Cuban Revolution Collection, 1959-1965

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Summary

Abstract:
The Cuban Revolution originated with discontent over the repressive regime of Fulgencio Batista, who sought greater popularity by staging rigged elections in 1954 and 1958. In 1953, student revolutionary Fidel Castro led an attack on a military base. Preparing a major guerilla assault while in Mexico, Castro returned to Cuba in December 1956, and after initial failures retreated to the Sierra Maestra. Over the next months, anti-Batista feeling grew, and after a series of battles, Castro's forces took Santiago on January 2, 1959, and ended the war. The first Soviet trade agreement in 1960 and Castro's seizure of foreign oil company investments slowly drove the U.S. and Cuba apart, leading up to the failed U.S. Bay of Pigs invasion (1961) and the Cuban Missile Crisis (1962). The collection consists of transcripts of radio broadcasts made by Fidel Castro, Carlos Rafael, and other Cuban leaders (1963-64), Cuban, Russian and Brazilian newspapers and pamphlets related to the Cuban Revolution, as well as some Cuban exile literature.
Extent:
3 boxes (1.5 linear ft.) 1 oversize box
Language:
English.

Background

Scope and content:

Collection consists of transcripts of radio broadcasts made by Fidel Castro, Carlos Rafael, and other Cuban leaders (1963-64). Also contains Cuban, Russian and Brazilian newspapers and pamphlets related to the Cuban Revolution, as well as some Cuban exile literature.

Biographical / historical:

The Cuban Revolution originated with discontent over the repressive regime of Fulgencio Batista, who sought greater popularity by staging rigged elections in 1954 and 1958. In 1953, student revolutionary Fidel Castro led an attack on a military base. Preparing a major guerilla assault while in Mexico, Castro returned to Cuba in December 1956, and after initial failures retreated to the Sierra Maestra. Over the next months, anti-Batista feeling grew, and after a series of battles, Castro's forces took Santiago on January 2, 1959, and ended the war. The first Soviet trade agreement in 1960 and Castro's seizure of foreign oil company investments slowly drove the U.S. and Cuba apart, leading up to the failed U.S. Bay of Pigs invasion (1961) and the Cuban Missile Crisis (1962).

Acquisition information:
Purchase, 1973.
Arrangement:

Arranged in the following series:

  1. Transcripts of radio broadcasts, 1963-64 (Boxes 1-3).
  2. Cuban pamphlets--Fidel Castro's speeches (Box 3).
  3. Cuban exile bulletins, newspapers, and pamphlets (Boxes 3-4).
  4. Cuban, Russian, and Brazilian newspapers (Oversize box 4).

Physical location:
Stored off-site at SRLF. Advance notice is required for access to the collection. Please contact the UCLA Library, Department of Special Collections Reference Desk for paging information.

Access and use

Location of this collection:
A1713 Charles E. Young Research Library
Box 951575
Los Angeles, CA 90095-1575, US
Contact:
(310) 825-4988
AskLSC@library.ucla.edu
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