Reyes Family Collection
Dublin Core
Title
Reyes Family Collection
Description
Jose Sebayan Reyes was born in 1903 in the municipality of Luna, in the province of La Union, Ilocos Norte in the region of the Philippines. He traveled to the United States in 1929 and began to work in the agricultural industry. He migrated throughout California to areas such as Stockton, the Salinas Valley, and Watsonville following lettuce, string beans, and other crops. After World War II, Jose returned to the Philippines where he met Tecla Asuncion Reyes. Tecla was born in 1924 and was also from the municipality of Luna, in the province of La Union, Ilocos Norte in the region of the Philippines
Tecla and Jose married in 1952. They returned to the United States and lived in Salinas, CA where they had two children: Joe Reyes (b. 1953) and Ted “Teddy” Reyes (b. 1954). The Reyes family moved to Watsonville and lived first in a labor camp at Porter Ranch before moving to another camp on San Andreas Road. Jose and Tecla worked as sharecroppers for Reiter Berries on San Andreas Road. In Watsonville, they had three more children: Raymondo Reyes (b. 1956), Roland Reyes (b. 1959), and Elizabeth Reyes (b. 1963- d. 1999).
The Reyes family bought a house on Hillcrest Road in 1968, but Tecla and Jose continued to work in the Reiter berry fields. After Jose retired in 1970, Tecla became a foreman and supervised the work crews. Jose passed away in 1984 and Tecla passed in 1999.
The Reyes Family Collection was donated to Watsonville is in the Heart in 2022 by Tecla's and Jose's sons, Joe, Ted, and Roland. It contains eight photographs of the Reyes family from the 1940s through the 1960s.
Tecla and Jose married in 1952. They returned to the United States and lived in Salinas, CA where they had two children: Joe Reyes (b. 1953) and Ted “Teddy” Reyes (b. 1954). The Reyes family moved to Watsonville and lived first in a labor camp at Porter Ranch before moving to another camp on San Andreas Road. Jose and Tecla worked as sharecroppers for Reiter Berries on San Andreas Road. In Watsonville, they had three more children: Raymondo Reyes (b. 1956), Roland Reyes (b. 1959), and Elizabeth Reyes (b. 1963- d. 1999).
The Reyes family bought a house on Hillcrest Road in 1968, but Tecla and Jose continued to work in the Reiter berry fields. After Jose retired in 1970, Tecla became a foreman and supervised the work crews. Jose passed away in 1984 and Tecla passed in 1999.
The Reyes Family Collection was donated to Watsonville is in the Heart in 2022 by Tecla's and Jose's sons, Joe, Ted, and Roland. It contains eight photographs of the Reyes family from the 1940s through the 1960s.
Contributor
Joe Reyes
Ted "Teddy" Reyes
Roland Reyes
Collection Items
Reyes Brothers as Cowboys
A photograph of two unidentified cowboys and two young boys sitting atop a vehicle. The children atop the vehicle are possibly Joe Reyes and Teddy Reyes. The Reyes brothers do not recall the memory of this photo but recall picking peaches from the…
The Fallorina and Reyes Children Together
A photograph of the Fallorina and Reyes children. Pictured from left to right is Dan Fallorina in the long-sleeved shirt, Mariano Fallorina Jr., Raymond Reyes, Joe Reyes, Teddy Reyes, and Roland Reyes is the youngest standing in the front.
Jose and Tecla Reyes with Joe in a Woodie
A photograph of Jose and Tecla Reyes posing with their son Joe Reyes on the driver's side of a Woodie in Salinas.
The Reyes Family at Reiter Berries on San Andreas Road
A photograph of the Reyes family at the labor camp of Reiter Berries off of San Andreas Rd in Watsonville. From left to right, in the red shirt are Teddy Reyes, Raymond Reyes, Roland Reyes, and Joe Reyes (seen sticking his tongue out). In the back…
Joe and Teddy with Mom and Dad in the Apple Orchard
A photograph of Joe Reyes around 2-3 years old on the right with his father, Jose Reyes. Joe's younger brother, Teddy Reyes, around 1 year old is on the left with their mother, Tecla Reyes. This photograph was taken in an apple orchard on Porter…
Jose and Tecla Reyes in the Strawberry Fields
A photograph of Jose and Tecla Reyes in a strawberry field of Porter Ranch. The cart seen in the photograph was handmade by the sharecroppers. Jose and Tecla's sons recalled that the wooden carts were very heavy and difficult to maneuver down the…
Portrait Photograph of Jose Reyes
A portrait photograph of Jose Reyes at approximately 40 years old.
Portrait Photograph of Tecla Reyes
A portrait photograph of Tecla Reyes. Tecla's eldest son, Joe Reyes, claims that despite her quite youthful appearance in this photograph, she was approximately 40 years old when it was taken.
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