Alegria, Ricardo E..
Discovery, Conquest and Colonization of Puerto Rico 1493-1599
. San Juan, Puerto Rico: Coleccion de Estudios Puertorriquenos,1974. A scholarly work on early Puerto Rican history by an illustrious author.
———. History of the Indians of Puerto Rico
. (Also available in Spanish). San Juan, Puerto Rico: Coleccion de Estudios Puertorriquenos,1970. A must for the teacher/ student who is not familiar with the “Tainos” of Puerto Rico.
Babin, Maria Teresa.
The Puerto Ricans’ Spirit: Their History, Life and Culture
, N.Y., N.Y.: Collier Books, 1971. A critique of Puerto Rican culture by a noted scholar, whose works also include Puerto Rican folktales and literature.
Brau, Salvador.
Historia de Puerto Rico
. Rio Piedras, Puerto Rico: Editorial Edil, 1973 Considered a classic on the early history of Puerto Rico. Covers the discovery of Puerto Rico in 1493 to 1900.
Carrion, Arturo Morales, Ed.
Puerto Rico, A Political and Cultural History
. New York, N.Y.: W.W. Norton & Co., 1973. A good introduction to the cultural history of the island, defines what a “jibaro” is and includes information about the diaspora.
Cordasco, Francisco.
The Puerto Ricans, 1493-1973: A Chronology and Fact Book
. Dobbs Ferry, N.Y.: Oceana, 1973. Important dates and events in the history of Puerto Rico, with a dual focus on island and mainland events.
Farr, Kenneth R.
Historical Dictionary of Puerto Rico and the U. S. Virgin Islands
. Metuchen, N.J.: Scarecrow Press, 1973. Serves as a good introductory reference for teachers.
Fernandez, Ronald.
The Disenchanted Island
. N.Y., N.Y.: Praeger Publishing Co., 1992. A socio-political analysis of island politics from a noted Connecticut professor.
Fernandez-Shaw, Carlos. The Hispanic Presence in North Arnerica from 1492 To Today. N.Y., N.Y.: Facts on File, Inc., 1987. In contrast to materials highlighting Puerto Rico, this book examines the Hispanic presence in the United States, state by state, with an emphasis on regions of significa. It numbers, such as Florida, Louisiana, Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, Colorado, and California.
Lewis, Gordon K.
Puerto Rico: Freedom and Power in the Caribbean
. New York: Monthly Review Press, 1975. Required reading for those teachers seeking an overview on Puerto Rican history.
Menhart, Deborah and Catherine A.
Sunshine. Caribbean Connections
. Puerto Rico. (Readings in Spanish and English). Ecumenical Programs on Central America and the Caribbean (EPICA), Washington, D.C., 1972. Excellent materials include bilingual excerpts of authentic literature as well as lesson plans and map activities.
Perez-Selles, Maria E. and Nancy Carmen Barra-Zuman.
Building Bridges of Learning and Understanding: A Collection of Classroom Activities on Puerto Rican Culture
. Andover, Mass.: The Regional Laboratory for Educational Improvement of the Northeast and Islands and New England Center for Equity Assistance (NECEA), 1990. An excellent teacher resource for teachers unfamiliar with the Puerto Rican culture, this book is prepared for k-8 but may be adapted for high school level.
Pico, Rafael.
The Geography of Puerto Rico
. Chicago: Aldine, 1974. A classic; a thorough examination of Puerto Rico’s physical geography, history, and economic development.
Vivas, Jose Luis.
Historia de Puerto Rico
. New York: Las Americas, 1962. A useful and thorough overview of Puerto Rico’s history up to 1960 .
Waggenheim, Kal.
Puerto Rico: A Profile. 1970
Rev. ed. New York: Praeger, 1976. A comprehensive survey of geography and history. Includes an annotated bibliography of sources.
