Operation Pedro Pan

Operation Pedro Pan was the largest recorded exodus of unaccompanied minors in the Western Hemisphere. Between December 1960 and October 1962, some 14,000 unaccompanied Cuban minors entered the United States as refugees under the sponsoring of the Catholic Welfare Bureau of the Diocese of Miami, Florida. Monsignor Bryan O. Walsh developed and headed the Cuban Children’s Program in December 1960, which provided foster care to almost 7,000 Cuban minors. The program continued until the early 1980s.

Although Operation Pedro Pan and Cuban Children’s Program developed at the same time, distinctions can be made about the two programs. Operation Pedro Pan was developed to help Cuban parents send their children unaccompanied to the United States to avoid Communist indoctrination. And the Cuban Children’s Program was inaugurated to provide foster care for Cuban refugee children who found themselves in the United States without the care and protection of their parents. The former terminated when the Cuban Missile Crisis halted commercial flights between Cuba and the United States in October of 1962.

The Pedro Pan Archives

The Operation Pedro Pan Cuban Children’s Program Records at Barry University Archives and Special Collections documents this unprecedented children’s exodus. The archives are made up of 337 linear ft. of unpublished and unique materials comprise the Operation Pedro Pan Cuban’s Children Program Records. If you would like to access the archives, please contact Dr. Gisellle Rios at Grios@Barry.Edu.

Barry University the home of the archive?

Monsignor Walsh’s history with Barry University began in the early 1960s. He helped found Barry University’s Ellen Whiteside McDonnell School of Social Work which opened in 1966. Then Barry College was the first institution to offer Master of Social Work program in South Florida. Monsignor Walsh understanding the potential resource to social workers, intended for students and professionals at the School to conduct research with the records.

In 1995, Monsignor Walsh deposited his records related to the Operation Pedro Pan and Cuban Children’s Program including, papers, photographs, films, and books in the Barry University Archives and Special Collections Department. Since then, Archives and Special Collections has been responsible for processing and preserving these records. The Operation Pedro Pan Cuban Children’s Program Records (OPP/CCP) are the property of Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Miami, Inc., and the collection is housed in Barry University Archives and Special Collections, Miami Shores, FL.

Accessing the Archives

Currently, the Operation Pedro Pan Cuban Children’s Program Records is partially open for research. Some records and case files are closed to the general public according to agreement between Catholic Charities and Barry University. Prior to initiating any research activity with the collection, approval must be obtained from the Institution Review Board (IRB) and Catholic Charities.

However, Individuals interested in learning more about the collection, may access the Digital Library of the Caribbean to view photographs, articles and speeches that are in public domain.

Former Pedro Pans who would like to access their records, can make a formal request to Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Miami to release their files. Catholic Charities requires former Pedro Pans to complete an Affidavit form that is provided to them, and mail to the Chief Executive Officer of Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Miami, Inc, at Pedro Pan Files, Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Miami, Inc. 1505 NE 26th Street, Wilton Manors, FL 33305

While Barry University Archives and Special Collections receives monthly inquiries from former Pedro Pans regarding how to access their records, we direct all inquiries to Catholic Charities. Staff in Catholic Charities process the requests and will be able to provide information on statistics, including how many former Pedro Pans have retrieved their records.

The Role of Mon. Walsh in Pedro Pan and the Archives.

Monsignor Bryan O. Walsh was born in 1930 in Portarlington, Ireland. He began his studies for the priesthood at Mungret College, SJ, Ireland, then entered St. Mary’s Seminary, Baltimore, Md., where he received his licentiate in theology and was ordained for the Diocese of St. Augustine, Fla. in 1954. In 1955 he was appointed as Assistant Director of Catholic Charities in the Archdiocese of Miami, FL, by Bishop Joseph P. Hurley. He shortly became Director in 1958.

In late 1960, then Father Walsh, became aware of requests to provide temporary homes for Cuban refugee children in the United States. During this period, he worked with the Children’s Welfare Program to develop the Cuban’s Children Program. The program allowed Catholic Bureau to offer shelter and education for unaccompanied minor children that were arriving from Cuba. From 1960 to 1981, Monsignor Walsh directed the Cuban Children’s Program/Operation Pedro Pan.

Monsignor Walsh would donate records pertaining to Operation Pedro Pan and Cuban Children’s Program to Barry University Archives and Special Collections in 1995. He was appointed Archdiocesan Director Emeritus of Catholic Charities by Archbishop John C. Favalora after retirement from Catholic Charities of Miami on January 15, 1996. Beginning 1998, Monsignor Walsh was in residence for two days a week at the Barry University Archives, writing a book on the Catholic Charities office in Miami, and history of the Operation Pedro Pan and Cuban Children’s Program.

He died of a congenital heart defect and was buried on Christmas Eve, 2001.

Research Monsignor Walsh’s personal papers by clicking the button.