Scope and arrangement
The Rómulo Lachatañeré photographs of New York City and Puerto Rico contain depictions of African Americans and Latin Americans living in New York City, from 1947 to 1951, and of workers and their families in Puerto Rico, in 1952.
The New York photographs consist of candid shots and group portraits of children, women, families, and musicians, as well as views of New York families at leisure, street life, construction projects, and housing and living conditions. Primarily included are depictions of East Harlem. While most have no specific location noted, many photographs with noted locations depict between 102nd and 110th Streets, from as far west as the northern part of Central Park to Lexington Avenue on the east. Of note are two photographs of outdoor vendors at La Marqueta on Park Avenue.
The Puerto Rico photographs depict children, families, and mostly male laborers, including sugar cane field workers, sugar refinery workers, salt flat workers, female laundry and sewing workers, and dwellings in urban and coastal environments. A candid shot of the photographer in Puerto Rico (1952) is included. Some images are only available as contact sheets.