Mario Veiga Oral History Interview
Dublin Core
Title
Mario Veiga Oral History Interview
Date
2016-11-21
Description
Oral History Interview with Mario F. Veiga, November 21, 2016
Biographical Note:
Born on the Azorean island of Graciosa in 1946; son of Luzomira A. (Augusta) and Manuel J. Veiga; Mario F. Veiga was raised on the family’s farm and attended school until age eleven; he continued to work on the family’s farm until age twenty when he was drafted into the Portuguese Army; served two years in Angola, during the Angolan War of Independence; returned to Graciosa where he married Maria Natalia, whose father was born in U.S. and was therefore a U.S. citizen, but had returned to Graciosa (the home of his ancestors); in 1971 Mr. Veiga and his wife settled in Lowell, where she had lived, beginning around 1960, with her family; he immediately obtained a job in the Prince pasta factory in packing and as a machine operator; after nearly eight years at Prince, he opened a small grocery (Mario’s Variety Store) in the “Lower Belvidere” section of Lowell; about three years later he sold the business and opened a furniture store in the “Back Central” neighborhood; run by Mr. Veiga and his wife, “Mario’s Discount Furniture” proved financially successful and remains in business today (2018).
Scope and Contents:
Interview conducted by local historian Mehmed Ali; focuses on Mr. Veigas’ family background, growing up on Graciosa in the 1950s and 1960s; his service in the Portuguese military in Angola in the late 1960s; his marriage and immigration to the U.S.; Lowell’s Portuguese community in the 1970s; working in Lowell’s Prince pasta factory in the 1970s; and owning and operating a family-run business in Lowell’s “Back Central” neighborhood.
Biographical Note:
Born on the Azorean island of Graciosa in 1946; son of Luzomira A. (Augusta) and Manuel J. Veiga; Mario F. Veiga was raised on the family’s farm and attended school until age eleven; he continued to work on the family’s farm until age twenty when he was drafted into the Portuguese Army; served two years in Angola, during the Angolan War of Independence; returned to Graciosa where he married Maria Natalia, whose father was born in U.S. and was therefore a U.S. citizen, but had returned to Graciosa (the home of his ancestors); in 1971 Mr. Veiga and his wife settled in Lowell, where she had lived, beginning around 1960, with her family; he immediately obtained a job in the Prince pasta factory in packing and as a machine operator; after nearly eight years at Prince, he opened a small grocery (Mario’s Variety Store) in the “Lower Belvidere” section of Lowell; about three years later he sold the business and opened a furniture store in the “Back Central” neighborhood; run by Mr. Veiga and his wife, “Mario’s Discount Furniture” proved financially successful and remains in business today (2018).
Scope and Contents:
Interview conducted by local historian Mehmed Ali; focuses on Mr. Veigas’ family background, growing up on Graciosa in the 1950s and 1960s; his service in the Portuguese military in Angola in the late 1960s; his marriage and immigration to the U.S.; Lowell’s Portuguese community in the 1970s; working in Lowell’s Prince pasta factory in the 1970s; and owning and operating a family-run business in Lowell’s “Back Central” neighborhood.
Creator
Subject
Publisher
UMass Lowell, Center for Lowell History
Contributor
Veiga, Mario
Rights
In Copyright - Educational Use Permitted: This Item is protected by copyright and/or related rights. You are free to use this Item in any way that is permitted by the copyright and related rights legislation that applies to your use. In addition, no permission is required from the rights-holder(s) for educational uses. For other uses, you need to obtain permission from the rights-holder(s).
Format
PDF
Language
Type
Text
Identifier
OH_Veiga
Citation
Ali, Mehmed, “Mario Veiga Oral History Interview,” Portuguese American Digital Archive, accessed April 25, 2024, https://umlportuguesearchives.omeka.net/items/show/25.
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