Smithsonian Institution Archives

Pablo Rodriguez-Martinez Oral History Interview, 1990

Summary

Collection ID:
SIA.FARU9581
Creators:
Rodriguez-Martinez, Pablo, interviewee
Dates:
1990
Languages:
English
Physical Description:
1 audiotape (Reference copy).
Repository:
Smithsonian Institution Archives

Introduction

Introduction
The Smithsonian Institution Archives began its Oral History Program in 1973. The purpose of the program is to supplement the written documentation of the Archives' record and manuscript collections with an Oral History Collection, focusing on the history of the Institution, research by its scholars, and contributions of its staff. Program staff conduct interviews with current and retired Smithsonian staff and others who have made significant contributions to the Institution. There are also interviews conducted by researchers or students on topics related to the history of the Smithsonian or the holdings of the Smithsonian Institution Archives.
Rodriguez-Martinez was interviewed for the Oral History Collection because of his long tenure at the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute as a Panamanian employee. Additional information about Panamanian staff can be found in the Records of the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute which are also housed in the Smithsonian Archives and Record Unit 9624 History of the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute Oral History Interviews.

Descriptive Entry

Descriptive Entry
The Pablo Rodriguez-Martinez interview discusses his background and career at STRI; recollections of colleagues and life on Barro Colorado Island; and changes at STRI over the years. Box 1 contains transcripts of the interviews and cassette copies of the original reel-to-reel recordings, which are in security storage.
The Pablo Rodriguez-Martinez Interview was conducted in June 1990 by Pamela M. Henson, historian at the Smithsonian Institution Archives . It consists of 0.5 hour of tape and 16 pages of transcript in Spanish and 13 pages in English.

Historical Note

Historical Note
Pablo Rodriguez-Martinez (1936- ) was a Game Warden at the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute (STRI), from 1962 to the early 1990s. He was born on March 2, 1936, in Penonome, Montegrande, in the Pajona'l corregimiento of Panama. In 1950, he moved to La Chorrera and in 1961 began working part-time as a General Helper at the Canal Zone Biological Area, which was renamed the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute in 1966. In 1962 he was hired full-time with the primary task of guarding Barro Colorado Island (BCI) and other STRI facilities against poachers.

Administration

Author
Finding aid prepared by Smithsonian Institution Archives

Using the Collection

Prefered Citation
Smithsonian Institution Archives, Record Unit 9581, Pablo Rodriguez-Martinez Oral History Interview
Use Restriction
Restricted. Contact SIHistory@si.edu to request permission.

More Information

Notes

Oral Histories


Keywords

Keywords table of terms and types.
Keyword Terms Keyword Types
Rodriguez-Martinez, Pablo Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Henson, Pamela M., interviewer Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Vitola, Francisco Corporate Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Bocanegra, Fausto, 1926- Corporate Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute. Canal Zone Biological Area Corporate Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
United States. Canal Zone Biological Area, Barro Colorado Island Corporate Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute. Barro Colorado Island Corporate Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute Corporate Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Tropical biology Topic Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Guards -- Panama Topic Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Security guards Topic Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Conservation of natural resources Topic Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Oral history Topic Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Interviews Topic Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Barro Colorado Island (Panama) Place Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Panama -- Social life and customs Place Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Panama Place Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Latin America -- History Place Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Panama -- Description and travel Place Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Audiotapes Genre/Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Transcripts Genre/Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid

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Washington, D.C.
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