Escoto, José Augusto, 1864-1935

José Augusto Escoto (1864-1935) was the editor of the Revista histórica, crítica y bibliográfica de la literatura cubana (Matanzas, 1916-1917) and other works on Cuban history and literature, as well as the librarian of the Biblioteca Pública de Matanzas, Cuba. Many of the literary and historical materials in this collection are accompanied by envelopes addressed to Escoto from dozens of correspondents, attesting to the diligence with which he pursued his collecting. Some documents are copies in his hand of documents from various Cuban archives. The emphasis of Escoto's collection on materials by and about 19th-century Cuban literary figures probably relate to the publication of his literary journal, or possibly intended for an unpublished encyclopedic work.

A number of materials in this collection were compiled by Antonio López Prieto (1847-1883), known for his anthology of Cuban poets Parnaso cubano: colección de poesías selectas de autores cubanos, desde Zequeira á nuestros dias (Havana, 1881). His bound volumes of manuscript and printed historical and statistical documents concern Mexico as well as Cuba. These volumes include several apparently unpublished compilations of statistical and census data and original statistical charts. Originally classified as a supplement to the Escoto collection, these materials have been incorporated into the larger collection.