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Library of Congress Research Guides

Puerto Rico: Hispanic Reading Room Research Guide

This guide provides curated Library of Congress resources for researching Puerto Rico, including digitized primary source materials in a wide variety of formats, books and periodicals, online databases, and tips for searching.

Introduction

Jack E. Boucher, photographer. Templo de Porta Coeli, San German, Puerto Rico. 1977. Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division

The Library of Congress holds thousands of collection materials about and from Puerto Rico. Curated by librarians in the Hispanic Reading Room, this guide is part of a series of Country Guides that provide quick references for countries and regions from the Luso-Hispanic world. The Hispanic Reading Room is the Library’s portal to the Caribbean, Latin America, Spain and Portugal; the indigenous cultures of those areas; and peoples throughout the world historically influenced by Luso-Hispanic heritage, including Latinos in the U.S. This guide offers links to diverse resources on Puerto Rico from across the Library including digitized primary sources, selected books and periodicals, online databases, and tips for searching. For specific questions or assistance using the Library’s resources, use the Ask a Librarian service to contact a reference librarian.

Puerto Rico: Quick Facts

G.W. & C.B. Colton & Co. Mapa topográfico de la isla de Puerto Rico. 1886. Library of Congress Geography and Map Division.

Official Name: Commonwealth of Puerto Rico (Estado Libre Asociado de Puerto Rico)

Capital: San Juan

Governor: Pedro Pierluisi Urrutia

*In 1898 Puerto Rico was ceded to the U.S. as a result of the Spanish-American War. Puerto Ricans were granted U.S. citizenship in 1917. In 1952, a constitution was enacted providing for internal self-government. Puerto Rico is an unincorporated organized territory of the U.S.

Population: 3.1 million

Languages: Spanish, English

Municipalities: 78; Adjuntas; Aguada; Aguadilla; Aguas Buenas; Aibonito; Añasco; Arecibo; Arroyo; Barceloneta; Barranquitas; Bayamón; Cabo Rojo; Caguas; Camuy; Canóvanas; Carolina; Cataño; Cayey; Ceiba; Ciales; Cidra; Coamo; Comerio; Corozal; Culebra; Dorado; Fajardo; Florida; Las Piedras; Loíza; Luquillo; Manatí; Maricao; Maunabo; Mayagüez; Moca; Morovis; Naguabo; Naranjito; Guánica; Guayama; Guayanilla; Guaynabo; Gurabo; Hatillo; Hormigueros; Humacao; Isabela; Jayuya; Juana Díaz; Juncos; Lajas; Lares; Las Marías; Orocovis; Patillas; Peñuelas; Ponce; Quebradillas; Rincón; Río Grande; Sabana Grande; Salinas; San Germán; San Lorenzo; San Juan; San Sebastián; Santa Isabel; Toa Alta; Toa Baja; Trujillo Alto; Utuado; Vega Alta; Vega Baja; Vieques; Villalba; Yabucoa; Yauco.

Yo Soy (I am): The Historical Trajectory of Language in Puerto Rico This guide prepared by the Hispanic Reading Room provides digitized sources, selected books, online databases, and external sources that delve into the history of Puerto Rico and its inevitable effect on the development and use of language. The resources are in English, with the exception of primary material written in Spanish.
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