In this interview, Flora Acosta briefly describes her five day journey to the United States and experiences adapting to the United States socially, economically, and culturally. She closes the interview with her perception of the differences between her generation and the younger generation of Puerto Ricans in Brooklyn. Interview in Spanish conducted by Jaime Barreto.

Ramón Acosta remembers his experiences working in Brooklyn's factories, as well as the different neighborhoods he has lived in since his arrival in the borough in 1927. He refers to the ethnic makeup of the factories and in particular the Acme Packing Corporation. He discusses unions and their effect on the industrial workplace, including Local 21 and Local 65. Acosta discusses community leaders; such as his daughter Celia Vice, and Carlos Tapia. He also describes the living conditions, demographics and interethnic relations in the various Brooklyn neighborhoods he has lived - as well as New York in general. Interview in Spanish conducted by John D. Vazquez.

In the interview, the narrator shares a chronological account of her moving patterns - from her first Brooklyn residence to several addresses on Adams Street. She describes both housing conditions in the neighborhood of Downtown Brooklyn, as well as working life in New York's factories and food service industry. Interview conducted by Ms. Ruiz and Ms. Torres.

In the interview, Ángel Arroyo looks back on his professional life - including twenty years as a journalist - reviewing events he helped to publicize for the mid-twentieth century's Hispanic population of New York City. He recalls his early work experience in factories and in the import-exporting business. While the interview's primary focus is autobiographical, there is significant attention paid to socioeconomic and political concerns of the Puerto Rican community, as well as Spanish-language media in the city. His career as a professional writer and poet is one that stands in contrast with that of many other migrants who, due to financial and familial obligations, were often unable to pursue a formal education. Interview conducted by Ms. Ruiz and Ms. Torres.

In this interview, Carmen Rosado Arroyo briefly describes her life in Santurce, Puerto Rico and her first experiences in New York. Mrs. Rosado Arroyo talks about the beginnings of the First Spanish Presbyterian Church and the reasons for its establishment. She compares New York--as well as its population--of 1973, to the New York she knew during her first years in the city. She goes into detail as to how immigrants worked and lived together regardless of country of origin. Mrs. Rosado Arroyo discusses several social relief programs such as the Works Progress Administration, Civilian Conservation Corps, and welfare. Interview in Spanish conducted by Jaime Barreto.

In the interview, Justina Bermudez recalls growing up in Brooklyn after arriving from Puerto Rico at the age of eleven. She recalls the locations of various factories - where she initially worked with smoked fish - and eventually in a luggage factory, as well as a handbag factory as a heat sealing operator (or lining specialist). Bermudez touches on the social and recreational aspects of the Puerto Rican community; including someone she describes as one of the first Puerto Ricans in New York radio, Santiago Grevi, by name. References are also made to several nightclubs frequented by members of the community. Also, she describes the ethnic makeup of the Bedford and Flushing Avenues area, which lies on the border between the Brooklyn neighborhoods of Bedford-Stuyvesant and Williamsburg. Interview in Spanish conducted by John D. Vazquez.

In the interview, Sister Carmelita Bonilla describes conditions for the residents of Brooklyn's waterfront during the 1920s and 1930s. The interview pays particular attention to the various personalities - including police, politicians and gangsters - she had to deal with in order to accomplish her social and religious work with the Catholic community at large, with the narration focusing on Bonilla's work with newly arrived migrants from her native Puerto Rico. She discusses neighborhood life and some local institutions, such as the Cumberland Hospital, and their relationship with the community. Bonilla also recalls details from her initial training and decision to join a religious order, her education, as well as her personal role in helping the poor and needy, particularly among New York's Puerto Ricans. Interview conducted by Pedro Rivera and Tomas Rivera.

In this first of two interviews, Magdalena Acosta Carrasquillo reflects on her association with the social, political, and civic organizations that defined the Puerto Rican community in Brooklyn at the time of her arrival in the 1920s and into the 1930s. She notes specific individuals; Carlos Tapia, Luis Hernández and Antonia Denis, and places of significance for Puerto Ricans like the Betances Democratic Club and the Downtown neighborhood of Brooklyn. She also refers to her personal job-hunting process in the years 1925 to 1940. Interview in Spanish conducted by John D. Vazquez.

In this second of two interviews, Magdalena Acosta Carrasquillo reflects on her association with the social, political, and civic organizations that defined the Puerto Rican community in Brooklyn at the time of her arrival in the 1920s and into the 1930s. She notes specific individuals; Carlos Tapia and Antonia Denis, and places of significance for Puerto Ricans who experienced discrimination. Interview in Spanish conducted by Jaime Barreto.

In the interview, Jean Carrero speaks about her first impressions of Brooklyn, New York and the challenges she faced when migrating from Puerto Rico, especially those relating to getting an education in English. She narrates several incidents regarding racial tensions between Italians and Puerto Ricans in the workplace and in Spanish Harlem. She also describes working conditions during the Great Depression and discrimination towards Puerto Ricans in the workplace. She talks about several Puerto Rican clubs such as the Casino Puertorriqueño and Las Hijas de María. She goes into detail about the role of the woman in a marriage and discusses the disparities between being a married woman and being a married man. She concludes the interview by speaking about the challenges that newer generations of Puerto Ricans face in the 1970s and her hopes for the future of the Puerto Rican community. Carrero's husband is in the background being interviewed as well. Interview in Spanish conducted by Jaime Barreto.

In this interview, Ramón Colón contributes a wealth of information about the community benefactor Carlos Tapia, and discusses a variety of related themes: from the naming of a public school, to his perception of the younger generation of Puerto Ricans living in Brooklyn. He also discusses other civic leaders and issues pertaining to the Puerto Rican community - as well as biographical details from his own life - at length. Interview conducted by Pedro Rivera, Tomas Rivera and Elba Correa.

In the interview, Esther Mercado Cortés recounts her efforts to find employment in Brooklyn factories after arriving in America alone. She also speaks of the poor housing conditions in the Borough Hall section in the neighborhood of Downtown Brooklyn during the late 1930s. Interview in Spanish conducted by Ms. Torres with an introduction by Jaime Barreto.

In the interview, Pastor de Jesús reveals his dichotomous role as a native-born Puerto Rican and American veteran of the First World War. He describes the ethnic demographics and everyday life in Brooklyn since his arrival in 1920, with a focus on his community activism. He also mentions some of the prominent names of New York City's Puerto Rican community during his lifetime. de Jesús describes working in a furniture factory in the early and mid-twentieth century, including one that manufactured wooden refrigerators. Interview in Spanish conducted by Jaime Barreto.

In the interview, Mercedes Díaz comments on the housing and social conditions of the Puerto Rican community in the Williamsburg neighborhood of Brooklyn and Brooklyn in general. She relates the issues of ethnicity that factored into life among neighbors from the Jewish and Italian population. Interview conducted by Bob Rosado.

In the interview, César Donnes recounts his early employment experience; farming in Puerto Rico and factory work in Brooklyn. He describes the Downtown neighborhood of Brooklyn; in particular Sands, Gold and Adams Streets. Donnes relates the origins and formations of the Aqueybana Democratic Club, Puerto Rican Civic Union and other early Puerto Rican organizations in Brooklyn. Interview in Spanish conducted by John D. Vazquez.

In the interview, Julio Estepa talks about the circumstances surrounding life in Puerto Rico and in New York City at various points in his life. He describes what community support existed in Brooklyn for Puerto Ricans and which individuals helped others to ease the transition from life in Puerto Rico to life in Brooklyn. Estepa also offers insight on the differences between "pre-war" and "post-war" Puerto Ricans. He adds that more of an initiative should be taken by Puerto Ricans in New York in 1974; to take advantage of all the educational as well as occupational opportunities that existed within the city in the late-twentieth century. Interview in Spanish conducted by Jaime Barreto.

Julio Ferrell begins the interview by recounting the lives of family members who raised him in Puerto Rico. He shares his experiences as a rebellious young man who, on a whim, left Puerto Rico as stowaway in 1924 and wound up making a new life for himself in Brooklyn. Ferrell recounts the working conditions in Brooklyn's factories and describes his relations with bosses and co-workers of different ethnic backgrounds. He recalls housing conditions and rent prices in the 1920s and 1930s. Ferrell also touches on the subject of racial discrimination; both in Puerto Rico and in New York. Interview in Spanish conducted by Tomás Rivera and Pedro Rivera.

In this interview, siblings Josephine Festa and Gloria Tejada discuss growing up in the ethnically diverse Brooklyn neighborhood of DUMBO and the surrounding Brooklyn neighborhoods of Downtown Brooklyn and Vinegar Hill. Festa and Tejada discuss the role that the Catholic Church and nuns played on the development of Puerto Rican youths, and describe the duality of attending a public school where ethnic groups often remained to themselves, while also coexisting in an integrated community. Interview conducted by Monte Rivera.

In the interview, Rosario Figueroa recounts her arrival in Brooklyn aboard the S.S. Borinquen in 1936, as well as her experience making ends meet in various Brooklyn factories over several decades. From a cold-water flat on the industrial border between the Williamsburg and Bedford-Stuyvesant neighborhoods of Brooklyn to a comfortable home in Corona, Queens, Figueroa discusses her life's journey as a wife, mother, and worker in twentieth century New York - including details about the Great Depression of the 1930s, and the 1940s. Interview in Spanish conducted by John D. Vazquez.

In the interview, Reverend Santiago Soto Fontánez reflects on his role as the first Puerto Rican on the local school board in the Brooklyn neighborhood of Williamsburg, describes the figures who supported and helped the Puerto Rican community in Williamsburg, and also describes the limitations he faces as a Baptist Minister in the Puerto Rican community. Rev. Fontánez explains the importance of understanding the religions that Puerto Ricans believe in to help understand their culture. Interview conducted by John D. Vazquez.

In this interview, Maria Fortún discusses the ethnic distribution and social conditions of the Brooklyn neighborhood of Downtown Brooklyn; specifically referring to Columbia Street. She discusses the early political organization "Hijos de Borinquen," and its founder Antonia Denis. Interview in Spanish conducted by Jaime Barreto.

In the interview, Maximina Garden recounts her childhood in Puerto Rico, where she sacrificed an education to care for her widowed mother, her trip via the ship El Ponce to Brooklyn and her reasons for migrating to New York. She recalls a time when there were very few Puerto Ricans in Brooklyn, and describes the housing conditions in Downtown Brooklyn - and the surrounding Brooklyn neighborhoods of Brooklyn Heights and Fort Greene - where she resided at a number of locations. Garden also discusses her years at a garment factory at 85 Dekalb Avenue, where her coworkers were predominantly Italian and Jewish. She ends the conversation with details about her life as it stands at the time of the interview in 1974. Interview in Spanish conducted by Pedro Miranda.

In this interview, José Ramón Giboyeaux reflects on his interaction with several Puerto Rican personalities, political figures, and community leaders in the 1920s and 1930s. He also recalls his involvement in the Young Communist Party in Brooklyn during the 1930s alongside Jesus Colón. Giboyeaux remembers the many political activities in the Puerto Rican community of Brooklyn, such as the establishment of clubs. Interview as Spanish transcript only was conducted by John D. Vazquez.

In this interview, Carmen Fortún González describes her parents' reasons for moving to New York from Puerto Rico and their first impressions of the city. She discusses several public figures such as Antonia Denis, Carlos Tapia, and James A. Kelly and their role in the Puerto Rican community in Brooklyn. The narrator also talks about Puerto Rican migration after the 1940s and the current situation of the newest immigrants in comparison to those who moved to Brooklyn before World War II. She also discusses the current state of Puerto Rican organizations in Brooklyn. González expresses her disappointment in Puerto Rican organizations in terms of the lack of interest in working with the community in Brooklyn, instead focusing efforts in Manhattan. Interview in Spanish conducted by Jaime Barreto.

In this interview, Elizabeth Guanill describes being born to Puerto Rican migrants in Brooklyn. She recalls the social and cultural life, as well as the ethnic distribution of the Downtown and Williamsburg neighborhoods of Brooklyn in which she was raised. She also discusses the differences between Puerto Rican migrants that came to New York in years past and those who came more recently, as well as the role of community leaders such as "Sister Carmelita" (Carmela Zapata Bonilla Marrero) and Carlos Tapia in the Puerto Rican community of New York City. Interview conducted by Monte Rivera.

In the interview, Pedro Guanill talks about his experiences as a factory worker, boxer and merchant seaman during the interwar and World War II period. He also describes the Williamsburg and Downtown neighborhoods of Brooklyn in the 1930s and 1940s. Guanill touches on the life of community leader and businessman Carlos Tapia, as well as the Baldorioty Democratic Club. There are some specific references to Carlos Tapia's restaurant and other Puerto Rican-owned small businesses during that time. Interview conducted by Monte Rivera.

In the interview, Julio Hernández discusses the economic conditions of Puerto Ricans in Brooklyn, New York. He describes the ethnic distribution in the Brooklyn neighborhood of Red Hook. Hernández talks about the political movements by Puerto Ricans in Brooklyn, where he refers to the Betances Democratic Club, and political leaders including Jesus Colón, Antonia Denis, and Louis Weber. Interview in Spanish conducted by Jamie Barreto.

In the interview, Commissioner Luis Hernández discusses the general social conditions of the early Puerto Ricans in Downtown Brooklyn. He briefly surveys the altercations between Italian, Irish, and Puerto Rican gangs. He references the first Puerto Rican Democratic club founded in 1928, the Borinquen Democratic Club and its founders. Commissioner Hernández also shares details on his four brothers in relation to the family's work ethic and professions. Interview conducted by John D. Vazquez.

In this interview, Emilio Hostalaza discusses political movements within Puerto Rican clubs, where he relates specific information on the beginnings and transformations of the Betances Democratic Club. He describes political leaders in the community, such as Carlos Tapia and Jesus Colón. He describes the ethnic distribution of the Brooklyn neighborhood of Clinton Hill and the economic conditions of the Puerto Rican community. Interview in Spanish conducted by John D. Vazquez.

Honorina Weber Irizarry relates information on the first Democratic Puerto Rican clubs, and on those involved in their creation. She references Louis Weber and Carlos Tapia, specifically discussing their styles of interacting with the community. She recalls her work history as a multilingual translator in Lower Manhattan. Irizarry also describes the ethnic distribution of the Columbia Heights neighborhood of Brooklyn. Interview conducted by John D. Vazquez.

In the interview, Ramon LaRosa discusses the economic conditions of Puerto Ricans during the 1920s and 1930s. He describes the social conditions of Brooklyn, New York, and he reflects on his personal relationships with Italians on the Brooklyn waterfront. He describes the personalities of political leaders in the Puerto Rican community, including Louis Weber and Carlos Tapia. Interview in Spanish conducted by John D. Vazquez.

In the interview, Dick Larregui speaks on his own experiences of life at school and work within Brooklyn of the 1930s and 1940s, as well as his military stint in the early 1950s and migrating to Puerto Rico in the 1960s. He recalls Jesus Colón's role in the Puerto Rican community and the ethnic distribution of Downtown Brooklyn during wartime. Larregui looks back on the economic and social conditions of the formative time of the Puerto Rican community in Brooklyn. He makes some comparisons of the Puerto Rican cultural experience in New York versus that of Puerto Rico. Interview conducted by Jaime Barreto.

In the interview, Felix Loperena offers his informed account of Brooklyn's Puerto Rican community as a pioneering Puerto Rican in Brooklyn during the 1920s and 1930s, a time when Puerto Ricans were few and far between. He traces the experience of newly arrived Puerto Ricans in the world of labor; including job hunting during the Great Depression of the 1930s. Loperena mentions specific factories which employed Puerto Ricans along with other ethnic groups. He gives a vivid account of discrimination faced by Puerto Ricans from Irish and Italians, and also touches on how the arrival of labor unions may have helped to alleviate prejudice against Puerto Ricans in the workplace. Interview in Spanish conducted by John D. Vazquez.

In the interview, Jovita Maisonette describes the ethnic distribution of the Brooklyn neighborhood of DUMBO. She discusses the racial tensions between Puerto Ricans and Italians in DUMBO. Masionette talks about the economic conditions of the Puerto Rican community and the culture of small businesses in DUMBO. Interview in Spanish conducted by Bob Rosado.

In the interview, Orlando Malabé speaks of some organizations and people who were leading Brooklyn's Puerto Rican community. He refers to some of the most active personalities like Louis Weber and organizations like the International Workers Order (IWO) and La Civica Vanguardia Puertorriqueña, which were popular in the Brooklyn of the late 1930s. Malabé recalls his own personal history in terms of his migration, family connections and support, early jobs, and business enterprises. Interview conducted by Monte Rivera.

In the interview, Luis Marrero discusses in detail Carlos Tapia's significance to Brooklyn's early Puerto Rican community vis-a-vis the status of Tapia's restaurant as a place of socializing, mutual aid and employment. He makes specific comments on Tapia's business activities and his wife "Dona Yuga." Marrero also provides information on the job market during the Great Depression, including work conditions; with specific reference to the Domino Sugar refinery and ship maintenance along Brooklyn's waterfront. Orlando Malabé, a narrator within this collection, referred the interviewers to Marrero and added commentary to this oral history. Interview in Spanish conducted by Monte Rivera.

In the interview, Anaberta Martí describes the ethnic distribution of the Brooklyn neighborhoods of Brownsville and East New York during the late 1950s and 1960s. Martí reflects on the economic conditions of the Puerto Rican community, referencing small Puerto Rican businesses in Brooklyn, New York. She discusses the social conditions of Brownsville and East New York and describes the role women play in the Puerto Rican family and community. Interview in Spanish conducted by John D. Vazquez.

In the interview, Nereida Martí narrates her experiences finding employment and working in sewing factories in Brooklyn, New York while attending night school. The narrator briefly discusses living conditions and recreational activities in the neighborhood of Brooklyn Heights, as well societal changes in there during the 1950s. Interview in English and Spanish conducted by John D. Vazquez.

In this interview, Gumercindo Martínez briefly narrates his first experiences in Brooklyn, New York, living conditions in 1950s Brooklyn, and his family's economic conditions. He discusses his political career and goes into detail on his accomplishments as part of the Board of Elections and as director of Bronx Model Cities. He focuses his narrative on voter registration campaigns, discrimination in the polls, and the need for Puerto Ricans to be more invested in United States politics while living in the U.S. Martínez also talks about the history of Los Pioneros and their first march to commemorate Antonia Denis. He mentions many Puerto Rican organizations such as the Puerto Rican Democratic Club, the Betances Democratic Club, La Casa Borinquen, El Bello Ideal Puertorriqueño and La Federación de Sociedades Hispanas; although he does not go into detail on any of these. The narrator also talks about his wife, Teodora Martínez, and lists several of her positions and accomplishments in politics. Interview in Spanish conducted by Jaime Barreto.

In the interview, Felipe Medina discusses the ethnic distribution of Puerto Ricans in the Brooklyn neighborhood of Downtown Brooklyn. Medina refers to the social conditions of Puerto Ricans in Brooklyn during the 1920s and 1930s. He describes the political movements by the Puerto Rican community in Brooklyn, referencing political leaders Carlos Tapia and Jesús Colón. Interview in Spanish conducted by John D. Vazquez.

In a brief interview, Ángel Meléndez gives a description of the Puerto Rican community in Brooklyn, specifically in the area of Ellery and Hopkins Streets; in close proximity to the Pfizer pharmaceutical plant. He offers a description of the experience of working at Pfizer as one of the first Puerto Ricans hired at the facility. There is also a brief discussion on the social role of community grocery stores known as bodegas in the DUMBO neighborhood of Brooklyn and the advent of Puerto Rican social clubs in the area of the plant - which lies between the Brooklyn neighborhoods of Williamsburg and Bedford-Stuyvesant. Interview in Spanish conducted by John D. Vazquez.

In the interview, Filomena Meléndez describes life in Brooklyn in the 1930s and 1940s as well as the development of Puerto Rican bodegas in the area. She talks about types of radio programs she used to listen to and compares them to radio broadcasting in the 1970s. She describes how she traveled around Brooklyn despite her being illiterate and having a language barrier. Meléndez comments on the cost of life in 1930s Brooklyn as well as the availability of jobs for Puerto Ricans. She compares the Puerto Rican community from the '30s and '40s to the Puerto Rican community at the time of the interview in 1974 and reflects on how the adoption of an American way of life has affected Puerto Rican values. At the end of the interview, the interviewer provides a summary in English on Meléndez's views on the Puerto Rican community in the 1970s. Interview in Spanish conducted by John D. Vazquez.

Peter Mercado, sixty-five when this interview occurred in 1974, emphasizes his well-informed view of the Puerto Rican community. He discusses his meeting with Carlos Tapia during the 1932 elections. He makes reference to the de Hostos Democratic Club; describing its activities and stating specific areas where Hispanic American votes were sought. Mercado recalls personalities such as politician Vito Marcantonio, businessman Don Parovereret, César Rodriquez, and Marino Rodriquez; both early businessmen in the Puerto Rican community in Brooklyn. He also makes reference to Jesus Colón and Gualda Rivera. Interview conducted by John D. Vasquez.

In the interview, Gilbert Montignier speaks about the ethnic distribution of the Williamsburg neighborhood of Brooklyn in the mid-twentieth century, as well as the distribution of Puerto Ricans in the South Bronx and New York City as a whole in the early 1970s. He recalls the early 1950s encounters he had with a Williamsburg community leader, Mr. Hernandez, and his encounter with New York politician Vito Marcantonio. In closing, Montignier references the skewed treatment of Puerto Ricans in academics and in the urban economy. Interview conducted by John D. Vazquez.

In the interview, Mildred Mulero recounts growing up in the 1930s and 1940s; recalling the diverse array of businesses, religions, and ethnicities in the Bedford-Stuyvesant and Williamsburg neighborhoods of Brooklyn. She describes a traditional religious upbringing, youthful activities, and an ethnically mixed clique of teenage friends and acquaintances in Williamsburg. She recalls the neighborhood developing over the years from German nd Irish to predominantly Puerto Rican. Education, religious, and political leadership is briefly discussed. Spanish-language news media in the Puerto Rican community is also touched on. Interview in Spanish conducted by John D. Vazquez.

In this interview, Sophie Negrón talks about living conditions, ethnic composition, and shop owners of the Brooklyn Heights neighborhood. She briefly narrates what life was like during the Great Depression and mentions several political figures and community leader such as Sister Carmelita, Carlos Tapia, and Gilberto Concepción de Gracia. Although she was not directly involved in any political organizations, Negrón describes how she was kept up to date regarding the current political climate and social struggles through her visitors and the radio. Negrón reflects on how the Puerto Rican community and their recreational activities have changed and concludes that Puerto Rican values and culture are being left behind by younger generations. Interview in English and Spanish conducted by John D. Vazquez.

In this interview, Edna Rosado Oliveras discusses living conditions in the Williamsburg and Brooklyn Heights neighborhoods of Brooklyn, as well the changes that occurred once the Puerto Rican population in said neighborhoods increased. Oliveras talks about the charitable activities of the civic, religious, and political organizations to which she belongs. She also mentions notable members of these organizations and their efforts to enhance the quality of life for Puerto Ricans in New York. Oliveras discusses the need for immigrants to overcome language barriers and learn the language of the country in which they currently live in while also retaining their cultural identity. The flaws embedded in public assistance programs such as Welfare are reflected upon as well. Interview in Spanish and English conducted by Jaime Barreto.

In the interview, Encarnación Padilla de Armas begins by describing her involvement with the Puerto Rican community in Brooklyn in the 1920s. She reminisces about her first years in America as a teenager, and then continues with a description of her involvement with certain organizations and civic leaders, as well as her personal interest in Puerto Rican citizens in need. She closes by evaluating and forecasting both political and social matters concerning the Puerto Rican community of Brooklyn in the 1970s. Interview conducted by John D. Vazquez.

In the interview, Nick Perez gives a chronological account of his workplaces and work experience; beginning with his first job in the States at the Hotel New Yorker in Manhattan to his last job as an auto mechanic instructor at Mobilization for Youth, an anti-poverty program. He discusses job hunting experiences, his divorce and immediate family, and his visits to Puerto Rico. Interview conducted by John D. Vazquez.

In the interview, Gonzalo Plasencia offers information on the employment problems faced by Puerto Ricans, as well as the historic problems between the Puerto Rican community and the New York police. He also discusses the origin and formation of the Puerto Rican Pioneers Parade, as well as the advocacy group United Puerto Rican Organization of Sunset Park (UPROSE). In addition, there is mention of several well-known Puerto Rican individuals, such as Carlos Tapia, Antonia Denis and Ramon González. Interview in Spanish conducted by Jaime Barreto.

In the interview, Francisco Pratts gives his account of the social and economic challenges of Puerto Ricans new to Brooklyn during the 1920s and 1930s. He speaks with some severe language and bias about the conflicts and confrontations of Puerto Ricans and Italians. Pratts also reflects on political dealings that affected the community and individuals such as Carlos Tapia, James Kelly, and others who were active in establishing political clubs. Interview conducted by John D. Vazquez.

In the interview, Juan Ramos briefly discusses his childhood in Puerto Rico and 1926 arrival in New York. He recounts his experience as a Puerto Rican in the United States during the Great Depression, offering a vivid description of economic conditions between 1928 and 1932. He recalls the ethnic friction that arose between Puerto Ricans, Jews, and Italians during the 1930s and 1940s. Ramos gives detailed information about Puerto Ricans in the Williamsburg neighborhood of Brooklyn after 1945. Ramos also compares the small and tightknit New York City Puerto Rican community of the 1920s, 1930s, and 1940s with subsequent generations. Interview in Spanish conducted by Mayda Cortiella.

In the first of two interviews, Cecilio Rivera offers personal details and touches on his experience as a small business owner and activist in Brooklyn's Puerto Rican community. Rivera discusses in brief, the formation, function, and participation within political clubs and organizations. In addition, he speaks on Carlos Tapia, the general job prospects of the Puerto Rican community, and Puerto Rican identity in America. Rivera closes with some reflection on his own business opportunities, his insight into his brief time at Pfizer, and leaving Brooklyn for New York suburbia. Interview conducted by Monte Rivera.

In the second of two interviews, Cecilio Rivera offers a personal chronology - and critique - as a result of his experience as a small business owner, activist, and benefactor of Brooklyn's Puerto Rican community. He gives a number of specific events with corresponding dates related to various clubs and organizations he was associated with, such as the Baldorioty Democratic Club, the Puerto Rican Civic Association, and the Puerto Rican Merchants Association - in which he served as the first president. Rivera discusses in detail the formation, function, and organization of these groups. In addition there is biographical data on Carlos Tapia, Louis Weber, and Pedro Tejada, as well as other figures involved with the Puerto Rican community. Never properly introduced, Rivera's wife, Jean Carrero, interjects often in the background and occasionally in the foreground. Interview in Spanish and English conducted by John D. Vazquez.

In the interview, Juana Weber Rodríguez recalls Brooklyn's relatively small and tight-knit Puerto Rican community of the 1920s and 1930s. She recounts the Brooklyn neighborhoods of Red Hook, Carroll Gardens and Columbia Height's waterfront with special attention paid to the early beginnings of Puerto Rican (and Hispanic) businesses and political clubs, as well as ethnic diversity. Rodríguez also discusses discrimination, as well as attempts by her brother Louis Felipe Weber and other community leaders to aid, advocate for, and encourage political participation within the Puerto Rican community. There is also a brief discussion of Spanish-language newspapers, as well as a comparison between Puerto Ricans during the interwar period and the 1970s. Interview in Spanish conducted by John D. Vazquez.

In the interview, María Rodríguez relates information about Brooklyn factories during the growth of labor unions in the 1940s, including the treatment of workers - elaborating specifically on the conditions for Puerto Ricans - and the attitude of Puerto Ricans in the factory toward organized labor. As a civic-minded individual, Rodríguez offers insight into the everyday experiences of Puerto Ricans, including housing conditions and their relations with other ethnic groups. She looks back on various social clubs, including organizers of El Desfile Puertorriqueño (The Puerto Rican Parade), of which Rodríguez is a founding member. She talks extensively about unity and social progress in New York's Puerto Rican community. Rodríguez's husband Pedro was also interviewed in the couple's home on the same day. Interview in Spanish conducted by Jaime Barreto.

In the interview, Pedro M. Rodríguez recalls his first impressions of New York upon his arrival at Pennsylvania Station in 1945, his first home in the Brooklyn neighborhood of Clinton Hill, and his first job in a factory in the Bronx. He reveals the Puerto Rican search for a unified identity and its role in initiating organizations - groups which, in his view, would help meet the needs of New York's Puerto Rican community. He specifically describes the origin and functions of La Confederacion General Puertorriqueña, as well as a recounting of discrimination directed toward Puerto Ricans in Brooklyn. Rodríguez's wife, Maria, was also interviewed in the couple's home on the same day. Interview in Spanish conducted by Jaime Barreto.

In the interview, Ramón Rodríguez recounts the first generation of Puerto Rican grocery stores in Brooklyn during the late 1920s and 1930s. He specifies such stores by name. In addition, Rodríguez relates information on living conditions in the 1930s, as well as what he describes as the poor relationship between the police and Brooklyn's Puerto Rican community. There is also a detailed account of renowned local figures such as Sister Carmelita, Jesus Colón, Louis Weber, and Carlos Tapia. Interview in Spanish conducted by John D. Vazquez.

In the interview, Georgina Santiago shares her experiences while living and raising a family in the Downtown Brooklyn area. She discusses the ethnic makeup of the neighborhood, as well as her husband Ramon Santiago's role in the community. She also discusses the bodega her husband opened on Bedford Avenue and Flushing Avenue - which was one of the first in the Williamsburg neighborhood of Brooklyn. The challenge of raising a family, making ends meet, and running a business during the Great Depression of the 1930s is also covered. Interview in Spanish conducted by John D. Vazquez.

In the interview, Ernesto Sepúlveda recalls factory conditions in Brooklyn, circa 1930. He discusses political clubs such as Casino Puertorriqueño and Acto Civico. Sepúlveda looks back on 1934, when the first political club for Puerto Ricans in New York was established and he was their first member. He cites leading Puerto Rican personalities, among them Carlos Tapia and Louis Weber. Interview in Spanish conducted by John D. Vazquez.

In the interview, Rafaela Simmons remembers her experiences when she was new to Brooklyn and to the needle trade of the Puerto Rican community, circa 1930s. She relates her story of joining the International Ladies' Garment Workers' Union (ILGWU) in 1934. Simmons also describes the Williamsburg community of Puerto Ricans in the mid-twentieth century. A persistent audiotape anomaly has obscured this sound recording. Interview in Spanish conducted by John D. Vazquez.

In the interview, Clemente Torres describes the Borough Hall neighborhood of Brooklyn, circa 1930s. He mentions several political organizations by name, focusing on La Union Civica Puertorriqueña, located on Washington Street, Brooklyn, and founded between 1935 and 1936. Torres reflects on factory conditions and overall employment status for Puerto Ricans in mid-twentieth century New York City. He remembers Carlos Tapia and the activities that made Tapia a paternal figure to Brooklyn's Puerto Rican community. A misplaced microphone obscured the early minutes of this sound recording. Interview in Spanish conducted by John D. Vazquez.

In the interview, Olga Torres describes the neighborhood of Downtown Brooklyn in the 1930s and 1940s, especially Gold, High, and Sands Streets. She points out the ethnic distribution of pupils and teachers at Public School No. 12. She recalls the influence of well-known community personality Sister Carmelita, and reveals the origins of the first Puerto Rican gangs, including "Conmigo no te metas." Torres also refers to the American experience of early Puerto Rican immigrants, as well as the policy racket or numbers game linking the community and political leaders. Interview conducted by John D. Vazquez.

In the interview, Juan M. Vázquez offers a very succinct personal history; including his work experience and social involvement, starting with his 1929 arrival in Brooklyn. He describes both the relatively small and tight-knit pre-World War II Puerto Rican community of New York City, as well as socializing within the city's ethnic milieu of Southern and Eastern European immigrants. Early and mid-20th century Puerto Rican political and social clubs - as well as Spanish-language news media - are also touched on. Vázquez anticipates that he would spend the rest of his days in the borough rather than returning to Puerto Rico. Interview conducted by Monte Rivera.

In this interview, Carolina Velázquez narrates her life in Arroyo, Puerto Rico, her reasons for migrating to New York, her voyage to New York, and her first years in Brooklyn. Velázquez reflects on discrimination faced by Puerto Ricans and other Latinos and shares her opinion on bilingual education. She compares the Puerto Rican community in the 1930s and 1940s to the Puerto Rican community in the 1970s and lists some of the social issues present at the time of the 1974 interview. Velázquez also opines on the independence movement in Puerto Rico and talks about voter registration processes in the 1930s. Interview in English and Spanish conducted by Mayda Cortiella.

In the interview, Celia Vice discusses the social and economic situation for Puerto Ricans - and New Yorkers in general - during the 1920s and 1930s. She touches on work, health and housing conditions, as well as describes the ethnic composition of Downtown Brooklyn and its surrounding waterfront, which was the initial area of settlement for Brooklyn's Puerto Rican community. Vice provides detailed information on the cohesion, self-sustainability, and ultimate socioeconomic progress of Brooklyn's early Puerto Rican migrants; including descriptions of mutual aid, religion, child development, education, work ethic, cultural heritage and community organizing. Interview conducted by Ms. Torres and Ms. Ruiz.

In the interview, Betty Villa describes the Downtown Brooklyn area of the 1920 and 1930s. She gives firsthand information on figures such as Sister Carmelita Bonilla, Celia Vice, Luis Hernández, and Antonia Denis, as well as an account of Reverend W.E. Davenport (a Brooklyn philanthropist who was somewhat active in the Eugenics movement). She refers to the first church serving Spanish-speaking Catholics in Brooklyn, Our Lady of Pilar. Villa recalls both her encounters with racism, as well as friendships across ethnic and racial lines. Villa also discusses Puerto Rican identity, politics, and society, as well as the experience of reverse migration to Puerto Rico from New York. Interview conducted by Jaime Barreto.