Francisco (Frank) and Encarnacion Raguro

Frank Raguro, pictured above cooking at Northwestern University, Chicago Tribune, August 3, 1947

Some people pass through life with a flourish amid great fanfare, leaving epic images of their time.  More often, even active and respected citizens leave behind scant traces of their lives in the world that they passed through.  Frank, or Francisco, and Encarnacion Raguro are among the latter.

Francisco was born in 1905 in San Fernando, La Union, Philippines, only three years after the war between the United States and the Philippines officially ended.  Given that the Philippines has hundreds of islands and dozens of separate cultures, it is more complicated than that.  But for our purposes, the point is that Frank came of age in an era when the Philippines was a United States territory.  Despite the challenges, the two countries developed a relationship that included benefits for both sides.  For example, many Filipinos had an opportunity to seek education and opportunities in the United States.  A review of the 1930 census shows many Northwestern students who arrived from the Philippines between 1925 and 1930, for example.

Francisco sailed out of Manila on the ship President Jefferson in May of 1925, having just turned twenty years old.  He arrived in Seattle about three weeks later, where he listed his address as the Milwaukee Hotel in Seattle.  A review of the passenger list shows that listing a hotel as an initial address upon arrival was not uncommon.  The story of Raguro’s journey to Evanston is not clear from the records I located, although he started cooking at Northwestern restaurants around 1936, and at some point started going by “Frank.”  His naturalization record from September of 1946 has him living at 1724 ½ Sherman Avenue in Evanston, but we do not know how long he lived there.  The Sherman Avenue address is where he was living in 1948 when he took a trip back to the Philippines.  The Port of San Francisco recorded his return as a third-class passenger on the USS President Wilson.

Frank’s role as a cook for Northwestern University is his most visible legacy.  A 1949 Northwestern Article speaks of how Raguro and his helpers at the Goodrich Grill have their work cut out for them feeding the football team.  In the fall of 1950, he moved to the new Sargent Hall Grill, which featured a snack bar and soda fountain, as well as seated dining.  Today Sarge, as it is referred to by students, is one of the largest dining halls on campus, and provides a variety of options.  And while food service has changed in the past 70 years, Frank Raguro should still get credit for wielding the first spatula.

Even less is known about Encarnacion Raguro.  She was born June 23, 1914, in the Philippines.  She sailed first class from Manila to San Francisco on the USS President Cleveland on Sept 22, 1948, and listed her address as 2253 Sheridan Road.  She arrived a few weeks after Frank that year, and there is not a record of her in the United States prior to that time.  This suggests that they could have been married in the Philippines in 1948, although Encarnacion would have been 34 at the time and Frank would have been 43.

The 1950 census is the first record where Frank and Encarnacion Raguro appear together, although Encarnacion’s name is misspelled.  They had moved to 1725 Orrington Avenue.  This was a new apartment building that Northwestern built in 1946-1947 to help address a post-war housing shortage.  Tenants started moving in August of 1947.  They lived there until at least 1963.

Encarnacion became a citizen in 1952 at the age of 37.  Her naturalization papers also list the 1723 Orrington Avenue address.  As an interesting side note, the Illinois Cook County Death records list at least 17 records between 1959 and 1969 where she is listed as the informant.  This would indicate some sort of work that involved reporting deaths, but I have been unable to locate other details.

The couple moved to Tinley Park at some point.  Frank died in 2002, and Encarnacion died the following year.  As of right now, I have not located an obituary with any additional information.  Despite the limits of the available records, it is clear that Frank and Encarnacions’ years in Evanston left a mark on the city and Northwestern.  After all, keeping college students fed is no small task.

-Kathleen Alonso

Bibliography

Primary Sources

“California, San Francisco Passenger Lists, 1893-1953,” database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:KXHC-BM6 : 19 February 2021), Encarnacion Raguro, 1948; citing San Francisco, San Francisco, California, United States, NARA microfilm publication M1410 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.); FHL microfilm 2,381,190.

Evanston City Directory, 1962.  Raguro, Frank (Encarnacion M)

Evanston City Directory, 1963.  Raguro, Frank (Encarnacion M)

“Illinois, Northern District Naturalization Index, 1840-1950,” database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XKGR-S46 : 2 March 2021), Francisco A Raguro, 1926; citing Illinois, NARA microfilm publication M1285 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), roll 146; FHL microfilm 1,432,146.

“Illinois, Cook County Deaths, 1871-1998,” database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:Q2MX-YKFH : 18 March 2018), Encarnacion Raguro in entry for Auzzie Houston Hightower, 19 Apr 1968; citing Chicago, Cook, Illinois, United States, source reference , record number , Cook County Courthouse, Chicago; FHL microfilm .

“Illinois, Cook County Deaths, 1871-1998,” database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:Q2MX-6K6Z : 18 March 2018), Encarnacion Raguro in entry for George Nereaux, 27 May 1966; citing Chicago, Cook, Illinois, United States, source reference , record number , Cook County Courthouse, Chicago; FHL microfilm .

“Illinois, Cook County Deaths, 1871-1998,” database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:Q2M6-TNB3 : 18 March 2018), Encarnacion Raguro in entry for Donnie Willis, 13 Jul 1963; citing Chicago, Cook, Illinois, United States, source reference , record number , Cook County Courthouse, Chicago; FHL microfilm .

“Illinois, Cook County Deaths, 1871-1998,” database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:Q2MX-L5CL : 18 March 2018), Encarnacion Raguro in entry for Elmer F Hogue, 05 Aug 1967; citing Chicago, Cook, Illinois, United States, source reference , record number , Cook County Courthouse, Chicago; FHL microfilm .

“Illinois, Cook County Deaths, 1871-1998,” database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:Q2MX-ZYC1 : 18 March 2018), Encarnacion Raguro in entry for Ernest Mathew Jarrett, 22 Jan 1966; citing Chicago, Cook, Illinois, United States, source reference , record number , Cook County Courthouse, Chicago; FHL microfilm .

“Illinois, Cook County Deaths, 1871-1998,” database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:Q2MF-7TV7 : 18 March 2018), Encarnacion Raguro in entry for Harold Louis Finley, 24 May 1969; citing Chicago, Cook, Illinois, United States, source reference , record number , Cook County Courthouse, Chicago; FHL microfilm .

“Illinois, Cook County Deaths, 1871-1998,” database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:Q2MX-8K59 : 18 March 2018), Encarnacion Raguro in entry for Ljubomir Simic, 05 Feb 1966; citing Chicago, Cook, Illinois, United States, source reference , record number , Cook County Courthouse, Chicago; FHL microfilm .

“Illinois, Cook County Deaths, 1871-1998,” database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:Q2MX-K59Y : 18 March 2018), Encarnacion Raguro in entry for George Hughlett, 15 Apr 1967; citing Chicago, Cook, Illinois, United States, source reference , record number , Cook County Courthouse, Chicago; FHL microfilm .

“Illinois, Cook County Deaths, 1871-1998,” database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:Q2MX-6K6Z : 18 March 2018), Encarnacion Raguro in entry for George Nereaux, 27 May 1966; citing Chicago, Cook, Illinois, United States, source reference , record number , Cook County Courthouse, Chicago; FHL microfilm .

“Illinois, Cook County Deaths, 1871-1998,” database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QV9N-XRFZ : 17 March 2020), Encarnacion Raguro in entry for Howard Yam, 18 Jan 1959; citing Chicago, Cook, Illinois, United States, source reference , record number , Cook County Courthouse, Chicago; FHL microfilm .

“Illinois, Cook County Deaths, 1871-1998,” database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:Q2MF-DGDR : 18 March 2018), Encarnacion Raguro in entry for Joseph Jacob Petru, 07 Jun 1970; citing Chicago, Cook, Illinois, United States, source reference , record number , Cook County Courthouse, Chicago; FHL microfilm .

“Illinois, Cook County Deaths, 1871-1998,” database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:Q2MF-7FJS : 18 March 2018), Encarnacion Raguro in entry for Moses Edward Lindsey, 26 Apr 1969; citing Chicago, Cook, Illinois, United States, source reference , record number , Cook County Courthouse, Chicago; FHL microfilm .

“Illinois, Cook County Deaths, 1871-1998,” database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:Q2MX-P4W4 : 18 March 2018), Encarnacion Raguro in entry for Ned Norwood, 27 Oct 1967; citing Chicago, Cook, Illinois, United States, source reference , record number , Cook County Courthouse, Chicago; FHL microfilm .

“Illinois, Cook County Deaths, 1871-1998,” database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:Q2MX-SFM4 : 18 March 2018), Encarnacion Raguro in entry for Pauline Glaze, 05 Sep 1964; citing Chicago, Cook, Illinois, United States, source reference , record number , Cook County Courthouse, Chicago; FHL microfilm .

“Illinois, Cook County Deaths, 1871-1998,” database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:Q2MX-LS8Z : 18 March 2018), Encarnacion Raguro in entry for Raymond James Ruzek, 24 Jun 1967; citing Chicago, Cook, Illinois, United States, source reference , record number , Cook County Courthouse, Chicago; FHL microfilm .

“Illinois, Cook County Deaths, 1871-1998,” database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QV9J-JQZL : 17 March 2020), Encarnacion Raguro in entry for Richard M Donich, 14 Nov 1964; citing Chicago, Cook, Illinois, United States, source reference , record number , Cook County Courthouse, Chicago; FHL microfilm .

“Illinois, Cook County Deaths, 1871-1998,” database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:Q2MX-RCSZ : 18 March 2018), Encarnacion Raguro in entry for Roman Frank Costello, 06 Jan 1968; citing Chicago, Cook, Illinois, United States, source reference , record number , Cook County Courthouse, Chicago; FHL microfilm .

“Illinois, Cook County Deaths, 1871-1998,” database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:Q2M6-GZ9H : 18 March 2018), Encarnacion Raguro in entry for Theodore Williams, 19 Oct 1962; citing Chicago, Cook, Illinois, United States, source reference , record number , Cook County Courthouse, Chicago; FHL microfilm .

“Illinois, County Naturalization Records, 1800-1998”, database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QG4D-451L : 17 February 2021), Encarnacion Maglaya Raguro, 1952.

United States Census, 1930.  https://www.familysearch.org/search/record/results?count=20&q.anyPlace=Evanston%2C%20Cook%2C%20Illinois%2C%20United%20States&q.anyPlace.exact=on&q.birthLikePlace=Philippines&f.collectionId=1810731 Viewed May 27, 2023.

“United States, California, List of United States Citizens Arriving at San Francisco, 1930-1949”, database, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:WYY5-Z72M : 29 August 2020), Francisco Raguro, 1948.

“United States, Social Security Numerical Identification Files (NUMIDENT), 1936-2007”, database, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:6K3B-XCVQ : 10 February 2023), Encarnacion M Raguro.

“United States, Social Security Numerical Identification Files (NUMIDENT), 1936-2007” database, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:6KQS-G6XC : 10 February 2023), Frank A Raguro.

“United States 1950 Census”, database, FamilySearch (ark:/61903/1:1:6X1B-49C1 : Sun Jan 29 11:19:48 UTC 2023), Entry for Frank A Raguro and Incernscine M Raguro, 10 April 1950.

“Washington, Seattle, Passenger Lists, 1890-1957,” database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:KDZW-7D2 : 1 March 2021), Francisco Raguro, 1926; citing Seattle, King, Washington, United States, NARA microfilm publication M1383, National Archives and Records Administration, Washington, D.C.; FHL microfilm 2,266,102.

Websites

Northwestern.edu, Residential College of Cultural and Community Studies, “Where to Eat.” https://sites.northwestern.edu/ccsnu/prospies/where-to-eat/  Viewed 5/27/2023.

“Washington, Seattle, Passenger Lists, 1890-1957,” database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:KDZW-7D2 : 1 March 2021), Francisco Raguro, 1926; citing Seattle, King, Washington, United States, NARA microfilm publication M1383, National Archives and Records Administration, Washington, D.C.; FHL microfilm 2,266,102.

Newspapers

Daily Northwestern, “Quick Lunch is Feature of New Sargent Hall Grill,” Aug 11, 1950.

Daily Northwestern, “See How They Run,” Nov 5, 1949.

Evanston Review, “N.U. to Build $2,000,000 Apartment Hotel on Orrington,” 1/17/1946.

Evanston Review, “1735 Orrington Avenue,” 8/28/1947.

Francisco (Frank) Raguro - 1905, San Fernando, La Unionb, Philippines

Encarnacion Raguro - June 23, 1914, Philippines

Francisco (Frank) Raguro - 2002

Encarnacion Raguro - 2003