Description
Object description
Mexican civilian journalist in Barcelona, Spain, 1934-1937; worked for Basque Children's Committee in GB, 1937-1939
Content description
REEL 1 Background in Mexico, 1901-1914: family; father's friendship with President Francisco Madero; memories of Mexican Revolution; role of religion in Mexican culture; father's business interests; attitudes towards Roman Catholic Church; decision to emigrate to Barcelona, Spain, 1914. Aspects of period as civilian in Barcelona, Spain, 1915-1936: family decision to stay in Barcelona; education; impressions of Miguel Primo de Rivera. Recollections of period as journalist in Barcelona, Spain, 1934-1937: story of monitoring news of declaration of Spanish Republic during visit to London, 1934; employment as journalist with picture agency in Barcelona from 1934.
REEL 2 Continues: agency work; waking up to uprising in Barcelona, 7/1936; impressions of city; description of militias patrolling the Ramblas Catalunya; atmosphere during days preceding coup; attitudes towards Catholic Church; story of sheltering wanted man in house; saving dog from being killed for food and arrest during curfew; suspected execution of neighbour; entering street of barricades and witnessing lunchtime truce; view of bodies in street; food shortages; Nationalist Air Force strafing of civilians in food queue.
REEL 3 Continues: opinion of Catalans in 1936; story of saving car from militia requisitioning; Nationalist Air Force strafing attacks; making radio broadcasts to GB; lack of censorship; opinion of General Francisco Franco; opinion of requisitioning of property in wealthy suburbs; treatment of wealthy civilians in city; comparison between Roman Catholic Church in Mexico and Spain; burning of churches in Barcelona.
REEL 4 Continues: story of destroying parcel reputed to contain love letters sent by General Francisco Franco to a sweetheart; memories of Arthur Koestler; impressions of early International Bde personnel. Aspects of period as civilian working with Basque Children's Committee in GB, 1937-1939: formation of committee; physical and pyschological condition of children; anti-clerical attitudes of children. Aspects of period as journalist in Barcelona, Spain, 1934-1936: reads from articles she wrote about two visits to front line, 8/1936-9/1936; role of National Confederation of Labour; decision to leave Spain, 11/1937; journey by car to GB via France, 1937.