Uploaded May 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
Everyone loves a New York City bodega, but do you know one of the key figures who documented them in the mid-20th century? May 1st is the start of National Photography Month and we’re honoring the legacy of Justo A. Martí (1899-1998)!
Born in Cuba, Martí emigrated to New York City in 1925 with the dream of becoming a photographer. He documented aspects of daily working-class life for the Latine community like social, cultural, and sporting events, city politics, protests, family gatherings, and organizational activities. Most notably, Martí documented a burgeoning industry that has now become synonymous with New York City culture: Bodegas. These quintessential neighborhood shops were central to growing Puerto Rican and immigrant enclaves in the mid-20th century.
In 1985, CENTRO organized the first monographic exhibition on Martí as part of the celebration of the acquisition of his collection. Nélida Pérez, Blanca Vázquez, and photographer Máximo Rafael Colón curated the selection of photographs. From the moment that the Jesús Colon Papers and the Justo Martí Photographic Collection were acquired by CENTRO, they became the foundation for the creation and development of the archival program that was established officially in 1989: The Archives of the Puerto Rican Diaspora.
Explore the digital archives → https://centroarchives.hunter.cuny.edu/repositories/2/resources/25
Sign up for our newsletter → centropr.hunter.cuny.edu/subscribe
Credits:
Photographs from the Justo A. Martí Photographic Collection
Editing and Animations by Josué Oquendo Natal and Tarchithaa Chandra Sekharan
Sound design by Carlos Rivera Fernandez
Script and VO by Victoria Preis
Produced by Victoria Preis
.
.
.
Founded in 1973 by a coalition of students, faculty, and activists, the Center for Puerto Rican Studies at Hunter College (CENTRO) is the largest university-based research institute, library, and archive dedicated to the Puerto Rican experience in the United States. Learn more at centropr.hunter.cuny.edu
Follow us on social media!
Instagram: instagram.com/centropr
Facebook: facebook.com/centropr
Threads: threads.net/@centropr
TikTok: tiktok.com/@centropr
Support our work by donating today at community.hunter.cuny.edu/supportcentro
Everyone loves a New York City bodega, but do you know one of the key figures who documented them in the mid-20th century? May 1st is the start of National Photography Month and we’re honoring the legacy of Justo A. Martí (1899-1998)!
Born in Cuba, Martí emigrated to New York City in 1925 with the dream of becoming a photographer. He documented aspects of daily working-class life for the Latine community like social, cultural, and sporting events, city politics, protests, family gatherings, and organizational activities. Most notably, Martí documented a burgeoning industry that has now become synonymous with New York City culture: Bodegas. These quintessential neighborhood shops were central to growing Puerto Rican and immigrant enclaves in the mid-20th century.
In 1985, CENTRO organized the first monographic exhibition on Martí as part of the celebration of the acquisition of his collection. Nélida Pérez, Blanca Vázquez, and photographer Máximo Rafael Colón curated the selection of photographs. From the moment that the Jesús Colon Papers and the Justo Martí Photographic Collection were acquired by CENTRO, they became the foundation for the creation and development of the archival program that was established officially in 1989: The Archives of the Puerto Rican Diaspora.
Explore the digital archives → https://centroarchives.hunter.cuny.edu/repositories/2/resources/25
Sign up for our newsletter → centropr.hunter.cuny.edu/subscribe
Credits:
Photographs from the Justo A. Martí Photographic Collection
Editing and Animations by Josué Oquendo Natal and Tarchithaa Chandra Sekharan
Sound design by Carlos Rivera Fernandez
Script and VO by Victoria Preis
Produced by Victoria Preis
.
.
.
Founded in 1973 by a coalition of students, faculty, and activists, the Center for Puerto Rican Studies at Hunter College (CENTRO) is the largest university-based research institute, library, and archive dedicated to the Puerto Rican experience in the United States. Learn more at centropr.hunter.cuny.edu
Follow us on social media!
Instagram: instagram.com/centropr
Facebook: facebook.com/centropr
Threads: threads.net/@centropr
TikTok: tiktok.com/@centropr
Support our work by donating today at community.hunter.cuny.edu/supportcentro
