The Guillermo Hernandez Collection consists of a number of documents and materials related to the Cuban exile community in the United States. It includes manuscripts, articles, event invitations, certifications, legal and official documents, photographs, postcards, correspondence, human rights documents, theater articles and show files, festival information, and other memorabilia.
The papers document activities of Matías Montes-Huidobro in a capacity of a critic, playwright and a professor of the Department of European Languages of the University of Hawaii. The materials include typescripts of Montes-Huidobro's play "Exilio," and of his essay, "Claves Significativas de la Literatura Cubana Siglos XVII, XVIII y XIX," as well as, clippings, booklets with writings by Montes-Huidobro and Theatre programs.
The Enrique Labrador Ruiz Papers are organized into five series and consists primarily of the manuscripts of his articles and essays written in exile and includes that of his final book, Cartas a la carte (1991) which can be found in box 5, folders 444 and 445. The bulk of the material of this collection is in Series I: Works, n.d., 1933–2001 (bulk dates 1977–1987). There are many photocopies of his articles as they were published in various publications. A small collection of correspondence, photographs, and graphic materials can also be found in this collection, along with programs of events held in the 1980s and 1990s in honor of Labrador Ruiz.
The collection documents the operation of the Cuban exile activist group, Brothers to the Rescue [Hermanos al Rescate], founded in Miami, Florida in 1991 by activist and aviator José Basulto. Materials include correspondence, administrative records, court documents and transcripts documenting the 1996 shoot-down of an Hermanos al Rescate plane, pamphlets and flyers distributed in Cuba by the group, audio visual materials, publications and photographs.
Documented in detail is the incident and subsequent investigation and trial related to the Hermanos al Rescate plane that was shot down in 1991 by the Cuban air force. During the incident, which took place on February 24, 1996, four pilots were killed.
The José Lezama Lima Papers consist of letters written by José Lezama Lima to his sister Eloísa from 1961 to 1976. There are several letters addressed to his sister Rosa as well as to both sisters. Included with this correspondence are photocopies of photographs of Lezama Lima, a poem, and a memorial card with a note from Eloísa Lezama Lima to Gastón Baquero. This collection also contains an annotated copy of Lezama Lima's book, Paradiso.
The Gus García Papers contain the personal papers of Gus García, candidate for City of Miami Commission in the 2000 election cycle, including clippings, newsletters, correspondence and flyers for his Commission race.
The Juan Clark Collection contains research materials for two projects conducted by Juan Clark (1938-2013), a "sociological analysis of the Cuban exodus" and a study of living conditions in totalitarian Cuba, including newspaper clippings, magazine articles and other periodicals collected by Dr. Clark as part of his research activities since the 1960s.
The collection also contains draft manuscripts of the English translation of Clark's book Cuba: mito y realidad(1992) and La visita del Papa a Cuba y su repercusión (1999).
The collection consists of the CDs donated by various donors. The topics on the CDs include Martí, poems by Lourdes Simón, Cuban music, afro-Cuban music recorded by Lydia Cabrera and Josefina Tarafa, the Legacy of Lydia Cabrera exhibit, 16 issues of Revista Hispano Cubana published in Madrid, performances of Bodas de Sangre and Fresa y Chocolate, photos of Havana and Vinales Cienfuegos, 169 photographs of Cuba from 2000-2006 taken by L. Edward Tillett, III, four books by Waldo Leyva, copies of one book and several periodicals from the Batista government, including: "El libro de la victoria, 1933-1935; Circulo Militar y Naval: Revista, 1956-1958; Anuario Sin estribos, 1935/1936, 1942; Memorias and Escuela de Cadetes, 1937-1954.
The Audio Cassette Collection contains miscellaneous audio tapes of Cuban themes from the 20th century.
Titles include a 1997 discussion by Jorge Mas Canosa on Julio Ninoska's program regarding President Clinton's transition plan for a post-Castro Cuba; six reel-to-reel audio tapes recorded in Cuba from 1959 to 1961; "El Portal del Mediodía" with Monsignor Agustín Román; "Growing Up Cuban in Decatur, Georgia," an oral history series by Carmen Agra Deedy circa 1995; and a two-volume cassette entitled "En el vientre del trópico" containing poetry by Alina Galliano narrated by Carmina Benguria.
The Cuba Transition Project Collection contains pamphlets, reports, periodicals and other publications of the Cuba Transition Project, an undertaking of the Institute for Cuban and Cuban-American Studies (ICCAS) at the University of Miami that "stud[ies] and make[s] recommendations for the reconstruction of Cuba once the post-Castro transition begins in earnest."
Established in 2002, the project was supported by grants from the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) until 2010.
The Caridad Svich Papers contain the personal and literary works of playwright Caridad Svich. This collection is organized into two series. Series 1 consists of original theater works as well as translations by Caridad Svich; materials related to the productions, such as playbills, advertisements, clippings and reviews; and articles about the playwrights. Series 2 consists of audiovisual material such as Mini DVs, CDs and tapes containing conferences presented by Caridad Svich and performance soundtracks. Series 3 contains magazines featuring Svich's writing.
The Esther Herrera Papers contain documents and memorabilia related to community leader Esther Herrera. They include photographs, correspondence, event programs, awards and recognitions.
The Lydia Cabrera papers document the life and career of writer and ethnographer Lydia Cabrera, one of the 20th century’s leading writers on Cuban folklore and an internationally known chronicler of Afro-Cuban culture and religion. The materials include correspondence, manuscripts of her works, field notes, interviews, photographs, illustrations, and memorabilia. This collection also contains documentation about the restoration of several colonial buildings in Cuba.
A highlight of the collection are the libretas, or notebooks, collected by Cabrera from Santeria priests and priestesses that document rituals and religious practices of the Afro-Cuban faith. These are found in Series 3 along with her manuscripts and field notes.
Part of this collection has been digitized and is available in the University of Miami Digital Collections online repository.
Orestes Ferrara (1876-1972) was Cuba's Ambassador to the United States and Secretary of State under the administration of Gerardo Machado. Materials in this collection include correspondence, manuscripts, photographs, newspaper clippings, drawing of Ferrara coat of arms, Curriculum Vitae and a photocopy of Ferrara's diplomatic passport.
The Eric Bennett Photograph Collection contains portrait and scenic photography from Havana in the late 1930s to early 1940s taken by Eric Bennett (1902-1964), an exiled German photographer.
The collection contains over 100 portrait photographs of children, as well as scenes of Havana and the surrounding countryside, taken by exiled German photographer Eric Bennett from 1939 to 1941.
