Ben DaSilva (interview); Creator: DaSilva, Ben; Interviewer(s): Herbert Janick, Jul 25, 1979

Benjamin DaSilva

Interviewed by Denise Marino

July 25, 1979

Western Connecticut State College in Danbury, Connecticut

Total Time of Interview: 72 minutes

I. Father's arrival in the United States and the reasons for other Portuguese' departure for the United States

II. Father's early occupations in United States 5.4

1. ethnic occupational competition

2. Farm labor

3. arrival in Danbury

4. common Portuguese-American occupations

III. Father's education

1. attitudes toward.

2. night school

IV. Citizenship

V. Discrimination against Portuguese

VI. Crime and lack of it

1. family ties

2. work ethic

VII. Property ownership

VIII. Relatives

1. Atlantic crossings 2. 3. Money sent back to relatives in Portugal 4. IX. Early Portuguese community

X. Parents' early residences

1. boarding

2. parents meet

3. family household

4. anti-Portuguese: attitudes

5. Permanent residence

XI. Rec·re-ation and family structure and standards 25.4

discipline

radio

XII. Catholic Church

XIII. Recreation

movies

XIV. Intergenerational educational occupational mobility

XV. Portuguese political situation

XVI. Growth of Portuguese population in Danbury

causes

XVII. Occupations

XVIII. Prejudices against and in second and third generation Portuguese-Americans

XIX. Present Growth in Portuguese Population

second language program

residence

XX. Sex roles and sibling responsibilities

XXI. Importance of church and clubs

1. role in community

2. male orientation of clubs

3 clubs

XXII. Home· ownership

XXIII. Portuguese-American power structure

XXIV. Residence patterns

XXV. Work ethic

XXVI. Contacts with other Portuguese- American communities

XXVII. Father’s hometown

XXVIII. Ethnic culture