Call Number:

Coll.13

Repository:

John J. Wilcox, Jr. LGBT Archives, William Way LGBT Community Center

Extent:

5 linear feet

Language:

English

Date:

1918-1985 (inclusive) and 1944-1985 (bulk)

Creator:

Caulfield, James T. and Suarez, Rafael A.

Abstract:

Dr. Rafael A. Suarez and James T. Caulfield, known as "The Philamigos," traveled throughout South America in the 1950s-1980s, operated a learning center in Philadelphia, and were prominent members of the Philadelphia LGBT community. The James T. Caulfield and Rafael A. Suarez papers, 1918-1985, extensively document their works, including the Philamigos Institute of Learning, their travels abroad, and Caulfield's experience as a gay soldier during World War II. The collection contains correspondence, photographs, newspaper clippings, ephemera, over a dozen 16-mm films, and stamps/correspondence regarding philately.

Dr. Rafael A. Suarez and James T. Caulfield, known as "The Philamigos," traveled throughout South America in the 1950s-1980s, operated a learning center in Philadelphia, and were prominent members of the Philadelphia LGBT community.

Cuban-born Dr. Rafael A. Suarez practiced law for several years, worked as a translator for the United Nations Telecommunications Conference, was a Professor of Languages at the University of Pennsylvania for six years, worked as a translator for the Peace Corps at the University of Vicosa, Brazil, and was a well-known writer, traveler, lecturer, and photographer. As Director of "The Philamigos Institute of Learning" in Philadelphia, he prepared people linguistically for the onrush of foreign tourists expected for the Bicentennial celebrations of 1976.

James T. Caulfield was a native Philadelphian and veteran of the Pacific Campaign of World War II. He found success as a war artist, writer, traveler, lecturer, cameraman and painter. As Assistant Director of "The Philamigos Institute of Learning," he taught art, photography, and languages.

Together, Suarez and Caulfield traveled throughout South America, representing several organizations including the Alumni Association of the University of Pennsylvania, the Pan American Association and the Chamber of Commerce of Philadelphia. The United States State Department extended to them its facilitative services. The main mission of the Philamigos was spreading good will, and they gave talks on the American Way of Life. The Brazilian government commissioned Suarez and Caulfield to make a color documentary about Brazil. During six years of filming, they spent a year in the Amazon and captured footage of, among other subjects, native inhabitants of the rainforest.

Bibliography:

"The Philamigos." Undated, document found in collection.

This is a rich collection that extensively documents the personal and professional lives of Dr. Rafael A. Suarez and James T. Caulfield, including the Philamigos Institute of Learning, their travels abroad, and Caulfield's experience as a gay soldier during World War II. The collection contains correspondence, photographs, newspaper clippings, ephemera, over a dozen 16-mm films, and stamps/correspondence regarding philately. From the Philamigos Institute of Learning, this collection contains correspondence and some ephemera. From Suarez and Caulfield's travels (together and separately), this collection contains correspondence, photographs, films, passports/legal documents, ephemera, and materials relating to the documentary on Brazil they did on commission from the Brazilian government. From Caulfield's World War II service, the collection contains some original drawings by Caulfield and many editions of Flak-Daily, published by the 97th AAA (Antiaircraft Artillery) Group. The couple maintained relationships with friends abroad in many different countries (mostly in Latin America), and they discussed issues of development, international relations, foreign aid, language learning, and other topics.