The Carlos Alberto Martinez Collection, 1961-2006

Carlos Alberto Martinez
    


Biographical Note: Carlos Alberto Martínez was born in the Dominican Republic and emigrated to New York City in 1961, after the death of Dominican Dictator Rafael Leonidas Trujillo Molina. In the Dominican Republic, he worked as Inspector General in the Office of Urban Transportation from 1950 to 1955. Later he worked as a driver at Munet y Compañía, a company dedicated to the purchasing of cocoa, coffee, and rice. His brother, Domingo Antonio, was killed during the 14th of June 1959 "Constanza, Maimón y Estero Hondo" invasion to overthrow Trujillo and was killed by Trujillo’s forces. His sister in-law, Rosalia Distrén, wife of Domingo Antonio, provided Carlos Alberto with a visa to come to the United States. His first job in the United States was as a mechanic in a plastic factory in the Bronx. In 1968, he was fired from his new job as a mechanic due to his alcoholic problem. In 1976, he established his first business “La Estrella” on 78th Street and Amsterdam Avenue in Manhattan. Between 1986 and 1987, he founded "La Asociación de Comerciantes y Profesionales de Apoyo al Partido de la Liberación Dominicana (PLD) and in 1990, was elected President "Movimiento de la Moralidad Dominicana" of  PLD.  From 1986 to 2006, he was a member of the Lions Club. He made his first visit to Alcoholics Anonymous in 1979 and 1981-1982 he became coordinator of Group Camino Real of Alcoholics Anonymous. Eventually, he became  President of the "Comité de la Prevención del Alcoholismo y Drogadicción." 

Scope and Content Note: The Collection consists of a large number of photographs of Carlos Alberto Martínez and community activists, political personalities, and members of the Dominican community who attended his function as the head of the Alcoholics Anonymous, La Luz Divina, and other community organizations that he was associated with. Among them was former Dominican president Prof. Juan Bosch, New York City Council Dominican members Guillermo Linares, Miguel Martínez, assemblyman Adriano Espaillat, and famous Dominican fashion designer Oscar de la Renta.  

Last Updated: 06/14/2021 12:04