Luz Marina Rodriguez Papers, 1945-2006
General International Standard for Archival Description
Sophia Smith Collection Smith College Northampton, MA
Finding aid encoded in NoteTab Pro. Encoded by Joanna Johnson. 2012-01-13
Encoded Archival Description
Encoded Archival Description (EAD) Version 2002
collection
Luz Rodriguez Papers
Creation of Luz Rodriguez Papers
Time of Creation of Luz Rodriguez Papers
Rodriguez, Luz
Biographical History for: Luz Rodriguez Papers
Biographical Note Luz Marina Rodriguez was born in New York City on March 7, 1956, and grew up on the Lower East Side. She was the eldest of three children of Elsa Rodriguez Vazquez and Luis Rodriguez Nieto, Sr., who had both recently emigrated from Puerto Rico as part of Operation Bootstrap, a government economic investment into the Puerto Rican economy. Her father held a variety of jobs, including electronics repair and night security work, while her mother sold Avon products. After graduating from Seward Park High School in 1974, Rodriguez spent two years immersed in social and cultural activities in her Puerto Rican neighborhood, which became known as Loisaida (a Latino pronunciation of the Lower East Side). She was deeply involved in The Real Great Society, a gang outreach and community empowerment organization created in 1964 to engage youth in addressing local needs, especially sweat equity projects to create affordable housing. She was also an active participant in Charas/El Bohio, a cultural center where she taught Puerto Rican folkloric dance. After studying dance at Pratt Institute, Rodriguez graduated from New York University as a dance therapy major in 1982. College research into the sterilization of, and birth control experimentation on, Puerto Rican women planted the seed of later reproductive rights activism. Rodriguez defines herself as a servant-leader. She has continued to combine grassroots social justice work with administrative leadership in non-profit organizations, including Henry Street Settlement, East Side Family Resource Center, Dominican Women's Development Center, and Casa Atabex. In 1996 she became Executive Director of the Latina Roundtable on Health and Reproductive Rights and played a critical role in the formation of the SisterSong Women of Color Reproductive Health Collective. In 2011, she become co-chair of the Management Circle of that organization. A specialist in organizational development and non-profit sustainability, Rodriguez currently serves as bilingual training coordinator at the New York City headquarters of the Foundation Center. In 1994 in recognition for her advocacy work, Rodriguez was awarded a Windcall Residency, a retreat program for those who work for social justice. She is a published poet, playwright, aspiring sculptor, and she remains active in SisterSong. She was married to Norbeto Cruz and later divorced. She has two sons, Gabriel and Abran-Lumi, a step-son, a foster daughter, a kinship foster child, and four grandchildren.
Luz Marina Rodriguez began donating her Papers to the Sophia Smith Collection in 2006. Periodic additions to this collection are expected.
Scope and Contents of the Collection The Luz Marina Rodriguez Papers contain 8.5 linear feet of organization, conference, and symposia materials; appointment books; writings; educational records; correspondence; photographs; and memorabilia. The papers are particularly strong in documenting her many professional activities, especially her activism in health and education for women of color, including SisterSong Women of Color Reproductive Health Collective and the Latina Roundtable on Health and Reproductive Rights. In addition they document her activities on behalf of Hispanics in New York City such as Baile Boricua Dance Company, Charas, and Dominican Womens' Development Center; as well as other neighborhood, educational, family-oriented, and health-related organizations and initiatives. There are also family materials, New York University course work and student papers, early correspondence, speeches, and writings.
Periodic additions to this collection are expected.
The Papers are open to research according to the regulations of the Sophia Smith Collection without any additional restrictions. Original audio-visual materials are closed to research.
Luz Rodriguez retains copyright to material authored by her until her death, then her children retain rights to plays, original literary work, and academic term papers. Copyright to materials authored by others may be owned by those individuals or their heirs or assigns. Permission must be obtained to publish reproductions or quotations beyond "fair use." It is the responsibility of the researcher to identify and satisfy the holders of all copyrights. Permission must also be obtained from the Sophia Smith Collection as owners of the physical property.
Additional material on Luz Rodriqeuz can be found in her interview for the Sophia Smith Collection's Voices of Feminism Oral History Project and SisterSong Women of Color Reproductive Health Collective.
Processed by Susan Boone, 2010.
Hispanic American women -- Biography -- Sources
lcsh
Hispanic American women -- Medical care
Latina women -- Social conditions -- History
Puerto Ricans -- United States -- Social conditions
Reproductive health -- United States -- History -- Sources
Reproductive rights -- United States -- History -- Sources
Women -- Health and hygiene -- United States -- Sources
lcnaf
Ross, Loretta J.
SisterSong Women of Color Reproductive Health Collective (Atlanta, GA)
Latina Roundtable of Health and Reproductive Rights
series
SERIES I. BIOGRAPHICAL MATERIALS (1974-2003)
This series is arranged alphabetically and contains address books; calendars; day planners; family material related to her foster child, Tanya Vasquez, and sons Gabriel and Abran; financial material related to two court cases, an accident claim, and medical bills. There are student papers, course work, grades, and financial information from New York University.
SERIES II. CORRESPONDENCE (1968-1970)
This series is arranged chronologically and consists primarily of letters from childhood friends.
SERIES III. SPEECHES AND WRITINGS (1986-97)
This series contains speeches, public testimony and writings. The writings are arranged alphabetically and consist of notes; a poem, "El Yunque"; a play, "Ghost Writer"; and an essay, "Seven Days to Life". There is a compact disc of Rodriguez reading her work in SERIES VII. AUDIO VISUAL MATERIALS.
SERIES IV. PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITIES (1973-06)
This series is arranged alphabetically and contains material related to more than twenty-one organizations in which Rodriguez was involved. The bulk of the series relates to Baile Boricua Dance Company, Charas, Latina Roundtable on Health and Reproductive Rights, and SisterSong Women of Color Reproductive Health Collective. The Baile Boricua Dance Company (a group devoted to folkloric dance of the Puerto Rican and Afro-Caribbean culture) contains articles and clippings, board of directors' materials, correspondence, notes, and performances. Charas (a grassroots community serving the Latina section of the New York Lower East Side) includes material about its founder Amando Perez, anniversaries, bylaws, El Bohio Community Center, financial materials, Loisada neighborhood materials, board of directors' meetings, programs, activities, and strategic plans. The Latina Roundtable on Health and Reproductive Rights consists primarily of board of director and financial materials. The financial materials include information on a Ford Foundation grant received in collaboration with SisterSong and the resulting symposiums on reproductive health and women of color. SisterSong Women of Color Reproductive Health Collective contains additional information on the Ford Foundation grant, meetings, national conferences, and miscellaneous programs. It also contains information on Moon Lodge and other collective members. Since Latina Roundtable on Health and Reproductive Rights is part of the SisterSong collective, some materials overlap.
SERIES V. SUBJECT FILES (1974-1998)
This series is arranged alphabetically and contains information on fourteen subjects. Of particular interest are materials on Hispanic art and a conference on women's alcohol and drug education.
SERIES VI. PHOTOGRAPHS AND MEMORABILIA (1945-2005)
This series consists two subseries Photographs and Memorabilia. The Photographs subseries contains family and personal pictures, photographs of a 1998 SisterSong symposium, plus several unidentified photographs. Most of the photographs have been transferred onto two compact discs which are included in this series. The master compact disc is located in SERIES VII. AUDIOVISUAL MATERIALS. Memorabilia includes certificates, school items, and artifacts which include an address book and childhood diary, a book bag, buttons, business cards, name badges, and unidentified and miscellaneous items.
SERIES VII. AUDIOVISUAL MATERIALS (1997-1999)
This series is divided into two subseries: Use copies and Preservation Masters and originals. The Use copies subseries contains twenty-eight digital video discs and a compact disc of an interview with Rodriguez about the Foundation Center, information on the International Congress on AIDS in Manila, Latina Roundtable on Health and Reproductive Rights Symposium, SisterSong, and Rodriguez reading from her work. Use copies are available for all the audio-visual materials. Preservation masters and originals are closed to research.
SERIES I. BIOGRAPHICAL MATERIALS
Address books
Biographical materials and resumes, 1993-2002, n.d.
Calendars, day planners, and phone messages
Family
Cruz, Gabriel [son], 1986-97, n.d.
Maldonado, Abran [son], 1981-98, n.d.
Vasquez, Tanya
New Jersey Department of Social Services, Department of Youth and Family Services: foster parents training
Foster care application, paperwork, references, printed material, and correspondence, 1985-95
Foster Care Handbook, 1994-95
Birth certificate and miscellaneous material, 1996-98, n.d.
Financial materials
Automobile accident claim, 1998
Luz Rodriguez vs. the City of New York and Quality Taxi, Inc., Shellac Cab Corp., Milton Brachfeld and Morris Hirstart, 1979-81
Medical bills, 1984-93, n.d.
Rali Apartments vs. Luz Rodriguez, 1981
Miscellaneous, 1983, n.d.
Interviews
Job search, 2002
Landmark Education,Self expression and leadership program, 1992
New York University
Course work and student papers
Dance therapy
Student papers, 1978-80, n.d.
Research material and miscellaneous, 1974-80, n.d.
Kinesiology, 1980, n.d.
Magazine and article writing, 1979
Music therapy, 1980
Psychological aspects of blindness, 1980
Taino and Bomba research, 1979
Women in the Urban Environment (paper on population control in Puerto Rico), 1980
Miscellaneous, 1978-82, n.d.
Financial information, 1981-82, n.d.
Grades and transcripts, 1978-81, n.d.
Tisch School of the Arts, Musical Theatre Writing Program, n.d.
Miscellaneous, 1992-94, n.d.
SERIES II. CORRRESPONDENCE
Sympathy notes on death of her grandmother, 1968
Letters and greeting cards, 1969-70, n.d.
SERIES III. SPEECHES AND WRITINGS
Speeches and public testimony, 1988, 1997
Writings
"Directory of Women's Organizations" (with Monique La Rocque), n.d.
"El Yunque", n.d.
"Ghost Writer, A One Act Play," 1998
"Seven Days to Life," 1986
Notes, n.d.
SERIES IV. PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITIES
Baile Boricua Dance Company
Articles and clippings, 1973-82, n.d.
Board of Directors, 1985
Correspondence, 1981
Notes, 1981, n.d.
Performances, 1981, n.d.
Miscellaneous, 1981, n.d.
Canan Senior Center, 2002-03, n.d.
Charas
Amando Perez: articles and clippings, 1999
Anniversaries, 1990, 2000
Bylaws, 1974, 1989
El Bohio Community Center, 1999, n.d.
Financial materials, 1986-89
Housing, 1973-87
Loisaida, 1988-99, n.d.
Meetings
Board of Directors, 1989-90
Miscellaneous, 1987-89
National Endowment for the Arts grant proposal, n.d.
Notes, 1999, n.d.
Programs and activities, 1988-90, n.d.
Strategic plan, 1990
Miscellaneous, 1990-98, n.d.
Dominican Women's Development Center: English as a second language
Healthy heart
Curriculum, 1995
Printed materials, 1991-95, n.d.
Miscellaneous, 1995, n.d.
Foundation Center
Amethyst Women's Project Conference, 2006
Printed materials, 2003-06
Weekly Reports, 2003-06
Henry Street Settlement
Division of Youth Services: Beyond City Limits, 1993
Youth Employment Program, 1995, n.d.
Miscellaneous, 1994, n.d.
Innovations Board for Children and Family, 1991-92, n.d.
International Congress on AIDS in Asia and the Pacific, 1997
Latina Roundtable on Health and Reproductive Rights
Board of Directors
Correspondence, 1998
Development guidelines, retreat and workshop, 1994, 1997
Meetings, 1995-98
Miscellaneous, 1996, n.d.
Bylaws, 1998
Fundraising
Flow charts, 1996-98
Strategies, 1996-97
Grants
Ford Foundation
Attachments for proposal, 1995-95
Reproductive Health in Women of Color: An Exploratory Symposium I, 1997
Symposium II, 1998
Symposium I and II, 1997, 1998
New York Foundation, 1997
New York Women's Foundation, 1998
Public Welfare Foundation, 1996
Roberts Woods Johnson Foundation, 1998
Sister Fund, 1997
Tax exempt forms, n.d.
Miscellaneous, 1998, n.d.
Little Sisters Project, 1996
Miscellaneous, 1997-98
Latino Commission on AIDS, 1997-98
Learning Partners, 1999-2000
Lehman College Adult Learning Center (Counselor), 1993-94
Little Mission Day Nursery
Board of Directors, 2002
Employment issues and Executive Director evaluation, 2001-02
Non Profit Finance Fund, 2002
Personnel committee, 2002
Miscellaneous, 2000-02, n.d.
MANA of New York City, 1996-97, n.d.
National School and Community Corps
Activities calendar, 1995
Site Manager training, 1995-96
Partnership Ministries, 2000
Princeton Review Scholastic Aptitude Test tutor training, 1999
ProLibertad, 1994-97, n.d.
SisterSong Women of Color Reproductive Health Collective
Ford Foundation Grant
Correspondence, budgets, proposals, and miscellaneous printed material, 1991-98
Moon Lodge Women's Outreach, 1998
Meetings and national conferences
Training I, 1998
Exploring our Power, 1999
Sexual Rights, 2003
Past, Present and Future Eugenic Technologies and Ideologies, 2004
Miscellaneous, 2003-04
Voter education, 2004
Miscellaneous, 1985-2004
Urban Rural Mission
Lifelines: Journey of Sex and Spirit, 2000
Maquiladora Reader, 1998
Miscellaneous, 1998
Washington Heights Ecumenical Food Pantry, 1994, n.d
Miscellaneous organizations, 1983-2004, n.d.
SERIES V. SUBJECT FILES
Agents (entertainers) lists, 1996
Birth control, 1974
Breast cancer, 1998, n.d.
Cervical cap, 1979
Education and teaching, 1988, n.d
Environmental organizations of New York , n.d.
Foundations, 1992-98, n.d.
Hispanic art
!AHA! Hispanic Arts News, 1990-95
Miscellaneous, 1990-95, n.d.
Mexico, 1997, n.d.
Puerto Rico, 1987-97, n.d.
Women in business, 1992-95, n.d
Women's Alcohol and Drug Education (Women's Action Alliance conference), 1989
United States Agency for International Development, n.d.
Yoga, n.d.
SERIES VI. PHOTOGRAPHS AND MEMORABILIA
Photographs (original)
Family and personal
Luz Rodriguez and miscellaneous family, n.d.
Photographs from wallet, 1966, 1968, n.d.
SisterSong Symposium (70 colored snapshots and negative film strip), 1998
Unidentified, n.d.
Digital copies of above photographs (2 compact disc copies)
Memorabilia
Address books and 5-year diary, 1968-75, n.d.
Certificates, 1945, 1962-2002
Personal stationary, n.d.
School material
Junior high school artifacts, n.d.
Junior and senior high school materials, 1963-72, n.d.
Miscellaneous, 1964-2005, n.d.
Simeon's art, n.d.
"Star file" (constellations), n.d.
Amethyst Women's Project bag, , notepad, paper clip, key chain/condom holder n.d.
Buttons
Napkin from junior high school prom night, "my first drink at Hawaii Kai"
Jousting tournament proclamation, n.d.
Miscellaneous, 1982-98, n.d.
SERIES VII. AUDIOVISUAL MATERIALS
Use copies
Car - Hit and run accident, Nuyorican finals (1 DVD) 1999
Foundation Center: interview with Luz Rodriguez (in Spanish) (1 CD)n.d.
International Congress on AIDS (4th) Manila, Philippines (1 DVD) 1997
Latina Round Table on Health and Reproductive Rights Symposium (5 DVDs)March, 1998
#1 Introductions and Morning: Welcome & introductions from participants
#2 Project History and Future (morning session) & Sharing of our analysis; "Plotting our Garden (reports from small Workgroups)
#3 Dr. Virginia Floyd, Dir of Human Development & Reproductive Health/Ford Creativity & Structure for our Visions and Goals
#4 Creating a Vision Statement, Workgroup reports on 3-year projects Asian, Latina, African
#5 Continuation of Workgroup Reports African, Native American.. Discussion: Timeline/criteria for concept papers measurement tools
Luz Rodriguez reads from her work (1 DVD)n.d.
SisterSong Women of Color Reproductive Health Collective (18 DVDs)
A. Love - Re-Cap on Day 1 - On racism
First training workshop for information on the project SisterSong, group for reproductive rights. Carmen Zorrilla, San Juan PR (2)March 1999
Grants Administration 1, n.d.
Self -Help Intro, n.d.
Copies of microcassettes # 1-5 (10)
Human Rights 101-11, Loretta Ross, n.d.
RTI/SH Training, Dallas TX, Last day and farewells, n.d.
RTI 202 [tapes 1 and 2] (2) n.d.
Originals and master copies - CLOSED
Car - Hit and run accident, Nuyorican finals (1 DVD and camcorder videocassette) 1999
Family photographs digitized (1 compact disc)n.d.
Personal photographs digitized (1 original compact disc and compact disc master)n.d.
Foundation Center: interview with Luz Rodriguez (in Spanish) (2 compact discs)n.d.
International Congress on AIDS (4th) Manila, Philippines (1 DVD and 1 camcorder videocassette) 1997
Latina Round Table on Health and Reproductive Rights Symposium ( 5 DVDs and 5 camcorder cassette tapes)March, 1998
Luz Rodriguez reads from her work (2 DVDs)n.d.
SisterSong (8 microcassettes, 1 VHS, 7 camcorder videocassettes, 17 DVDs)
First training workshop for information on the project SisterSong, group for reproductive rights. Carmen Zorrilla, San Juan PR, March 1999
RTI 202 [tapes 1 and 2], n.d.
Copies of microcassettes # 1-5