Tom Lehman is the son of a Mennonite missionary couple who lived in PR in the 1950's. He has amassed an extensive collection of pictures taken by his parents and other missionaries during the time they lived on the island. As his collection became more well-known, others have contributed their own pictures and what has emerged is a fascinating and moving account of life in PR. Many pictures taken at the time are in black and white, but these are in color; they capture a way of life that is all but gone, but still informs a lot of our culture. Historically speaking, not very much time has passed at all, and yet the difference just a handful of decades has made is astounding. These pictures are not to be missed.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/tlehman
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I am so glad that you mention this blog about life in PR in the 40's & 50's. When I saw these pictures for the first time, I felt a sense of loss difficult to describe. Although those were hard times for my parents and grandparents, there were other things that were captured in those pictures that I don't see now. For one, of course, the greenery and open space of my beautiful island; the humbleness in the faces of our jibaritos; no matter how poor, their surroundings were clean; a slower pace in their life styles can also be captured.... The reminder of how it used to be has made me nostalgic. I guess I can partly relate, because although I was a child in the 50's, I remember what I have described, especially when we visited our relatives in Barrio Sonadora (Guaynabo), Yabucoa and Humacao. They would greet us with open arms and lots of food. Those visits are very dear to me. Oh, well, back to reality... times do change.... :-)
La gente era tan felíz en esos tiempos, aún siendo pobres tenían esta única sonrisa. Me transportó a mi niñez.
Annie
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