El Amigo y Guia del Bracero. [2], 45 pages. 8vo, modern calf gilt, with original printed wrappers bound in; minimal wear. An ephemeral Spanish-to-English phonetic phrase book for Mexican seasonal agricultural laborers in the United States, likely issued shortly after the formal institution of the bracero program in 1942. A brief introduction promises in Spanish: "I´m a friend to you, a friend that wants to accompany you, from the rail station near your town to the United States, and until your return with the help of God, safe and sound with the savings you have worked for." The book was certainly not issued by the government or by the farm owners. A section "en el trabajo" (at work) handles the basics ("where can I get water?") but also teaches the braceros to say "Who is the union organizer?" "I want to talk to the committee," and "What are the dues?" (page 31)--all in phonetic Spanish: "Ju is di yunon organizer?" The authors are credited only as "A.T.T. y S.H.T." on the title page, but on the modern binding the second author is named as Salvador Herrera Tejeda (1886-1970), a prominent Querétaro educator. The book was bound for the library of Salvador Herrera Jimenez, presumably a relative. No copies traced in OCLC or elsewhere. Np, circa 1940s Magdaleno Lares. Memorias de un Bracero. Text illustrations, 5-129 pages. 4to, original illustrated color wrappers, moderate wear, lacking most of backstrip, inked calculation on front wrapper; occasional marginal notes and underlining; inscribed by the author on flyleaf. The memoirs of an illegal migrant from Jalisco to the US. The author starts by unapologetically declaring that illegally crossing the border is against the law but "our children's stomachs do not know laws," and explains that anyone in such dire circumstances would do the same to help their family. The author narrates his adventures and hardships as a laborer in New York City and on a Texas ranch. The colophon bears a 1960 copyright date and "esta edición" was issued in 1962, but we find no other record of any edition in OCLC or elsewhere. [Mexico: Talleres de Rotograbado, 1962].
