Ruben Cobos, recorder, 1975
File — Box: 4, CD: 398
Scope and Content
From the Collection:
The collection consists of 591 recordings of folk songs, folklore and local histories collected by Ruben Cobos from 1944-1974 in northern New Mexico and southern Colorado. Also included in the collection are about 270 additional recordings of selected music - a few from New Mexico, many from Mexico and Latin America, and others from Spain, Europe and the U.S. The recordings vary in quality between good, fair, and poor. They contain both musical and spoken content. Most recordings are in Spanish, however, a few are in English. Others are Bilingual or represent the use of Spanglish.
The informants are mainly from New Mexico and Colorado, with a few from California, Texas and Mexico. The collections focuses heavily on spoken Spanish, with examples of poetry, riddles, proverbs, legends, anecdotes, folk tales, mysteries, prayers, nursery rhymes, games, jokes, language use, tricky words, tongue twisters, memories, local history and family history. The Spanish songs include alabados, entriegas for weddings and baptisms, inditas, corridos and ballads, pastores, posadas, love songs, folk dance music, etc. Traditions of Los Juanes and Los Manueles, Penitente morada practices, including women Penitentes, Holy Week songs and activities and the role of the church, santos and fiestas in the lives of the people are also included. There are also several lectures on folklore, music and culture by Cobos and other scholars, including Fray Angelico Chavez, Charles Briggs, Alfonso Ortiz, Arthur Leon Campa, Marta Weigle, Guadalupe Baca Vaughn, Anita Thomas and others. Included also are autobiographical accounts by Ruben Cobos and his wife Elvira.
Songs and stories about and for children, their health and education are included. Although the majority of the information is about Spanish and Hispanic traditions, the collection also provides some materials by and about non-Hispanics and the relationship between the races. A small amount of stories and songs relate to Apaches, Navajos, Pueblos, Mexicanos, African Americans, and Anglos (gringos).
Songs and stories by or about males show them in every walk of life, as rich and poor, old and young, as husbands, widowers, fathers, sons, relatives, compadres, friends, orphans, opponents, collaborators, kings, princes, commoners, giants, ranchers, cowboys, shepherds, farmers, woodcutters, shoemakers, vendors, railroaders, hunters, priests, doctors, teachers, politicians, attorneys, meteorologists, soldiers, witches, simpletons, gamblers, murderers, drunks, adulturers and thieves.
Recordings by and about women add value and perspective to the collection. Females are rich and poor, old and young, girl friends, lovers, adulteresses, wives, widows, mothers, comadres, church attendees, housekeepers for priests, nuns, princesses, queens, teachers, curanderas, cooks and witches. Some of the characters found in the collection are Cinderella, Genoveva de Brabanate, Goldilocks, Delgadina, La Llorona, Doña Cebolla, Dona Fortuna and the Virgin Mary, as well as San Antonio, San Pedro, Bartoldo, Don Cacahuate, Juan Charrasqueado, Pedro and Juan de Urdemalas, Ali Baba, Don Dinero, Tio Botitas and others.
The collection contains descriptions, traditions, local history and songs for New Mexico, Colorado, Texas, Missouri, Kansas and Mexico. There are references to the Civil War in New Mexico, the Spanish American War, World War I and World War II. Stories tell of superstitions, supernatural, unexplained phenomenon, balls of fire and light, lightening, a comet, the sun, moon, finding treasure, ghosts, devils and magic. Additional topics include traditional food and cooking, health and home remedies. Included also are stories and references to insects, animals, birds, fish and snakes, as well as floods and storms, and automobiles and airplanes.
The informants are mainly from New Mexico and Colorado, with a few from California, Texas and Mexico. The collections focuses heavily on spoken Spanish, with examples of poetry, riddles, proverbs, legends, anecdotes, folk tales, mysteries, prayers, nursery rhymes, games, jokes, language use, tricky words, tongue twisters, memories, local history and family history. The Spanish songs include alabados, entriegas for weddings and baptisms, inditas, corridos and ballads, pastores, posadas, love songs, folk dance music, etc. Traditions of Los Juanes and Los Manueles, Penitente morada practices, including women Penitentes, Holy Week songs and activities and the role of the church, santos and fiestas in the lives of the people are also included. There are also several lectures on folklore, music and culture by Cobos and other scholars, including Fray Angelico Chavez, Charles Briggs, Alfonso Ortiz, Arthur Leon Campa, Marta Weigle, Guadalupe Baca Vaughn, Anita Thomas and others. Included also are autobiographical accounts by Ruben Cobos and his wife Elvira.
Songs and stories about and for children, their health and education are included. Although the majority of the information is about Spanish and Hispanic traditions, the collection also provides some materials by and about non-Hispanics and the relationship between the races. A small amount of stories and songs relate to Apaches, Navajos, Pueblos, Mexicanos, African Americans, and Anglos (gringos).
Songs and stories by or about males show them in every walk of life, as rich and poor, old and young, as husbands, widowers, fathers, sons, relatives, compadres, friends, orphans, opponents, collaborators, kings, princes, commoners, giants, ranchers, cowboys, shepherds, farmers, woodcutters, shoemakers, vendors, railroaders, hunters, priests, doctors, teachers, politicians, attorneys, meteorologists, soldiers, witches, simpletons, gamblers, murderers, drunks, adulturers and thieves.
Recordings by and about women add value and perspective to the collection. Females are rich and poor, old and young, girl friends, lovers, adulteresses, wives, widows, mothers, comadres, church attendees, housekeepers for priests, nuns, princesses, queens, teachers, curanderas, cooks and witches. Some of the characters found in the collection are Cinderella, Genoveva de Brabanate, Goldilocks, Delgadina, La Llorona, Doña Cebolla, Dona Fortuna and the Virgin Mary, as well as San Antonio, San Pedro, Bartoldo, Don Cacahuate, Juan Charrasqueado, Pedro and Juan de Urdemalas, Ali Baba, Don Dinero, Tio Botitas and others.
The collection contains descriptions, traditions, local history and songs for New Mexico, Colorado, Texas, Missouri, Kansas and Mexico. There are references to the Civil War in New Mexico, the Spanish American War, World War I and World War II. Stories tell of superstitions, supernatural, unexplained phenomenon, balls of fire and light, lightening, a comet, the sun, moon, finding treasure, ghosts, devils and magic. Additional topics include traditional food and cooking, health and home remedies. Included also are stories and references to insects, animals, birds, fish and snakes, as well as floods and storms, and automobiles and airplanes.
Dates
- 1975
Language of Materials
From the Collection:
English, Spanish
Access Restrictions
The collection is open for research.
Extent
From the Collection: 13 boxes (12.25 cu. ft.)
General
Mr. and Mrs. Leandro Herrrera, born March 5th, 1901 and 1904, Chamita, NM. Begins at 00:02 and ends at 33:45. 1. El encuentro (fair recording, religion tradition, passion of Jesus, prayers last two hours, la morada, Holy Week, Semana Santa, Jesus meeting the Virigin Mary, San Pedro de la Chamita capilla); 2. Rezo (good recording, prayer, verses, religion tradition, man reading from a book called Ramillete de Divinas Flores); 3. El encuentro (good recording, local traditions, Penitentes, prayers, la capilla, la morada, alabados, services, santos, conversation, discusses titulos de libros, book titles used by the people, Penitentes, Ramillete de Tres Flores, El Seminario, written by Padre Antonio, recites verses from book); 4. Conversation (fair recording, about a variety of topics, Cobos interviewing the speakers, local traditions, Chamita, El dia de San Juan, San Juan de los Caballeros, feast days, fiestas, when the Spanish discovered San Juan Pueblo); 5. Elvira Cobos discusses remedios with Mrs. Herrera (fair recording, home remedies, cures, herbs, health, medicine, el romero, ailments, stomach pain, el chamiso pardo, llerba buena, tea, mentolate, garlic, onion, ajo, cebolla, mustard, food); 6. Rezo (good recording, verses, recites prayer, religion, sin, personal information).
Felicitas Montano, born 1892, Tome, NM. Begins at 33:52 and ends at 36:45. Conversation (fair recording, Cobos is talking with a group and discussing religion, traditions, Tome, New Mexico, Holy Week, Semana Santa, Viernes Santo, Holy Friday, three crosses up on the hillside, Tome Hill, tying live people to crosses, a live Cristo figure, con ropes, also used a santo figure, group did not use the book of Padre Ralliere, Penitentes services in Tome, traditions. She was one of first teachers in Valencia County, attended Father Ralliere's school).
Tibo Chavez. Begins at 36:46 and ends at 45:20. 1. Local community program, Tome, New Mexico, Pearl Harbor Day also (good recording, Tibo Chavez is master of ceremonies, Chaves was President of the Eastern Valencia County Bicentential Organization, speech, introductions, Gene Loomis is Vice President of the Bicentennial, has made a great contribution, Epi Baca is director of next year's pageant, his parents were married by the French priest, Father Ralliere, of Tome, other speakers, Gerald Castaneda, Daniel Trujillo, Joe Aragon, 4 H Club of Tome, Belen area, blessing of the flag by the 4 H Club, thanking God for blessing the country, many years enduring as compared to other countries, prayer for Americans who not yet received their fair share, prosperty, wealth, poverty, that the nation provides for all of us, prayer by Tome priest, Father Auman, raising flag in the plaza, by the National Guard from Belen. Father Auman loaned the program use of the church and plaza. Chavez describes the Bicentennial flag, meaning).
Edwin Berry, born 1918, Tome, NM. Introduced by Tibo Chavez. Begins at 45:37 and ends at 50:12. Notes to his songs, verses, in Cobos folder. Talk by Berry about Tome, list of original settlers, families from area, sings United States national anthem in Spanish, playing his drum, arrangement of song by Father Ralliere, cuts off abruptly. We don't have the tape for the rest of this talk, but Cobos took notes on this talk and they are in the folder. Good information, Comanchito song, versos, Comanches, was sung to the infants, children, lullaby, sung by his grandmother Marianita Sedillo, Adelaida Vallejos and many others, song of the baby sitters. Interviewer asks Berry if he knows the book, El Martil de Golgota, Berry said his mother had seen it, this book brought from Mexico by Mrs. Petra Brian, a native of Sonora, about 1918-1950, book had an alabado and Berry sings it, verses in Cobos folder. Berry talks about the song, used by Penitentes from founding of Tome, New Mexico to 1950, Penitentes in Tome, did severe penance, example of his uncle, who put corn in shoes, walked with corn all during Lent, feet bloody and raw, no one knew what his penance was, faith, religion, etc.).
Edwin Berry, born 1918, Tome, NM. Introduced by Tibo Chavez. Begins at 45:37 and ends at 50:12. Notes to his songs, verses, in Cobos folder. Talk by Berry about Tome, list of original settlers, families from area, sings United States national anthem in Spanish, playing his drum, arrangement of song by Father Ralliere, cuts off abruptly. We don't have the tape for the rest of this talk, but Cobos took notes on this talk and they are in the folder. Good information, Comanchito song, versos, Comanches, was sung to the infants, children, lullaby, sung by his grandmother Marianita Sedillo, Adelaida Vallejos and many others, song of the baby sitters. Interviewer asks Berry if he knows the book, El Martil de Golgota, Berry said his mother had seen it, this book brought from Mexico by Mrs. Petra Brian, a native of Sonora, about 1918-1950, book had an alabado and Berry sings it, verses in Cobos folder. Berry talks about the song, used by Penitentes from founding of Tome, New Mexico to 1950, Penitentes in Tome, did severe penance, example of his uncle, who put corn in shoes, walked with corn all during Lent, feet bloody and raw, no one knew what his penance was, faith, religion, etc.).
Felicitas Montano, born 1892, Tome, NM. Begins at 33:52 and ends at 36:45. Conversation (fair recording, Cobos is talking with a group and discussing religion, traditions, Tome, New Mexico, Holy Week, Semana Santa, Viernes Santo, Holy Friday, three crosses up on the hillside, Tome Hill, tying live people to crosses, a live Cristo figure, con ropes, also used a santo figure, group did not use the book of Padre Ralliere, Penitentes services in Tome, traditions. She was one of first teachers in Valencia County, attended Father Ralliere's school).
Tibo Chavez. Begins at 36:46 and ends at 45:20. 1. Local community program, Tome, New Mexico, Pearl Harbor Day also (good recording, Tibo Chavez is master of ceremonies, Chaves was President of the Eastern Valencia County Bicentential Organization, speech, introductions, Gene Loomis is Vice President of the Bicentennial, has made a great contribution, Epi Baca is director of next year's pageant, his parents were married by the French priest, Father Ralliere, of Tome, other speakers, Gerald Castaneda, Daniel Trujillo, Joe Aragon, 4 H Club of Tome, Belen area, blessing of the flag by the 4 H Club, thanking God for blessing the country, many years enduring as compared to other countries, prayer for Americans who not yet received their fair share, prosperty, wealth, poverty, that the nation provides for all of us, prayer by Tome priest, Father Auman, raising flag in the plaza, by the National Guard from Belen. Father Auman loaned the program use of the church and plaza. Chavez describes the Bicentennial flag, meaning).
Edwin Berry, born 1918, Tome, NM. Introduced by Tibo Chavez. Begins at 45:37 and ends at 50:12. Notes to his songs, verses, in Cobos folder. Talk by Berry about Tome, list of original settlers, families from area, sings United States national anthem in Spanish, playing his drum, arrangement of song by Father Ralliere, cuts off abruptly. We don't have the tape for the rest of this talk, but Cobos took notes on this talk and they are in the folder. Good information, Comanchito song, versos, Comanches, was sung to the infants, children, lullaby, sung by his grandmother Marianita Sedillo, Adelaida Vallejos and many others, song of the baby sitters. Interviewer asks Berry if he knows the book, El Martil de Golgota, Berry said his mother had seen it, this book brought from Mexico by Mrs. Petra Brian, a native of Sonora, about 1918-1950, book had an alabado and Berry sings it, verses in Cobos folder. Berry talks about the song, used by Penitentes from founding of Tome, New Mexico to 1950, Penitentes in Tome, did severe penance, example of his uncle, who put corn in shoes, walked with corn all during Lent, feet bloody and raw, no one knew what his penance was, faith, religion, etc.).
Edwin Berry, born 1918, Tome, NM. Introduced by Tibo Chavez. Begins at 45:37 and ends at 50:12. Notes to his songs, verses, in Cobos folder. Talk by Berry about Tome, list of original settlers, families from area, sings United States national anthem in Spanish, playing his drum, arrangement of song by Father Ralliere, cuts off abruptly. We don't have the tape for the rest of this talk, but Cobos took notes on this talk and they are in the folder. Good information, Comanchito song, versos, Comanches, was sung to the infants, children, lullaby, sung by his grandmother Marianita Sedillo, Adelaida Vallejos and many others, song of the baby sitters. Interviewer asks Berry if he knows the book, El Martil de Golgota, Berry said his mother had seen it, this book brought from Mexico by Mrs. Petra Brian, a native of Sonora, about 1918-1950, book had an alabado and Berry sings it, verses in Cobos folder. Berry talks about the song, used by Penitentes from founding of Tome, New Mexico to 1950, Penitentes in Tome, did severe penance, example of his uncle, who put corn in shoes, walked with corn all during Lent, feet bloody and raw, no one knew what his penance was, faith, religion, etc.).
Creator
- From the Collection: Cobos, Rubén (Person)
Repository Details
Part of the UNM Center for Southwest Research & Special Collections Repository
Contact:
University of New Mexico Center for Southwest Research & Special Collections
University Libraries, MSC05 3020
1 University of New Mexico
Albuquerque NM 87131
505-277-6451
University of New Mexico Center for Southwest Research & Special Collections
University Libraries, MSC05 3020
1 University of New Mexico
Albuquerque NM 87131
505-277-6451