The History of Central Florida's Puerto Ricans

The heritage of Puerto Ricans and their important role in forging Central Florida’s history will be celebrated in a multimedia exhibit being developed by Patricia Silver and Natalie Underberg, researchers with the University of Central Florida's Digital Ethnography Lab.

“Puerto Ricans in Central Florida from the 1940s-1980s: A History” will feature photographs and stories about residents’ daily lives, politics, the economy, the charisma of leaders in the community and more. The project will cover Orange, Osceola, Brevard, Lake, Polk, Seminole and Volusia counties.

The exhibit will be displayed in March and April of 2009 at the Hart Memorial Central Library in Kissimmee and the Winter Park Public Library. Parts of the exhibits also will be viewable on the World Wide Web.

People of Puerto Rican heritage who have lived in Central Florida between the 1940s and 1980s and want to be interviewed or contribute photos can visit the Web site or contact the research team at 407-235-3601 or prcfhistory@mail.ucf.edu.