Interviewer : Leigh Cutler

Project : University of Houston

Rolando Romo traces his personal history, upbringing and education and how these factors led to his interest in Houston history and historical organizations, and found his own, the Tejano Association for Historical Preservation, in 1989. Of all the buildings the Tejano Association fought for only the Salon Juarez, now known as Magnolia Hall, was successfully preserved. Rolando discusses the driving forces behind the birth of Salon Juarez and how it was used by the Mexican American community. Romo speaks about the Sociedad Mutualista organization and its role in the community as a support system and goes into detail about the Sociedad’s intervention in the Macario Garcia case. Romo mentions women and their roles within the organizations and in the home, and argues that they held more authority than expected. Finishing, Romo discusses a collection of historic photographs and the benefits and importance of historic preservation, using preservationist Randall Davis as an example.