A Chartered Flight Takes Puerto Rican Workers to the United States, circa 1948

Puerto Rican farm labor migration was a plan by the Puerto Rican and U.S. governments. In May 1952, the first wave of Boricua farmworkers hit Connecticut’s tobacco fields, joining over 20,000 workers in the shade tobacco industry. This migration laid the roots for Puerto Rican communities across the U.S, making history through hard work, resilience, and cultural pride.

A chartered flight takes Puerto Rican workers to the United States, circa 1948. (Unknown / Courtesy of the Office of Information for Puerto Rico, Archives of the Puerto Rican Diaspora, Centro de Estudios Puertorriqueños Puertorrique Puertorriqueños, Hunter College, City University of New York)

Puerto Rican migrant farmworkers disembarking in Buffalo, New York, circa 1948. (Unknown / Courtesy of the Office of Information for Puerto Rico, Archives of the Puerto Rican Diaspora, Centro de Estudios Puertorriqueños Puertorrique Puertorriqueños, Hunter College, City University of New York)

Puerto Rican workers harvesting sugarcane circa 1946. (Jack Delano / Courtesy of the Office of Information for Puerto Rico, Archives of the Puerto Rican Diaspora, Centro de Estudios Puertorriqueños Puertorrique Puertorriqueños, Hunter College, City University of New York)

40 Wonderful Color Slides of Puerto Rico in the 1950s

Life in Puerto Rico during the 1950s was marked by significant social, economic, and political changes. The island was transitioning from its colonial past under Spanish rule to a more modern status as a U.S. territory, following its acquisition by the United States in 1898.

During the 1950s, Puerto Rico was undergoing an economic transformation driven by Operation Bootstrap, a government initiative aimed at industrializing the island and reducing its dependence on agriculture. This led to increased employment in manufacturing and other industries, and many Puerto Ricans experienced improvements in living standards.

Socially, the decade saw a blend of traditional Puerto Rican culture with growing influences from American popular culture. The introduction of television and the growth of consumer goods contributed to changing lifestyles.

Politically, the 1950s were a time of heightened political activity, with debates about the island's status—whether to pursue statehood, independence, or continue with the commonwealth arrangement. The formation of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico in 1952 was a significant milestone in this regard, granting the island greater autonomy while remaining a U.S. territory.

Overall, the 1950s in Puerto Rico were a period of dynamic change, blending traditional elements with modern influences and laying the groundwork for future development.

These wonderful photos from Tom Lehman were taken by Luke Birky that show life in Puerto Rico in the 1950s.

Girls, boys walking around the plaza, Puerto Rico, circa 1950s

Big tree, Puerto Rico, circa 1950s

Boys running after sugar cane truck, Puerto Rico, circa 1950s

Bus in front of La Plata hospital, Puerto Rico, circa 1950s

Clergy lead procession, officers look on, Puerto Rico, circa 1950s

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The Puerto Rican Colored Chicks, 1947

Frankly, we didn’t believe it either. But the evidence looks pretty convincing. It seems that down in San Juan, Puerto Rico, a certain experimental-minded senor named A. R. Zeno injected two dozen eggs with various vegetable dyes two hours before hatching time. When the chicks broke through their shells they were peeping happily and were apparently quite normal except that their feathers were bright blue, red, green, pink and lilac.

And here they were as they arrived by Pan American air express eight hours later in New York City, in 1947. Chick authorities generally agree that the process was harmless.

Said Dr. Walter Landauer, Connecticut Agricultural School: “The injection of the dye does not hurt the chick because it goes into the albumen without actually getting into the chick itself.” Dr. Alexis L. Romanoff warned against the process becoming a fad. There’s a law in New York against importing chicks as toys, he added.

The Puerto Rican colored chicks as they arrived by air express at La Guardia Field. No, they were not dunked in dye—they were born that way.

Here’s how it’s done. Just before hatching time the eggs are injected—at the end which has no air pocket—with harmless colored vegetable dye.

Everyday Life of Puerto Rico in the Mid-1940s Through Amazing Color Photos

Puerto Rico is an unincorporated territory of the United States. It is located in the northeast Caribbean Sea, approximately 1,000 miles (1,600 km) southeast of Miami, Florida.

Puerto Rico from 1944 to 1947

Puerto Rico is an archipelago among the Greater Antilles located between the Dominican Republic and the U.S. Virgin Islands; it includes the eponymous main island and several smaller islands, such as Mona, Culebra, and Vieques.

The capital and most populous city of Puerto Rico is San Juan. Spanish and English are the official languages of the executive branch of government, though Spanish predominates.

These amazing color photos from Tom Lehman were taken by Dr. H. Clair Amstutz that documented everyday life of Puerto Rico from 1944 to 1947.

Aibonito. Ambulance by Don Emanuelli's house

Aibonito. Children on rural road

Aibonito. Four horses carrying bundles of tobacco

Aibonito. Man with ox team

Aibonito. Ox cart backed up to tobacco warehouse

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San Juan in the 1900s – 30 Vintage Pictures Show the Capital of Puerto Rico Over 100 Years Ago

San Juan is the capital and most populous city in Puerto Rico. Founded in 1521 by Juan Ponce de León, who named it City of Puerto Rico (Rich Port). The capital of Puerto Rico is the oldest city under U.S. jurisdiction, but some people argue than St. Augustine, Florida, founded in 1565 is the oldest city in the continental United States.

Look back at San Juan in the 1900s through amazing photos below.

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36 Stunning Color Photos of the Daily Life in Puerto Rico in the 1940s

This is colorful daily life of Puerto Rico in the 1940s through American photographer Jack Delano's lens.

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Wonderful Color Photos of San Juan, Puerto Rico in 1941

San Juan is the capital and most populous municipality in Puerto Rico, an unincorporated territory of the United States. As of the 2010 census, it had a population of 395,326 making it the 46th-largest city under the jurisdiction of the United States.

San Juan was founded by Spanish colonists in 1521, who called it Ciudad de Puerto Rico (“Rich Port City”). Puerto Rico’s capital is the second oldest European-established city in the Americas, after Santo Domingo, in the Dominican Republic. Several historical buildings are located in San Juan; among the most notable are the city's former defensive forts, Fort San Felipe del Morro and Fort San Cristóbal, and La Fortaleza, the oldest executive mansion in continuous use in the Americas.

Here are some wonderful color photos of San Juan, Puerto Rico in 1941

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