Call Number:

Print Coll. 81

Repository:

University of Pennsylvania: Kislak Center for Special Collections, Rare Books and Manuscripts

Extent:

2 linear feet (2 boxes)

Language:

English and Spanish; Castilian

Preferred Citation:

Caribbean, Central American, and South American political pamphlets, 1945-2019, undated, Print Coll. 81, Kislak Center for Special Collections, Rare Books and Manuscripts, University of Pennsylvania

Date:

1945-2019, undated (inclusive)

Form:

Pamphlets

Abstract:

The Caribbean, Central American, and South American political pamphlets measure 2 linear feet and date from 1945 to 2019. The collection largely relates to political events and movements during the Cold War. Some of the countries represented in the collection are Cuba, Grenada, Chile, Guyana, Puerto Rico, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Argentina, Brazil, The Falkland Islands, and Venezuela.

The Caribbean, Central American, and South American political pamphlets collection largely relates to political events and movements during the Cold War. Many of the countries represented in this collection were either directly invaded by the United States or were subject to coups with which the United States was involved. There were many organizations in the United States and Europe that opposed US involvement in Latin America including the Fabian Society, Fair Play for Cuba Committee, Caribbean Labour Solidarity, various Committee's for Human Rights, and various solidarity campaigns, all of which are represented in the collection.

During the period covered by this collection Cuba experienced a revolution led by Fidel Castro; Guyana gained independence from Britain; Chile elected the Socialist Salvador Allende; Grenada experienced a coup and was invaded by the United States; Brazil experienced a military coup in 1964; there was a coup in Argentine in 1976; Argentina and Britain were fighting a war over the Falkland Islands; Venezuela was using military force to dispute its border with Guyana; El Salvador entered a civil war in 1979; Nicaragua experience a revolution between 1960 and 1990; and Puerto Rico was calling for independence from the United States.

The Caribbean, Central American, and South American political pamphlets measure 2 linear feet and date from 1945 to 2019. They cover a number of countries with Cuba, Grenada, Chile, and Guyana being the best represented. Other countries represented in this collection include Puerto Rico, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Argentina, Brazil, The Falkland Islands, and Venezuela.

Most of the collection is comprised of small print political zines, but there are also event posters, flyers, and brochures. Almost all of the material is in English with only a few pamphlets written in Spanish.

The collection is organized into series by geographic region and into subseries by countries within those regions.

The largest section of this collection represents Cuba. Many of these works are written by or transcribed speeches of Fidel Castro. Castro was the leader of Cuba from 1959 to 2008, serving as the prime minister of Cuba from 1959 to 1976 and president from 1976 to 2008.

There are also many works related to Guyana. Many of these works were written by Cheddi Jagan and his wife Janet Jagan. Cheddi Jagan founded the People's Progressive Party and was elected Chief Minister of Guyana in 1953 and later Premier of British Guiana from 1961 to 1964. He later served as President of Guyana from 1992 to his death in 1997.

Another country that is well represented in Chile. These writings focus on fighting the rise of Fascism in the late 1940s and covering Salvador Allende's time as president in the early 1970s.

Grenada is also well represented with writings focusing on Maurice Bishop, former Prime Minister of Grenada from 1979 to 1983, and the trails of the Grenada 17. The Grenada 17 were 17 people accused by the United States of orchestrating the firing squad assassinations of Maurice Bishop and 7 others from his government. The fairness of the trails was questioned and all have been released from prison as of 2007.

This collection provides a broad overview of the political climate of Latin America during the Cold War. It gives insight into the political actions and movements both within Latin America and by outsiders in the English-speaking world.