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| Title | Galvan, Irma Gonzalez |
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| Creator (Local) |
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| Date | October 8, 2010 |
| Description | This is an oral history interview with Irma Gonzalez Galvan conducted as part of the Houston History Project. Ms. Irma Gonzalez Galvan was born Brownsville, Texas in 1941 and moved with her family to Houston’s 2nd Ward when she was a young child. Here, she learned to cook from a neighbor and began preparing meals for her brothers and sisters. Later, she worked in her school’s cafeteria, as well as in a couple of neighborhood bakeries, including La Zebra and Nopal. These early experiences with food combined with retail experience, formed the foundation of Irma’s restaurant which she opened in 1989, seven years after her husband, Louis, was killed. In 2007, State Farm recognized Ms. Galvan’s perseverance and success when they awarded her the Embrace Life Award. Further recognition came the nect year when Irma’s was named one the five “America’s Classics” by the James Beard Foundation. She was interviewed on 8 October 2010 at Irma’s, 22N.Chenevert St., Houston, TX 77002. The interview was conducted by Sandra Davidson on behalf of the Oral History of Houston Project, Center for Public History, University of Houston. The interview is available at M.D. Anderson Library on the main campus of the university. |
| Subject.Topical (LCSH) |
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| Language | English |
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| Original Item Location | ID 2006-005, Box 12, HHA 00712 |
| Original Collection | Oral Histories - Houston History Project |
| Digital Collection | Oral Histories from the Houston History Project |
| Digital Collection URL | http://digital.lib.uh.edu/collection/houhistory |
| Repository | Special Collections, University of Houston Libraries |
| Repository URL | http://info.lib.uh.edu/about/campus-libraries-collections/special-collections |
| Use and Reproduction | Educational use only, no other permissions given. Copyright to this resource is held by the content creator, author, artist or other entity, and is provided here for educational purposes only. It may not be reproduced or distributed in any format without written permission of the copyright owner. For more information please see the UH Digital Library Fair Use policy on the "About" page of this website. |
| File Name | index.cpd |
| Title | Galvan transcript, 1 of 2 |
| Format (IMT) |
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| File Name | hhaoh_201207_332a.pdf |
| Transcript | HIST 6384: Oral History Fall 2010 ORAL HISTORY PROJECT A Taste of Houston A Part of the Culinary Crossroads Project UH Center for Public History Interviewee: Ms. Irma Gonzalez Galvan Interview Date: 8 October 2010 Place: Irma's Restaurant 22 N. Chenevert Street Houston, Texas 77002 Interviewer: Sandra Davidson Transcriber: Sandra Davidson Keywords: Irma's, Houston, Restaurateur, 2nd Ward, La Zebra Bakery, Nopal Bakery, Our Lady of Guadalupe School, Jefferson Davis High School, Purse and Co., James Beard Award, State Farm Embrace Life Award, Louis Galvan, Irma's Southwest Grill, Felix H. Morales, Evangeline Morales, Minute Maid Park, Mexican Food Abstract: Ms. Irma Gonzalez Galvan was born in Brownsville, Texas in 1941 and moved with her family to Houston's 2nd Ward when she was a young child. Here, she learned to cook from a neighbor and began preparing meals for her brothers and sisters. Later, she worked in her school's cafeteria, as well as in a couple of neighborhood bakeries, including La Zebra and Nopal. These early experiences with food combined with retail experience, formed the foundation for Irma's Restaurant which she opened in 1989, seven years after her husband, Louis, was killed. In 2007, State Farm recognized Ms. Galvan's perseverance and success when they awarded her the Embrace Life Award. Further recognition came the next year when Irma's was named one of five “America's Classics” by the James Beard Foundation. She was interviewed on 8 October 2010 at Irma's, 22 N. Chenevert St., Houston, TX 77002. The interview was conducted by Sandra Davidson on behalf of the Oral History of Houston Project, Center for Public History, University of Houston. The interview is available at M. D. Anderson Library on the main campus of the university. |