Institution

When Irene was transferred to the West Branch Library in the 1980s she immediately began campaigning to provide resource for the Spanish-speaking community.&nbsp; She collected bilingual and Spanish language media in the form of books, magazines, VHS videos, CDs, and later DVDs.&nbsp; She developed strategies to enhance Latino residents’ use of the library by outreach campaigns.&nbsp; She was also, a resource to the residents by assisting in translating documents, helping with job applications, and conducting training seminars to help the Spanish-speaking patrons.&nbsp; In 2000, the West Branch library was re-named the Irene H. Ruíz Biblioteca de las Americas, in her honor.&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;

Irene H. Ruíz became a subtle force for advocacy and intellectual development in Kansas City, Missouri’s west side Mexican American community.  She and her husband, Francisco Ruíz came to Lawrence, Kansas in 1963 to attend the University of Kansas.  They eventually moved to Kansas City where Francisco took a position at Penn Valley Community College in the history department.  Irene worked for Kansas City Missouri Public Schools and a teacher and later a librarian for the Kansas City Library which was managed by the school district.  Irene and Francisco became active in social justice issues in the community.  They hosted local and national lectures by civil rights leaders including César Chávez.  Irene was instrumental in collecting oral histories from Mexican immigrant families of the community. The collection of those stories are now archived at the Missouri Valley Room of the Kansas City Central Library. 


Irene H. Ruiz Biblioteca de las Americas

Welcome to Kansas City! In this tour you will find an amazing route to a rich of history of the Latino community in this wonderful city. Follow the route of the tour to learn more about where and how our community has thrived and continues to do so.

Latino History of Kansas City 

Director

<div>Spanish Translation/Traducción en Español</div><div><br></div><div>Esta es una buena primera parada para entender los cambios del vecindario. Primitivo Garcia y su hermano Alfredo eran estudiantes en la escuela Westport High School en la clase de inglés de las tardes de la maestra, Margaret Kindermann. Después de clase un otoño del 1967, los dos hermanos corrieron al rescate de su maestra de 25 años que estaba siendo atacada por varios jóvenes afuera de la escuela. Ella tenía cinco meses de embarazo. Uno de los atacantes disparó e hirió a Primitivo y él murió varios días después. El heroísmo de estos hermanos fue reconocido localmente y nacionalmente. La escuela primaria fue nombrada Primitivo.&nbsp;</div>

En Español tambien. This is a good first stop in understanding the changing neighborhood. Primitivo Garcia and his brother Alfredo were students in Margaret Kindermann’s evening English language class at Westport High School.  After class one fall evening in 1967, the brothers ran to the rescue of their 25-year old teacher who was being attacked by several youth outside the school.  She was five months pregnant. One of the attackers shot and wounded Primitivo and he died several days later.  The brothers’ heroism was recognized locally and nationally.  The grade school was named after Primitivo.



Primitivo Pre-K through 5th Grade School 

<div>Spanish Translation/Traducción en Español</div><div><br></div><div>Para este tiempo en tu tour, probablemente ya estás preparado para comer algo de una rica comida mexicana. Los Álamos es una tienda de comestibles y un restaurante administrado por una familia. Es muy informal y delicioso. Asegúrate de probar el menudo si estás ahí un fin de semana.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>Otras alternativas para comer a pesar de Los Alamos pueden estar encontrados de inmediato en el vecindario o con seguir al sur en la Calle Summit hasta Southwest Boulevard podrás encontrar bastantes opciones de comida desde tapas españolas en La Bodega, a comida mexicana al estilo de Jalisco en El Taquito de La Fonda, hasta delicias sudamericanas en Empanada House en donde podrías encontrarte a Salvador Pérez y otros jugadores del equipo de béisbol de los Kansas City Royals.&nbsp;</div>

En Español tambien. By this time on your tour, you are probably ready for some tasty Mexican food.  Los Alamos is a family run authentic Mexican grocery store and sit-down restaurant.  It is informal and delicious. It is important to the upper west side of Kansas City, Missouri because it is the only Mexican market and restaurant that has survived the gentrification that has taken place in that part of the city. Be sure to try the menudo if you are there on the weekend.  

Alternatives to stopping at Los Alamos can be found in the immediate neighborhood or by heading south on Summit Street to Southwest Boulevard where you will find plenty of options from Spanish tapas at La Bodega, to Jalisco style Mexican food at El Taquito La Fonda, to South American delicacies at the Empanada House where you might run into Salvador Pérez and other KC Royals baseball players.  



Los Alamos Market y Cocina

<div>In the beginning to group focused on poor mothers who were needing assistance in day care and food.&nbsp; Later, during the Great Depression, Mattie Rhodes Memorial Society saw the need for a settlement house for children, single mothers, homeless individuals, and the elderly. In the 1950s, Mattie Rhodes Center expanded their services to meet the mental health and social services needs of the Spanish-speaking community.&nbsp; Bilingual therapists and case managers were hired.&nbsp; In the late 1980s, Mattie Rhodes Art Center was established as a safe place for neighborhood children to demonstrate their creativity and experience art therapy.&nbsp; The Mattie Rhodes Art Gallery came about in 1999 and has become a community gathering place for Latino cultural events.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div>

Like Dorothy Gallaher, Mattie Florence Rhodes was a teenager who had a desire to help the less fortunate.  She and a group of her friends from church called themselves, the Little Gleaners. Mattie died of typhoid fever at age 19 years.  She left the sum of $500 to assist The Little Gleaners to continue their outreach.  Her friends  honored Mattie’s wish in 1894 by founding the Mattie Rhodes Memorial Society. This was their pledge:
“I promise to do all I can to help the needy and suffering by working for them, learning about them, giving for them, and trying to interest others in them.”




Mattie Rhodes Center

<div>More than a coach, he was a father figure, mentor, guide and friend to the thousands of children who came his way.&nbsp; Tony used as his motto: “F.I.S.H”, (Friendship, Intelligence, Sportsmanship, Honor) so his players started calling him : “Fish”.&nbsp; In addition to his coaching, he worked at Oxygen Service Company for many years until he retired in 1991.&nbsp;&nbsp;</div><div>In 1988,&nbsp; the Tony Aguirre Scholarship Award was established to help Latino students attend private or parochial high school.&nbsp; In 2000, The Tony Aguirre Community Center was opened on West Pennway to honor his many years of service to the Westside community. He died on March 19, 2006.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;</div>

Tony J. Aguirre was born on February 8,1929.  He grew up in the Westside.   “Tony”, as he was affectionally called, invested over 60 years in the community he loved.  played sports at Redemptorist High School, where he graduated in 1949.  From the age of 17 until his death, Tony coached kids in basketball, baseball, softball, and football for the Guadalupe Center. 

Tony Aguirre Community Center

<div>Spanish Translation/Traducción en Español<br></div><div><br></div><div>Durante los comienzos de los años 1900 un éxodo causado por las dificultades de la revolución mexicana hizo que muchos mexicanos empezaron a irse de su país en busca de una mejor vida para ellos y su familia. Estos inmigrantes persiguieron los trabajos disponibles&nbsp; que había en el norte en áreas de agricultura de inmigrantes, ferrocarriles y el hato. Aunque muchos pararon en el Suroeste ya predominantemente mexico-americano, otros fueron más al norte y decidieron asentarse en la comunidad del Oeste de Kansas City, Missouri.</div><div><br></div><div>A su llegada, los inmigrantes mexicanos se enfrentan con otra dificultad. La discriminación. Los niños mexicanos no estaban permitidos en ciertas escuelas, mientras sus padres no estaban permitidos a comprar en ciertos lugares. Los mexicanos también fueron explotados, en el trabajo y los servicios básicos ofrecidos por hospitales del área y las agencias gubernamentales no se les concedió. Sin saber a dónde ir o cómo responder, la necesidad para servicios básicos dentro de la comunidad mexicana continuó creciendo.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>Para responder a esta creciente necesidad, un club de mujeres católicas en el 1919 decidió establecer una escuela de voluntarios y una clínica para inmigrantes desprivilegiados quienes se habían asentado en el área Noroeste. Nombrando la entidad en reconocimiento a la santa patrona de México, El Centro de Guadalupe se convirtió en uno de las primeras agencias de servicios sociales para latinos y ha crecido a ser reconocida como el corazón de la comunidad latina de Kansas City.&nbsp;</div>

During the early 1900s an exodus caused by the hardships of the Mexican Revolution, many Mexican nationals began to leave their homeland in pursuit of a better life for both themselves and their families. These Mexican immigrants followed jobs to the north in areas of migrant farming, railroad, and livestock. While many stopped in the already predominant Mexican-American Southwest, others went further north and decided to settle in the Westside Community of Kansas City, Missouri.

Upon their arrival, the Mexican immigrants faced yet another hardship. Discrimination. Mexican children were not allowed into certain schools, while their parents were not allowed to shop in many places. The Mexicans were also exploited in the workplace and basic services offered by area hospitals and government agencies were not granted to them. Not knowing where to turn or how to respond, the need for basic services within the Mexican community continued to grow.

To answer this growing need, a Catholic women’s club in 1919 decided to establish a volunteer school and clinic for the underprivileged Mexican immigrants who had settled in the Westside. Naming the entity after the patron saint of Mexico, the Guadalupe Center became one of the nation’s first social service agencies for Latinos and has grown to be the heart of the Latino community within Kansas City.


Guadalupe Centers

<div>Spanish language masses were held in the building as early as 1914 when its church served a predominantly Irish immigrant population.&nbsp;Having
masses held in Spanish was very important to the new Mexican immigrants.&nbsp; Subsequent generations of new immigrant
find comfort in celebrating the mass in a language they understand while they
are in the process of learning English. &nbsp;The Kansas City “west side” parish was dedicated to the
Virgin of Guadalupe in 1922 and serves as the Mexican immigrant community’s
parish until the Archdiocese closed the church and move the congregation to the
Sacred Heart Church which is located at 2601 Madison Ave,&nbsp;Kansas City, MO&nbsp;&nbsp;(816) 842-6146) a few blocks south of the
shrine.&nbsp; Mariachi Mass is held at
Sacred Heart each Sunday morning. &nbsp;&nbsp;The Guadalupanas, a group of women and some men, maintain the shrine and hold
special services in the building.</div><div><div><div>

</div>

</div>

</div>

<div><br></div><div>Spanish Translation/ Traducción en Español</div><div><br></div><div>Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe es la patrona santa de México. La historia comienza en la mañana de diciembre 9, 1531 diez años después que Hernán Cortez conquisto la ciudad de Tenochtitlan, cuando un anciano indio llamado Juan Diego, estaba caminando en la ruta de de la cuesta de Tepeyac en las afueras en lo que hoy se llama la ciudad de México. El se encontró a una madona de piel marrón y le proclamó al sacerdote que había visto la madre de dios. Juan diego fue capaz de convencer al sacerdote presentado con rosas y un reloj con la imagen de la virgen. La virgen fue adoptado por muchos Mexicanos como su santa patrona.&nbsp;</div><div>Masas en espanol se llevó a cabo a tempranas de 1914 cuando la iglesia le hacía servicio a una población irlandesa inmigrante. La parroquia del área oeste de Kansas City fue dedicado a la virgen de guadalupe en 1922 y es conocida como la parroquia de la comunidad Mexicana Americana hasta que que el archidiócesis cerro la iglesia y movió la congregación al Sagrado Corazón.&nbsp;</div>

En Español tambien. Our Lady of Guadalupe is the patron saint of Mexico. The story begins in the early morning of December 9th, 1531 just ten years after Hernan Cortez conquered the city of Tenochtitlan, when a 57 year old Indian peasant named Juan Diego was walking along the path of Tepeyac Hill on the outskirts of what is today Mexico City.  He encountered a brown skin Madonna and proclaimed to the local bishop that he had seen the Mother of God.  Juan Diego was able to convince the bishop way presenting roses and a clock with the Virgin’s image. The Virgin was as adopted by many Mexicans as their patron saint.  


Guadalupe Shrine

<div>Translation/Traducción&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>Paul “Waxie” Hernandez amaba el béisbol desde que era niño cuando jugaba para el equipo de la Escuela Primaria de Guadalupe a tempranos de los 1930. Después el jugo para muchos equipos de de beisbol Mexicano de lanzadores rápidos en la área metropolitana en las dos partes de Kansas, las de Missouri&nbsp; y Kansas. Paul empezó su carrera con el equipo juvenil en 1936, jugó y fue entrenador para béisbol y béisbol de lanzadores rápido por más de 60 años. El estaba entrenando aun cuando se enfermó&nbsp; y murió en 1992. Paul Hernández pasó su amor por el béisbol a sus hijos y nietos. “Paulie” se convirtió en uno de los lanzadores de béisbol más prodigioso conocido a través de la región de Kansas. El hijo de Pauli “Bubba” Hernández y su hija, Sidonia, ha seguido en los pasos de su padre y abuelo a han mantenido el juego vivo. Durante la muerte de “Waxie”, El Parque de Kansas City&nbsp; el Departamento de Recreación&nbsp; llamaron los campos de béisbol en el Parque de Valley Penn en su honor.&nbsp;</div>

En Español tambien. Paul “Waxie” Hernández, Sr. loved baseball from the time he was a kid playing for the Guadalupe Grade School team in the early 1930s.  He later played for many of the Mexican American baseball and fast pitch softball teams in the metropolitan area on both sides of the Kansas and Missouri state lines.  “Waxie” started his baseball career with the Guadalupe Center youth team in 1936, played and coached baseball and fast pitch softball for over 60 years. He was still coaching when he fell ill and died in 1992. Paul Hernández, Sr. passed on his love of baseball to his children and grandchildren. “Paulie” became one of the outstanding fast pitch softball pitchers known throughout the Kansas City region.  Paulie’s son “Bubba” Hernández and his daughter, Sidonia have followed in their father’s and grandfather’s footsteps by keeping the games alive. Upon “Waxie” death, the Kansas City Missouri Parks and Recreation Department names ball fields in Penn Valley Park in his honor.



Paul “Waxie” Hernández Fields

<div>Spanish Translation/Traducción en Español</div><div><br></div><div>Nueve artistas pasaron 10 meses completando un mural de 220 pies trazando el distrito de Argentine de Kansas City, KS, desde los Indios Hopewell hasta hoy. Este mural expansivo, cual cubre una pared de veinte pies de alto, y de dos cuadras de calle, narra las historias, dificultades y estilos de vida de residentes de Argentine, comenzando con las representaciones de los tribus Indios Americanos Osage, Kansa y Wyandot. El arte continúa con el surgimiento de la industrialización y la clase media y representaciones del racismo y clasismo, la influencia de los ferrocarriles, el impacto de las inundaciones del 1951 en la región y la diversidad cultural de la gente que se establecieron y ahora viven en Argentine.&nbsp;</div>

En Español tambien. Nine artists spent 10 months completing this 220-foot mural tracing the Argentine District of Kansas City, KS, from the Hopewell Indians to today. This expansive mural, which covers a 20-foot-tall, two-block-long wall, chronicles the histories, hardships and lifestyle of Argentine residents, beginning with depictions of the Osage, Kansa and Wyandot American Indian tribes, the art continues with the rise of industrialization and the middle class and depictions of racism and classism, the influence of the railroad, the impact of the 1951 flood on the region, and the cultural diversity of the people who settled and now live in Argentine including the Mexican community.



Argentine Historical Mural

<div>Spanish Translation/Traducción en Español</div><div><br></div><div>Cuando regresaron de la guerra muchos veteranos méxico-americanas fueron rechazados una membresía a la sucursal local de la Legión Americana. Entonces ellos encontraron y fueron otorgados un permiso para su propia localidad de Legión. Post 213 inicialmente se reunía en varios diferentes edificios a través del barrio mexicano, hasta septiembre del 1953, cuando el Post compró el edificio W. Jones de la Sociedad Misionera Ciudad Metodista. Desde sus inicios, El Nido del Águila continúa funcionando como un Post de la Legión Americana y está compuesta de veteranos ancianos de la segunda guerra mundial, Corea y Vietnam así como de recientes reclutas de Argentine quienes sirvieron en la Guerra del Golfo y más conflictos recientes en Iraq y Afganistán. La propiedad incluye un diamante y campo de béisbol que&nbsp; activamente fueron utilizados como sitio de juegos intramurales desde la fundación del puesto hasta durante la década de los 1990. (Fuente: Kansas Preservation, volume 33, Number 3, 2011, pp 8––15).</div>

En Español tambien. When returning Mexican American veterans were denied membership in the local chapter of the American Legion, they sought and were granted a charter for a new Legion Post. Post 213 initially met in several different buildings throughout the Mexican barrio, until September 1953, when the Post purchased the W. Jones Building from the Methodist City Missionary Society. From its earliest beginnings, the Argentine Eagle’s Nest served as an important setting for community gatherings and fiestas, and provided Latino veterans a place to call their own. The Eagle’s Nest continues to function as an active American Legion Post, and is comprised both of aging veterans of World War II, Korea and Vietnam, as well as more recent recruits from Argentine who served in the first Gulf War or more recent conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan. The property includes a baseball diamond and ball field that were actively used as the site of intramural league play from the foundation of the post through the 1990s. (Source: Kansas Preservation, Volume 33, Number 3, 2011, pp. 8—15).

Spanish Translation/Traducción en Español

Cuando regresaron de la guerra muchos veteranos méxico-americanas fueron rechazados una membresía a la sucursal local de la Legión Americana. Entonces ellos encontraron y fueron otorgados un permiso para su propia localidad de Legión. Post 213 inicialmente se reunía en varios diferentes edificios a través del barrio mexicano, hasta septiembre del 1953, cuando el Post compró el edificio W. Jones de la Sociedad Misionera Ciudad Metodista. Desde sus inicios, El Nido del Águila continúa funcionando como un Post de la Legión Americana y está compuesta de veteranos ancianos de la segunda guerra mundial, Corea y Vietnam así como de recientes reclutas de Argentine quienes sirvieron en la Guerra del Golfo y más conflictos recientes en Iraq y Afganistán. La propiedad incluye un diamante y campo de béisbol que  activamente fueron utilizados como sitio de juegos intramurales desde la fundación del puesto hasta durante la década de los 1990.

American Legion Post #213

<p>The Atchison, Topeka, and Santa Fe Railroad (ATSF) was formed in 1863, and would become one of the largest railroads in the country. [1] In 1875, ATSF established a railway yard on 128 acres near present-day Argentine, consisting of terminal facilities, transfer sheds, round houses, machine shops, repair shops, a coaling depot, and an ice house. [2] By 1890, the railroad had about 500 workers on its payroll. [2] Many of the workers were Mexican recruits who had experience laying railroad tracks. These early Mexican railroad workers often lived with their families in the boxcars they had arrived in. [3]</p><p>In 1899, a Young Men’s Christian Association (YMCA) was constructed for the ATSF workers in Argentine. There were several Railroad YMCAs around the country, which were constructed to provide safe, affordable, and “wholesome” lodging and services for railway workers. The Argentine YMCA was three stories tall, and the $10,000 to build it was mostly paid for by ATSF. It contained dormitories for 72 beds, bathrooms, two bowling alleys, a gym, a large hall, a library, classroom, and several other spaces for socializing. By 1921, the building was used by about 24,000 workers every year, more than any other Railroad YMCA in Kansas. [4]</p><p>In 1935, a fire destroyed the Argentine YMCA, and a replacement was completed in 1937. The new brick building was slightly smaller than the original, with two stories that contained 44 beds, a lobby, and a recreation room. The YMCA remained busy in the following decades, but by 1970, it was the only remaining operational Railroad YMCA in the country. [4] Several additions and alterations were made to the building around this time. In the early 1980s, the YMCA finally closed, after over 80 years in operation. The building was sold to El Centro, Inc. in 1986 and converted to a community center to provide support and programs to Hispanic families and immigrants. It is still in use as such today. The building was added to the Kansas State Register of Historic Places in 2013.</p>

The Argentine Railroad YMCA was opened by the Atchison, Topeka, and Santa Fe Railroad in 1899. The brick building that stands today was constructed in 1937 after a fire destroyed the original building. The Argentine YMCA provided affordable dormitory-style housing for railroad workers, in addition to recreation and socializing opportunities. The YMCA remained in operation until at least 1980. When it closed, it was the last remaining Railroad YMCA in the country. Today, it operates as El Centro Community Center, which provides programs for the local Hispanic community. 

Argentine ATSF Railroad YMCA

<div>Spanish Translation/Traducción en Español</div><div><br></div><div>David Vega nació en el 1927 cuyos padres fueron José y Esperanza Alvarado Vega. Se crió en el distrito de Argentine en Kansas City, Kansas. La familia de su padre emigró de Michoacán, México y se asentaron en Argentine en los primeros años de la Revolución Mexicana, 1910-1921. David se enlistó y participó en la segunda guerra mundial. Después de la guerra se preparó para trabajar como mecánico de automóviles en la escuela de Stevinson Auto &amp; Electrical School mientras trabaja para Railways Ice Y Service Company cargando hielo a los vagones de refrigerador. Después de haber trabajado en el área de Quad Cities&nbsp; como mecánico el tomó riendas del contrato de arrendamiento de la estación de gasolina de Texaco en la Avenida Strong y la Calle 26. Él se convirtió en un negociante exitoso y activista comunitario.&nbsp; El 4 de Abril del 1991, por causa de la Resolución 37325, emitido por la Ciudad de Kansas, gobierno de Kansas, el campo que se extiende entre la avenida Metropolitana y la Avenida Strong en la Calle 24 fue llamado Campo de Vega en honor a David A. Vega el padre. El Campo Vega fue renovado por la Villa Argentina en el 2000.&nbsp;</div>

En Español tambien. David A. Vega was born in 1927 to José and Esperanza Alvarado Vega. He was raised in Argentine District of Kansas City, Kansas. His father’s family immigrated from Michoacán, Mexico and settled in Argentine in the early years of the Mexican Revolution, 1910—1921. David served in WWII. After the war he prepared himself for work as an auto mechanic at Stevinson Auto & Electrical School while working for the Railways Ice and Service Company loading ice in refrigerator cars.  After working in the Quad Cities area as a mechanic he took over the lease of the Texaco Service Station on 26th and Strong Avenue.  He became a successful businessman and community activist. On April 4th, 1991, by Resolution 37325, issued by the City of Kansas City, Kansas government, the field that stretches between Metropolitan Avenue and Strong Avenue on 24th Street was named Vega Field in honor of David A Vega, Sr.  Vega Field was renovated by Villa Argentina in the year 2000.  



David Vega Field

En Español tambien. Central Avenue in Kansas City, Kansas has long been an important commercial district since the early 1900s.  Like many core city areas, the district fell into decline.  But in recent years, recent Mexican immigrants have established vibrant commercial enterprises.  One of the largest and most successful businesses is El Torito Supermarket and restaurant at 1409 Central Ave. Kansas City, KS 66102.


Spanish Translation/Traducción en Español

La Avenida Central de Kansas City, Kansas ha sido un distrito comercial importante por un buen tiempo desde los primeros años del siglo veinte. Como muchos otros lugares céntricos, el distrito cayó en declive. Pero en años recientes, muchos inmigrantes mexicanos han establecido empresas comerciales vibrantes. Uno de los negocios más exitosos es El Torito Supermarket y Restaurante en 1409 Central Ave. Kansas City, KS 66102. 

Latino History of Kansas City

Irene H. Ruiz Biblioteca de las Americas

Introduction

Images

Backstory and Context

Sources