Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture,: Art and Artifacts Division, The New York Public Library.
Potter, Albert (1903-1937) (Artist). "Inland, Porto Rico" [detail], New York Public Library Digital Collections.
Understanding Puerto Rican Migration
In 1898, Puerto Rico was ceded to the United States from Spain in the Treaty of Paris, at the conclusion of the Spanish-American War. As of this guide's creation (2018), the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico is an unincorporated territory of the United States.
The history of Puerto Rican migration to the mainland United States begins with another island: Puerto Ricans were recruited to work on Hawaiian sugar plantations following the 1899 Atlantic hurricane season1. There are varying accounts as to how many Puerto Ricans were aboard the first vessels to arrive in Hawaii as part of this migration, but historical newspapers confirm that Puerto Rican migration to Hawaii began in 1900.
The complete history of Puerto Rico and migration of Puerto Ricans to the mainland United States and beyond is too extensive to recount here, but generally speaking, Puerto Ricans moved to major cities in the States seeking economic opportunity, and migration increased as air travel became more viable.
Puerto Rican Diaspora
Historically, Puerto Rican migration was centered in five locations: New York City, Philadelphia, Chicago, Orlando, and Hawaii. The Puerto Rican Diaspora: historical perspectives / edited by Carmen Teresa Whalen and Víctor Vázquez-Hernández, illustrates this via case studies, and it is also available as an electronic resource (at the Library and from home with a valid Library card).
As noted above, the first Puerto Ricans to move to Hawaii arrived in 1900. However, the Jones-Shafroth Act granted American citizenship to Puerto Rican residents of Puerto Rico, not to those who resided in Hawaii (then still a territory), which is something to keep in mind if your Puerto Rican ancestors lived in the Aloha State.
Further Reading
Understanding the history of your ancestors' lives is useful for your genealogy research. The Encyclopedia of New York City and The Encyclopedia of New York State both include entries on Puerto Ricans, and the Library holds a number of books on the history of Puerto Rico. Search the Library's Classic Catalog, and peruse these titles:
And search by Subject: Puerto Rico -- History. for a comprehensive view of the Library's collections in English and en Español. This guide offers more research suggestions, below.
Events in the History of Puerto Rico by Call Number: HPR (Research for Urban Education, Inc. Events in the history of Puerto Rico) v. 1Publication Date: 1967Describes events in Puerto Rican history from early Indian settlements through the arrival of the Spanish to 1543 and the abolition of Indian slavery.
History of Puerto Rico by Call Number: JFE 15-6948ISBN: 9781558765993Publication Date: 2014-06-30One of Puerto Rico's leading historians, Fernando Picó has had tremendous influence over our currect understanding of Puerto Rican society. Here, he examines the ways in which developments in the courts and commercial centers of the Americas, Europe, and Africa have affected the common people, who have tried since the nineteenth century to take control of their political, social and economic lives. Picó expands his landmark 1986 book, Historia General, for this first updated American edition to include movements and events as recent as the fight for Vieques. This English edition has been updated and translated by the author.- The History of Puerto Rico, from the Spanish Discovery to the American Occupation by Call Number: MN20 V27Publication Date: 1903Digital copy available through HathiTrust.
The History of Puerto Rico by Call Number: JHE 10-306ISBN: 9780313354182Publication Date: 2009-12-14This book offers a concise yet comprehensive history of Puerto Rico, from the reign of Taino Indians through its centuries as a Spanish colony to its present-day standing as a thriving economic force in Latin America with a unique and ever-evolving relationship with the United States. Drawing on dramatic recent developments in research, The History of Puerto Rico offers the most up-to-date and fully realized exploration of the island's past for students, travelers, and general readers alike. The History of Puerto Rico ranges from the earliest indigenous settlements to the reign of the Taino, from the centuries under Spanish control through more than 100 years of life under the U.S. flag. Insightful and authoritative, the book helps readers understand the history behind Puerto Rico's complicated contemporary political status, its unique relationship with the United States, and the current efforts of Puerto Ricans to reclaim their indigenous and African heritage, leverage their bilingual culture for economic gain, and celebrate their cultural and artistic achievements. Includes a section on notable Puerto Ricans with biographical information Presents a detailed bibliographic essay with sources in English and Spanish
