Vélez de Vando, Emelí 1917-1999.

Emelí Vélez de Vando was one of the pioneers of the Colonia Puertorriqueña in New York. Born in Ponce Puerto Rico on January 2, 1917, she arrived in the early 1930s and immersed herself in the cultural and political activities of the Puerto Rican community, supporting early efforts to build organizations. She joined organizations dedicated to the cause of Puerto Rican Independence, transformed herself into a political activist and distinguished herself as an orator. Vélez also took part in theatrical productions and acted in some of the first Puerto Rican plays to be presented in New York. Upon her return to Puerto Rico in the late 1940s, she joined the Partido Independentista Puertorriqueño (PIP) and in 1960 was the Party's candidate for Mayor of San Juan. Years later, after leaving the PIP, Vélez de Vando was a founder of the Movimiento Pro-Independencia, the forerunner of the Partido Socialista Puertorriqueño. She will be remembered for her extraordinary dedication to the cause of Puerto Rican independence, to which she was committed her entire life. She died in Puerto Rico on November 10, 1999.

From the description of Papers, 1919-1999. (New York State Historical Documents). WorldCat record id: 155423038

Emelí Vélez de Vando was one of the pioneers of the Colonia Puertorriqueña in New York. Born in Ponce Puerto Rico on January 2, 1917, she arrived in the early 1930s and immersed herself in the cultural and political activities of the Puerto Rican community supporting early efforts to build organizations. She joined organizations dedicated to the cause of Puerto Rican Independence, transformed herself into a political activist and distinguished herself as an orator. Vélez also took part in theatrical productions and acted in some of the first Puerto Rican plays to be presented in New York. Upon her return to Puerto Rico in the late 1940s, she joined the Partido Independentista Puertorriqueño (PIP) and in 1960 was the Party's candidate for Mayor of San Juan. Years later after leaving the PIP, Vélez de Vando was a founder of the Movimiento Pro-Independencia, the forerunner of the Partido Socialista Puertorriqueño. She will be remembered for her extraordinary dedication to the cause of Puerto Rican independence to which she was committed her entire life. She died in Puerto Rico on November 10, 1999.

From the description of Papers, 1919-1999. (Centro de Estudios Puertorriquenos). WorldCat record id: 52425818