My son is in search of people age 50 and up to interview for his new National History Day project. He is interested in people who have lived in Arizona most of their lives. Also, participants must be from a minority group. Descendants who have stories can also be useful.

This years theme is Triumph and Tragedy. He has chosen the Clifton/Morenci Orphan Train abductions. For those who do not know the story. It happened in 1904 a train carrying 40 Irish orphans came to Arizona. The children were placed in Mexican homes because one qualification for adopting the children was that the new parents had to be of the same religious background as the family. Irish and Hispanics of the time were both primarily Catholic. Once the train arrived and Caucasian women saw white children being given to Mexican families and they convinced their husbands to begin abducting the children. Some even held the nuns at gun point.

If you are interested in being a volunteer please respond to this or email me at cesarelea@aol.com.

He is interested in life stories of growing up in Arizona as a minority, seeing change in Arizona's society prospective on racism and things of this nature.