Rare Book and Manuscript Library
Manuel Ramos Otero Papers
Ramos Otero, Manuel
10846190
MS#1725
English
Spanish; Castilian
/repositories/2/resources/4060
18 linear feet
16 record cartons; 1 document box; and 1 flat box
circa 1920s-2007
1967-1992
Manuel Ramos Otero (1948-1990) is considered the first openly gay
writer from Puerto Rico. He resided in New York City for much of his adult life. In
1990, he returned to his hometown of Manatí, Puerto Rico, where he died of
complications from HIV/AIDS. The collection includes personal and professional
correspondence, manuscripts, notebooks and notes, reviews, photographs, and
newspaper clippings. These materials range in date from Otero's infancy to his
death, 1948-1990. There is also a small section of the collection that contains
material related to Otero posthumously, which dates from 1990 to 2007.
Conditions Governing Access
This collection is located on-site.
Restrictions on Access
Student records and medical records in this collection are restricted for 75 years from their respective dates of creation.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
The Rare Book and Manuscript Library purchased the collection from Felipe Eduardo Sanchez Ortiz in 2014.
Appraisal
Clippings from widely available English language newspapers such as the New York Times were discarded. Routine financial documents, such as Otero's tax returns, retirement paperwork, bank statements, and welfare packets were also discarded. Finally, excess copies of the same pamphlets have been discarded. This is particularly true for Series VI, in which many duplicate funeral invitations and tributes to Otero were discarded.
Arrangement
This collection is arranged in 6 series. All series are arranged in chronological order, except the materials in Series I, which is arranged in alphabetical order by the title of the manuscript, and Series VI.4, which is arranged in alphabetical order by the author's last name.
Biographical / Historical
Jesús Manuel "Chu" Ramos Otero was born in Manatí, Puerto Rico in 1948. In 1968, he moved to New York City to pursue his career as a writer. He is now considered one of the first openly out homosexual writers of the Puerto Rican diaspora.
Biographical / Historical
Otero's writing is often considered controversial because of its unabashedly political, feminist and homoerotic subject matter. He wrote primarily semi-autobiographical pieces that dealt with themes of exile and rejection. The feeling of being exiled was twofold for Otero, who felt exiled from Puerto Rico for having left to the United States, and rejected in the United States because his writing did not deal with issues of race and class status that had become expected of Latino writers. The practice of writing for Otero thus became closely linked to his sex life because both writing and sexual acts were victimized by migration. As a result, much of Otero's writing deconstructs traditional gender categories in order to imagine a more liberated narrative form that might then translate to everyday life.
Biographical / Historical
Otero studied Spanish literature at New York University, where he received a Master of Arts degree (MA) in 1979. He went on to teach Caribbean literature at Lehman College, York College, and LaGuardia Community College while pursuing a Ph.D. in Spanish literature at the City University of New York (CUNY).
Biographical / Historical
In September of 1971, Otero founded Aspasguanza, a theatrical workshop in the Lower East Side of Manhattan. Four years later, in 1975, Otero founded the publishing group El libro viaje, which was devoted to getting as many Puerto Rican authors published as American. During this decade, Otero traveled and collaborated creatively with his live-in partner, John Anthes, who died circa 1979. After Anthes' death, Otero began a relationship with the Puerto Rican painter Angel Rodríguez-Díaz. While little is known of John Anthes, Otero dedicated two of his works, "Ritos cancelados" and "Ceremonia de bienes y raices," to him after his death. Much of Otero's semi-autobiographical writing highlights his relationship with Anthes. Throughout his life, Otero harnessed close friendships with other influential Puerto Rican authors, and often collaborated with them. These people include Rosario Ferré, Ana Lydia Vega, and Magalí García Ramis.
Biographical / Historical
In 1990, Otero returned to Puerto Rico to live out his final days. He died on October 7th of that year of complications from HIV/AIDS. His posthumously-published work, Invitación a polvo, which Otero defined as "completely untranslatable," directly addresses topics around the AIDS crisis.
Biographical / Historical
In 1998, the Guadalajara International Book Fair published Tálamos y tumbas prosa y verso de Manuel Ramos Otero, which includes numerous short stories and the book of poetry, El libro de la muerte. In 1999, and again in 2002, the Pergones Theatre company in the Bronx adapted Otero's short story, "El locura de la locura" to stage the play "El bolero fue mi ruina." It was then adapted to an off-Broadway show in 2002 and staged by the Hostos Center for the Arts and Culture.
Custodial History
During the period from Otero's death to the purchase of his papers by the Rare Book and Manuscript Library, Otero's papers were acquired by his sister, Carmen "Cambury" Beatriz Ramos Otero. Cambury's phone and medical bills, books, newspaper clippings, receipts and drawings that had nothing to do with Manuel Ramos Otero directly were mixed with the collection during this time period. These materials were discarded during processing.
Custodial History
The collection also passed through Juan Gelpí and Vanessa Droz, who were Otero's close friends and creative collaborators. Gelpí annotated much of the collection and imposed an organizational scheme, which was later dismantled when the collection passed through different people. He also inserted various articles and transcripts that had no immediate connection to Ramos Otero.
Preferred Citation
Identification of specific item; Date (if known); Manuel Ramos Otero Papers; Box and Folder; Rare Book and Manuscript Library, Columbia University Library.
Processing Information
Collection-level record describing unprocessed material made public in summer 2018 as part of the Hidden Collections initiative.
Processing Information
Preliminary collection inventory created by Renee Pappous in September 2015.
Restrictions were placed on medical and student records during collection re-boxing by Celeste Brewer in October 2016. Loose materials were placed in folders, and oversize materials were moved to flat boxes.
Assessment performed September 14, 2018 by Celeste Brewer as part of Hidden Collections. Financial, medical, and student records identified by Renee Pappous were moved into a separate box.
Processing Information
This collection was processed by Lindsey Cienfuegos. Finding aid written by Lindsey Cienfuegos and Celeste Brewer in July-August 2019.
Processing Information
The Otero Papers arrived at the Rare Book and Manuscript Library in 2014. The collection was contaminated with mold, and was cleaned by Polygon in Fall 2014. Materials stored in transfiles were rehoused in record cartons in October 2016.
Processing Information
The arrangement scheme for the collection was imposed during processing in the absence of a clear original order. Existing folders were in poor condition, and many materials were loose. All folders were replaced during processing. Objects, published books and journals, and audiovisual materials were also physically separated from the papers in the collection and stored together for preservation reasons.
Processing Information
The collection's complicated provenance and lack of original order meant that it was not always possible to determine whether materials were originally owned and used by Manuel Ramos Otero, or added to the collection after his death by his family members or friends. Some items were retained in the collection despite their unclear provenance in order to document--or to avoid erasing--these individuals' secondary uses of the collection.
Related Materials
Rosario Ferré Papers at the Rare Book and Manuscript Library, Columbia University. Otero and Ferré collaborated creatively with one another throughout their writing careers, and each wrote biographical essays about the other for various anthologies about Puerto Rican authors.
Summary
The collection contains the papers of Manuel Ramos Otero and reflects to his careers as an author, student, and professor. The collection primarily consists of Otero's published and unpublished writing. These materials range in date from 1967-1989, and include numerous manuscripts which document his writing and editing process. The collection also includes Otero's notebooks, essays, and articles annotated by Otero as a student. There is a series of personal correspondence between Otero and his family in Puerto Rico while Otero lived in the United States. Finally, there are also smaller series of photographs, correspondence, official documents, theatrical work, and posthumous publications and tributes.
Terms Governing Use and Reproduction
Reproductions may be made for research purposes. The RBML maintains ownership of the physical material only. Copyright remains with the creator and his/her heirs. The responsibility to secure copyright permission rests with the patron.
Accruals
Materials may have been added to the collection since this finding aid was prepared. Contact rbml@columbia.edu for more information.
Conditions Governing Access
Unique time-based media items have been reformatted and are available onsite via links in the container list. Commercial materials are not routinely digitized.
Puerto Rican poetry
Videotapes
Manuscripts (documents)
Personal correspondence
Puerto Rican literature -- 20th century
Puerto Ricans -- New York (State) -- New York
Gay men's writings, American
Gay men -- Poetry
Audiotapes
Ramos Otero, Manuel
Series I: Manuscripts and Publishing/repositories/2/archival_objects/916915circa 1960-2002, undatedScope and ContentsSeries I: Manuscripts and Publishing consists primarily of material related to articles and books written by Manuel Ramos Otero, dating from the early 1970s through 1990. This series contains material from Otero's published and unpublished written works, and highlights the many stages of his writing process. The series contains books, notebooks, manuscripts, publications, translations and unpublished poetry and short stories by Otero. A majority of the manuscripts in this collection are Otero's short stories and are annotated by Otero. These manuscripts are organized alphabetically. Very few of them are dated. Many of the manuscripts were originally published in Cupey or El Mundo. Manuscripts for theatrical pieces are located in Series V.
The series includes extensive materials related to three of Otero's published works: Página en blanco y staccato (1987); El libro de la muerte (1985); and Invitación a polvo (1991), each of which comprises its own subseries. The collection does not include Otero's notes on his only published novel, La novelabingo. However, the collection does contain manuscripts of all of Otero's published works, including La novelabingo.
The series also includes manuscripts of poems and essays written by prominent Puerto Rican literary figures, which can be found in Subseries I.5: Manuscripts by various authors. Some of the authors include Ana Lydia Vargas, Juan Gelpí, Rosario Ferré, Magalí García Ramis, Nicholasa Mohr, and Edgardo Rodríguez Juliá. While some of these manuscripts were sent to Otero during his lifetime, others appear to have been inserted into the collection after his death. The subseries also includes several audio recordings and one videocassette of these authors reading their works.
Finally, this series contains clippings and full issues of newspapers, literary journals, and other publications that reproduce or reference the works of Otero and his literary circle.
Subseries I.1: Manuscripts/repositories/2/archival_objects/9169161972-1990, undated"67 después de Christian"/repositories/2/archival_objects/916917undated11"Alrededor del mundo con la señorita Mambresi"/repositories/2/archival_objects/916918undated12"An Urban Landscape" anthology/repositories/2/archival_objects/916919undated13"An Urban Landscape" anthology/repositories/2/archival_objects/9169201988-198914Scope and ContentsWith correspondence and application for project funding.
"Bola de fuegos"/repositories/2/archival_objects/916921undated15"Ceremonia de bienes y raíces"/repositories/2/archival_objects/916922undated16Concierto de metal para un recuerdo y otras orgías de soledad/repositories/2/archival_objects/916923undated17Essay, "Después de la explosión"/repositories/2/archival_objects/916924197218"Dust in Love" /repositories/2/archival_objects/916925undated19Scope and ContentsWith original publication.
"El ángel de Nueva York"/repositories/2/archival_objects/9169261990110"El cuento de la mujer del mar" Typed Ms./repositories/2/archival_objects/104997528 January 197717Scope and ContentsManuel Otero's only short novel. This copy was sent to Professor Miguel Arisa as one of only a few sent to close friends before it was published.
Scope and Contents(2019.2020.M071)
"El cuento de la mujer del mar"/repositories/2/archival_objects/916927undated111-12"El cuento de la mujer del mar" English translation: "The Story of the Woman in the Sea"/repositories/2/archival_objects/916929undated113"Enfermidades incuribles" first chapter: "La fea Otero"/repositories/2/archival_objects/916930undated114"Enfermedades incuribles"/repositories/2/archival_objects/916931undated115"En la orilla amarilla de la muerte"/repositories/2/archival_objects/9169321977116"Funeral"/repositories/2/archival_objects/916933undated117"Happy Birthday"/repositories/2/archival_objects/916934undated118"Hollywood Memorabilia"/repositories/2/archival_objects/916935undated119Anthology with other authors, including "Hollywood Memorabilia"/repositories/2/archival_objects/916936undated120"Hollywood Memorabilia" in English, with translation by Gregory Kolovakos/repositories/2/archival_objects/916937undated121Summary for novella called La esfinge y el infierno/repositories/2/archival_objects/916938undated122"La casa clausurada"/repositories/2/archival_objects/916939undated123"La heredera"/repositories/2/archival_objects/916940undated124"La hora de ángel"/repositories/2/archival_objects/916941undated125Manuscript and original publication of "La Luna Ultrajada"/repositories/2/archival_objects/9169421982126"Las mariposas de alambre" /repositories/2/archival_objects/9169431976127Scope and ContentsUltimately included in Cuentos de buena tinta.
"Las nubes azules en los ojos de la abeja reina"/repositories/2/archival_objects/916944undated128"La piel de Paul"/repositories/2/archival_objects/9169451975129Scope and Contentswith original publication of the piece in En Rojo
"La última plena que bailó Luberza"/repositories/2/archival_objects/916946undated130"Loca de la locura" with original publication; also published in English and translated by Amy Prince/repositories/2/archival_objects/9169471980131"Noches de asma"/repositories/2/archival_objects/916948undated132Novelabingo/repositories/2/archival_objects/9169491975133Novelabingo/repositories/2/archival_objects/916950undated134First and second version of "Melancholia oceana," with a handwritten note by Juan Gelpí/repositories/2/archival_objects/916951undated135Short story collection, Orgasmos prohibidos/repositories/2/archival_objects/916952undated21"Peregrinación por un eclipse"/repositories/2/archival_objects/916953undated22"Regreso al mar de las sirenas..."/repositories/2/archival_objects/916954undated23Short story collection Ritos cancelados/repositories/2/archival_objects/916955undated24"Romance de Clara Gardenia Otero"/repositories/2/archival_objects/916956undated25"Sacrificio en Venezia" with original publication from Sin Nombre/repositories/2/archival_objects/916957197226Tales From an Urban Landscape/repositories/2/archival_objects/916958197627-8"Tren que no pasa por la vía" with different title: "Miércoles de cenizas"/repositories/2/archival_objects/916959undated29"Vida ejemplar del esclavo y el señor" and photocopies of original publication/repositories/2/archival_objects/916960undated210"Viernes santo"/repositories/2/archival_objects/916961undated211"Western Union" with original publication from Tlaloc/repositories/2/archival_objects/9169621975212Untitled poem/repositories/2/archival_objects/916963undated213Various short stories/repositories/2/archival_objects/916964undated214Scope and Contents"Christian 67," "El carnaval de la despedida melancólica," "El secreto," "El hombre que se fue..." and others.
Various short stories, including "Cuento de la mujer del mar," "El tren que no pasa por la vía," and others/repositories/2/archival_objects/916965undated215Various poems, including "Las frutas luminosas" and "Los 8 poemas sicilianos"/repositories/2/archival_objects/9169661976216Various poems/repositories/2/archival_objects/916967undated217Various short stories/repositories/2/archival_objects/916968undated218Various writings/repositories/2/archival_objects/916969undated219Manuscripts of Otero's famous works, such as Página en blanco y staccato, "La Otra isla de Puerto Rico" and others/repositories/2/archival_objects/916970undated220Various handwritten drafts to short stories, poems and essays/repositories/2/archival_objects/916971undated221Various notes for short stories and poems/repositories/2/archival_objects/916972undated222Various poems/repositories/2/archival_objects/916973undated223Book with pictures, drawings, and writings, with another unidentified person's writing/repositories/2/archival_objects/9169741977224Scope and ContentsIncludes quite a bit on "El Cuento de la mujer del mar"
Writings given to Asela Rodríguez de Laguna by Otero/repositories/2/archival_objects/916975undated225Scope and ContentsIncluding one copy of El libro de la muerte.
Notebook containing Otero's draft of biography of Rosario Ferré (with newspaper clippings)/repositories/2/archival_objects/916976undated226Various short stories with edits/repositories/2/archival_objects/916977undated227Translation of Voyage of Discovery by Otero/repositories/2/archival_objects/9169781986, 1990228Subseries I.2: Página en blanco y staccato/repositories/2/archival_objects/9169791987, undatedUnedited poems, with many notes from Juan Gelpí; some of the poems were published in Página en blanco y staccato/repositories/2/archival_objects/916980undated31Poems published under different titles in Página en blanco y staccato, according to Vanessa Droz and Juan Gelpí; English translation of Pagina en blanco by Joe Chadwick/repositories/2/archival_objects/916981undated32Página en blanco y staccato manuscript/repositories/2/archival_objects/916982undated33Clippings about Página en blanco y staccato/repositories/2/archival_objects/916983198734Press release for Pagina en blanco y staccato and original invoices for Carmen Beatriz Ramos Otero/repositories/2/archival_objects/916984198735Ramos Otero, Manuel. Página en blanco y staccato. Madrid: Editorial Playor/repositories/2/archival_objects/933252198715Scope and ContentsInscribed by Otero to his sister, Amelia.
Subseries I.3: El libro de la muerte/repositories/2/archival_objects/9169851982-1985, undatedManuscripts of El libro de la muerte/repositories/2/archival_objects/916986undated36El libro de la muerte-change of title/repositories/2/archival_objects/916987undated37El libro de la muerte/repositories/2/archival_objects/9169883 foldersundated38-10Manuscripts of poems published in El libro de la muerte/repositories/2/archival_objects/916991undated311Manuscript of El libro de la muerte, with inscription from Otero to Asela Rodriguez de Laguna and Elpidio, and related letter/repositories/2/archival_objects/9169921982-1983312Clippings and pamphlets about El libro de la muerte/repositories/2/archival_objects/9169931985313"Fuegos fúnebres"/repositories/2/archival_objects/916994undated314-15"Fuegos fúnebres" with note from Juan Gelpí/repositories/2/archival_objects/916996undated316Ramos Otero, Manuel. El libro de la muerte. San Juan: Waterfront Press/repositories/2/archival_objects/933254198515Scope and ContentsInscribed to Otero's sister Amelia.
Subseries I.4: Invitación a polvo/repositories/2/archival_objects/9169971991-1994, undatedInvitación a polvo manuscript/repositories/2/archival_objects/916998undated317-18Ramos Otero, Manuel. Invitación al polvo. Madrid: Editorial Plaza Mayor/repositories/2/archival_objects/933251199115Correspondence with Otero's sister, Carmen Beatriz Ramos Otero, about Invitación a polvo/repositories/2/archival_objects/9170001991-1994319Articles and clippings about Invitación a polvo/repositories/2/archival_objects/9170011992-1993320Subseries I.5: Manuscripts and recordings by various authors/repositories/2/archival_objects/9170021978-1994, undated"Tres amores," with inscription by Jose Antonio Avila Hardoin/repositories/2/archival_objects/9170161968321Interview with the members of the photography group En Foco, including Adál (Adál Alberto Maldonado) and Geno Rodriguez/repositories/2/archival_objects/14014191 open reel audiotapes1974 May 21217Interview with the members of the photography group En Foco, including Adál (Adál Alberto Maldonado) and Geno Rodriguez, 1974 May 2
Scope and ContentsThe Institute of Contemporary Hispanic Art invited 12 photographers to photograph in New York and in Puerto Rico for an exhibit called "Dos Mundos" (Two Worlds of the Puerto Rican). The show focused on Puerto Rican life on the island and in the barrios of New York. It opened at the New York Cultural Center, and then traveled to Washington, D.C., Los Angeles, and San Juan, P.R.
Scope and ContentsThe recording starts with an interview with Adál Maldonado, one of the photographers whose work was included in the group show. He discusses documentary vs. art photography; Jorge Luis Borges as an inspiration; "espiritismo" as Puerto Rican surrealism; discussion of the theme of the "Dos Mundos" ("Two Worlds") exhibition.
Scope and ContentsAnother photographer (not identified) and the show's organizer (possibly, Geno Rodriguez) are interviewed about their creative process, composition, personal identity, the Americanization of the island, the state of the arts in Puerto Rico, and the (controversial) arrangements for the show's exhibition in Puerto Rico.
Scope and ContentsThe interviewer initially speaks mostly in Spanish with some English but switches to English; the subject's answers are mostly in English with some Spanish.
Interview with Argentinian novelist Manuel Puig/repositories/2/archival_objects/14014202 open reel audiotapescirca 19741218-19Interview with Argentinian novelist Manuel Puig, circa 1974
Scope and ContentsPart 1: Beginning of interview. Writing movies in the form of novels; three novels with cinematography; The Buenos Aires Affair, a detective novel; popular literary genres; first chapter was the hardest to write (he wrote up to 5 versions); female characters; novels vs. short story; insomnia in chapter 11; why write; Hollywood.
Scope and ContentsPart 2: The novel vs. journalism; novel writing for a wider audience, a more popular genre; Julio Cortazar; sexual repression is a tool of capitalism; language usage ("cursileria"); class distinction in the Americas; "Boquitas Pintadas"; cinema and moviemaking; book covers; life in New York; life in Puerto Rico; women's movement in Argentina; sexual liberation; Max Stirner; Wilhelm Reich. End of interview.
Physical Characteristics and Technical RequirementsPart 2 is on item 17; part 1 is on item 18.
"Puerto Ricans in the US: The Adopted Citizen" by Nicholasa Mohr, with various articles about her/repositories/2/archival_objects/9170041978322Poetry from Micheal Redmond to Otero/repositories/2/archival_objects/9170071983323Scope and ContentsMailed to Otero.
"Historia y ficcion; mito y utopia en el mundo caribeño" by Egardo Rodriguez Julia and "Para narrar el tiempo escondido: Historia y ficcion en la narrativa puertorriquena contempoanea" by Magalí García Ramis/repositories/2/archival_objects/9170141987324Scope and ContentsBoth included in an anthology.
Arcadio Díaz-Quiñones lecture at Lehman College/repositories/2/archival_objects/9846661 videocassettes (VHS)1988 April 21VHS tape labeled "Rodríguez Juliá." This is not a lecture by or about Rodriguez Julia, although Otero notes that Rodriguez Julia will be the guest speaker at the following week's lecture.1210Arcadio Díaz-Quiñones lecture at Lehman College, 1988 April 21
Scope and ContentsLecture series of the Department of Puerto Rican Studies at Lehman College. Guest lecturer: Arcadio Díaz-Quiñones, speaking on the national discourse in the Hispanic Caribbean, Antonio Pedreira, and Ramiro Guerra Sánchez.
Author interviews by Otero for unpublished anthology/repositories/2/archival_objects/9846675 audiocassettes1988 June125-9Author interviews by Otero for unpublished anthology, 1988 June
Scope and ContentsInterviews of Magali García Ramis, Ana Lydia Vega, Olga Nolla, and Edgardo Sanabria Santaliz.
Various poems not written by Otero/repositories/2/archival_objects/9170131994325Sleeping Beauty by Rosario Ferré/repositories/2/archival_objects/917006undated326"Cloud Cover Caribbean" by Ana Lydia Vega/repositories/2/archival_objects/917003undated327Essay about Otero written by Juan Gelpí/repositories/2/archival_objects/917010undated328Various writings about Otero, by Juan Gelpí/repositories/2/archival_objects/917012undated329"Tres nocturnos de Nueva York de Clara Lair," with note to Otero/repositories/2/archival_objects/917005undated330Poems dedicated to Otero/repositories/2/archival_objects/917011undated331Scope and ContentsWith illegible note by Juan Gelpí.
Poem, "El abanico de aspas," with an epigraph by Otero, also inscribed to Otero by author/repositories/2/archival_objects/917008undated332Various manuscripts to be included in an anthology/repositories/2/archival_objects/917015undated333-34Scope and ContentsThe Untelling; "The Examplary Life of the Slave and Master"; "Macaroons" by Olga Nolla; "The Gullible's Cookbook" by Carmen Lugo Filippi; "Milagros, Mercurio Street"; "Coconut Kisses" by Olga Nolla; and others. Also "Sanabria"; "The Glass Box" translated by Rosario Ferre with handwritten note by her to Otero; "Macaroons" by Olga Nolla.
Untitled anthology, incorporating Novelabingo (about halfway through)/repositories/2/archival_objects/917009undated335Poem by an unidentified author/repositories/2/archival_objects/917017undated41Poetry workshop/repositories/2/archival_objects/14014181 open reel audiotapesundated1216Poetry workshop, undated
Scope and ContentsPoets recite verses and receive feedback from the larger group. The discussion goes from specific uses of language to larger questions about the inspiration of poetry, the poet's inner voice and the use of poetry in society. Poetry readings are in English and Spanish; all discussion is in Spanish.
Subseries I.6: Publications and clippings/repositories/2/archival_objects/917018circa 1960-2002, undatedFolder belonging to Otero's mother, Carmen Ana Otero, of Otero's early publications/repositories/2/archival_objects/917042circa 196042Clippings about Concierto de metal para un recuerdo/repositories/2/archival_objects/9170241967-197243Original publication of "Después de Christian" in literary magazine, Revista del Cafe/repositories/2/archival_objects/9170361970 July44Pamphlets of Otero's essay, "Después de la explosión"/repositories/2/archival_objects/917039197245Penélope o el otro del mundo. Edited by L.Z. Barreto. 1:2/repositories/2/archival_objects/9846491972 November-1973 January16Scope and ContentsIncludes an article about Otero.
Articles about Otero and other Puerto Rican authors/repositories/2/archival_objects/917025197346"Le piel de paul" publication in newspapers/repositories/2/archival_objects/917035197547Ramos Otero, Manuel. La novelabingo. New York: El libro viaje/repositories/2/archival_objects/933253197615Scope and ContentsPublished in an edition of 1000. Three copies are included in this collection: one is inscribed to Otero's sister Amelia, and another is inscribed to Asela Rodríguez de Laguna.
Copies of "Tren que no pasa por la vía," published in Sin Nombre/repositories/2/archival_objects/917033197648Interviews of Otero/repositories/2/archival_objects/9170211976-1981, 199049Scope and Contents1976-1981 interviews published in En rojo.
Vortice: Literatura, arte y crítica. 2:2-3 . Department of Spanish and Portuguese, Stanford University. Alarcón, Francisco X., José Ballón Aguirre, Bernard Baycroft, et al., eds./repositories/2/archival_objects/9846551979 Spring16Articles and clippings with reviews of "El cuento de la mujer del mar"; and clipping of open letter written by Otero that was published the same year/repositories/2/archival_objects/9170261980-1982410Publications about Otero/repositories/2/archival_objects/9170271980-1983411Otero's poetry, published in Reintegro/repositories/2/archival_objects/9170281981412Zoraida Santiago "Tiene que ser la luna" LP record/repositories/2/archival_objects/98465919831211Scope and ContentsCommercially produced LP record. Includes a recording of a poem by Otero set to music.
Introduction to Adal photography exhibit by Otero/repositories/2/archival_objects/9170371983413Clippings/repositories/2/archival_objects/9170321983-1988, 1990, 1992414Scope and Contents"La fea Otero"; "Nobelezca de sangre"; Various clippings about or written by authors Otero knew personally: Magalí Ramis, Ana Maria Delgado, etc.; review of Novelabingo.
Articles about "Reunión de los espejos"/repositories/2/archival_objects/9170291984415Clippings about Otero/repositories/2/archival_objects/9170301985-1990416-17Book reviews and biographical information about Otero/repositories/2/archival_objects/9170191987, undated418-19Letters to publisher about Otero's translation fee/repositories/2/archival_objects/9170491988420Cupey. Edited by Olga Nolla. 5: 1-2./repositories/2/archival_objects/984638198816The Portable Lower East Side. Special issue, Latin Americans in NYC. Edited by Kurt Hollander. 5:1-2/repositories/2/archival_objects/984650198816The Portable Lower East Side. Edited by Kurt Hollander. 6: 1/repositories/2/archival_objects/984651198916Publishing contracts for "Cuentos de buena tinta" and "La novelabingo"/repositories/2/archival_objects/9170501990421Interview of Otero conducted by Manuel Puig, published in El Nuevo Dia/repositories/2/archival_objects/9170231990422Canto libre/repositories/2/archival_objects/9846717 audiocassettes1990 July 14-151212121-41213-14Canto libre, 1990 July 14-15
Scope and ContentsOtero is a guest on Andrés Jiménez's WPUC radio program Canto libre; Otero reads from his works. There seem to be about 4 distinct parts. The 7 audiocassettes (10 audio files) represent many dubs/edits of the content, and while there are near duplicates, there are no exact duplicates.
Clippings about Cuentos de buena tinta/repositories/2/archival_objects/9170311992423Dialogo, with direct reference to Otero on page 15/repositories/2/archival_objects/9170342002424Interview of Claudio Rodriguez, possibly conducted by Otero/repositories/2/archival_objects/917022undated425SIDAhora. Edited by Nilda Pimentel. No. 8/repositories/2/archival_objects/984653undated16Scope and ContentsIncludes work by Otero.
Written work by Otero and photographs from art exhibit by Rodríguez-Díaz/repositories/2/archival_objects/917038undated426Book covers/repositories/2/archival_objects/917041undated427Postcards of Puerto Rico and poster for poetry reading/repositories/2/archival_objects/917051undated428Custodial HistoryFound with Carmen Beatriz Ramos Otero's belongings.
Series II: Correspondence and Personal Materials/repositories/2/archival_objects/917052circa 1969-1990undatedScope and ContentsSeries II: Correspondence and personal materials primarily consists of letters and postcards from Otero's family, friends, and colleagues. It also contains official documentation such as government-issued identification cards, medical and financial records, and religious certificates. A few of Otero's personal belongings are located in this series as well. The series spans Otero's lifetime, 1948-1990.
The correspondence within this series dates from 1969-1990. Some of these letters include information about Otero's writing process and the difficulties of publishing his works. Much of the correspondence deals with the financial issues that Otero faced upon arriving to the United States, from 1969 through approximately 1978.
There is an extensive amount of letters written by Otero to his mother, Carmen Ana Otero, which date from 1969 to 1984. They discuss Otero's work and his relationship with John Anthes. There are also letters and postcards from John Anthes to Otero's mother. These letters--including the letters from Anthes to Carmen Ana Otero--were originally folded tightly and stored in a red treasure chest-shaped box. They were removed for preservation and ease of access. Many of the letters from Otero's adulthood document the financial remittances Otero sent to his family in Puerto Rico throughout the 1980s.
Subseries II.3 consists of Otero's personal collection of literary magazines, newspapers, and clippings. The subseries also contains two books annotated by Otero. These materials do not include any of Otero's works or articles about Otero.
Subseries II.1: Correspondence/repositories/2/archival_objects/9170531969-1990, undatedNotebooks/repositories/2/archival_objects/917054undated429Scope and Contentswith phone numbers, notes for short stories, to-do lists, etc.
Letters to Amelia Cortés and Carmen Beatriz Ramos Otero/repositories/2/archival_objects/9170551969-1983430Otero's letters to his mother, Carmen Ana Otero/repositories/2/archival_objects/9170561969431-32Otero's letters to his mother, Carmen Ana Otero/repositories/2/archival_objects/9170571970-1979, 1983-1984, 198651-7Letters from John Anthes to Otero's mother, Carmen Ana Otero/repositories/2/archival_objects/9170581970-197358Red metal treasure chest-shaped box/repositories/2/archival_objects/933256undated14Scope and ContentsPreviously used to store Otero's correspondence with his mother, Carmen Ana Otero. Those letters are now located in Box 4, Folders 31-32, and Box 5, Folders 1-8.
Letters to Otero's father, Jesús Ramos, and sister, Carmen Beatriz Ramos Otero/repositories/2/archival_objects/9170591975-197759Otero's letters to his parents/repositories/2/archival_objects/9170601975-1988510Letters to Amelia Cortés and Carmen Beatriz Ramos Otero/repositories/2/archival_objects/9170611973, 1981-1990511-12Scope and ContentsIncludes one letter from John Anthes to Carmen Beatriz Ramos Otero.
Postcards from friends and colleagues/repositories/2/archival_objects/9170681978-1990513Article on Otero by Asela Rodríguez de Laguna, with letters from Otero responding to de Laguna/repositories/2/archival_objects/9170401979-1980414Letters from Otero to colleagues about his works/repositories/2/archival_objects/9170641983, 1985515Letter from Otero to student/repositories/2/archival_objects/9170661988516Letters that Otero received in the last weeks of his life/repositories/2/archival_objects/9170711990517Note to Otero from "T. Pynchon"/repositories/2/archival_objects/917070undated518Letters and inscription from unidentified correspondents/repositories/2/archival_objects/917069undated519Subseries II.2: Official documentation and personal effects/repositories/2/archival_objects/9170721948-1990Birth certificates and demographic registry report/repositories/2/archival_objects/9170771948, 1984520Baptism certificate and First Communion scrapbook/repositories/2/archival_objects/9170781949, 1956521Military paperwork, father's death certificate, etc./repositories/2/archival_objects/9170741965-1977522Passports and identification/repositories/2/archival_objects/9170761966-1988523Letters regarding Otero's financial support/repositories/2/archival_objects/9170801977-1978524Angel Rodríguez-Díaz materials/repositories/2/archival_objects/9170461980, 1983, undated425Scope and ContentsUnidentified drawing, probably by Angel Rodriguez; notecard from Vanessa Droz explaining the contents of the box; a list of rules explaining Il Premio Noega, Angel Rodriguez Diaz's first drawing salon at the Institute of Puerto Rican Culture.
Carmen Ana Otero's eulogy, written by Otero/repositories/2/archival_objects/917084circa 1987526Obituary for Carmen Ana Otero, written by Carmen Beatriz Ramos Otero/repositories/2/archival_objects/9170651987527Personal notebook with doctor's phone numbers and appointments/repositories/2/archival_objects/917082circa 1990528Otero's last will and testament/repositories/2/archival_objects/9170851990529Otero's childhood medical records/repositories/2/archival_objects/917073circa 1970530Conditions Governing AccessRestricted until 2045
Doctor's letter for Otero's emergency room visit/repositories/2/archival_objects/9170751977531Conditions Governing AccessRestricted until 2057
Otero's prescriptions and physician's orders/repositories/2/archival_objects/9170811990532Conditions Governing AccessRestricted until 2065
Dental records and health memo asking for at-home care/repositories/2/archival_objects/9170831990533Conditions Governing AccessRestricted until 2065
Black leather bag containing Otero's wallet/repositories/2/archival_objects/933257undated14Leather portfolio belonging to Otero/repositories/2/archival_objects/933258undated14Unidentified film/repositories/2/archival_objects/9846571 film reelsundated1215Unidentified film/repositories/2/archival_objects/176694112Scope and ContentsIn extremely poor condition.
Recorded music/repositories/2/archival_objects/14014211 open reel audiotapesundated1220Subseries II.3: Printed material/repositories/2/archival_objects/9170871960-1990, undatedWhitman, Walt. Leaves of Grass. New York: Rinehart Editions/repositories/2/archival_objects/933249194815Scope and ContentsAnnotated by Otero.
Clippings from Otero's adolescence/repositories/2/archival_objects/9170891963-196761Poema del Cid. Metered version and prologue by Francisco López Estrada. Madrid: Editorial Castalia/repositories/2/archival_objects/933250197415Scope and ContentsAnnotated by Otero.
Guajana. Edited by Vicente Rodríguez Nietzsche, José Manuel Torres Santiago, and Andrés Castro Ríos, No. 1/repositories/2/archival_objects/984643197416El cuento: revista de imaginación. Edited by Edmundo Valades. 11:69/repositories/2/archival_objects/9846361975 April-June16Palestra. Edited by Angel Luis Torres. No 2-3/repositories/2/archival_objects/9846481975 April-December16El cuento: revista de imaginación. Edited by Edmundo Valades. 11:71/repositories/2/archival_objects/9846371976 January-March16Clippings about Puerto Rican cinema/repositories/2/archival_objects/917090197862News clippings and literary magazines/repositories/2/archival_objects/9170911979-198763Droz, Vanessa. La cicatriz a medias. Río Piedras: Impresos Metropolitanos/repositories/2/archival_objects/984599198216Reintegro newspapers/repositories/2/archival_objects/917092198364Asomante. Edited by Palmira Cabrera de Ibarra. 31:1-2/repositories/2/archival_objects/984631198316Vega, José Luis. Reunión de espejos. Harrisonburg: Editorial Cultural/repositories/2/archival_objects/984629198316Otero Joy, Sarah C (Saci). Vivía la alondra en silencio. Santo Domingo: Editora Taller, C/repositories/2/archival_objects/984626198415Ramírez Córdova, Antonio. Si la violeta cayese de tus manos. San Juan: Ediciones Mairena/repositories/2/archival_objects/984627198416Sanabria Santaliz, Edgardo. El día que el hombre pisó la luna. Río Piedras: Editorial Antillana/repositories/2/archival_objects/984628198415Asomante. Edited by Palmira Cabrera de Ibarra. 33:1-2/repositories/2/archival_objects/984632198516Burgos, Fernando. La novela moderna hispanoamericana. Madrid: Discurso Rigenes/repositories/2/archival_objects/984595198515Booklets of poetry and art exhibits/repositories/2/archival_objects/917099circa 198565La claridad newspapers/repositories/2/archival_objects/9170951985-198766En Rojo newspapers/repositories/2/archival_objects/9170961985-198767Various newspapers about literary figures from Puerto Rico/repositories/2/archival_objects/9170931985-199068-9Photocopied book with underlines, Tiburón/repositories/2/archival_objects/9170441986610Custodial HistorySent to Otero in 1986
Asomante. Edited by Palmira Cabrera de Ibarra. 34:1/repositories/2/archival_objects/984633198616de Burgos, Julia. Yo misma fui mi ruta. Río Piedras: Ediciones Huracán/repositories/2/archival_objects/984597198616Literary magazine, Between C & D/repositories/2/archival_objects/9171021986-1987 Fall-Winter611Custodial HistoryFound with Carmen Beatriz Ramos Otero's belongings.
En una sola torre. Santo Domingo: Talleres de Editora Corripio, C./repositories/2/archival_objects/984600198715Coll, Edna. Instantes en el tiempo: Mis memorias. Hato Rey: Esmaco Printers Corp./repositories/2/archival_objects/984598198815Annotated photocopy of Susan Sontag, "AIDS and Its Metaphors"/repositories/2/archival_objects/9170451988612Dialogo newspapers/repositories/2/archival_objects/9170971988-1990613Balcón. Edited by Antonio Zaya. No. 3/repositories/2/archival_objects/984634198916Newsletter from the PEN Club, Puerto Rico/repositories/2/archival_objects/9170981989614Centro de estudios puertorriqueños. Edited by Blanca Vázquez. 2:6/repositories/2/archival_objects/9846351989 Summer16Bamboo Ridge: The Hawaii Writers' Quarterly. Edited by Eric Chock and Darrell H.Y. Lum. 41/repositories/2/archival_objects/9845941989 Winter15Cupey. Edited by Olga Nolla. 7: 1-2/repositories/2/archival_objects/984639199016Mairena. Edited by Manuel de la Puebla. No. 30/repositories/2/archival_objects/984644199016Press release for Manny Suarez's nonfiction book, "Requiem on Cerro Maravilla"/repositories/2/archival_objects/917101undated615Custodial HistoryFound with Carmen Beatriz Ramos Otero's belongings.
Prayer booklets, prayer cards/repositories/2/archival_objects/917100undated616Series III: Photographs/repositories/2/archival_objects/9171041925-1990Scope and ContentsSeries III: Photographs consists of loose photographs that range in dates from Otero's infancy to his death. There are some photographs of Otero's family members circa 1920, which are located at the beginning of the series. The series also includes photographs of Otero with his two long-term romantic partners, the graphic designer John Anthes and the Puerto Rican painter Angel Rodríguez-Díaz.
Photographs of Otero's family/repositories/2/archival_objects/9171071925-circa 1980s617-18Photographs of Otero as a child/repositories/2/archival_objects/9171091948-1960619Photographs of Manuel Ramos Otero and Carmen Beatriz Ramos Otero at first communion/repositories/2/archival_objects/9171101956620Various photographs from adulthood/repositories/2/archival_objects/9171141968-1990621-22Photographs of Otero and John Anthes/repositories/2/archival_objects/917112circa 1970s623Photographs of Otero in New York City/repositories/2/archival_objects/9171151971-197971Slides and photographs of Otero on vacation with Angelo Cerro/repositories/2/archival_objects/917113197872Oversized photographs of Carmen Beatriz Ramos Otero and Carmen Ana Otero/repositories/2/archival_objects/917108circa 1980131Oversized photographs of Otero/repositories/2/archival_objects/917117circa 1984132Various photographs, mostly of celebrities/repositories/2/archival_objects/917116undated73Series IV: Academic Work/repositories/2/archival_objects/9171181964-1990undatedScope and ContentsSeries IV: Academic Work contains material related to Manuel Ramos Otero's coursework, teaching and scholarship, dating from 1964-1990.
The coursework in this series consists primarily of syllabi, annotated essays and notes from Otero's time as a graduate student in the Spanish departments at New York University and the City University of New York. The series also contains a small amount of coursework from Otero's time studying sociology and political science as an undergraduate at the University of Puerto Rico (UPR), Río Piedras.
The majority of Subseries IV.2: Teaching and Scholarship comprises photocopied essays that Otero utilized while teaching at Rutgers University, LaGuardia Community College, Lehman College, Hunter College and York College. Within this subseries, there are also syllabi, exams that Otero administered, and lectures.
Subseries IV.1: Coursework/repositories/2/archival_objects/9171191964-1990, undatedCoursework from Otero's youth/repositories/2/archival_objects/917297circa 1950s-1960s74University of Puerto Rico coursework and diplomas/repositories/2/archival_objects/9172981964-197075Pin with prize ribbon/repositories/2/archival_objects/933259196514Scope and ContentsInside a bag labeled "Primer Premio Círculo Cultural Hispanico, UPR 1965. Cuento: 'Lecho para angeles'"
New York University graduate student information and schedules/repositories/2/archival_objects/9172991977, 197976Final essays from courses/repositories/2/archival_objects/9171261970-1989, undated77-13Notebook with notes for "Revolución en la Literatura" course/repositories/2/archival_objects/9171731973714Annotated photocopies of Ricardo Piglia's work/repositories/2/archival_objects/9171801973, 1980715-16Notes and poems from Portuguese class/repositories/2/archival_objects/9171571976717Syllabus for "Poeta en Nueva York"/repositories/2/archival_objects/9171311977718Reading list for class taught by Dionisio Canas/repositories/2/archival_objects/9171711984719Syllabus and notes for class, "Trends in Hispanic Literary Theory"/repositories/2/archival_objects/9171341985720Syllabus from Borges class/repositories/2/archival_objects/9171361985721Transcripts from City University of New York graduate school and university ID cards/repositories/2/archival_objects/9171741985-1987, undated722Syllabus and notes from class on Methods of Research/repositories/2/archival_objects/9171351986723Notes on "La celestina" and J. C. Andrade/repositories/2/archival_objects/917161198681Notes for class on "Poesia Baroca" and another unidentified course/repositories/2/archival_objects/917156198682Notes for class on Luis Cernuda/repositories/2/archival_objects/917167198683Notes for graduate seminar on Spanish American poetry taught by Enrique Pezzoni/repositories/2/archival_objects/917172198784Syllabus and readings for course, "Spanish American Literature of the Colony: Manierismo, barroco, y neoclasicismo en la poesía colonial"/repositories/2/archival_objects/917132198785Syllabus and notes for class, "El postmodernismo"/repositories/2/archival_objects/917133198786-7Notes and final essay exam for class "El ensayo contemporaneo"/repositories/2/archival_objects/917159198788Syllabi and photocopies of readings from graduate courses/repositories/2/archival_objects/917175198789Annotated photocopies of various articles about Jamie Gil de Biedma/repositories/2/archival_objects/917141circa 1988810CUNY PhD Program in Spanish course descriptions and readings/repositories/2/archival_objects/9171941988811"El verbo buscando la persona: el monólogo dramático de Jaime Gil de Biedma"/repositories/2/archival_objects/9171281988812Scope and Contentswritten for course on "Postmodernidad"
"Aproximaciones a la "Respuesta de la poetisa a la muy ilustre Sor Filotea de la Cruz"/repositories/2/archival_objects/9171291988813Scope and Contentswritten for class "Barroco colonial"
"El viaje a través del espejo en dos poemas de Julia de Burgos," essay by Otero/repositories/2/archival_objects/9171301989814Scope and Contentswritten for seminar on Latin American poetry, "Seminario sobre posía latinoamericana"
Oral exam proposal/repositories/2/archival_objects/9171701990815"Towards a Caribbean Consciousness: Notes on Contemporary Literatures from the Hispanic Caribbean" essay/repositories/2/archival_objects/917127undated816Coursework on Julio Cortázar, and "Film and the Supernatural" class syllabus/repositories/2/archival_objects/917124undated817Coursework on poetry and philosophy/repositories/2/archival_objects/917125undated818Annotated photocopies of works by contemporary Latin American writers/repositories/2/archival_objects/917145undated819Scope and ContentsFolder with clipping about Julia de Burgos; and annotated photocopies of Rubén Darío's "Obras completas", Jose Martí's "En los Estados Unidos," and other essays.
Annotated photocopies of various essays by other authors/repositories/2/archival_objects/917138undated820Annotated photocopies of essays and poetry by other authors/repositories/2/archival_objects/917149undated821Annotated photocopies of essays for class on Structural Analysis/repositories/2/archival_objects/917151undated822Annotated photocopies of "El conflicto Barroco" by Pilar Gomez Bedate and "The Beautiful Soul of Don Damian" by Juan Bosch/repositories/2/archival_objects/917144undated823Annotated photocopy of Antonio García Berrio's essay, "Critica formal y función critica"/repositories/2/archival_objects/917143undated824Annotated photocopy of Marcelino de Cisnero's "El significado del pensamiento filosofico"/repositories/2/archival_objects/917139undated825Unannotated photocopy of Ramón Ferreira's book of poems, "Los malos olores de este mundo"/repositories/2/archival_objects/917148undated826Unannotated photocopy about Michelangelo/repositories/2/archival_objects/917147undated827Annotated photocopy of René Marqués' essay, "En la popa hay un cuerpo reclinado"/repositories/2/archival_objects/917142undated828Annotated photocopy of Piglia, Cernuda, and Bolívar/repositories/2/archival_objects/917150undated829Annotated photocopy of Plato's Symposium/repositories/2/archival_objects/917137undated830Scope and Contents"Simposio (Banquete) o de la erótica" and unannotated photocopy of Plato's Republic
Unannoted photocopies of poetry by Cesar Vallejo, Pablo Neruda, Ruben Dario, and others/repositories/2/archival_objects/917146undated831Annotated photocopy of Hayden White's "Metahistory"/repositories/2/archival_objects/917140undated832Notes and essays for class on Don Quijote/repositories/2/archival_objects/917165undated91Notes for class, "Historia de la lengua"/repositories/2/archival_objects/917158undated92Notes for Latin class/repositories/2/archival_objects/917162undated93Notes and annotated bibliography for class on Literary Theory/repositories/2/archival_objects/917154undated94Notes for Literatura Hispanica/repositories/2/archival_objects/917155undated95Scope and ContentsWith CUNY PhD Program in Spanish Faculty-Student Handbook.
Notebook with notes on various novels/repositories/2/archival_objects/917164undated96Study notecards for exams/repositories/2/archival_objects/917152undated97Annotated photocopies of articles for course on literary theory/repositories/2/archival_objects/917176undated98Unannotated photocopy of "Escalio" by C. Soto Vélez/repositories/2/archival_objects/917177undated99Spiral notebook with notes for a Portuguese class; various poems in Portuguese/repositories/2/archival_objects/917178undated910Annotated photocopy of "All that is Solid Melts Into Air," a book by Marshall Berman/repositories/2/archival_objects/917179undated911Subseries IV.2: Teaching and scholarship/repositories/2/archival_objects/9171811982-1990, undatedLiterary magazines and booklets/repositories/2/archival_objects/9172131963-1987912-13Student essays with grades/repositories/2/archival_objects/9171871982914Conditions Governing AccessRestricted until 2054
Clipping of article with photograph of Otero giving a reading/repositories/2/archival_objects/9172201982915Packet on Puerto Rican Studies at CUNY/repositories/2/archival_objects/9171951982-1983916Newsletters from John Jay College and Lehman College, with pieces about Otero/repositories/2/archival_objects/9172181982, 1987917Letter from Otero to Asela Rodriguez/repositories/2/archival_objects/9172161983918Scope and ContentsRegarding the Images and Identities Conference: telling her not to publish his work, and that the conference was a disaster.
Exam for "Literature of the Caribbean," taught at La Guardia Community College/repositories/2/archival_objects/9171891985919Memo advertising Otero's classes/repositories/2/archival_objects/9172081985920Student literary journal, "Voces de América"/repositories/2/archival_objects/9172111985921Syllabi for "Literatura Puertorriquena II" and " Urban Study: The Puerto Rican Community"/repositories/2/archival_objects/9172151986-1989922Custodial HistoryFound with Carmen Beatriz Ramos Otero's belongings.
Flyers for readings conducted while a writer in residence/repositories/2/archival_objects/9172171986-1990923Scope and ContentsReading that Otero did/moderated at Columbia University; newspaper article about Otero as a writer in residence; and a list of things Otero had to do while he was a writer in residence at Columbia, CUNY, Rutgers, Fordham, and Texas Union.
Letters from department chairs welcoming Otero to Lehman College faculty/repositories/2/archival_objects/9171841987924Letters regarding a task force for changing Lehman College curriculum/repositories/2/archival_objects/9172091987925Lehman College Department of Puerto Rican Studies/repositories/2/archival_objects/9171861987-1989926"Notas al Calce" Hispanic literature talk show proposal/repositories/2/archival_objects/9171831988927Flyers for a talk by Juan Gelpí at Lehman College/repositories/2/archival_objects/9172221988928Information and application for CUNY's research award/repositories/2/archival_objects/9172031988-1990929Biographical / HistoricalOtero won in 1990.
Lehman College Puerto Rican faculty initiative/repositories/2/archival_objects/9171851988-1990930Staff listing for Lehman College/repositories/2/archival_objects/9171981989931Notes and syllabus for Otero's class, "Literatura Puertorriqueña"/repositories/2/archival_objects/9171601989932Program for the Hispanic Literatures Conference, held at the Holiday Inn of Indiana/repositories/2/archival_objects/9172191989101Scope and ContentsOtero did not participate in the conference, but it appears that he attended it.
Conference talks/repositories/2/archival_objects/9172211989, undated102Syllabi and essays from course taught at Lehman College, "Literature of the Caribbean"/repositories/2/archival_objects/9171881990103Scope and ContentsAnnotated photocopies of readings, along with an exam and associated materials that was administered to the class. Readings include Garcia Marquez's "The Solitude of Latin," in both English and Spanish; "Timehri" by Edward Brathwaite; "Our America" by Jose Marti, "Three Men by the River" by Rene Marquez, "The Caribbean as a Socio-Cultural Area," by Sidney Mintz (unannotated), and "Journeys" by Edward Brathwaite.
Annotated photocopies for a course taught at Lehman College/repositories/2/archival_objects/9171901990104Scope and ContentsReadings primarily about female authors from Puerto Rico.
Candidate curriculum vitae, referral, and feedback from interview for Lehman College presidential search/repositories/2/archival_objects/9172021990105Conditions Governing AccessRestricted until 2062
Biographical / HistoricalOtero was a faculty representative on the presidential search committee.
Handwritten notepad of Otero's notes for presidential search at Lehman College/repositories/2/archival_objects/9172041990106Conditions Governing AccessRestricted until 2062
Lehman College student protest flyers/repositories/2/archival_objects/9171991990107Manuscripts of poetry and other writing from Otero's students/repositories/2/archival_objects/917182undated108Custodial HistoryFrom La Guardia Community College
Exams for Otero's class, "Pintura y teatro"/repositories/2/archival_objects/917193undated109Puerto Rican Studies Institute mailing list/repositories/2/archival_objects/917197undated1010Otero's curriculum vitae and resumes/repositories/2/archival_objects/917207undated1011Underlined essay photocopy: "Birth of a Nation: Puerto Rico in the Nineteenth Century" by Adalberto López/repositories/2/archival_objects/917201undated1012Unannotated photocopies about women writers from Puerto Rico and critical criminology/repositories/2/archival_objects/917192undated1013Scope and Contentswith a note from Olga [Nolla?].
Essays and poetry by other academics/repositories/2/archival_objects/917214undated1014Scope and ContentsWith notes from Gelpí that translate to, "This work was between Manuel's papers but it's not by Manuel" and "material from other people in the academic world."
Series V: Theatre and Performances/repositories/2/archival_objects/9172231975-1982, undatedScope and ContentsSeries VI: Theatre and Performances contains manuscripts, flyers, and posters related to Manuel Ramos Otero's theatrical works from 1978-1990. The series consists primarily of material related to Otero's experimental performance, Fuegos fúnebres, which comprises subseries V.1. Subseries V.2: Poetry Readings and Other Performances, mostly contains articles and flyers relating to Aspasguanza, the New York-based theatrical workshop that Otero founded in September 1971.
Subseries V.1: Fuegos fúnebres/repositories/2/archival_objects/917224Scope and ContentsFuegos fúnebres was adapted from the first section of Otero's book of poetry, El libro de la muerte. Manuscripts for Fuegos fúnebres can be found in Series I.1. The material regarding Fuegos fúnebres in this series consists primarily of photographs and posters which directly reference the performance.
Published poem from "Fuegos funerales" in El Mundo newspaper and handwritten notes for performance/repositories/2/archival_objects/9172271978, undated1015Flyers for performance/repositories/2/archival_objects/91722519801016Photocopies of performance/repositories/2/archival_objects/917226undated1017Photographs from performance/repositories/2/archival_objects/917228undated1018Subseries V.2: Other theatrical performances and poetry readings/repositories/2/archival_objects/917229Scope and ContentsIn addition to articles and flyers relating to Aspasguanza, there are also various flyers and posters for poetry and book readings that Otero participated in. Many of these book readings are sponsored by the publishing group founded by Otero in 1975, El libro viaje. The subseries also includes various manuscripts and posters for less well-known performances which Otero either directed or wrote, such as La araña, Historia del barrio, and other untitled plays. Finally, there are a small number of audiovisual recordings of Otero and friends reading poetry.
Mixed Aspasguanza-related material/repositories/2/archival_objects/917231circa 19751019Scope and ContentsWith a note from Gelpí listing the collection's contents.
Aspasguanza reading/repositories/2/archival_objects/1766948Aspasguanza
Postcards from El libro viaje/repositories/2/archival_objects/91723319761020Manuscript of theatrical production called "La araña", with drawings by Otero/repositories/2/archival_objects/91723919771021Typed draft of "La araña"/repositories/2/archival_objects/91723819771022Puerto Rican Center for the Arts flyers/repositories/2/archival_objects/91723019791023Manuscript of "Yoruba"/repositories/2/archival_objects/91724319791024Various flyers for poetry readings and panels/repositories/2/archival_objects/9172341979-1982, undated1025Otero and friends reading poetry/repositories/2/archival_objects/9846691 audiocassettesundated1222Otero and friends reading poetry, undated
Scope and ContentsWith a note from Carmen Beatriz Ramos Otero: "Pasar el cassette a la cara #2 después de escuchar Poema número 29 y ponerlo desde el principio de #2." ("Turn the cassette to side # 2 after listening to 'Poem number 29 and play it from the beginning of # 2.")
Typed manuscript of "Historia del barrio"/repositories/2/archival_objects/917235undated1026Manuscript of "La muerte de la muñeca," with illegible notes by Gelpí/repositories/2/archival_objects/917236undated1027Manuscript of untitled play Otero performed with Vanessa Droz/repositories/2/archival_objects/917237undated1028Script of "The House of the Setting Suns"/repositories/2/archival_objects/917240undated1029Biographical / HistoricalTheatrical piece directed by Otero.
Untitled typed manuscripts of plays/repositories/2/archival_objects/917241undated1030-31Various plays written and/or directed by Otero/repositories/2/archival_objects/917242undated1032Scope and Contents"Porque me dijeron que las mariposas," "We're Gonna Sue You Johnny," a booklet on Teatro Cleopatra en Puerto Rico, and "Anfora de oro y melocotones de fuegos."
2 posters from Angel Rodriguez Diaz's exhibit, inscribed to Cambury and Amelia/repositories/2/archival_objects/91723219901033Las mañas, Hyde Park/repositories/2/archival_objects/9846741 audiocassettesundated1223Las mañas, Hyde Park, undated
Textos y Testimonios/repositories/2/archival_objects/1766949Textos y Testimonios
Series VI: Posthumous/repositories/2/archival_objects/9172441990-2007Scope and ContentsSeries VI: Posthumous contains material created after Manuel Ramos Otero's death in Puerto Rico on October 7, 1990. This includes obituaries, invitations to funeral services, funeral programs, homages and dedications for Otero. These materials date from 1990-1993. The series also includes materials related to posthumous publications of Otero's works and those by others in his literary circle, in anthologies and literary journals.
The Pergones Theatre company in the Bronx adapted Otero's short story, "El locura de la locura" into the play "El bolero fue mi ruina," which the company staged in 1999 and 2002. Subseries VI.2 has materials related to the royalties from this play, along with flyers, reviews, and articles about the play.
Subseries VI.3 contains correspondence belonging to Otero's sister, Carmen "Cambury" Beatriz Ramos Otero. These letters and memos primarily have to do with royalty fees from Otero's books that were published posthumously.
Subseries VI.4 contains works published by writers in Otero's circle after 1990. These appear to have been added to the collection by Carmen Beatriz Ramos Otero or another of the writers who had access to Otero's papers after his death.
Subseries VI.1: Funerals, Tributes, Homages, Obituaries and Dedications/repositories/2/archival_objects/917245Funeral program and poem/repositories/2/archival_objects/91724619901034Invitations to Otero's funeral/repositories/2/archival_objects/91725119901035List of close relatives to Otero/repositories/2/archival_objects/917252circa 19901036Scope and ContentsPresumably the people invited to his funeral; excerpt of poem.
Eulogy for Otero, author unknown/repositories/2/archival_objects/917259circa 19901037Obituaries and tributes/repositories/2/archival_objects/91725819901038-41Homages/homenajes published by Universidad de Puerto Rico Recinto de Rio Piedras/repositories/2/archival_objects/91724719901042En Rojo special issue about Otero, with clippings about Otero/repositories/2/archival_objects/9172621990-1991111Literary magazine, Revista Universidad de América/repositories/2/archival_objects/9172601991112Scope and ContentsHomage to Otero on page 102
Homages/homenajes sponsored by El Museo de Arte e Historica de San Juan/repositories/2/archival_objects/9172481991113Clippings and various articles paying tribute to Otero/repositories/2/archival_objects/9172551991-1998114-6Clippings and various articles discussing Otero/repositories/2/archival_objects/9172541991-1999117Invitation to a tribute for Puerto Rican authors, in which Otero was included/repositories/2/archival_objects/9172531992118Homages/homenajes/repositories/2/archival_objects/9172501993119Articles about work by Magali Garcia Ramis, particularly "La ciudad que me habita," which is dedicated to Otero/repositories/2/archival_objects/91726319931110"Gaiety Burlesque: Homosexual Desire in Puerto Rican Literature," essay by Rubén Ríos Avila/repositories/2/archival_objects/91727819931111Scope and ContentsManuscript mostly about Otero's El Libro de la muerte.
La torre. Edited by Arturo Echaverría. 7: 27-28/repositories/2/archival_objects/9846541993 July-December16Scope and ContentsIncludes an essay about Otero.
Proposal for a thesis about Otero written by Juan Carlos Quiñones/repositories/2/archival_objects/9172651993-19981112Revista de estudios hispánicos. Edited by Juan Gelpí. No. 21/repositories/2/archival_objects/984652199416Scope and ContentsIncludes an essay about Otero.
Clipping about Juan Gelpí's book, Literatura y paternalismo en Puerto Rico (which is partly dedicated to Otero), and others/repositories/2/archival_objects/91726419941113Scope and ContentsWith a clipping of a chapter from the anthology Latin American Writers on Gay and Lesbian Themes, which includes a short biography of Otero.
Clippings that quote Otero, and a poem dedicated to to him that was published in Grito cultural/repositories/2/archival_objects/9172691997-19991114Clippings and various articles paying tribute to Otero, from Guadalajara Book Festival/repositories/2/archival_objects/91725619981115Mairena. Edited by Manuel de la Puebla. No. 45-46/repositories/2/archival_objects/984646199816Scope and ContentsIncludes an essay about Otero.
Newspaper clippings highlighting Otero's work/repositories/2/archival_objects/91726119991116Program for Universidad de Puerto Rico en Carolina literature week dedicated to Otero/repositories/2/archival_objects/91726720081117Poster with poem dedicated to Otero/repositories/2/archival_objects/917266undated1118"Manuel Ramos Otero Entre Nosotros: Textos y testimonios"/repositories/2/archival_objects/9846721 videocassettes (VHS)circa 19901224"Manuel Ramos Otero Entre Nosotros: Textos y testimonios", circa 1990
Scope and Contents(Start-24:43): Otero reads from Libro de los muertos and Invitacion al polvo; (24:43-end): Memorial reading for Otero. Speakers include: Consuelo Arias, Arnaldo Cruz-Malavé, Giannina Braschi, Oscar Montero, Coqui Santaliz, Carmen Valle, Ed Vega, Alfredo Villanueva-Collado.
Subseries VI.2: Posthumous Publications and Performances/repositories/2/archival_objects/9172701991-2002, undatedPhotocopies of various anthologies with biographies of Otero or poetry by Otero/repositories/2/archival_objects/9172761991-19931119Scope and ContentsThese include Sida Ahora, The Portable Lower East Side, and High Risk; also a letter from Jorge
Cupey. Edited by Olga Nolla. 8:1-2/repositories/2/archival_objects/984640199116Scope and ContentsIncludes work by Otero.
Programs for and clippings about adapted plays, poetry readings and translations of Otero's works/repositories/2/archival_objects/9172801992-19971120Articles and clippings about works published after Otero's death/repositories/2/archival_objects/91727719931121Booklet of writers from Manatí, Puerto Rico; includes Otero's work/repositories/2/archival_objects/91704719931122Custodial HistoryProperty of Carmen Beatriz Ramos Otero.
Clipping and articles related to "El bolero fue mi ruina"/repositories/2/archival_objects/91727219971123Ramos Otero, Manuel. Tálamos y tumbas: prosa y verso de Manuel Ramos Otero. Guadalajara: Universidad de Guadalajara/repositories/2/archival_objects/933255199815Literary journal from Teatro Universidad de Puerto Rico/repositories/2/archival_objects/91727119991124Scope and ContentsInformation on "El bolero fue mi ruina" on page 15
Flyers and articles sent to Carmen Beatriz Ramos Otero related to "El bolero fue mi ruina"/repositories/2/archival_objects/91727319991125Scope and ContentsStaged by the Pergones Theatre in the Bronx in 1999
Flyers and articles related to "El bolero fue mi ruina"/repositories/2/archival_objects/91727419991126Scope and ContentsStaged at repertorio Español
Flyers and articles related to "El bolero fue mi ruina"/repositories/2/archival_objects/91727520021127Scope and ContentsStaged by the Pergones Theatre in the Bronx in 2002
Flyers from Instituto de Cultura Puertorriqueña, for Cuentos de buena tinta/repositories/2/archival_objects/917279undated1128Subseries VI.3: Carmen "Cambury" Beatriz Ramos Otero correspondence/repositories/2/archival_objects/9172821990-2002Letters to Cambury about Otero/repositories/2/archival_objects/9172871990-19971129Letters from Angel Rodriguez-Diaz/repositories/2/archival_objects/9172891991-19921130Correspondence regarding publications and adaptations of Otero's work, and tributes to Otero/repositories/2/archival_objects/9172861991-19981131Letter allowing a television program to reproduce recordings once owned by Carmen Beatriz Ramos Otero/repositories/2/archival_objects/91729020021132Subseries VI.4: Publications by Otero's literary circle/repositories/2/archival_objects/9846611990-2004"Novedades/New Titles" catalog from Editorial de la Universidad de Puerto Rico/repositories/2/archival_objects/91728119911133Scope and ContentsIncludes works by several writers in Otero's literary circle, though none by Otero himself.
Acevedo, Rafael. Instumentario. San Juan: Isla Negra Editores/repositories/2/archival_objects/984590199615Arrillaga, Maria. Mañana Valentina. Santiago: Cuarto Propio/ Instituto de Cultura Puertorriqueña /repositories/2/archival_objects/984593199515Burgos, Fernando and Esteban Echeverría. El matadero, ensayos estéticos y prosa varia. Hanover: Ediciones del norte /repositories/2/archival_objects/984596199215Nómada. Edited by Fernando Abruña Charneco, Juan Duchesne, Juan G. Gelpí, et al. Nos. 2, 3, and 4/repositories/2/archival_objects/9846473 Volumes1995 October, 1997 June, 1999 May15Las tribulaciones de Juliá. Edited by Juan Duchesne Winter. San Juan: Insisto de Cultura Puertorriqueña/repositories/2/archival_objects/984609199215New Voices in Latin American Literature/ nuevas voces en la literatura latinoamericana. Edited by Miguel Falquez-Certain. Jackson Heights: OLLANTAY Center for the Arts/repositories/2/archival_objects/984612199315antos Febres, Mayra. Anamu y manigua. Río Piedras: Editorial la Iguana Dorada/repositories/2/archival_objects/984619199115Filippi, Carmen Lugo. Narromaniando con Mirta o No me platiques más. San Juan: Isla Negra Editores /repositories/2/archival_objects/984601199915García Ramis, Magali. La ciudad que me habita. Río Piedras: Ediciones huracán/repositories/2/archival_objects/984602199316Gelpí, Juan. Literatura y paternalismo en Puerto Rico. San Juan: Editorial de la Universidad de Puerto Rico/repositories/2/archival_objects/984603199316González, José Raúl. Barrunto. San Juan: Isla Negra editores/repositories/2/archival_objects/984604200015Hernández, Daniel del Valle. Fragmentos del otro lado del paraíso. Aguadilla: Editorial La Pica/repositories/2/archival_objects/984605199216Itinerario para emboscar: Laberintos. Aguadilla: Editorial la Pica/repositories/2/archival_objects/984606199115Scope and ContentsIncludes a "pretext to Manuel" (a published conversation the author begins with Otero).
Low Rent: A Decade of Prose and Photographs from The Portable Lower East Side. New York: Grove Press/repositories/2/archival_objects/984610199415Marqués, René. Purificación en la calle del Cristo and Los soles truncos. Río Piedras: Editorial Cultural/repositories/2/archival_objects/984611199316Puerto Rican Jam: Essays on Culture and Politics. Edited by Frances Negrón-Muntaner and Ramón Grosfoguel. Minneapolis: University of Minnesota Press/repositories/2/archival_objects/984616199715Cupey. Edited by Olga Nolla. 10:1-2/repositories/2/archival_objects/984641199316Cupey. Edited by Olga Nolla. 11:1-2/repositories/2/archival_objects/984642199416Noya, Elsa. Leer la patria: Estudios y reflexiones sobre escrituras puertorriqueñas. Córdoba: Alción Editora/repositories/2/archival_objects/984613200415Antología de autores manatieños. Edited by Milagros Agosto Otero and Pedro Juan Ávila. Manatí: Talleres de imprenta San Rafael /repositories/2/archival_objects/984591199315Palés Matos, Luis. Tuntún de pasa y grifería. San Juan: Editorial de la Universidad de Puerto Rico/repositories/2/archival_objects/984614199316L@s nuev@s caníbales: Antología de la más reciente poesía del caribe hispano. Edited by Alex Pausides, Pedro Antonio Valdez and Carlos R. Gomez Beras. Santo Domingo: Isla negra editores/repositories/2/archival_objects/984608200315Mairena. Edited by Manuel de la Puebla. No. 41/repositories/2/archival_objects/984645199616Arpas en vuelo: Veinte poetas puertorriqueños del siglo XX. Edited by Manuel de la Puebla. San Juan: Ediciones Mairena /repositories/2/archival_objects/984592199915Poesída. Edited by Carlos A. Rodríguez. Jackson Heights: OLLANTAY Center for the Arts/repositories/2/archival_objects/984615199515La nación con rostro: Antología de escritores. Edited by Jorge Rodríguez. San Juan: Gráfica Metropolitana/repositories/2/archival_objects/984607199216Rodríguez Orellana, Víctor. Tigonetos migomances estécimeas y demás… Cuadernos Este-Oeste/repositories/2/archival_objects/984617200015Santaliz, Coqui. El nacimiento de Laranih. San Juan: Instituto de Cultura Puertorriqueña/repositories/2/archival_objects/984618199115Torres, Luis Llorens. Ante el paisaje. San Juan: Palmira Cabrera de Ibarra/repositories/2/archival_objects/984620199015Vázquez Medina, Angel L. Nacimiento Crecimiento y Maduración de un Pueblo (Manatí de 1611 a 1899). Río Piedras: Ediciones Diskrea/repositories/2/archival_objects/984621199315Vega, Ana Lydia. Falsas crónicas del sur. Río Piedras: Editorial de la Universidad de Puerto Rico/repositories/2/archival_objects/984622199116Vega, Ana Lydia. Esperando a Lolo. San Juan: Editorial de la Universidad de Puerto Rico/repositories/2/archival_objects/984623199416Vega, José Luis. Techo a dos aguas. Río Piedras: Editorial Plaza Mayor/repositories/2/archival_objects/984624199815