2009.72.10

Shoe covering, handmade from a cut piece of a South American-style striped woolen blanket, with portions of the blanket cut into strips and tied into knots. A piece of a plastic six-pack holder has been tied on to keep the covering intact and functional. According to Donna Tisdale, who donated these artifacts, immigrants crossing the border from Mexico into California wear these shoe coverings to obscure their footprints. Tisdale calls these "Mexican booties." This artifact was found on Morning Star Ranch, a ranch in the town of Boulevard in San Diego County, two miles north of the California/Mexico border. Donna Tisdale, the owner of the ranch, retrieved this object as one of many items that people crossing the border through her ranch have left behind. In the donor file is a description of the ranch and the border crossers, as well as thoughts on immigration, written by Tisdale.

Used: immigrant ~ Mexico | California/Mexico border | San Diego Co. | Morning Star Ranch