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El Paso History Museum - Jimena Sofia Huante, Week 1

Have you ever met a centenarian?


It was an incredible experience to meet a 100-year-old man, especially one with such a remarkable story. Sitting in the backseat, I gazed out at the desert and cityscape as the car made its way through the neighborhood.  We were there to gather community objects for an upcoming exhibit, and the warmth of the people we met was truly heartening. General Greer, a 100-year-old veteran, welcomed us into his beautiful home filled with Korean artwork. It was a true honor to sit at his dining table, listen to his stories from the Korean War, and learn about his experiences as a black soldier during a time of hate and segregation. With his son by his side, General Greer shared a special photo album that offered a glimpse into his extraordinary life. It was a moving and eye-opening encounter that I will never forget. The objects we collected will be part of our Korean War Exhibit which will also highlight El Paso stories and Korean culture. It was an honor to connect with General Greer and be entrusted with his personal artifacts for this original exhibition.


We visited the Benavidez-Patterson 82nd Airborne Division to gather more items for our community collection. Their club houses a personal collection dating all the way back to World War I and the Vietnam War. We got to see and even borrow items that were actually used by former members. The history museum received many distinguished pins and uniforms worn during the Korean War. The collection included military attire, white doctor's uniforms, first aid kits, and even the uniforms of courageous military women nurses who were trained to parachute from planes. Witnessing the lending process was a truly unique and amazing experience, and it felt wonderful to connect with the museum in such a special way. It was a true honor to meet the individuals who have served our country.


One afternoon, I had the opportunity to see an original Mariachi musical in concert at the museum. This musical was written by a local El Paso student studying at UT Austin. It's wonderful to see such talent showcased, and I'm looking forward to the opening of the MACC (Mexican-American Cultural Center) later this year, which sponsored the concert.


Another highlight of my week was the opportunity to help with the closure of our exhibit "Desert Couture," which delved into the fashion history of El Paso. It was truly captivating to immerse myself in the fashion trends and styles worn by women in El Paso during bygone eras. The exhibit showcased garments from renowned El Paso stores such as "The Popular" and "The White House” of the time. I got to handle hats, shoes, jewelry, perfume bottles, and makeup containers, carefully returning them to collections. I observed the process of removing the dresses from the mannequins, gaining insight into how these delicate items are handled by the museum. 





 









Cream dress worn for an El Paso parade
The purple purse has the initials of the daughter of the owner of one of the stores.

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