“Early Efforts to Organize
Farmworkers in California”
Heather McCarty. Associate Professor
Department of History and Political Science
Ohlone College

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Heather McCarty link is Associate Professor of History at Ohlone Collegge. She received her PhD. from the University of California, Berkeley and teaches courses on California and Western History, Women's History, Social, Cultural and Political United States History.

Speaker's Handout 1 pdf
Speaker's Handout 2 pdf
Speaker's Slides pdf

Other references:

Secondary Source:
Devra Ann Weber, "Raiz Fierte: Oral History and Mexicana Farrnworkers," in Working People of California: Towards a New Social History ofthe Golden State, Daniel Confard, ed. (1995)

Primary Sources:
Carey McWiliams, "Factories in the Field," from The Education ofCarey McWilliams
(1978)

"The California Department of Industrial Relations Evaluates Agricultural Labor Contracts, 1903." Excerpts from a report published by the California Department of Industrial Relations. Excerpted in Major Problems in Cal([ornia History.

"Carlos Bulson Describes the Harsh Existence of Filipino Migrant Farrnworkers."
Segment from Bulosan's American Is in the Heart (1943). While the book is loosely based
on Bulosan's life, it is not an autobiography but rather a group portrait of Filipino
immigrants. Excerpted in Major Problems in California History.

"James Rorty Reports on Conditions in the Imperial Valley, 1935." James Rorty was a
journalist thrown out of the Imperial Valley because he tried to investigate and expose the
conditions there; he offers an eyewitness account. Excerpted in Major Problems in
California History.

"Ralph Taylor Rallies California's Growers to Protect Their Interests, 1938."
Taylor was the executive secretary of the Agricultural Council of California in 1938.
Excerpted in Major Problems in California History.