Lower East Side (New York, N.Y.)

Abstract

Miguel Algarín was an award-winning Puerto Rican poet, writer, professor, and cofounder of the Nuyorican Poets Café in New York City’s Lower East Side. Through the Café, Algarín helped cultivate the slam poetry movement and provided a diverse venue for aspiring artists. Algarín and fellow poet Miguel Piñero are credited with initiating what is now called Nuyorican Poetry, the first affirmative Puerto Rican literary movement.

Abstract

The CHARAS/El Bohío Cultural and Community Center Records are an important resource for studying Puerto Ricans and other Latino communities in the Lower East Side (known as Loisaida), New York from 1970 to 2010. The collection consists of correspondence, memoranda, minutes, photographs, flyers, clippings, posters, proposals, reports, financial statements, and artifacts.

Abstract

Tato Laviera was an acclaimed Puerto Rican poet, playwright, performer, educator, and community leader. Collection provides insight into Laviera’s life and career, as well as into the Nuyorican poetry movement, of which he was an early member. Collection consists of correspondence, manuscripts, typescripts, notebooks, press clippings, articles, flyers, event programs, posters, photographs, and audio and video recordings.

Abstract Quality of Life in/ Calidad de Vida en Loisaida magazine was created and edited by Mary M. McCarthy after she moved to Loisaida (Lower East Side) in 1977. McCarthy wanted to create a neighborhood guide for residents. The bilingual and bimonthly magazine was distributed free of charge within the community. Most of the staff was made up of volunteers. The magazine published articles submitted by community residents regarding issues impacting Loisaida such as education, housing and jobs. Marlis...

Abstract

Activist and community organizer. A resource for research in grass-roots organizing, community activism, and the history of Puerto Ricans on the Lower East Side of Manhattan. Documents the history of numerous organizations. Includes letters, autobiographical information, memoranda, publications, photographs, and programs.