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Ruben Esquivel Oral History

Object number2000.020.0007
Date09/15/2000
ClassificationsOral Histories
Oral history interview subject Ruben Esquivel
Oral history interviewer Bob Porter
Oral history interviewer Stephen Fagin
ObjectOral history
Credit LineOral History Collection/The Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza
MediumHi-8 videotape
DimensionsDuration: 80 Minutes
DescriptionVideotaped oral history interview with Ruben Esquivel. A longtime board member and former chair of the Dallas County Historical Foundation, Esquivel fled his native Cuba when Fidel Castro came to power. Interview conducted at Mr. Esquivel's office in Dallas on September 15, 2000 by Bob Porter and Stephen Fagin. The interview is one hour and twenty minutes long.
Curatorial Commentary

Ruben Esquivel has had a long association with The Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza. He was first appointed to the board of the Dallas County Historical Foundation in 1994. He later served as vice chair from 2001-2004 and board chair from 2005-2007. Since 2007, he has been an ex-officio member of the board. Beyond The Sixth Floor Museum, he has been active over the years with a variety of corporations and organizations, including serving on the board of ATMOS Energy Corp. and as chair of the State Fair of Texas.

I vividly recall this oral history recording in September 2000. Less than a month earlier, I had started my undergraduate internship at The Sixth Floor Museum and was assigned to assist then-Director of Communications Bob Porter with the ongoing Oral History Project. This was my very first interview, and although I only served as the silent cameraman, it was a memorable experience. Well over 2,000 recordings later, and after more than twenty years, whenever I see Ruben at Museum programs and events I always recall that he was my first oral history at The Sixth Floor Museum. - Stephen Fagin, Curator