Florida Memory is administered by the Florida Department of State, Division of Library and Information Services, Bureau of Archives and Records Management. The digitized records on Florida Memory come from the collections of the State Archives of Florida and the special collections of the State Library of Florida.
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Collection
"Little Havana" : Folklife in Miami Slide/Tape Program
Geographic Term
Subject Term
Cigar makers--Florida--Dade County--Miami--Little Havana
Married people--Florida--Dade County--Miami--Little Havana
Cigar boxes
Industry, Cigarmaking--Florida--Dade County--Miami--Little Havana
Material culture--Florida--Dade County--Miami--Little Havana
Occupational groups--Florida--Dade County--Miami--Little Havana
Personal Subjects
Corporate Subject
Physical Description
General Note
Accompanying note: "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.'"
Some of the big factories, they import. They do not make everything here. Not me, though. Everyone who's tried the handmade cigars here in Miami, they certainly like them better than the machine-made ones. When a cigar is handmade the human element is there. And if there is something wrong, you can correct it right away. But with a machine it may turn out too soft or too hard and there is nothing you can do about it. But if you have the expert right there, he can correct the problem. And, of course, the cigar is superior. Since I was a very young man, I started learning this and I really love my work. I'm in love with my work."
The cigar is much more perfect here. A cigar is in the press for 25 to 30 minutes. This makes a bunch. And then you have to roll it and then you have to finish off the end, you make sure that they're well finished. When we have fifty cigars, that's a bunch. We wrap them together with a little bow tie.
"'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...
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Chicago Manual of Style
Mr. and Mrs. Rafael Martinez holding an open box of Ramar Cigars - Miami, Florida. 1980 (circa). State Archives of Florida, Florida Memory. <https://www.floridamemory.com/items/show/120442>, accessed 12 June 2026.
MLA
Mr. and Mrs. Rafael Martinez holding an open box of Ramar Cigars - Miami, Florida. 1980 (circa). State Archives of Florida, Florida Memory. Accessed 12 Jun. 2026.<https://www.floridamemory.com/items/show/120442>
AP Style Photo Citation
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