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: 3.019 million (est. 2024)

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.

Source: The World Factbook.

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.

Additional Guides for Caribbean Research and Study

In addition to this general guide to Puerto Rican collections and resources, staff at the Library of Congress have produced several other detailed subject guides relevant to Puerto Rico and the Caribbean.

World of 1898: International Perspectives on the Spanish American War
This presentation provides resources and documents about the Spanish-American War, the period before the war, and some of the fascinating people who participated in the fighting or commented about it.
Latin America and the Caribbean in Photographs at the Library of Congress
This guide describes groups of photographs of Mexico, Central America, South America, and the Caribbean, 1840s-present, in the Prints & Photographs Division. It outlines helpful search strategies and highlights important collections and creators.
Alimentación, gastronomía, cultura y hábitos alimenticios: una bibliografía anotada
Esta guía incluye recursos bibliográficos impresos disponibles en las Colecciones de la Biblioteca del Congreso - junto con anotaciones y comentarios de la investigadora/autora- acerca de temas de la alimentación, artes culinarias, gastronomía y cultura.
Handbook of Latin American Studies (HLAS): A Resource Guide
Since 1936, HLAS has made scholarly research on Latin America more easily accessible by working with researchers to identify and describe books, journal articles, conference proceedings and papers, book chapters, maps and atlases, and electronic resources.
Latin American Composers: A Guide to Resources at the Library of Congress
This guide introduces performers, conductors, and researchers to resources in the Music Division of the Library of Congress to help them discover concert music by Latin American composers.
Coffee in Latin America and the Caribbean: A Research Guide
This guide is intended as a starting point for research on coffee, coffee culture, and the coffee industry in Latin America and the Caribbean. It includes primary and secondary sources available at the Library of Congress, as well as external resources.

Puerto Rico: Hispanic Reading Room Research Guide

Caribbean, Iberian & Latin American Studies: Ask a Librarian

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Introduction

Puerto Rico: Quick Facts

Additional Guides for Caribbean Research and Study