Image Number

Photographer

Date

Rights

Collection

Geographic Term

Subject Term

Personal Subjects

Corporate Subject

Physical Description

General Note

Accompanying note: "Aside from customs, beliefs, games, music and foodways, traditional crafts are part of folk culture. Cuba has long been noted as a cigar-making capitol in the world. When Cubans immigrated to Florida, they brought with them the folk knowledge of how to prepare and cure handmade cigars. These traditional skills are still practiced in the Florida centers of Cuban population: Key West, Tampa, and Miami."

"Cigar-rolling is a traditional skill, learned in Cuba, that has enriched Miami's small industries. Rafael Martinez is perhaps typical of the many skilled craftsmen of 'Little Havana.'"

"'My name is Rafael Martinez. I was born in Havana, Cuba. My father was a cigar-roller in Cuba and I worked for La Carona Cigar Factory before I came from Cuba. I learned the art right there at the factory. The best cigars are made right now in Miami. Because we, the experts, the cigar rollers are here, and we have really tried very hard. My shop is very small. Some are very big and they are factories. But like mine, there are three or four in Miami.

In Cuba, the women stripped the leaves only. That was women's work and only women did that. My wife does this here... When we have fifty cigars, that's a bunch. We wrap them together with a little bow tie.'"