Latin American Fraternal Society of South Chicago

The Latin American Fraternal Society of South Chicago was formed at Wisconsin Steel. This photo from 1948 includes an image of Louis Guadarrama, Sr. Louis emigrated to South Chicago from Mexico in 1929. He was a union official in the Progressive Steelworkers Union at Wisconsin Steel and was one of the founders of the organization. The article photo was donated by his son, Louis Guadarrama, Jr., a former Bowen High school teacher who grew up in South Chicago. Louis, Jr., in an oral history at the Museum, described his father’s experience at Wisconsin Steel. He also discussed this group, saying “My father took me to several of his organizations. For instance, he started with a few of his friends something called the Latin American Fraternal Society. I was not even 10 years old the last time we went to one of the meetings. We’d sit around in old rooms and churches with clanky radiators, big high windows. They’d talk about whatever it is they were talking about. They’d have a barbecue every summer at a tavern, Mariam Gooch’s (?) tavern. And, at the back of the tavern, there’s this big yard, sunken yard to dance [in]. All kinds of neat stuff. Food was great.”