Tejada Family Collection
Dublin Core
Title
Tejada Family Collection
Description
Godofredo “Godo” Tana Tejada was born on November 8, 1908 in the municipality of Makato in the Aklan province of the Philippines. Godo immigrated to the United States from the Philippines in 1929, joining his first cousins to work in agriculture in Stockton. He moved across California and Seattle working various agricultural jobs. In Central California, Godo worked as an agricultural foreman managing crews including Filipino workers and Mexican braceros.
In the 1950s, while visiting the Philippines, Godo met his soon-to-be wife Meady Dalisay Salomeo through a matchmaker. Meady was born on May 17, 1930, in the municipality of Altavas in the Aklan province of the Philippines. Soon after their marriage, Meady accompanied Godo to California.
Godo and Meady settled in Watsonville in 1955. God continued to work in agriculture, harvesting strawberries, lettuce, and Brussels sprouts. Meady worked at the Green Giant cannery and the Colshire pajama factory. Together, they had six children: Godofredo “Fred” Jr. (b. 1956), Lucy “Chris” (b. 1958), Frances (b. 1959), Josephine (b. 1961), Anette (b. 1962), and Connie (b. 1968). While living in Watsonville, the family housed several other Filipino manong who worked with Godo in the fields.
Meady passed away in 2002, and Godo passed away in 2007. Their daughter, Frances passed away in 2013.
The Tejada Family Collection was donated to Watsonville is in the Heart in 2023. It contains one oral history interview with Godofredo "Fred" Tejada Jr..
In the 1950s, while visiting the Philippines, Godo met his soon-to-be wife Meady Dalisay Salomeo through a matchmaker. Meady was born on May 17, 1930, in the municipality of Altavas in the Aklan province of the Philippines. Soon after their marriage, Meady accompanied Godo to California.
Godo and Meady settled in Watsonville in 1955. God continued to work in agriculture, harvesting strawberries, lettuce, and Brussels sprouts. Meady worked at the Green Giant cannery and the Colshire pajama factory. Together, they had six children: Godofredo “Fred” Jr. (b. 1956), Lucy “Chris” (b. 1958), Frances (b. 1959), Josephine (b. 1961), Anette (b. 1962), and Connie (b. 1968). While living in Watsonville, the family housed several other Filipino manong who worked with Godo in the fields.
Meady passed away in 2002, and Godo passed away in 2007. Their daughter, Frances passed away in 2013.
The Tejada Family Collection was donated to Watsonville is in the Heart in 2023. It contains one oral history interview with Godofredo "Fred" Tejada Jr..
Contributor
Godofredo "Fred" Tejada Jr.
Collection Items
Fred Tejada interviewed by Meleia Simon-Reynolds
In this interview, originally recorded in person, Fred Tejada speaks with Watsonville is in the Heart team member Meleia Simon-Reynolds. Fred talks about his father, Godofredo “Godo” Tana Tejada, who immigrated from the Philippines to the United…
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