Arocho, Juanita 1910-1998.

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A pioneering presence in the Puerto Rican community of East (Spanish) Harlem, she was a dedicated organizer and independentista who worked for the rights and freedoms of Puerto Ricans both on the island and in her adopted home of New York. Born in Lares, Puerto Rico in 1910, Arocho migrated to the United States in 1933 on the U.S.S. San Jacinto, joining the many other Puerto Ricans who took advantage of increased steamship travel between New York and the island to seek better opportunities abroad. She quickly became active in community and independence politics. Taking impetus from her work on the women's right to vote campaign in Puerto Rico and the inspirational political work of Pedro Albizu Campos, Arocho was involved in the founding of Casa Borínquen, La Asociación Cívica Lareña, the Comité de Manhattan del Partido Independentista Puertorriqueño, of which she was President, and worked as political assistant to Congressman Vito Marcantonio during three of his campaigns, starting in 1946. Arocho died on August 22, 1998 in Brooklyn, New York. She leaves behind a legacy exemplified by her extensive community work and support for the independence of Puerto Rico.

From the description of Papers, 1940-1994. (Centro de Estudios Puertorriquenos). WorldCat record id: 52425509

A pioneering presence in the Puerto Rican community of East (Spanish) Harlem, she was a dedicated organizer and independentista who worked for the rights and freedoms of Puerto Ricans both on the island and in her adopted home of New York. Born in Lares, Puerto Rico in 1910, Arocho migrated to the United States in 1933 on the U.S.S. San Jacinto, joining the many other Puerto Ricans who took advantage of increased steamship travel between New York and the island to seek better opportunities abroad. She quickly became active in community and independence politics.

Taking impetus from her work on the women's right to vote campaign in Puerto Rico and the inspirational political work of Pedro Albizu Campos, Arocho was involved in the founding of Casa Borínquen, La Asociación Cívica Lareña, the Comité Manhattan del Partido Independentista Puertorriqueño, of which she was President, and worked as political assistant to Congressman Vito Marcantonio during three of his campaigns, starting in 1946. Arocho died on August 22, 1998 in Brooklyn, New York. She leaves behind a legacy exemplified by her extensive community work and support for the independence of Puerto Rico.

From the description of Papers, 1940-1994. (New York State Historical Documents). WorldCat record id: 155422696

Archival Resources
Role Title Holding Repository
referencedIn Vélez de Vando, Emelí, 1917-1999. Papers, 1919-1999. New York State Historical Documents Inventory
creatorOf Arocho, Juanita, 1910-1998. Papers, 1940-1994. New York State Historical Documents Inventory
referencedIn Vélez de Vando, Emelí 1917-1999. Papers, 1919-1999. Centro de Estudios Puertorriquenos
creatorOf Arocho, Juanita 1910-1998. Papers, 1940-1994. Centro de Estudios Puertorriquenos
Role Title Holding Repository
Relation Name
associatedWith Albizu Campos, Pedro, 1891-1965. person
associatedWith Asociación Cívica Lareña, Inc. corporateBody
associatedWith Asociación Cívica Lareña, Inc. corporateBody
associatedWith Casa Borínquen. corporateBody
associatedWith Casa Borínquen. corporateBody
associatedWith Comité de Manhattan del Partido Independentista Puertorriqueño. corporateBody
associatedWith Comité de Manhattan del Partido Independentista Puertorriqueño. corporateBody
associatedWith Concepción de Gracia, Gilberto, 1909-1968. person
associatedWith Davila Semprit, José person
associatedWith Marcantonio, Vito, 1902-1954. person
associatedWith Matos Paoli, Francisco, 1915-2000. person
associatedWith O'Neill, Gonzalo, 1870-1942. person
associatedWith Orden de la Estrella de Oriente. corporateBody
associatedWith Orden de la Estrella de Oriente. corporateBody
associatedWith Partido Independentista Puertorriqueño. corporateBody
associatedWith Partido Independentista Puertorriqueño. corporateBody
associatedWith Puerto Rico Independence Party. corporateBody
associatedWith Rosado, Homero, 1913-1994. person
associatedWith Vando, Erasmo, 1896-1988. person
associatedWith Vélez de Vando, Emelí, 1917-1999. person
Place Name Admin Code Country
New York (State)--New York
East Harlem (New York, N.Y.)
Puerto Rico
New York (State)
Puerto Rico
New York (State)--New York
New York
East Harlem (New York, N.Y.)
Subject
Mason
Puerto Ricans
Puerto Ricans in New York (City)
Women's roles
Occupation
Activity

Person

Active 1940

Active 1994

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