Ruben Cobos, recorder, n.d.
File — Box: 5, CD: 450 E
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
- n.d.
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
Part V of V. Eve Ball, cont. from CD 450 D. Begins at 00:02 and ends at 18:51. Apache history, Geronimo, Chapo, he did not have leadership qualities, Ace had better qualities, chosen as leader, Ace describes how the Whites gave the Indians their names, Ace did not like name of Ace, his opinion towards Whites, and toward Eve Ball, they discuss matters of faith, Apache culture, ball explains how must tell truth to Apaches, no fake politeness, no white lies, witches, superstition, reservation life and culture, Apache life on reservation is like in a concentration camp, they lost power to make decisions, suffer from depression, taking to drinking, liquor, druink, loss of economic, cattle, story of a murder, ghosts, how Eve Ball got information from the Apaches for her studies, etc.).
Juan Cardiel, Guadalajara, Mexico. Begins at 18:52 and ends at 26:39. 1. Introduction (good recording, Juan Cardiel from Guadalajara, came to the United States at 16, musician, ); 2. Performance, various songs (good recording, composer, Luis Miguel, title of song was Holy Water, Agua benita, followed by Vamos a platicar. Mention of Willie Watson, guitar).
Dr. Timothy. M. Pearce, University of New Mexico, English Department, emeritus. Begins at 26:53 and ends at 41:30. 1. Introduction of Pearce (good recording); 2. Lecture on Gestural Communication (good recording, signs or gestures are the oldest form of language, chimpanzee using symbols to make requests, signs are culturally specific, sign for fish, brotherhood, Christianity, Pentacostal sign, Bible, sign languge, hands held up as a cup, political variations of the sign, linguistics, sign of perfection, circle, ojo de dios, shows audience various signs).
Ruben Cobos. Begins at 41:55. and ends at 70:57. Lecture, gestural communication (good recording, personal experiences at Wagon Mound, sign language in the Spanish tradition, Southwest, New Mexico, linguistics, signs, gestures, sign for quiet, offensive signs, signs borrowed from Anglo American culture, sign for good luck, culturally specific, K-9 teeth, Mexican, Northern New Mexico, index finger on the neck, various examples of signs, piropo, audience comments are heard faintly, meeting ends).
Juan Cardiel, Guadalajara, Mexico. Begins at 18:52 and ends at 26:39. 1. Introduction (good recording, Juan Cardiel from Guadalajara, came to the United States at 16, musician, ); 2. Performance, various songs (good recording, composer, Luis Miguel, title of song was Holy Water, Agua benita, followed by Vamos a platicar. Mention of Willie Watson, guitar).
Dr. Timothy. M. Pearce, University of New Mexico, English Department, emeritus. Begins at 26:53 and ends at 41:30. 1. Introduction of Pearce (good recording); 2. Lecture on Gestural Communication (good recording, signs or gestures are the oldest form of language, chimpanzee using symbols to make requests, signs are culturally specific, sign for fish, brotherhood, Christianity, Pentacostal sign, Bible, sign languge, hands held up as a cup, political variations of the sign, linguistics, sign of perfection, circle, ojo de dios, shows audience various signs).
Ruben Cobos. Begins at 41:55. and ends at 70:57. Lecture, gestural communication (good recording, personal experiences at Wagon Mound, sign language in the Spanish tradition, Southwest, New Mexico, linguistics, signs, gestures, sign for quiet, offensive signs, signs borrowed from Anglo American culture, sign for good luck, culturally specific, K-9 teeth, Mexican, Northern New Mexico, index finger on the neck, various examples of signs, piropo, audience comments are heard faintly, meeting ends).
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