Today in History: Puerto Rico


Today in History–October 18–the Library of Congress features Puerto Rico. On this date in 1898, American troops fighting in the Spanish-American War raised the United States flag in Puerto Rico formalizing U.S. control of this former Spanish colony. Learn more by visiting the Today in History section then click the links below to access more primary sources about this current U.S. commonwealth.

Puerto Rico during the Spanish-American War primary source collection

Puerto Rico at the Dawn of the Modern Age primary source collection | teaching ideas

Puerto Rico’s Plantation Economy: Snapshots from the Library of Congress

On Language and Colony story map

Puerto Rico maps

Puerto Rico images

Puerto Rico audio oral histories & songs

Puerto Rican literary recordings

Puerto Rico books (mostly in Spanish)

Puerto Rico historical newspaper coverage

Historical newspaper coverage related to Puerto Rican immigration

Puerto Rican Song article from The Library of Congress Celebrates the Songs of America

Puerto Rican / Cuban immigration presentation

I’d Still be Puerto Rican, Even if Born on the Moon: Documenting Puerto Rican Migration & Community through the Arts streaming webcast

Worst. Birthday. Ever. Puerto Rico and the United States Virgin Islands, United States Territories In Custodia Legis

Puerto Rico profile BBC

Puerto Rico timeline BBC

U.S. legislation related to Puerto Rico

Guide to Law Online: U.S. Puerto Rico

Library blog posts