Everyone loves a New York City bodega, but do you know one of the key figures who documented them in the mid-20th century? May 1st is the start of National Photography Month and we’re honoring the legacy of Justo A. Martí (1899-1998)! Born in Cuba, Martí emigrated to New York City in 1925 with the dream of becoming a photographer. He documented aspects of daily working-class life for the Latine community like social, cultural, and sporting events, city politics, protests, family gatherings, and organizational activities. Most notably, Martí documented a burgeoning industry that has now become synonymous with New York City culture: Bodegas. These quintessential neighborhood shops were central to growing Puerto Rican and immigrant enclaves in the mid-20th century. In 1985, CENTRO organized the first monographic exhibition on Martí as part of the celebration of the acquisition of his collection. Nélida Pérez, Blanca Vázquez, and photographer Máximo Rafael Colón curated the selection of photographs. From the moment that the Jesús Colon Papers and the Justo Martí Photographic Collection were acquired by CENTRO, they became the foundation for the creation and development of the archival program that was established officially in 1989: The Archives of the Puerto Rican Diaspora.