This pair of documents is a photograph and an accompanying note written in Spanish, both objects were created by photographer Rogelio Cifuentes. Although the Presbyterian Historical Society does not have much information about these sources or their creator, we can attempt to parse some facts about the context and point of view of these documents. First, the photograph and letter pair is dated January 29th, 1920. From this date, we know that this is three years after the Jones Act of 1917 which enforced American citizenship and the English language on the Island of Puerto Rico. Curiously, the accompanying note is written in Spanish and the name of the photographer also seems to have Spanish, rather than American, origins. From this, we can presume that the creator of these documents was not an American missionary, but rather a person of Puerto Rican origin who is working with the Presbyterian Church.
This set of sources gives an interesting perspective of a presumably Puerto Rican photographer working with the Presbyterian Church. This point of view is comparable with the “native agency” discussed by religious scholar and historian Angel Santiago-Vendrell. As discussed in my historiographical essay, Santiago-Vendrell argues that some missionaries had “a clear vision of indigenization/contextualization for the emerging church based on language (Spanish) and culture (Puerto Rican)” (Santiago-Vendrell 1). This Puerto Rican photographer and missionary working with the Preserberterian Church is an example of this indigenous-led missionary effort. The goal of this missionary is likely not one of imperial advancement, but either an attempt at the agency within his own country or a genuine quest to spread religious fervor. In short, this set of documents is important because it illuminates a Puerto Rican perspective.
Description of photograph: This black-and-white photograph depicts a large number of Puerto Ricans and missionary workers in a tent. In the front, a group of children sit on the ground and behind them, several rows of adults are seated and standing.
Translation of note: Second tent. [The tent in Hormigueros! And the Virgin did not do a miracle! Half of the people who attended the service on Sunday, January 29. For ten days we have been preaching the Gospel in this center of Roman fanaticism with amazing results. Crowds of more than 200 and 300 people, 50 spontaneous professions of faith and an overflowing enthusiasm. The fields are ready for harvesting. On Friday we left for Rosario to give our second victory(?) there. They are so happy and enthusiastic that, since there is not a big enough place for the tent, they have cut trees and knocked down banana trees(?) to make the necessary space.]
Cifuentes, Rogelio. Sunday School Missions, Puerto Rico. Letter and Photograph. From Presbyterian Historical Society, Presbyterians in Puerto Rico, 1920. https://digital.history.pcusa.org/islandora/object/islandora%3A142321?solr_nav%5Bid%5D=da0efe23790929e16931&solr_nav%5Bpage%5D=0&solr_nav%5Boffset%5D=4
Santiago-Vendrell, Angel. 2021. “Give Them Christ: Native Agency in the Evangelization of Puerto Rico, 1900 to 1917.” Religions 12: 196. https://doi.org/10.3390/ rel12030196