José Martí (1853-1895) was a Cuban patriot, literary figure, and freedom fighter in the 1895 Cuban Revolution. His commitment to liberating Cuba from Spanish rule meant he spent many years in exile from his island home. An accomplished writer, Martí regularly contributed articles to newspapers in New York and produced both books and poetry. Among his major works, the most famous are La Edad de Oro and Versos Sencillos. He is considered the national hero of Cuba and the "Apostle of Cuban Independence" although he never lived to see it.
María Mantilla de Romero (1880-1962) was born in New York City. Although her birth certificate listed her as the daughter of Manuel Mantilla and Carmen Miyares de Mantilla, historians have speculated that her actual parents were Carmen and José Martí. Martí was living at the Mantilla's lodging house at the time of María's birth, and was her acknowledged godfather; in later life he often referred to her as his daughter. Most of the materials in this collection are items about Martí that belonged to María Mantilla. (Source: http://www.historyofcuba.com/history/funfacts/CesarRom.htm )
Other people mentioned in the collection are descendants of María Mantilla and her husband Cesar Romero, Sr. These include Cesar Romero, Jr. (1907-1994), his brother Eduardo, and his sister María Teresa. Cesar Romero, Jr. became a well-known actor, taking on roles such as the Joker in the TV version of Batman (1966-68), and as Cortes in The Captain from Castile (1947). (Source: http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0003110/bio )
From the guide to the Romero Family Papers Regarding José Martí, 1875-1974, 1953-1960, (Special and Area Studies Collections, George A. Smathers Libraries, University of Florida)
