Cecilia Stone Oral History Interview

Cecilia Burrell Stone was born in Tucson, Arizona, and raised in various cities around California. She obtained her bachelor’s degree in 1970 from the University of Long Beach. In her interview, Stone reflects on her time growing up in California in military housing - where she was surrounded by white, English-speaking families - and the difficulties she faced with acclimating and learning English in school. She also shares stories of the discrimination she faced as a Mexican-American student during her school years. Stone likewise discusses her experience of being in an interracial marriage and the racism that she faced as a result.

Stone helped open and manage Ready Print in 1976, a printing business located in Pittsburg, California. She and her husband owned and operated Ready Print for 39 years before selling it so they could retire. She discusses her retirement, and how she has spent the time traveling, working with a ministry grief program, and participating in the Pittsburg Women’s Club. Stone also shares her faith journey, and speaks of how faith has helped her process her experiences and find herself. She ends the interview by talking about the need for people to have an open mind towards each other’s differences, and the need to be aware of how we treat each other.