Olga J. Wagenheim, PhD - Professor Emerita
Dr. Olga Jimenez de Wagenheim is Professor Emerita in History at Rutgers University Newark where she taught and mentored for more than 20 years. Specializing in Latin American and Caribbean studies, Dr. Wagenheim has authored several books and articles among these, The Puerto Ricans: A Documentary History and Puerto Rico’s Revolt for Independence: El Grito de Lares.
Dr. Wagenheim's coursework implemented the practice of gathering personal accounts from Latino communities in New Jersey, including the testimonies of those involved with the 1974 Puerto Rican Riots in Newark. She has continued to document the migration and impact of Puerto Ricans in New Jersey by collecting the stories of the Puerto Rican community in Dover. This work was later published as a chapter in The Puerto Rican Diaspora, edited by Carmen Whalen and Víctor Vázquez.
Rescuing Latino legacies has always been at the forefront of Dr. Waghenim’s work. Co-founding the Hispanic Research and Information Center was a way for her to continue this mission. The HRIC includes the Puerto Rican Community Archive, the Hispanic Reference Collection, and La Sala Hispanoamerica. She documents her role in co-founding the HRIC in Rescuing Our Latino Legacy, noting the goal was not only to preserve materials but to “raise consciousness” among Latinos for their historic roles and impact on society.
