From the Rev. Seiichi Mike Yasutake and Rev. José Alberto Torres Galleries
Biography of Rev. José Alberto Torres
Rev. José Alberto Torres (El Viejo) was born on June 9, 1923 in Ponce, Puerto Rico. He completed his academic and theological studies in 1949, at the Interamerican University in San German and the Evangelical Seminary of Puerto Rico. In 1959, Rev. Torres was called by the Congregational Church in New York to work with the Hispanic community at Martha Memorial Evangelical and Reform Church in Manhattan. In 1962, Rev. Torres was called by the Community Renewal Society of Chicago to minister the growing Hispanic community at First Congregational Church of Chicago. During that time, Rev. Torres was interim director of Casa Central and an active participant of the Urban Training Center, two entities that were housed and supported by the First Congregational Church of Chicago. In 1990, Rev. Torres retires and is officially granted the status of Pastor Emeritus by the First Congregational Church of Chicago.
Rev. Torres was interim director of Casa Central and an active participant of the Urban Training Center, two entities that were housed and supported by the First Congregational Church of Chicago. In 1990, Rev. Torres retires and is officially granted the status of Pastor Emeritus by the First Congregational Church of Chicago.
Rev. Torres was instrumental in involving the Church in the issues that were affecting the Puerto Rican community at the time. Issues that ranged from residential displacement as a result of the urban renewal project, to better housing, education, employment and community rights and presentation in local politics.
Since his involvement with the United Church of Christ, the First Church has actively participated in support of civil and human rights issues of the Puerto Rican community and other under represented minorities. Rev. Torres marched with Martin Luther King, Jr. in Selma, Alabama in 1964 and was part of a group of ministers to bring Dr. King’s civil rights issues to the Puerto Rican community in Chicago. He has worked diligently for social justice and in various issues in the community. He was on the organizing committee of the first Puerto Rican Parade and the Peoples’ Parade. He was the founding member of the Dr. Pedro Albizu Campos High School, the Puerto Rican Cultural Center and the Committee to Free the Puerto Rican Political Prisoners.
Rev. Torres has three children from a previous marriage, Carlos Alberto Torres (one of the remaining political prisoners), Norma and Nidza. He married Alejandrina in 1964 and has two children, Lisa and Catalina.
Rev. Torres has found many sons and daughters in the Puerto Rican Cultural Center community, all of whom are considered a very close part of our family.
Bolivar regresa a Vieques
Bolivar en Vieques, artist unknown, donated to PRCC in 1986 by Brunilda Garcia, leading Puerto Rican dramatist.
Brief history of Simon Bolivar
Mariana Bracetti
"Brazo de Oro"
Mariana Bracetti, one of the Lares revolutionaries, sewed the Lares flag while imprisoned for her revolutionary activities. This copper etching was donated by Adolfo Matos, former Puerto Rican Political Prisoner, while serving a 68 year sentence for seditious conspiracy.
More on Mariana Bracetti here. More on the Grito de Lares.
More on Adolfo Matos. More on Puerto Rican Political Prisoners.
Francisco "Pancho" Villa
Donated to the PRCC in 1981 by Mexican revolutionary activists.
More on Pancho Villa. More on the Mexican Revolution.
