Fourth of July 

Independence Day in El Paso, TX

For decades, El Pasoans have celebrated Independence Day in many different ways.  The most common one is the use of fireworks. Parades and music festivals have also been practiced, commemorating the declaration of US Independence from Great Britain on July 4th, 1776. The statement was adopted by 56 delegates, giving our nation the right to select our own government.  In El Paso, the History Museum and local newspapers have diligently tracked and published many events that have happened in observation of this remarkable holiday: 

• On July 4, 1942, as published by the El Paso Herald Post, calvary men from Fort Bliss and infantrymen from Cd. Juarez, marched the streets of downtown El Paso. Mexican senators, deputies, generals, Chihuahua governor Alfredo Chavez, and Juarez mayor, Antonio J. Bermudez, along with several American civil dignitaries and military commanders, including Sen. W. lee O'Daniel, Consul General W. P. Blocker, and Mayor J.E. Anderson, gathered together at a reviewing stand of the San Jacinto Plaza to watch the historical parade.  Thousands of spectators from both sides of the border lined the parade route while simultaneously cheering: "Hoo-ray!" (Americans), and "Viva Mexico! Viva Los Estados Unidos!" (Mexicans).

                                                                         

• On July 2, 1959, The El Paso Times advertised a 4th of July dance, which was sponsored by Father Rahm, a legendary Catholic priest and Jesuit who helped and advocated for at-risk teens.

        

                Source: Private collection of Skip Clark     Uploaded by: El Paso Museum of History's Digital Wall (DIGIE)    

• In the past, KLAQ radio station sponsored raft races on the Rio Grande.  The picture below was retrieved from the El Paso History Museum's Digital Wall (DIGIE); it shows race participants on a 4th of July day.  

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                                                                                                    Area: Upper Valley / Borderland
                                                                                                    Source: T.E.DENT
                                                                                                    Uploaded by: barbara 2

Juneteenth

Commemorating Juneteenth

Did you know that Juneteenth is a federal holiday to celebrate the freedom of African-American slaves in Texas...?

:Let's dive back in time!

June 19, 1865

• The word 'Juneteenth' is abbreviated version of June & Nineteenth.
• Juneteenth is also known as Jubilee Day, Emancipation Day, Freedom Day, Black Independence Day, Juneteenth Independence Day, Juneteenth National Independence Day
• It is basically the '4^th of July' for African Americans.
• A preliminary proclamation to abolish slavery was issued and signed by Abraham Lincoln in September 1862 and effective January 1, 1863.
• This proclamation was unknown by Texas; it was the last state to free slaves.
• The slaves were lonely and homesick because they were forced to leave their country, their homes, and in most cases, their families behind.  During their journey to the America, they were malnourished, weak, and sick, some did not make it. 
• Upon their arrival to America, these people were sold as slaves.  They were beaten and humiliated, forced to work for free and without rights. 
•  Mexico was against slavery, thus some of the slaves fled to Mexico and lived comfortably there, some became rich.  Texas treated its slaves better than other states so that they would desist from escaping to the neighboring country. 
•  TX first state to recognize “Emancipation Day” as an official holiday
• On June 19, 1865, General Order No. 3 was issued informing Texas slaves of their freedom.  Union General Gordon Granger arrived in Galveston, TX to read/announce the President Lincoln’s proclamation to 200,000 slaves, granting them their freedom.
• As soon as slaves knew of their freedom, most left their owners and began a new life.  A lot of them joyfully started dancing, singing, barbecuing, and doing fun things that were prohibited to them as slaves.
• Since that day, for decades, people in El Paso, across Texas, and through the US, celebrate with parades, pageants, festivals, music, free food, craft booths, free entertainment, dance, breakfasts, traditional barbecues, festivals, and even fireworks.  Multiple organizations and clubs, including the McCall Neighborhood Center, InterClub Council of El Paso, UTEP’s African American Studies Program, coordinate and sponsor the festivities.   

Shown below is a photograph of a Douglas School in a parade and past newspaper clippings from El Paso Times with images and articles of previous El Pasoans' Juneteenth festivities.  

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Wyler Aerial Tramway, once a soaring passageway into the skies above El Paso, may once again transport those adventurous enough up Ranger Peak after a 6-year closure. Recently reported in the El Paso Times, the project will be split into three phases. The first phase, already approved and funded, will bring improvements to the tramway base, followed by a new visitor center, and finally a new tramway because the original is no longer be usable. It may take many years for completion, but the first steps to get the aerial tramway underway again has seemingly begun.

A brief history of the aerial tramway: 

1959: Aerial tramway was built to carry workers and materials up to the KTSM towers high on Ranger Peak. At the time, it appears that the tramway had a good distance between its base of operations and the city (not the same could be said today!)

(El Paso Times, January 30, 1960)

From 1960 to January 1986: the tramway was open to the public and a must for anyone living in or visiting El Paso to experience.

(El Paso Times, February 23, 1974)

January 1986: Unfortunately, due to increased maintenance costs and a hefty $1 Million increased insurance policy, the tramway had to shut the tram doors and cease operations, hopeful to one day open again.

(El Paso Times, February 19, 1986)

March 10, 2001: The newly named Wyler Aerial Tramway reopened to the public on a (not so surprisingly) windy day.

(El Paso Times, March 11, 2001)

September 2018: Once again, the aerial tramway makes the difficult decision to shut the doors, this time due to an engineering analysis conducted that found it was no longer suitable for public use. 

The tramlines, it's station high on Ranger Peak, and even signs along the road still remind those that there was once a tramway that took generations high into the skies of El Paso.

For information like this and more, visit the Border Heritage Department where we hold vertical files on important local topics such as the aerial tramway. These files contain items such as newspaper clippings, pamphlets, booklets, and so much more!

National Internship Awareness Month

Did you know that April is National Internship Awareness Month? Internships (or practicums) are essential for those going to school to become a librarian.  We have been lucky enough to have an intern here at the Border Heritage Department for the past 3 months as she is finishing her final semester at the University of North Texas obtaining her Master of Library Science degree.

During her internship, countless hours have been spent on a large digitization project in creating the Local Newspapers & Newsletters collection featured on our Digital Archives website. 

Explore Our Collections - Border Heritage Center Digital Collections (quartexcollections.com)

She has had hands-on experience with scanning historical documents, editing, importing, and creating the metadata that is attached to each item. This experience will aid her in her future career....perhaps as an archivist so she can continue preserving and sharing historical documents for all to access. Wherever she lands, we wish you the best and Happy Graduation in May!  

Let's give all the interns out there you know a hand this, and all months to come!

 El Paso...officially reporting eclipses since 1885!

The Border Heritage Department, along with most of El Paso, took a break today to step outside and view the Eclipse from the Sergio Troncoso Library.

No eclipse glasses are needed however to check out the many interesting and valuable resources we have here at our temporary location.  

Renovations are wrapping up and before we know it, it will be time to box everything up and head back to the Main Library location in Downtown.  Visit us now or later, we'd be happy to help you in your research needs!

The month of March may hold many reasons to celebrate......Spring Break, National Read Across America Day, National Pi Day, St. Patrick's Day, Easter, Manatee Appreciation Day.....the list could go on.  The Border Heritage Department however would like to pay tribute to a topic that deserves a whole month of recognition.....National Women's History Month.

Women have fought for justice and equality throughout time and the Farah Factory Strike of 1972-1974 is a fierce example of what a largely female employed workforce can do. Combatting low wages, high demands and little benefits, the Farah workers of El Paso fought for their right to Unionize and make a fair wage.  

Video by Susan Barnum

More information on the Farah Strike can be found at the website for the University of Texas at Austin Exhibit page below.

Justice For Farah | Ya Basta - UT Libraries Exhibits (utexas.edu)

 

Since 1976, February has presidentially been proclaimed Black History Month in the United States, although the celebrations began long before. 

But why February? 

Celebrations began in this month that hold the birthdays of both Frederick Douglass (February 14, 1818) and Abraham Lincoln (February 12, 1809), both key individuals involved with the Emancipation of slaves during the American Civil War.  

As February comes to a close, the Border Heritage Department would like to highlight just a small fraction of that history here in El Paso. 

Extra, extra, read all about it!

Did you know that the El Paso Public Library has a resource available to library patrons to access news articles from the El Paso Times and the El Paso Herald as far back as 1881?!?!

Ever wondered what the price of eggs was in 1958? (53 cents by the way ;)

Looking for articles from when you starred on your high school football team?  

Maybe you're a student looking for more sources for that paper you're writing?

The ProQuest Historical Newspapers: El Paso Herald/El Paso Times database can be accessed at any of the El Paso Public Libraries or even from your own home with a valid library card!

To help the library staff at the many locations around town, the Border Heritage Department has begun giving hands-on training so that any of the library staff should be able to assist in using this valuable resource. 

This short instructional video will show you just how easy accessing these newspapers can be from any El Paso Public Library location.

If you have any questions, leave a comment below or email us directly at LibBorder@elpasotexas.gov

Sun Bowl History in El Paso

It's the big week for football fans everywhere! Chips will crunched, wings will be tossed, and soon the smell of barbecues will fill the air. As we prepare for the big day we thought we would highlight our own local version of the Super Bowl.....the Sun Bowl! 

Moments in El Paso's History

In 2023 the City of El Paso celebrated its 150th birthday! To help celebrate this milestone the Border Heritage Center created short, historical videos highlighting the culturally rich past of the area. Travel back in time as you see how significant the arrival of the railroads was to the rising city.