Soto Vélez, Clemente, 1905-1993

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Clemente Soto Vélez was a ground-breaking poet and one of the most significant and revered contemporary Puerto Rican writers. He was a mentor to many of the young artists and writers of his time. Born in 1905 in Lares, a town known for its rebellious spirit, as a young man in Puerto Rico, Soto Vélez was a founding member of a vanguard literary group called " El atalaya de los dioses" (The Watchtower of the Gods). The bold young poets calling themselves atalayistas transformed the literary world of the 1930s in Puerto Rico. Soto Vélez' pro-independence views led him to membership in the Partido Nacionalista de Puerto Rico (The Nationalist Party of Puerto Rico) and in 1936 he was imprisoned along with other militants for their political activities. After his release from prison in 1942, he settled in New York City, where he quickly became involved in diverse cultural and business organizations. He was a founder of the Puerto Rican Merchants Association (1945) and a member of the Ateneo Puertorriqueño and the Circulo de Escritores y Poetas Iberoamericanos. His wife, Amanda Vélez was deeply engaged in his work and was also a political activist and a promoter of artists and artistic events. Soto Vélez died in Puerto Rico on April 15, 1993.

From the description of Papers, 1924-1996. (Centro de Estudios Puertorriquenos). WorldCat record id: 52421567

Clemente Soto Vélez was a ground-breaking poet and one of the most significant and revered contemporary Puerto Rican writers. He was a mentor to many of the young artists and writers of his time. Born in 1905 in Lares, a town known for its rebellious spirit, as a young man in Puerto Rico, Soto Vélez was a founding member of a vanguard literary group called " El atalaya de los dioses" (The Watchtower of the Gods). The bold young poets calling themselves atalayistas transformed the literary world of the 1930s in Puerto Rico.

Soto Vélez's pro-independence views led him to membership in the Partido Nacionalista de Puerto Rico (the Nationalist Party of Puerto Rico) and in 1936 he was imprisoned along with other militants for their political activities. After his release from prison in 1942, he settled in New York City, where he quickly became involved in diverse cultural and business organizations. He was a founder of the Puerto Rican Merchants Association (1945) and a member of the Ateneo Puertorriqueño and the Circulo de Escritores y Poetas Iberoamericanos. His wife Amanda Vélez was deeply engaged in his work and was also a political activist and a promoter of artists and artistic events. Soto Vélez died in Puerto Rico on April 15, 1993.

From the description of Papers, 1924-1996. (New York State Historical Documents). WorldCat record id: 155422966

Archival Resources
Role Title Holding Repository
referencedIn Ramírez de Arellano, Diana, 1919-1997. Papers, 1947-1997. New York State Historical Documents Inventory
creatorOf Soto Vélez, Clemente 1905-1993. Papers, 1924-1996. Centro de Estudios Puertorriquenos
creatorOf Soto Vélez, Clemente, 1905-1993. Papers, 1924-1996. New York State Historical Documents Inventory
referencedIn Ramírez de Arellano, Diana 1919-1997. Papers, 1947-1997. Centro de Estudios Puertorriquenos
Role Title Holding Repository
Relation Name
associatedWith Aboy, Ramon. person
associatedWith Atalaya de los Dioses. corporateBody
associatedWith Atalaya de los Dioses. corporateBody
associatedWith Ateneo Puertorriqueño de Nueva York. corporateBody
associatedWith Ateneo Puertorriqueõ de Nueva York. corporateBody
associatedWith Carrasquillo, Pedro, 1910-1963. person
associatedWith Círculo de Escritores y Poetas Iberoamericanos de Nueva York. corporateBody
associatedWith Circulo de Escritores y Poetas Iberoamericanos de Nueva York. corporateBody
associatedWith Corretjer, Juan Antonio, 1908-1985. person
associatedWith Espada, Martín, 1957- person
associatedWith Fragoso, Victor, 1944-1984. person
associatedWith Margenat, Alfredo. person
associatedWith Miranda Archilla, Graciany 1908-1991. person
associatedWith Osorio, Pepón, 1955- person
associatedWith Partido Nacionalista (P.R.) corporateBody
associatedWith Partido Nacionalista (Puerto Rico) corporateBody
associatedWith Pepatian (Dance company) corporateBody
associatedWith Pepatian (Dance company) corporateBody
associatedWith Puerto Rican Merchants Association, Inc. corporateBody
associatedWith Puerto Rican Merchants Association, Inc. corporateBody
associatedWith Ramírez de Arellano, Diana, 1919-1997. person
associatedWith Soto, Clemente, Jr. person
associatedWith Soto, Merian person
associatedWith Spanish Grocers Association. corporateBody
associatedWith Spanish Grocers Association. corporateBody
associatedWith Vélez, Amanda Andrea, 1918- person
Place Name Admin Code Country
Puerto Rico
New York (State)--New York
New York (State)--New York
Puerto Rico
Subject
Art, Puerto Rican
Atalayismo
Authors, Puerto Rican
Hispanic American authors
Hispanic American business enterprises
Hispanic American literature (Spanish)
Nationalists
Political prisoners
Puerto Rican literature
Puerto Rican poetry
Puerto Ricans
Puerto Ricans in New York (City)
Puerto Rico
Occupation
Activity

Person

Birth 1905

Death 1993-04-15

Puerto Ricans

Spanish; Castilian

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