Dominicans in New Jersey: A Community on the Move

Dominicans in New Jersey:  A Community on the Move is a salute to one of the state’s fastest growing Latino populations.  It is the first exhibition in New Jersey honoring one of the state’s newest communities, which is predominately located in Passaic, Essex, Union and Middlesex counties.

The exhibition includes materials on the Dominican Republic itself with references to its geography, history and a review of historic Santo Domingo, the capital city. Included in the show are references to statistics, which demonstrate how the Dominican population continues to grow in New Jersey. There are also pictures of new arrivals to the state as well as older established families who came to New Jersey in the 1940s. The case entitled “Making a Living” is devoted to bodegas, hair salons and travel agencies. “The Media” case shows us some of the 19 daily Dominican newspapers published in New Jersey, and the case on religion and associations, are some of the groups that attend to the needs of the community. Additionally, a case on “Civics” includes materials on elected political officials and legal progress. And a case on parades illustrates the first Dominican Day parade held in Paterson in 1998.

Several prints from the Newark Public Library’s fine print collection by George Overbury Hart are displayed, including a view of the Republic’s 1920 past.

There also is a final case devoted to well-known Dominicans. These depict famous people from the Dominican Republic such as Oscar de la Renta, Maria Montez, and Sammy Sosa.

The exhibition will be open from September 15th through November 15th and can be viewed during Library hours, Monday, Friday and Saturday 9-5:30 and Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday 9 am through 8:30 pm.

We hope you will enjoy a New Jersey first: a showcase on the Dominicans in New Jersey.