins
Vazquez name means son of Vasco and

refers to the Basque region.

They live in Spain, and numerous Latin
American countries, such as Uruguay,
Venezuela and Mexico.
It is a patronymic surname meaning "son of
Vasco
It also means crow
42

Personal Narrative

43

Personal Narrative
My mother was born on October 20, 1949. And at a very young age she was

forced to grow up and take care of her brothers and sisters. In order to escape
her reality, she declared that one day she would leave far away, and she did
just that. In 1969, she used her resources available to come to the United
States. And thanks to her tenacity and strength, I am one of her six children that
were born. My mother strived to provide a better life for not only her family but
also for herself. This is what led her to the United States. Thus, her decision to
immigrate here is one factor that contributes to where I am today. Another factor
that contributes to where I am today is my hard work and dedication to become
a teacher. Since an early age I fell in love with teaching people anything, and
therefore I always wanted to emulate my teachers. Anytime someone would ask
me what career path I would take on, I would always declare that I would be
teacher. Thus, I take my education seriously and do not waste time new facts. I
strive to be just like the teachers that inspired me to be who I am today. Most
importantly, my dedication to become a great teacher is what will drive my
students to try their best. My dedication to become a teacher is what has driven
me to volunteer many hours at my local elementary school and gain the
experience I will someday use. Most importantly, the love and support I have
from my friends and family is what has driven me where I am today, and that is
44
at Cal State Dominguez Hills. My mother and siblings have always encouraged

Chapter III History of the Region

45

The Spanish Legacy

Marriage
Marriage is in our family

Iberian / Spanish

46

culture has impacted

my life or my familys
life in the following
ways
People in my family
have created
testaments to make
sure that their passing
does not cause chaos
for their families.
Also we believe that
income does derive

is defined as a
commitment between
two people who love
each other.
Responsibilities include
cooking, cleaning, and
raising the children. And
for men it includes
working to support their
families.
Ex) My mom always
cooks for her family and
so do all my sisters
My brother in laws

Movies And Films That Have Impacted Your

Perception Of Marriage And The Family
They define happiness in

marriage and family life by

influencing us to be together
and to find out soul mates.
Qualities we look for in our
mate is that the women must
be petite and beautiful.
Whereas the men must be
rugged and tall.
Idea of a happy family
include closeness, everyone
working together, love and
47 respect, communication,

Films that include

these conepts are

Jqjq
2. Jqjqj
3. jqjq
1.