Guide to the Alberto Torres Pereira papers, 1967-1992
Special Collections, James P. Adams Library.
Rhode Island College
600 Mount Pleasant Ave
Providence, RI, 02908
Tel: 401-456-8380
email:digitalcommons@ric.edu
Published in 2023
Collection Overview
| Title: |
Alberto Torres Pereira papers |
| Date range: |
1967-1992 |
| Creator: |
Periera, Alberto Torres |
| Extent: |
1.8 cubic feet
|
| Abstract: |
Alberto Torres Pereira’s collected papers, photographs, audiocassettes, and organizational papers relating to the Cape Verdean American community. |
| Language of materials: |
English, Portuguese, Kriolu |
| Repository: |
Special Collections, James P. Adams Library.
|
| Collection number: |
MSS-0067 |
Scope & content
This collection consists of recorded interviews and slides of individuals who emigrated from Cape Verde to Rhode Island, materials related to meetings and programs on Cape Verde and Cape Verdeans which Pereira created, was interested in or involved with, and articles that he wrote. Materials are largely textual, consisting of correspondence, minutes, agendas, clippings, drawings and flyers. Other formats that can be found in the collection are photographs, photographic slides, audiocassette tapes, audio recording tapes, and a VHS tape.
Access Points
Subject Names
Subject Topics
Geographical Names
Document Types
Arrangement
This collection has been arranged into the following series:
- Series 1: Cape Verdean Oral History Project records; 1972-1976
- Series 2: Reflections: Cape Verdeans in Rhode Island records; 1975-1977
- Series 3: Projects, programs and committees papers; 1967-1992
Biographical/Historical Note
Alberto “Al” Torres Pereira (March 21, 1929 - December 2, 2017) was born in Providence, RI to Antonio Pereira and Maria da Luz Pereira. He was inspired by the courage of his parents, who immigrated from Cape Verde to the U.S. in search of a better life for themselves and their children, and utilized his love of music, poetry and art as a life-long advocate for the Cape Verdean community of Rhode Island. He was a veteran of the armed forces of the United States and served over 25 years as a librarian and consultant with the Rhode Island Department of State Library Services (now known as the Office of Library and Information Services (OLIS)), where he focused on community outreach and the development of cultural and literacy programs. He created the Cape Verdean Oral History Project and produced multimedia programming about Cape Verdeans in Rhode Island that combined images, music, and spoken word narration.
Access & Use
| Access to the collection: |
The collection is open for research. |
| Use of the materials: |
Researchers are advised to contact Rhode Island College Special Collections for questions regarding permissions to reproduce, distribute, or otherwise publish material from this collection. Although Rhode Island College has physical ownership of the collection, it does not necessarily hold literary rights. It is up to the researcher to determine the owners of the literary rights and to obtain any necessary permissions from them. |
| Alternate form: |
A majority of the oral histories from the Cape Verdean Oral History Project have been digitized and are available on Rhode Island College Digital Commons. |
| Preferred citation: |
Alberto Torres Pereira papers, MSS-0067, Special Collections, James P. Adams Library, Rhode Island College |
| Contact information: |
Special Collections, James P. Adams Library.
Rhode Island College
600 Mount Pleasant Ave
Providence, RI, 02908
Tel: 401-456-8380
email:digitalcommons@ric.edu
|
Administrative Information
| ABOUT THE COLLECTION |
| Acquisition: |
In 1989, Pereira donated the Cape Verdean oral histories to Rhode Island College Special Collections. Additions to the collection were made in 1991, 1992, and 1995. Books and journals were disseminated into the Cape Verdean Book Collection and the Cape Verdean periodical collection at the time of the subsequent donations. |
| Custodial history: |
The Cape Verde Oral History Project records, select slides and photographs, and some books were originally stored at the Rhode Island Department of State Library Services (now known as the Office of Library and Information Services (OLIS)). In 1988, when OLIS was slated to move, Pereira was instructed to remove the items and find a place to donate them. |
| Processing information: |
When the collection was originally donated to Special Collections at Rhode Island College, it was partially arranged and the oral histories were digitized by Special Collections staff. The original notes can be found in the processing file. In 2024, the collection was arranged and described by Special Collections Intern, Ginn McAleer, under the supervision of Digital Archivist and Special Collections Librarian, Veronica Denison. The original folder titles were retained in most cases and the original order was preserved. |
|
|
|
|
| ABOUT THE FINDING AID |
| Author: |
Finding aid prepared by Ginn McAleer. |
| Encoding: |
This finding aid was encoded by Veronica L. Denison, 2023. |
| Descriptive rules: |
Finding aid based on Describing Archives: A Content Standard (DACS) |
Additional Information
| Separated material: |
One box contained materials from multiple collections, Richard Lobban papers, Oling Jackson papers, and Virginia Gonsalves papers. These items were relocated into their respective collections. Duplicates and some newspaper clippings were removed from the collection and destroyed. Books and other publications were added to the Cape Verdean Book Collection and the Cape Verdean periodical collection in the Rhode Island College Special Collections prior to 2019. |
| Location/Existence of copies: |
A majority of the oral histories from the Cape Verdean Oral History Project have been digitized and are available on Rhode Island College Digital Commons. |
| Other information: |
Works used in preparation of biographical note: “Alberto T. Pereira Obituary.” Tribute Archive. https://www.tributearchive.com/obituaries/2752955/Alberto-T-Pereira |
Inventory
Series 1. Cape Verdean Oral History Project records, 1972-1976
0.50 cubic feet
Between 1972-1976, Alberto Torres Pereira conducted oral history interviews of Cape Verdean Americans who immigrated to Rhode Island. This series contains correspondence, planning information, questionnaire for interviews, interviews on 35 audiocassette tapes, and an article written about the project by Alberto Torres Pereira and published in TCHUBA. A majority of the audiocassettes in this series have been digitized and are available in the Rhode Island College Special Collections digital archives. Interviewees: Sonyia Andrade, Frank Baptista, Rosendo Brito, Minnie Carvalho, George Castro, Johnetta Cole , Bernardino Delgardo, John Delgado, Charles Fortes, Julio Gomes, Virginia Gonsalves, Joaquina Lima, Mr. Lisbon, Anthony Lopes, Juanita Maniche, Phillip John Martin, Salahudine Matteos, Larry Novick , Ludovinia Paris, Maria Pereira, Anthony Ramos, Tony Santos, Adrien Silva and Yvonne Smart.
| Box 1 |
|
Cape Verdean Oral History Project Audiocassettes
|
|
1972-1976 |
| Box 4, Folder 1 |
|
Cape Verdean Oral History Project (1972) - Background
|
|
1972 |
| Box 4, Folder 2 |
|
Cape Verdean Oral History Project (1972) - Background #2
|
|
1972 |
| Box 4, Folder 3 |
|
Cape Verdean Oral History Project (1972) - Description
|
|
1972 |
| Box 4, Folder 4 |
|
Cape Verdean Oral History Project - Interview Indexes (Tapes # 1-27)
|
|
1972-1974 |
Series 2. Reflections: Cape Verdeans in Rhode Island records, 1975-1977
0.20 cubic feet
Alberto Torres Pereira organized a multimedia event at Rhode Island Department of State Library Services on October 26, 1977 on Cape Verde and Cape Verdean Americans who lived in Rhode Island, entitled “Reflections: Cape Verdeans in Rhode Island.” This series contains correspondence, planning information, grant proposals, scripts in English and Kriolu (Crioulo) and photographic slides.
| Box 4, Folder 5 |
|
Cape Verdeans of Rhode Island (C.V.R.I.) Project
|
|
1975-1977 |
| Box 4, Folder 6 |
|
C.V.R.I. Project - Grant Proposals
|
|
1976 |
| Box 4, Folder 7 |
|
C.V.R.I. Project - Script
|
|
1977 |
| Box 4, Folder 8 |
|
Reflections: Cape Verdeans of Rhode Island (C.V.R.I.)
|
|
1977 |
| Box 4, Folder 9 |
|
Reflections: C.V.R.I. - Narrative Script
|
|
1977 |
| Box 4, Folder 10 |
|
Reflections: C.V.R.I. - Script (English)
|
|
1977 |
| Box 4, Folder 11 |
|
Reflections: C.V.R.I. - Script (English/Crioulo)
|
|
1977 |
| Box 4, Folder 12 |
|
Reflections: C.V.R.I. - Visual Script
|
|
1977 |
| Box 4, Folder 13 |
|
Reflections: C.V.R.I. - Slides #1-140 - arranged numerically (slides #: 2, 3, 10, 26, 28, 29, 30, 41, 54, 56, 64, 67, 85, 90, 100, 106, 110, 116, 121, 129 and 132 were not donated with the collection)
|
|
1977 |
| Box 4, Folder 14 |
|
Reflections: C.V.R.I. - extra slides (duplicates)
|
|
1977 |
Series 3. Projects, programs and committees papers, 1967-1992
1.10 cubic feet
Alberto Torres Pereira organized and participated in many projects, programs and committees about Cape Verdean Americans between 1967-1992. This series contains audiocassette tapes, correspondence, planning materials, grant proposals, meeting announcements, photographs, photographic slides, and a VHS tape.
| Box 2 |
|
58 audiocassette tapes, subjects include: “Black Rap” and “Let’s Talk About It Now” radio programs; interviews with poets, musicians and politicians, such as Shirley Chisholm and Jesse Jackson; 5 tapes of “The Great Ones” from Rhode Island Dept of State Library Services (such as: Harriet Tubman, Frederick Douglass); and recordings from departure of Ernestina from Mindelo Harbor, Saō Vicente, Republic of Cape Verde which included an address by President Aristedes Pereira
|
|
circa 1974-1983 |
| Box 3 |
|
3 audio recording tapes for “Black Rap” and interview with Ambassador of Cape Verde on VHS tape
|
|
circa 1979-1981 |
| Box 4, Folder 15 |
|
TCHUBA - The American Committee for Cape Verde, Inc.
|
|
circa 1975-1979 |
| Box 4, Folder 16 |
|
Barros Gallery (Providence, RI)
|
|
1988 |
| Box 4, Folder 17 |
|
“Black Rap” (Radio Program)
|
|
1979-1981 |
| Box 4, Folder 18 |
|
Cape Verdean Heritage Survey
|
|
circa 1974-1977 |
| Box 4, Folder 19 |
|
Video Archive Grant Proposal
|
|
1974 |
| Box 4, Folder 20 |
|
Ethnic Heritage Studies Grant Preparation
|
|
1975 |
| Box 4, Folder 21 |
|
Program: Cape Verdean-Americans & U.S. Foreign Aid
|
|
1981 |
| Box 4, Folder 22 |
|
Correspondence - Incoming
|
|
1974-1988 |
| Box 4, Folder 23 |
|
Correspondence - Outgoing
|
|
1974-1982 |
| Box 5, Folder 1 |
|
Fox Point - Cape Verdean Displacement
|
|
1981 |
| Box 5, Folder 2 |
|
Fox Point - article draft by Sam Beck
|
|
1981 |
| Box 5, Folder 3 |
|
Fox Point - article by Hummel & Gerstle
|
|
1977 |
| Box 5, Folder 4 |
|
Program: Cape Verdean Night at Holy Name
|
|
1977 |
| Box 5, Folder 5 |
|
Immigration
|
|
1971 |
| Box 5, Folder 6 |
|
Language
|
|
circa 1980 |
| Box 5, Folder 7 |
|
Literature - Jorge Barbosa
|
|
1981 |
| Box 5, Folder 8 |
|
LIterature
|
|
circa 1980 |
| Box 5, Folder 9 |
|
Politics & Government
|
|
1980 |
| Box 5, Folder 10 |
|
Torres’ article on C.V.S. Productions
|
|
1981 |
| Box 5, Folder 11 |
|
Program: League of RI Historical Societies Meeting
|
|
1978 |
| Box 5, Folder 12 |
|
Program: RI Library Association Annual Conference
|
|
1987 |
| Box 5, Folder 13 |
|
Program: “Nos Ku Nos/We Together”
|
|
1974 |
| Box 5, Folder 14 |
|
Dr. Anthony V. Rocha
|
|
circa 1980 |
| Box 5, Folder 15 |
|
Cape Verdean Study Commission
|
|
1987-1989 |
| Box 5, Folder 16 |
|
Special Legislature Commission
|
|
1977 |
| Box 5, Folder 17 |
|
Task Force on Services to the Non-English Speaking Community
|
|
1982 |
| Box 5, Folder 18 |
|
Television Programs
|
|
1974-1980 |
| Box 5, Folder 19 |
|
Photographs
|
|
circa 1970-1972 |
| Box 5, Folder 20 |
|
Cape Verdean-American Federation, Inc.
|
|
1976 |
| Box 5, Folder 21 |
|
10th Annual Festival of American Folklife
|
|
1976 |
| Box 5, Folder 22 |
|
Cape Verdean-American Parade Unit
|
|
1976 |
| Box 5, Folder 23 |
|
Itinerary for Visit of Honorable Andre Corsino Tolentino
|
|
1987 |
| Box 5, Folder 24 |
|
Building Fund for Cape Verdean Roman Catholic Church
|
|
1979 |
| Box 5, Folder 25 |
|
1st Cape Verde - US Investment & Trade Conference
|
|
1989 |
| Box 5, Folder 26 |
|
Embassy of the Republic of Cape Verde
|
|
circa 1987 |
| Box 5, Folder 27 |
|
Cape Verdean Conference at Rhode Island College
|
|
1987 |
| Box 5, Folder 28 |
|
7th Annual Cape Verdean Conference
|
|
1987 |
| Box 5, Folder 29 |
|
Ernestina (Schooner)
|
|
1968-1986 |
| Box 5, Folder 30 |
|
Newspaper clippings related to Cape Verde and Cape Verdean Americans
|
|
1967-1987 |
| Box 5, Folder 31 |
|
Slides of Ernestina
|
|
circa 1982 |
| Box 5, Folder 32 |
|
Slides of Cape Verde and Cape Verdean Americans in Rhode Island
|
|
circa 1977 |
| Box 5, Folder 33 |
|
Slides of Judge Leighton, recipient of honorary degree at Rhode Island College
|
|
1992 |
| Box 5, Folder 34 |
|
Photographs: Fox Point, Shakespeare production
|
|
circa 1973 |
| Box 5, Folder 35 |
|
Multi-media Program: The Whale
|
|
1973 |
| Box 5, Folder 36 |
|
Information & Preparation for “The Whale”
|
|
circa 1973 |