Joaquín Colón-López Papers
Scope and Contents
This collection consists of documents and 262 photographs dating from 1917 to 1947. Included among the documents are biographical information, articles, and a typewritten manuscript of Colón-López’s book, Pioneros Puertorriqueños en Nueva York 1917-1947. This manuscript was submitted by Centro and published by Arte Público Press in 2001. The photographs include personal and family photos as well as political activities and events.
Dates
- Creation: 1917-1947
Creator
- Colón López, Joaquín (Person)
Conditions Governing Access
Open to researchers without restrictions.
Conditions Governing Use
Making copies of published material in collection is restricted. Permission must be obtained from donor.
Biographical / Historical
Joaquín Colón-López (1896-1964) was a Puerto Rican activist, community leader and writer. He migrated to New York City with his younger brother, writer Jesús Colón in 1917. Although he moved in different political circles from his brother, they shared their activism –building organizations and working hard on behalf of our incipient Puerto Rican communities in New York City, particularly in Brooklyn, from the 1920s through the 1940s.
Colón-López co-founded Club Democrático de Brooklyn with J.V. Alonso, and was a founding member of the International Workers Order, Hispanic Section, and Vanguardia Puertorriqueña, for which he also served as the President. He served in high ranking leadership roles in a number of other organizations, including as President of the De Hostos Democratic Club, Inc., President of the Puerto Rican Hurricane Committee, Vice President of the Porto Rican Democratic Club, and Chairman of the Confederación de Clubes Unidos Democratas. He was editor of the first Hispanic newspaper in Brooklyn, El Caribe (1923) and of Alma Boricua, as well as a collaborator with other publications, such as Vida Alegre, El Curioso, and La Voz. Colón-López was also a member of Liga Puertorriqueña.
In 2002, Colón-Lopez’s book Pioneros Puertorriqueños en Nueva York 1917-1947 was submitted by Centro and published by Arte Público Press.
Extent
0.50 Cubic Feet
Language of Materials
English
Spanish; Castilian
Abstract
Joaquín Colón-López was a Puerto Rican activist and writer, brother to writer Jesús Colón. He also co-founded Club Democrático de Brooklyn with J.V. Alonso. The Joaquín Colón-Lopez Papers consists of documents and 262 photographs dating from 1917 to 1947. Included among the documents are biographical information, articles, and a typewritten manuscript of Colón-Lopez’s book, Pioneros Puertorriqueños en Nueva York 1917-1947. This manuscript was submitted by Centro and published by Arte Público Press in 2001. The photographs include personal and family photos as well as political activities and events.
Arrangement
The collection is divided into the following series:
I. Writings and Publications
II. Photographs
Other Finding Aids
English / Spanish finding aid available upon request. Contact Centro Library & Archives.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
The collection was donated by Olimpia Colón-Aponte, his daughter.
Subject
- Colón-Aponte, Olympia (Person)
- Aponte-Colón, Maria (Person)
- Colón, Clara (Person)
- Colón, Concha, 1902-1958 (Person)
- Colón, Jesús, 1901-1974 (Person)
- Marcantonio, Vito, 1902-1954 (Person)
- Vega, Bernardo, 1885- (Person)
- De Hostos Democratic Club, Inc. (Organization)
- Hispanic Section International Workers Order (Organization)
- Porto Rican Democratic Club (Organization)
Cultural context
- Correspondence
- Fraternal organizations -- New York (State) -- New York
- Organizations and Leaders
- Puerto Rican Left Movement
- Puerto Ricans -- New York (State) -- Brooklyn
- Puerto Ricans -- New York (State) -- New York -- History -- 20th century
- Puerto Ricans -- New York (State) -- New York -- Social conditions -- 20th century
Function
Geographic
- Brooklyn, New York (State) -- New York
- New York (N.Y.) -- Ethnic relations
- New York (N.Y.) -- History -- 1898-1951
- New York (N.Y.) -- Social conditions -- 20th century
- Puerto Rico -- History -- Autonomy and independence movements
- Puerto Rico -- Politics and government
Occupation
Topical
- Authors, Puerto Rican
- Civil rights -- New York (State) -- New York
- Labor movement -- Puerto Rico
- Photographs
- Political participation -- Puerto Rico
- Politics, Government, and Law
- Publications
- Puerto Ricans -- New York (State) -- New York -- Political participation
- Puerto Ricans -- New York (State) -- New York
- Title
- Joaquín Colón-López Papers
- Status
- Completed
- Author
- Processed by Christopher R. Medina, Archivist Assistant under the supervision of Pedro Juan Hernández.
- Date
- August 2005
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
Revision Statements
- July 30, 2020: Final arrangement and description by Senior Archivist Pedro Juan Hernandez completed on July 30, 2020.
- May 2021: Guide was revised by Wendy Jimenez.
Repository Details
Part of the Archives of the Puerto Rican Diaspora Repository
Silberman Building, Hunter College
2180 Third Ave. Rm. 122
New York New York 10065
centro.library@hunter.cuny.edu
