By: Waad Abdulrahman and Victoria Flippen

* Puerto Ricans in Hartford During 1940s- 1969

*What About Hartford

According to the article Hartford’s Transformation in Comparative and Global Perspectives by Nick Bacon and Xiangming Chen Hartford is a city that’s understudied. When it should be recognized for its wealth. At a very early time period Hartford’s wealth was conquered from its fast growing insurance companies. In fact Hartford is the capital of one of the country's wealthiest states, for its FIRE ( Finance, Insurance and Real Estate). On the other hand Hartford citizens suffer from poverty, which is not typical for such a wealthy city. While, researching further into the article Hartford seemed to be segregated by class and race. For example, “Bloomfield has the region’s lowest test scores and highest school aged minority population; New Britain the lowest municipal bond rating East Hartford the highest demographic instability ranking and the highest growth of urban poverty in the state: all of these municipalities school districts are legally segregated by state standards” (Bacon)

*What Makes Hartford significant During the 1940s-1969

Connecticut History Online

* 1941 Connecticut Opera Association was formed.

* 1944 Brnum and Bailey tragic circus fire.

* 1956 St. Joseph Cathedral destroyed by fire

* 1957 University of Hartford founded.

* 1960 constitution plaza, financed by Travelers broke ground.

* 1962 the new St. Joseph cathedral dedicated

* 1964 formation of Hartford Stage company.

*The First Groups into Hartford

According to the article Getting Their Share by Bruce Clouette during 1890 more than half of Hartford population was immigrants. Mostly from “Ireland, Germany , Italy and Jewish villages and ghettoes of Eastern Europe, others such as French Canadians, Poles, slaves from the Austro-Hungrian Empire, swedes and other Scandinavians, and people from lands under Turkish domination”(Clouette). But, in large groups of the Irish and Italians. They gained success in America by the approval of the Yankee's from three dimensions: economic mobility, political power, and social acceptance. These three powerful dimensions were the key that lead them to the open doors for their rise up the food chain. With that being said, Hartford showed early signs of class and race segregation. ‘the survival of the fittest’ was also practiced here.

Connecticut History Online

* The Puerto Rican Movement

Connecticut History Online

As early as the 1940’s after the cold war the Puerto Ricans started to move into the U.S in large amounts in hopes of finding jobs since there were little to no jobs in Puerto Rico at the time. After the brief Spanish- American War Puerto Rico became known as part of the U.S. That means anyone that’s a Puerto Rican can enter the U.S by proof of being from Puerto Rico. Most Puerto Ricans live in New York City where it started the job openings for them. The rise for contract workers took place. With the contrast of time Puerto Ricans stated to move in to such cites as Hartford, Bridgeport, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Massachusetts and Ohio. Puerto Ricans were known for working hard and harsh jobs for little pay.

*About The Puerto Ricans

Connecticut History online

Language:

According to the book Puerto Ricans in the United States by Maria E. Perez Y Gonzalez Spanish is there tongue of language. It was inherited from the Spaniards through conquest.

Religion:

Roman Catholicism was enforced among most Spanish speaking countries during the colonial rule, including Puerto Rico. Also, practices of Santeria and Spirtism were passed on by the Puerto Rican ancestors.

Customs, Cultural Traits and Celebrations:

Within the Puerto Rican culture maintaining a big and close family is very important. For one to be considered a family member doesn’t nessisarly have to be a blood relative. Puerto Ricans celebrate many ceremonies such as sweet sixteen, baptisms, bridal showers, weddings, birthdays, Christmas, New Years and most importantly the three kings day.

* The Struggle for Survival in Hartford

for the Puerto Ricans.

Connecticut History Online.

According to the article Puerto Rican Farm Workers in Connecticut by Ruth Glasser the Puerto Ricans suffered from all types of race and employment discrimination. With the Puerto Rican desperate needs to work and survive they had to simply deal with the horrible conditions of work environment that was given to them. First, they were overworked and underpaid. Second, they worked dangerous jobs with no insurance security. Third, they were treated as prisoners with very poor nutrition. In Jose Sa Luz words “those who lived on the farm lived in the most horrible conditions. There were like barracks with 12 or 14 men in cots that were on top of one another. There was no heat, sometimes there was no drinkable water”(29). They were at the same class level as the African- Americans at that period of time.

*References

* Arnold, Robert H. Hartford: Yesterday & Today (350 Years). Glastonbury, CT (45 Farmcliff Dr., Glastonbury 06033: Farmcliff Press, 1985. Print.

* Clouette, Bruce. Getting Their Share: Irish and Italian Immigrants in Hartford, Connecticut, 1850-1940 . , 1992. Print.

* Pérez, y G. M. Puerto Ricans in the United States. Westport, Conn: Greenwood Press, 2000. print.

* Oboler, Suzanne, and Deena J. González. The Oxford Encyclopedia of Latinos and Latinas in the United States: Volume 2, East Los Angeles-Llorona, La. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2005. Print.

* Glasser, Ruth. "Puerto Rican Farm Workers in Connecticut." HOG River Journal 1 (2002): n. pag. Web.

* Connecticut History Online.

* A Heritage Trail of Puerto Ricans in Hartford. N.d. Photograph. Hispanic Hartford, Hartford, Connecticut.

* Hartford Times Collection, Hartford History Center, and Hartford Public Library. Puerto Rican Girl in Classroom, Hartford, 1957. 1957. Photograph. Connecticut History Online, Hartford, CT. Connecticut History Online. Hartford Times, 15 May 1957. Web. 25 Oct. 2013. <http://www.cthistoryonline.org/cdm/singleitem/collection/cho/id/16104/rec/3>

* Hartford Times Collection. Puerto Rican Parade Float with Palm Tree, Hartford. 1967.<http://www.cthistoryonline.org/cdm/singleitem/collection/cho/id/19343/rec/6>.Photograph. Connecticut History Online, Hartford. Connecticut History Online. Hartford Times, 1967. Web. 25 Oct. 2013.

* JANET ANDERSON, Staff R. "Puerto Rican Schooling Crisis Discussed." The Hartford Courant (1923-1987): 1. Oct 25 1970. ProQuest. Web. 16 Nov. 2013 <http://search.proquest.com/docview/550610321?accountid=39924>.

* "Maria C. Sanchez." Connecticut Women's Hall of Fame. The Seedlings Foundation, n.d. Web. 03 Dec. 2013. http://www.cwhf.org/inductees/politics-government-law/maria-c-sanchez/

* "Maria Sánchez, State Representative and Community Advocate " ConnecticutHistory.org. CTHumanities, n.d. Web. 03 Dec. 2013. <http://connecticuthistory.org/maria-sanchez-state-representative-and-community-advocate/>.

* MORALES, JULIO. "Pushed Off the Island, Puerto Ricans must Compete for Low-Wage Jobs." The Hartford Courant (1923-1987): 2. Aug 10 1986. ProQuest. Web. 16 Nov. 2013 <http://search.proquest.com/docview/899723169?accountid=39924>.

* "Puerto Rican Heritage Trail – Carol T. Correa De Best." Hispanic Hartford. N.p., n.d. Web. 04 Dec. 2013.

* Virgin Mary Figurine. N.d. Photograph. New Creation Gifts. Web. 3 Dec. 2013.