Dr. Carla Martin completed her B.A. in Anthropology in 2003, her M.A. in Anthropology in 2007, and her PhD in African and African American Studies in 2012, all from Harvard University. An interdisciplinary social anthropologist, Martin lectures widely and has taught classes in African and African American Studies, critical food studies, social anthropology, and ethnomusicology. In 2011, she founded the Fine Cacao and Chocolate Institute, “a nonprofit with a mission “dedicated to identifying, developing, and promoting fine cacao and chocolate.” Since 2014, Dr. Martin has been a Lecturer in the Department of African and African American Studies at Harvard University, and in 2021 she became the department’s Assistant Director of Undergraduate Studies. Dr. Martin researches the politics of fine cacao and chocolate globally. Her previous research examined language inequality in Cape Verde and its diaspora. She has contributed her writings to publications Transition Magazine, Social Dynamics, The Root, US History Scene, Sodade Magazine, Socio.hu, The Savannah Review, and edited volumes.
This collection consists of over 300 books, along with articles and research files, sheet music, textiles, artworks, and souvenirs collected by Dr. Carla Martin, Lecturer and Assistant Director of Undergraduate Studies in Harvard University’s Department of African and African American Studies. Items are related to the topic of Cape Verdean culture, language, music, politics, history, and literature, with a wide range of disciplines from social sciences and humanities represented. Books are in several languages, principle among them Portuguese and Cabo Verdean Creole. Materials were gathered during trips to the Cape Verde islands while Dr. Martin was working on her dissertation, which she completed in 2012. Research materials include photocopies of rare materials held by the National Library of Cape Verde which are not held in many libraries worldwide. Martin’s collection won the Philip Hofer Prize for Collecting Books or Art from the Harvard University Library System.
Researchers are advised to contact Rhode Island College Special Collections for questions regarding permissions to reproduce, distribute, or otherwise publish material from this collection. Although Rhode Island College has physical ownership of the collection, it does not necessarily hold literary rights. It is up to the researcher to determine the owners of the literary rights and to obtain any necessary permissions from them.
The collection is open for research by appointment.
Carla Martin collection on Cape Verdean language and culture, MSS.13/22, Special Collections, James P. Adams Library, Rhode Island College
This collection is divided into 3 series:
Published books in the collection were cataloged and shelved in Special Collections. Photocopies of materials already held at RIC or widely available were weeded. Remaining photocopies were rehoused in archival folders and organized alphabetically by title. Large objects and artwork were placed in flat boxes or flat file drawers, as appropriate.
Map detailing all the Carribean islands and which dialect they speak.
Fives pieces: three pánn di téra and two embroidered napkins
Promotional copy of the single "Shake Dat Booty", produced by Lou Vega.
Published books are cataloged in Adams Library's OPAC