Teodoro Vidal Collection of Puerto Rican History

Explore Puerto Rico’s history, from the 16th to the 20th centuries, through the eyes of collector Teodoro Vidal. Vidal captured the island’s history by collecting thousands of objects. Over 80 artifacts are featured here.

Toy Rooster

Sold mostly at craft and folk fairs, toys like this show how artisans on the island have creatively used and re-used rubber, metal, paper, and other natural materials.Juguetes como éste, que se venden en su mayoría en las ferias de artesanías y cosas típicas, son prueba del modo
Description
Sold mostly at craft and folk fairs, toys like this show how artisans on the island have creatively used and re-used rubber, metal, paper, and other natural materials.
Description (Spanish)
Juguetes como éste, que se venden en su mayoría en las ferias de artesanías y cosas típicas, son prueba del modo en que los artesanos recurrían a la creatividad para reutilizar el caucho, el metal, el papel y otros materiales naturales.
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
20th century
maker
unknown
ID Number
1997.0097.1211
accession number
1997.0097
catalog number
1997.0097.1211

Tiple

The tiple, the smallest string instrument in Puerto Rico, may be the one with the most regional variety. Small guitar or ukulele-like instruments are found throughout Latin America with the name tiple.
Description
The tiple, the smallest string instrument in Puerto Rico, may be the one with the most regional variety. Small guitar or ukulele-like instruments are found throughout Latin America with the name tiple. The Puerto Rican tiple is derived from an instrument of the same name brought by settlers from the Canary Islands.
Description (Spanish)
El tiple es el instrumento de cuerdas más pequeño de Puerto Rico y, podría decirse, el que presenta la mayor cantidad de variaciones regionales. Es posible hallar bajo el nombre de tiple guitarras pequeñas o instrumentos similares al ukulele en toda América Latina. El tiple puertorriqueño se derivó de un instrumento del mismo nombre introducido a Puerto Rico por colonos provenientes de las Islas Canarias.
Date made
early 20th century
ID Number
1997.0097.1081
accession number
1997.0097
catalog number
1997.0097.1081

Carnival Mask

Carnival celebrations featuring performers dressed as devils are found across Puerto Rico and throughout Latin America. The presence of these characters during Carnival is understood by many as an ancient reference to the contest between good and evil.
Description
Carnival celebrations featuring performers dressed as devils are found across Puerto Rico and throughout Latin America. The presence of these characters during Carnival is understood by many as an ancient reference to the contest between good and evil. This devilish mask shows the characteristic style of its maker, Leonardo Pagán. Born in 1929, Pagán was the student of a renowned mask maker, Juan Careta, who worked from the 1890s until the 1950s. After his mentor's death, Pagán masks became highly prized. Pagán died in 2000.
Description (Spanish)
Las celebraciones de carnaval durante las cuales se observan individuos disfrazados de diablos son comunes en Puerto Rico y el resto de América Latina. Muchos interpretan la presencia de estos personajes durante el Carnaval como una antigua referencia a la contienda entre el bien y el mal. Esta máscara diabólica representa el estilo característico de su creador, Leonardo Pagán. Nacido en 1929, Pagán fue estudiante del renombrado artesano de máscaras, Juan Careta, cuyo trabajo se extendió desde la década de 1890 hasta la de 1950. Luego de la muerte de su mentor, las máscaras de Pagán se volvieron muy preciadas. Pagán falleció en el año 2000.
Date made
1997-04
maker
Pagan, Leonardo
ID Number
1997.0097.1215
catalog number
1997.0097.1215
accession number
1997.0097

Christening Cap

This intricate handmade lace baby cap dates from the turn of the 20th century and was probably worn for a baby's christening. The baptism of newborns is both a religious and a social ceremony, strengthening ties among members of a community.
Description
This intricate handmade lace baby cap dates from the turn of the 20th century and was probably worn for a baby's christening. The baptism of newborns is both a religious and a social ceremony, strengthening ties among members of a community. Compadrazgo, the special relationship between parents and godparents, is a valued tradition in Puerto Rico and Latin America.
Description (Spanish)
Este intrincado gorro de bebé de encaje data de principios del siglo XX y es probable que se haya utilizado para el bautismo del niño. La ceremonia de bautismo de los recién nacidos tiene una importancia tanto religiosa como social, dado que permite estrechar vínculos entre los miembros de una comunidad. El Compadrazgo, la relación especial entre padres y padrinos, es una tradición importante en Puerto Rico y América Latina.
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
late 19th century
ID Number
1997.0097.1229
accession number
1997.0097
catalog number
1997.0097.1229

Sampler

Into the 20th century, many considered sewing an integral part of the education of all young girls, who used needlework samplers like this one to learn and master patterns and stitches.
Description
Into the 20th century, many considered sewing an integral part of the education of all young girls, who used needlework samplers like this one to learn and master patterns and stitches. Needlework and the skilled handling of a sewing machine helped many women to support their families. Clara Rivera sewed this sampler in the city of Ponce in 1934, combining text with geometric and floral designs.
Description (Spanish)
Durante el siglo XX, la costura se consideraba parte integral de la educación de las niñas, quienes utilizaban dechados como éste para practicar nuevos diseños y puntos. La costura y la destreza en las máquinas de coser permitieron a muchas mujeres contribuir con el sustento de sus familias. Clara Rivera cosió su dechado en la ciudad de Ponce en 1934, combinando texto, diseños geométricos y florales.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1934
maker
Rivera, Clara
ID Number
1997.0097.1227.009
accession number
1997.0097
catalog number
1997.0097.1227.009

Peine

This whimsical example of a hand-made tortoiseshell comb, may be in the shape of a whale.Este es un caprichoso ejemplo de peine hecho a mano con caparazón de tortuga, probablemente en forma de ballena.Currently not on view
Description
This whimsical example of a hand-made tortoiseshell comb, may be in the shape of a whale.
Description (Spanish)
Este es un caprichoso ejemplo de peine hecho a mano con caparazón de tortuga, probablemente en forma de ballena.
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
late 19th-early 20th century
ID Number
1997.0097.0289.006
accession number
1997.0097
catalog number
1997.0097.0289.006

Rosary

Attached to this rosary are nine milagros or "miracles" representing offerings to a particular saint. Rosaries are strings of beads used by Catholics to repeat prayers such as the "Hail Mary" and the "Our Father".
Description
Attached to this rosary are nine milagros or "miracles" representing offerings to a particular saint. Rosaries are strings of beads used by Catholics to repeat prayers such as the "Hail Mary" and the "Our Father". Combining a variety of local materials, the beads are made from seeds while the cross is inlaid with mother-of-pearl.
Description (Spanish)
En este rosario se observan adheridos nueve milagros que representan ofrendas a un santo en particular. Los rosarios son collares de cuentas que usan los católicos para repetir plegarias tales como el Ave María y el Padre Nuestro. Para su confección se han utilizado distintos materiales locales, combinando cuentas de semillas junto a una cruz con incrustaciones de madre perla.
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
19th or 20th century
n.d.
ID Number
1997.0097.1088.006
accession number
1997.0097
catalog number
1997.0097.1088.006

Rosario

This string rosary, made from a local plant fiber, has knots instead of beads to represent the prayer cycle. Rosaries are strings of beads used by Catholics to repeat prayers such as the Hail Mary and the Our Father.
Description
This string rosary, made from a local plant fiber, has knots instead of beads to represent the prayer cycle. Rosaries are strings of beads used by Catholics to repeat prayers such as the Hail Mary and the Our Father. Rosaries in the Vidal collection are made from a wide variety of materials such as silver, gold, horn, seed, wood, and coral.
Description (Spanish)
Este rosario, manufacturado con fibras de una planta local, tiene nudos en vez de cuentas para representar el ciclo de plegarias. Los rosarios son collares de cuentas que usan los católicos para repetir plegarias tales como el Ave María y el Padre Nuestro. Los rosarios de la Colección Vidal están confeccionados con una gran variedad de materiales, tales como plata, oro, cuerno, semillas, madera y coral.
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
n.d.
ID Number
1997.0097.1088.013
catalog number
1997.0097.1088.013
accession number
1997.0097

Pava

The pava is the traditional hat used by sugar cane cutters, coffee pickers, and other agricultural workers. It is emblematic of the jíbaro (a Puerto Rican from the countryside) and the rustic traditions of the island's folkways.
Description
The pava is the traditional hat used by sugar cane cutters, coffee pickers, and other agricultural workers. It is emblematic of the jíbaro (a Puerto Rican from the countryside) and the rustic traditions of the island's folkways. The pava is so closely associated with the notion of authentic Puerto Rican culture that when Luis Muñoz Marín founded the Popular Democratic Party (PDP) in 1938, the party adopted the pava, as its symbol.
Description (Spanish)
La pava es el sombrero tradicional que usan los trabajadores del campo, tales como los cortadores de caña o los recolectores de café. Es emblemático de los jíbaros (puertorriqueños del campo) y de las costumbres rústicas de la isla. Se relaciona tan estrechamente con la cultura puertorriqueña que cuando Luis Muñoz Marín fundó el Partido Demócrata Popular (PDP) en 1938 el partido adoptó la pava como símbolo.
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
20th century
ID Number
1997.0097.1036.002
accession number
1997.0097
catalog number
1997.0097.1036.002

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