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Identifier
ImperialGertrude_2008_CRP
Description
Gertrude Imperial is 80-year-old women of Filipino decent living in Pacific Grove who grew up in Salinas and has stayed in the Monterey Bay area throughout her life. She started off the interview by responding to questions about her early life and her parent’s lives. She went into detail describing the farm she grew up on and who her brothers and sister are in comparison to herself within her family In this portion of the interview Gertrude also elaborates on where she lived specifically in Salinas and where she attended grade school. Her account of school and where her school’s district was as well as her teachers’ names was unusually specific. Throughout the interview she is positive, but some of her fondest memories seem to be of school and the teachers she had there. Gertrude also remembers Chinatown very well as her family used to travel there to go out to dinner and as a family outing activity. She recalls names and places, most specifically she refers to the Republic Cafe a few times throughout the entire interview. Her experience there shaped her as a waitress when she started working later in life, as she admired the women there. Gertrude also speaks of the red-light district in Chinatown and nice the prostitutes were to all the children. She explains other childhood experiences such as living through the depression and fighting with her brothers, but school and Chinatown were more enthusiastic subjects for her. She also talks a little bit about Filipino special occasions and discrimination. When she starts to talk about entering her teenage and adult years she does not seem to have as many vivid memories, although she does share a story about these dances her father used to make her attend in which men would pay to dance with the young ladies there. Gertrude talks about meeting her husband and the family scene that occurred when he asked for her hand in marriage. Her husband worked as a chef in Carmel at the Pine in for over 25 years and she worked at different schools and then it seems as though she did more volunteer work. Near the end of interview she talks about what it was like when the Japanese were interned and how her class had a party to say goodbye and the teachers cried. She also talks about her brother going to fight in the war. Near the end of the interview we wrapped up, although it seems like we could have asked more questions and gotten more stories. She said she had remembered everything she could remember.
Interview Date
11-14-2008
Interviewer
Lauren Driscoll
Geographic Coverage
Salinas (Calif.)
Subjects
Chinatown (Salinas, Calif.); Filipino American families; Filipino Americans--Employment; Childhood and youth
Type
Moving Image
Genre
Oral histories
Digital Format
video/mp4
Language
eng
Digital Collection
Chinatown Renewal Project
Repository
Archives & Special Collections of California State University, Monterey Bay
Disclaimer
These oral histories express the personal views, memories, and opinions of the interviewee. They do not represent the policy or views of California State University, Monterey Bay.
Recommended Citation
Imperial, Gertrude and California State University, Monterey Bay, "Interview with Gertrude Imperial" (2008). Chinatown Renewal Project. 36.
https://digitalcommons.csumb.edu/ohcma_chinatown/36
Rights Statement
