Lopez Family Collection

Dublin Core

Title

Description

Arsenio “Archie” Soblechero Lopez was born on December 16, 1905, in the municipality of Villasis, in the province of Pangasinan, in the Philippines. Archie migrated to the United States in 1929. He arrived in San Francisco aboard the S.S. President Lincoln on April 25, 1929. After arriving in the U.S. Archie worked as a migrant agricultural laborer and eventually as a barber and musician. Archie was also an active member of Filipino American organizations including the Caballeros De Dimas-Alang.

In exchange for auto mechanic services, Archie was able to arrange a meeting with Margaret Yepez, a Mexican American woman who was born in Mendota, California on December 26, 1929. Due to the enforcement of anti-miscegenation laws in central coastal California, Archie and Margaret were married in a civil ceremony in Yolo County in 1947 before holding a Catholic wedding in Watsonville at St. Patrick’s church in 1948. Archie and Margaret lived in Santa Cruz County where Archie owned a Manila Barbershop located in Santa Cruz on Mission Street and operated Ace Card room, which was located next door to the barbershop. The barbershop and card room were popular gathering places for Filipino American farm workers. Archie also worked as a musician. He played saxophone in a band called “Archie and the Islanders.” Other members of the group included Alex Tabag who played tenor saxophone; Tommy Tomaio who played guitar; Benny Tumbaga who played the trumpet, and Chris (Last Name Unidentified) who played piano. Archie and the Islanders performed at Filipino American dances and events throughout the greater Bay Area and in Santa Cruz County including Watsonville.

Archie and Margaret had seven children: Arsenio Soblechero Lopez Jr. (b. 1948), John Yepez Lopez (b. 1950), Rosario “Rose” Lopez (b. 1952), Richard Henry Lopez (b. 1953), Delia Marcia Lopez (b. 1957), Elizabeth Ann Lopez (b. 1961), and Robert Eugene Lopez (b. 1964).

The Lopez Family Collection was donated to Watsonville is in the Heart in 2022 by Archie's and Margaret's daughter, Rosario "Rose" Lopez, and her son, Tony Tapiz. The collection contains fifty-four items including reproductions of family photographs; a program from a Caballeros de Dimas- Alang convention; and sheet music Archie used for his performances.