The beautiful dress enhanced the ravishing and suggestive beauty of the charming Srta. Gloria V. Batista Portilla. She wore it at the shawl dance, where she was the Queen’s First Lady. Listening to great ovations of admiration as she passed. (Photo by Gil).
Introduction
Cheryl is responsible for my decision to write this blog. Several years ago, I befriended her during one of my dog walks. She shared a story about visiting Puerto Rico with her family as a little girl. It was their first visit to the island. One day, they decided to go sightseeing and stumbled across an abandoned home. They decided to take a look around and observe the architecture. She doesn’t recall what town. But she said it wasn’t far from the capital. Once inside, her mother came across a stack of magazines. They look like they have been sitting there for decades. After going through them, she thought it best to rescue the magazines (Puerto Rico Ilustrado.) So fearful that they would be lost forever to the elements. I am so glad she saved them.
During one of our conversations, I mentioned my interest in genealogy. She asked me where my family was from, and I replied I’m Puerto Rico. That is when she began to tell me of her mother’s passing a few years ago as she was still in the process of clearing out her belongings and didn’t know what to do with the magazines. They have been in a trunk, just collecting dust. Throwing them out was not an option, as her mother rescued them decades ago. So, Cheryl asked me if I would be interested in them. I don’t believe I even let her finish asking! Of course, I immediately said, I would love to take them off your hands! Where are they? I was delighted.
Exploring the Magazines
I was amazed going through all the magazines. The pictures, stories, and ads were terrific. The articles were so exciting and captured an era in time. Of course, it was an opportunity for me to step back in time and see how the aristocrats of Puerto Rico lived. So, I promised my friend that I would research the families. Thus, this website was born.
As we all know, finding old photographs of our family is a dream. We hope to achieve this by placing names on faces. Although, as tricky as it is sometimes to see pictures of our ancestors, one could never give up hope. You never know when these treasures will show up. I knew these magazines would shine faces on names once lost in time. Finally, my goal is to research all the families in the magazines. And as this will be a long process, it is my mission, I promised my friend and her deceased mother. Genealogy is my passion, and this is something that I enjoy. So, to summarise, please subscribe and visit my website often. You never know if I will come across one of your ancestors.
Puerto Rico Ilustrado
Puerto Rico Ilustrado was a weekly magazine in Puerto Rico, published from March 6, 1910, through December 27, 1952, in San Juan. They produced a total of 2,227 issues. Several issues were published in 1968, July to December 1970, and February to April 1973. In addition, this magazine was an insert in the El Mundo newspaper for many years.
I’ve noticed many of the people profiled in these magazines were from well-to-do families. However, those featured on the society pages were from other countries, which made Puerto Rico their home. You will see families from San Juan, Ponce, and Mayaguez. They represent families of French, Spanish, Italian, Cuban, Venezuelan, and American descent.
Unfortunately, I don’t have all the issues. I only have eight magazines covering the 1920s. However, as this is the beginning of many blogs, I intend to write and share my research.
Let’s get Started
All pictures are from the original magazine. I also edited them in Photoshop to produce the best quality image. Below is a three-generation pedigree of three individuals I chose to profile in this blog. I did not include the sources. My only goal here is to connect the picture to a name. However, you can find the documents on Ancestry or Family Search. Enjoy!
Gloria Virginia Batista Portilla Family from Santurce, San Juan, Puerto Rico
Margarita Giusti and William Henry Preston, a family from San Juan and Ponce, Puerto Rico
William and Margarita had several children: William Henry, Maria M., Maria Encarnacion, and Maria del Carmen.
Pedro Giusti married his niece, María del Carmen Giusti. They were dispensed with two degrees of consanguinity.
Dr. Juan Francisco Franceschi Caballero, Family of Manatí, Puerto Rico
Correction (Juan Francisco’s paternal grandmother is Estela, not Estrella)
D. J. Francisco appears to have married twice. His first marriage was to Ramona Colmenero Pagán(Vega Baja); May 1 1920 in San Juan, Puerto Rico. His second marriage was to Ana del Manzano de López de Victoria. She was born in San Juan, Puerto Rico on Nov 16, 1918. Her parents are Pedro del Manzano Davila & Consuelo López de Victoria Sotomayor, as indicated in her birth record. I have not located a marriage record between D. Francisco & Da. Ana, according to a 1940 census record, they live in Rio Grande, Puerto Rico, and have a son named Francisco José Franceschi del Manzano.
(Correction: Batia should be Batias as in Provincia de “Batias,” Corcega)
Sources:
- Puerto Rico Ilustrado Year XX San Juan, Puerto Rico, August 3, 1929 #1013
- Puerto Rico Ilustrado-Wikipedia
- Corsicans of Puerto Rico Association of Corsicans of Puerto Rico 2013, Puerto Rican Society of Corsican Descendants, Inc. (Editors and Researchers; Lorenzo Dragoni Rodríguez, Dr. Enrique Vivoni Farage, Dr. Norma Feliberti Aldebol Dr. Vivoni and Dra. Feliberti is a Board Member of the SPG. (genealogiapr.com)
- Ancestry.com
- Familysearch.com
