DIY History | Transcribe | Campus Culture | Maria Cano Martinez newspaper clippings and interpreter position documentation, 1978-1997 | 1983-05-07 Iowa City Press-Citizen Article: ""The Rios and Martinez families happy in Iowa City"" Page 6

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Maria Cano Martinez newspaper clippings and interpreter position documentation, 1978-1997

1983-05-07 Iowa City Press-Citizen Article: ""The Rios and Martinez families happy in Iowa City"" Page 6

Press-Citizen/John Riley

Mr. and Mrs. Joe Martinez are a second generation Chicano family in Iowa City.

As a high school girl Mary had worked in the kitchen, the dish room and the cafeteria at the University Hospital. Then after her 13 years as a secretary at Mercy, in the 1960s she was employed as a secretary at University Hospital and continued as volunteer Spanish interpreter. In 1975 she joined the staff at University Hospital, becoming the first official Spanish interpreter. Her service in establishing the department was recognized March 13 this year when she was presented a plaque honoring her for her many years of service.

THE CHICANOS
The Chicanos, as the Mexican Americans refer to themselves, are the smallest and most recent ethnic group to settle in Iowa City. Each of the ethnic groups has left the imprint of their culture on the community. The city and county's largest ethnic group has been the Bohemians who date back to the 1850s. The Germans were the second largest, the Irish the third, the Welsh the fourth, and the Chicanos the fifth. Some Mexicans have registered surprise that their immigration was the last of the ethnic groups, when geographically they were the country closest and easiest to make the move.

The first influx of Mexican population in Iowa started in 1910 at the time of the Civil War in Mexico, and many fled the country, as reported by 83-year-old Lucas Castillo of Montpelier, Iowa.

The Mexicans, with some of their first generation still around, retain much of their culture with fiestas and colorful observance of weddings, baptisms, anniversaries, National holidays, including Cinco de Mayo (May 5), the day French domination of Mexico under Maximillan ended (1887). The occasion is being observed today at the Chicago Indian American Center at 308 Melrose Ave., a University group.

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Press-Citizen/John Riley Mr. and Mrs. Joe Martinez are a second generation Chicano family in Iowa City. As a high school girl Mary had worked in the kitchen, the dish room and the cafeteria at the University Hospital. Then after her 13 years as a secretary at Mercy, in the 1960s she was employed as a secretary at University Hospital and continued as volunteer Spanish interpreter. In 1975 she joined the staff at University Hospital, becoming the first official Spanish interpreter. Her service in establishing the department was recognized March 13 this year when she was presented a plaque honoring her for her many years of service. THE CHICANOS The Chicanos, as the Mexican Americans refer to themselves, are the smallest and most recent ethnic group to settle in Iowa City. Each of the ethnic groups has left the imprint of their culture on the community. The city and county's largest ethnic group has been the Bohemians who date back to the 1850s. The Germans were the second largest, the Irish the third, the Welsh the fourth, and the Chicanos the fifth. Some Mexicans have registered surprise that their immigration was the last of the ethnic groups, when geographically they were the country closest and easiest to make the move. The first influx of Mexican population in Iowa started in 1910 at the time of the Civil War in Mexico, and many fled the country, as reported by 83-year-old Lucas Castillo of Montpelier, Iowa. The Mexicans, with some of their first generation still around, retain much of their culture with fiestas and colorful observance of weddings, baptisms, anniversaries, National holidays, including Cinco de Mayo (May 5), the day French domination of Mexico under Maximillan ended (1887). The occasion is being observed today at the Chicago Indian American Center at 308 Melrose Ave., a University group.