The Amigos of the Cuban Heritage Collection at the University of Miami Libraries are a group of volunteers who came together in 1995 to support the CHC’s mission: to collect, preserve, and create access to historical and contemporary research resources related to Cuba and its diaspora. As a volunteer leadership organization, the AMIGOS bring together leaders of the Cuban diaspora community who are dedicated to the mission of the Cuban Heritage Collection, supporting cultural heritage preservation, and the creation of new knowledge in the field of Cuban Studies.

Through fundraising initiatives, the support from our Amigos contributes to the success of our programs by funding fellowships, acquisitions, digitization and cataloguing efforts, oral histories, exhibitions, and events. They are an important aspect of our community engagement and are integral to advancing our role as a premier research destination for Cuban and Cuban Diasporic studies.

Among some of the major initiatives they have helped fund is the Luis J. Botifoll Oral History Project and the Movimiento San Isidro Oral History Project.

To support our mission, make a tax-deductible gift using the online giving form and select Amigos of the Cuban Heritage Collection Fund in the Designation field. If you have any questions, please write to amigos@miami.edu or call 305-284-4900.

AMIGOS: A 30-Year Legacy of Preserving Cuban Heritage

For three decades, the Amigos of the Cuban Heritage Collection (CHC) have served as passionate advocates and champions of Cuban cultural memory. Founded by leaders of the Cuban diaspora community, the Amigos have built vital bridges between the university and the broader community. Their efforts have not only secured essential financial support and gifts-in-kind, but also amplified the visibility of the CHC’s mission to collect, preserve, and make accessible the rich history of Cuba and its diaspora.

Through their fundraising, advocacy, and community engagement, the Amigos have advanced landmark initiatives for the CHC, ensuring that future generations have access to the voices, stories, and materials that shape our history and heritage.

Timeline of Key Milestones

• 1995: The Amigos were founded at the suggestion of Gladys Gómez-Rossié to support the Libraries’ growing collection of Cuban materials. Henry King Stanford, President Emeritus of the University of Miami, and Elena Díaz-Versón Amos, served as the first co-chairs.
• 1998: The Cuban Heritage Collection (CHC) was officially established, bringing together the Libraries’ Cuban and Cuban diaspora materials in one location in Richter Library. Esperanza Bravo de Varona was appointed as Director.
• Late 1990s-early 2000s: The Amigos play an integral role in securing major gifts from The Goizueta Foundation, Elena Díaz-Versón Amos, and the Fanjul family to support the creation of a dedicated space within Richter Library to house the CHC. Throughout this period, the Amigos worked to secure local and national media coverage for the CHC. Diario Las Américas and The Miami Herald covered CHC events, which helped increase donations to the Collection.
• 2003: The Roberto C. Goizueta Pavilion, home of the Cuban Heritage Collection, is inaugurated.
• 2007: The Amigos create the Henry King Stanford Award to recognize individuals or groups whose service has meaningfully strengthened the CHC.
• 2008: Under the leadership of Chair Carlos P. Quintela, the Amigos established a quasi-endowment, ensuring ongoing support for the CHC through annual interest distributions.
• 2008: Amigos fundraising led to the creation of the Luis J. Botifoll Oral History Project, preserving the testimonies of older Cuban exiles and cementing the CHC as a leader in oral history preservation.
• 2013: Leveraging their connections, the Amigos helped secure a grant from the Marlins Foundation to create the Human Rights Oral History Project, documenting the experiences of Cuban dissidents, particularly those linked to the Black Spring of 2003.
• 2014: The Amigos hosted a successful gala and provided individual philanthropic support to meet a grant match, resulting in a $1 million gift from The Goizueta Foundation to establish the Goizueta Foundation Endowed Fund for the Cuban Heritage Collection.
• 2020: The Amigos ensured continuity during the COVID-19 pandemic through active board leadership and adaptation to new forms of engagement.
• 2021-2022: Fundraising by the Amigos established the Movimiento San Isidro Oral History Project, featuring interviews with artists leading a movement against censorship in Cuba.
• 2021-2024: Prominent Cuban-American entrepreneurs were interviewed for the Luis J. Botifoll Oral History Project, enriching the CHC’s documentation of diaspora leadership and innovation.
• 2023: Based on recommendations from the Amigos Board, CHC’s oral history collections were included in the Library of Congress’s Handbook of Latin American Studies, further elevating their scholarly visibility.
• 2025: The Amigos facilitated an oral history interview with José Daniel Ferrer, Cuban human rights activist and founder of UNPACU, adding to the CHC’s record of documenting voices of resistance.

Leadership through the Years

• 1995-2002 – Henry King Stanford and Elena Díaz-Versón Amos, Co-Chairs
• 2002-2005 – José F. Valdivia, Jr., Chair Emeritus
• 2005-2007 – Ignacio Carrera-Jústiz, Chair Emeritus
• 2007-2009 – Carlos P. Quintela, Chair and Emeritus Director
• 2009-2010 – Horacio Stuart Aguirre, Chair and Emeritus Director
• 2010-2016 – Aldo Leiva, Chair
• 2016-2019 – Aida Levitán, Chair
• 2019-2024 – Francisco X. Santeiro, Chair
• 2025-2027 – Ernie Fernández, Chair