Our Mission, Our Vision
Casa Paoli, the house where the dramatic tenor Antonio Paoli and his siblings were born and lived is located in southwestern Puerto Rico. It is the property and headquarters of the Puerto Rican Folklore Research Center, Inc. (CIFPR) founded in 1976 as a non-profit institution and registered with the State Department in 1980.
It is an organization exclusively for educational purposes. It receives contributions from individuals and public and private institutions that seek ro support this effort. Its main objective is the study of Puerto Rican culture. To this end, it compiles, classifies, analyzes, and publishes selections of the island's folkloric material. Hence the interest of the Center/Casa Paoli in the humanistic and socioeconomic aspects of Puerto Rican popular culture.
The Center/Casa Paoli opens its modest doors to promote all cultural manifestations—musical, visual, craft, literary, scientific—whether from the academic or the popular fields. Casa Paoli supports the efforts of researchers, preferably those working in less favored or neglected areas that are in need of serious and documented work, such as new forms of contemporary art. In addition, the institution offers a forum where exhibitions, talks, conferences, dialogues, and gatherings on new trends can take place, as well as experimental concerts or other activities of interest to the community can take place.
During the spring of 1983, the Center began an inventory and investigation of the old urban center of Ponce. As a result of this preliminary interdisciplinary study, the place where “the King of Tenors and the Tenor of Kings,” Antonio Paoli (1871-1946), was born and lived.
In 1987, the Center acquired Casa Paoli through a purchase made possible by the spirit of solidarity of Antonio Penna Salicrup and his family. The support of the late and dear friend, Jaime Yordan Conesa, also was very important for the acquisition of this historic building.
Casa Paoli is an example of the effort made by the Government of Puerto Rico—together with voluntary non-profit institutions—to keep alive the expressions that define us as a people.
THE TENOR'S DRESSING ROOM
Altarpiece created by the cagueño artisan Edwin Báez Carrasquillo that presents the tenor Antonio Paoli in the privacy of his dressing room preparing to offer a recital in his hometown of Ponce in 1922 Altarpiece and lectern are made of mahogany, It measures 62" x 18".
Founders of the Center at CasaPaoli
Néstor Murray-Irizarry
b. 1946
Born in the sector known as Bélgica in Ponce on December 15, 1946. Cultural administrator, historian, and retired university professor at the Inter-American University of Puerto Rico, Ponce and Bayamón campuses. Studied at the Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico; University of Puerto Rico; Bank Street College of Education, New York; Center for Advanced Studies of Puerto Rico and the Caribbean; and UNAM, Mexico. Has published over 15 books on topics related to Puerto Rican culture. Travels and gives lectures on his research and studies in musical history, muralism, and folklore of his land. Founder of the Puerto Rican Folklore Research Center, Inc., and Casa Paoli, together with Carmen Iris Ramos Texeira and Narciso Vilaró Canals.
Carmen I. Ramos-Texeira
1948-1998
Born in Ponce on March 7, 1948, and died in 1998. Teacher, executive secretary, and leader. Studied for her Masters in Business Administration at Ponce campus of the Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico. Life partner of Néstor Murray-Irizarry, founder-president of the Center/Casa Paoli. They had three children. Teacher at the DE and executive secretary of Sister Isolina Ferre-Aguayo at COS. In addition, worked for many years at Puerto Rico Department of Public Works and Public Buildings Administration. A political leader. Member of our first Board of Directors.
Narciso Vilaró-Canals
b. 1946
Born in Ponce on December 4, 1930. University professor and student of philosophy. Studied medicine for three years before deciding to change careers and enter the Philosophy and Letters Faculty of the University of Barcelona, where he completed the requirements to obtain a doctoral degree. Has taught philosophy and history courses for 40 years at Ponce campus of the Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico. Published articles on philosophy in various magazines and anthologies. Editor and main scholar of the work of José Antonio Franquiz published by Casa Paoli. Chaired our board of directors for many years.