Usage conditions may apply for digital images, video, and sound recordings linked within SOVA collections. While digital content may be restricted, SOVA collection descriptions and catalog records are available CC0 for re-use. For more information, visit the Smithsonian's Terms of Use page.
Archives Center, National Museum of American History
Guide to the Tito Puente Papers
Summary
- Collection ID:
- NMAH.AC.0894
- Creators:
-
Puente, TitoPuente, Margaret
- Dates:
-
1962-2001, undated
- Languages:
-
English.
- Physical Description:
-
0.33 Cubic feet1 box
- Repository:
The collection consists of photographs and personal papers documenting the career of Latin Jazz musican Tito Puente.
Scope and Contents
Scope and Contents
The collection consists primarily of photographs. The locations and dates of most of the photographs are unknown and include Puente in concert and with Celia Cruz. Some of the photographs are portraits of Puente as a young performer. Personal papers consist of a cancelled United States passport and a radio license issued in Venezuela in 1965. There is a calendar published by Latin Percussion, Incorporated with photographs of several jazz musicians, including Puente in 1969 and 1970. The materials are arranged by type.
Arrangement
Arrangement
The materials are arranged in five folders.
Biographical / Historical
Biographical / Historical
Tito Puente (1923-2000) was a New York born jazz, mambo and salsa percussionist, nicknamed "King of the Timbales." During his career, Puente recorded 120 albums, composed more than 450 songs, and has been credited with some 2,000 arrangements. His contributions to Latin jazz earned him the title "El Rey del Timbal" (The King of the Timbal) and "King of Latin Music" along with numerous honors, including five Grammy Awards, the National Medal of Arts, and the Library of Congress Living Legend award. Puente was featured in the films The Mambo Kings in 1992 and Calle 54 in 2000. He was honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1990.
Administration
Author
Sarah Allan (volunteer); supervised by Vanessa Broussard Simmons.
Processing Information
Processed by Sarah Allan (volunteer), 2008; supervised by Vanessa Broussard Simmons.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Tito Puente's widow, Margaret Puente, donated this collection in 2004.
Separated Materials
Several artifacts were donated to the Museum's Division of Culture and the Arts t including a sequined jacket worn by Puente when he won the Grammy Award for Best Tropical Latin Performance. See accession number 1996.0304.
Using the Collection
Conditions Governing Access
The collection is open for research use.
Physical Access: Researchers must handle unprotected photographs with gloves.
Conditions Governing Use
Collection items available for reproduction, but the Archives Center makes no guarantees concerning copyright restrictions. Other intellectual property rights may apply. Archives Center cost-recovery and use fees may apply when requesting reproductions.
Preferred Citation
Tito Puente Papers, Archives Center, National Museum of American History
Related Materials
Related Materials
The materials in this collection complement the Goya Foods Incorporated Collection, Paquito D'Rivera Papers, Chico O'Farrill Papers, Mongo Santamaria Papers and Latino Music Collection.
Keywords
| Keyword Terms | Keyword Types | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Passports | Genre Form | Search Smithsonian Collections | Search ArchiveGrid |
| Mambos (Music) | Topical | Search Smithsonian Collections | Search ArchiveGrid |
| Jazz musicians | Topical | Search Smithsonian Collections | Search ArchiveGrid |
| Salsa (Music) | Topical | Search Smithsonian Collections | Search ArchiveGrid |
| Photographs -- 1960-1970 | Genre Form | Search Smithsonian Collections | Search ArchiveGrid |
Archives Center, National Museum of American History
P.O. Box 37012
Suite 1100, MRC 601
Washington, D.C. 20013-7012
archivescenter@si.edu
