Hispanic Division News and Events

Mexican Novelist Carlos Fuentes Dies at Age 83

Wed, 16 May 2012 21:35:24 GMT

The world of letters is mourning the death of a giant of Latin American literature, Carlos Fuentes (November 11, 1928 - May 15, 2012). One of the authors of "El Boom" of the 60s and 70s, Fuentes produced an extensive body of work that, along with the work of his fellow Latin American writers Gabriel Garcia Marquez, Mario Vargas Llosa, and Julio Cortazar, revolutionized the art of the novel. Major works by Fuentes include "La muerte de Artemio Cruz" (The Death of Artemio Cruz) (1962), "Gringo Viejo" (The Old Gringo) (1985), "Los anos con Laura Diaz" (The Years with Laura Diaz) (1999), among many other novels, short stories, essays, and newspaper editorials.

Fuentes was recorded for the Library of Congress Archive of Hispanic Literature on Tape (AHLOT) in 1974. The AHLOT has recordings of nearly 700 writers from Spain, Latin America, and the US, and is available to the public in the Hispanic Reading Room (http://www.loc.gov/rr/hispanic/archive.html). For more information on Carlos Fuentes and analyses of his works, search the Library's online catalog (http://catalog.loc.gov), the Handbook of Latin American Studies (http://hlasopac.loc.gov), or contact the Hispanic Reading Room reference staff, (http://www.loc.gov/rr/hispanic/refasst.html).

The Hispanic Reading Room is a center for the study of the cultures and societies of the Iberian Peninsula, Latin America, and the Caribbean, and other areas where Spanish and Portuguese influence has been significant. Researchers may visit the reading room to seek assistance from reference librarians and area specialists. The reading room offers free wi-fi and is open to the public from 8:30 am to 5:00 pm, Mon-Fri. Find us online at http://www.loc.gov/rr/hispanic.

Happy Birthday Ortega y Gasset!

Wed, 09 May 2012 18:56:01 GMT

Jose Ortega y Gasset, one of Spain's greatest philosophers, was born 129 years ago today in Madrid. He became widely known for his "Meditations on Quixote," in which he penned his all-time famous quote "yo soy yo y mi circumstancia" (I am myself and my circumstances). Ortega's essential philosophy was that, as human beings, we shouldn’t think of ourselves as separate from the world, but rather as immersed in particular circumstances which can sometimes be limiting. Greatly influenced by the philosophy of Immanuel Kant, Ortega earned a living as a philosopher at the Universidad de Madrid and as a journalist and essayist. Other renowned works by Ortega y Gasset include "The Revolt of the Masses" (1930), "The Deshumanization of Art and Ideas about the Novel" (1925), and "What is Philosophy" (1928-1929). He was actively engaged in Spanish politics in the 1920s and 1930s, but his involvement ended with the outbreak of the Spanish Civil War in 1936. During the war, Ortega went into exile in Argentina and Portugal. He later returned to Madrid, where he founded the Institute of the Humanities.

To learn more about José Ortega y Gasset please search the Library's online catalog (http://catalog.loc.gov), using the subject heading --Ortega y Gasset, Jose, 1883-1955--, or contact the Hispanic Reading Room reference staff (http://www.loc.gov/rr/hispanic/refasst.html).

The Hispanic Reading Room is a center for the study of the cultures and societies of the Iberian Peninsula, Latin America, and the Caribbean, and other areas where Spanish and Portuguese influence has been significant. Researchers may visit the reading room to seek assistance from reference librarians and area specialists. The reading room offers free wi-fi and is open to the public from 8:30 am to 5:00 pm, Mon-Fri. Find us online at http://www.loc.gov/rr/hispanic.

Celebrate Cinco de Mayo

Fri, 04 May 2012 21:11:41 GMT

Occasionally mistaken for Mexican Independence Day, Cinco de Mayo is one part of a larger story of imperial ambitions, national debts, and international rivalries. More properly referred to in Mexico as the Dia de la Batalla de Puebla (in English: The Day of the Battle of Puebla), the holiday commemorates the remarkable defeat of French forces by the Mexican army in the city of Puebla on May 5, 1862.

What led to this dramatic, though ultimately short-lived victory? Mexican debts. After three wars in fifteen years, Mexico had lost half its former territory and the Mexican National Treasury was in a desperate state. When Mexican President Benito Juarez suspended payment on all international debts, the navies of Britain, Spain, and France set sail, the three powers threatening to intervene until payments resumed. Britain and Spain backed down after reaching an agreement with Mexico, but France did not. French forces invaded at the port city of Veracruz, fighting northward into Puebla on their way to Mexico City. From the forts near Puebla, badly outnumbered and poorly equipped, 4,000 Mexican soldiers attacked and soundly defeated the French forces. After another year of fighting, the French were eventually victorious and Napoleon III installed his reluctant cousin, Maximilian, and Maximilian's wife, Carlota, as emperor and empress of Mexico. They ruled for three years before Maximilian was deposed and executed. While the French did take power briefly, the Mexican victory in Puebla gave a much needed boost to Mexico's battered sense of national pride and helped unify the country after years of strife. Today, the Dia de la Batalla de Puebla continues to serve as a symbol of national sovereignty and national unity.

Search the Library of Congress catalog for items related to the Battle of Puebla and Cinco de Mayo by using the following subject headings:
Cinco de Mayo, Battle of, Puebla, Mexico, 1862.
Cinco de Mayo (Mexican holiday)
Mexico—History--European intervention, 1861-1867.

Read more about the French Intervention in Mexico in this digitized version of "Maximilian in Mexico: The Story of the French Intervention (1861-1867)" available through HathiTrust:
http://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=yale.39002040278823

Additional resources may be found in the Handbook of Latin American Studies (HLAS) database (http://lcweb2.loc.gov/hlas/) or by consulting with the Hispanic Reading Room reference staff (http://www.loc.gov/rr/hispanic/refasst.html).

The Hispanic Reading Room is a center for the study of the cultures and societies of the Iberian Peninsula, Latin America, and the Caribbean, and other areas where Spanish and Portuguese influence has been significant. Researchers may visit the reading room to seek assistance from reference librarians and area specialists. The reading room, located on the second floor of the Jefferson Bldg., LJ 240, offers free wi-fi and is open to the public from 8:30 am to 5:00 pm, Mon-Fri.

New Hispanic Division Webcasts Online!

Fri, 27 Apr 2012 14:42:43 GMT

Check out the newly released webcasts of past Hispanic Division lectures, conferences and symposia here at the Library of Congress (http://www.loc.gov/rr/hispanic/webcasts.html). Among recently added videos, we have included the conference on Machu Picchu (June 29,2011) http://www.loc.gov/today/cyberlc/feature_wdesc.php?rec=5273, as well as the recording done of the "Creating Freedom in the Americas, 1776-1826" Symposium (November 19, 2010). The symposium, a day-long program presented in collaboration with the U. S. Department of State and Georgetown University, featured three panels that discussed recent research on the age of independence in North America and South America (each panel can be viewed separately):

1. The Americas on the Eve of Independence Movements
http://www.loc.gov/today/cyberl/feature_wdesc.php?rec=5121
2. Comparing Independence Movements in the Americas
http://www.loc.gov/today/cyberlc/feature_wdesc.php?rec=5122
3. Constitution-Making in the West
http://www.loc.gov/today/cyberlc/feature_wdesc.php?rec=5123

To find out about future Hispanic Division events, please visit our events page at http://www.loc.gov/rr/hispanic/events.html.

The Hispanic Reading Room is a center for the study of the cultures and societies of the Iberian Peninsula, Latin America, and the Caribbean, and other areas where Spanish and Portuguese influence has been significant. Researchers may visit the reading room to seek assistance from reference librarians and area specialists. The reading room offers free wi-fi and is open to the public from 8:30 am to 5:00 pm, Mon-Fri. Find us online at http://www.loc.gov/rr/hispanic.

Multifaceted Latino Identity Through Poetry: Reading and Discussion

Thu, 19 Apr 2012 20:19:09 GMT

The Hispanic Division, the Poetry and Literature Center, and the Center for the Book of the Library of Congress cordially invite you to two programs featuring Latino poets on Thursday, April 26, 2012. At noon, as part of the Books and Beyond series, Letras Latinas Director Francisco Aragon will moderate a panel discussion on the contemporary state of Latino literature, featuring poet Blas Falconer and writer Lorraine Lopez, co-editors of the recent anthology "The Other Latin@: Writing Against a Singular Identity" (See the LOC record for the book at http://lccn.loc.gov/2011034940). This session will be held in the Mary Pickford Theater, James Madison Building (third floor), 101 Independence Ave. S.E., Washington, DC.

Later that evening, at 6:30 pm, Falconer and Lopez will read selections from their works in the Mumford Room, James Madison Building (sixth floor). Book sales and signings will follow both events, which will be free and open to the public. This program is presented in collaboration with Letras Latinas and the University of Arizona Press. For more information, contact (202) 707-5394.

Those interested in discovering more works by Latino/a writers may consult the reference librarians in the Hispanic Reading Room of the Library of Congress. The Hispanic Reading Room is a center for the study of the cultures and societies of the Iberian Peninsula, Latin America, and the Caribbean, and other areas where Spanish and Portuguese influence has been significant. The reading room offers free wi-fi and is open to the public from 8:30 am to 5:00 pm, Mon-Fri. Find us online at http://www.loc.gov/rr/hispanic.

Creative Inspiration: Miguel de Saavedra Cervantes and Don Quixote

Fri, 13 Apr 2012 19:11:33 GMT

Carved in stone, high on the walls of the Hispanic Reading Room, are the names of ten eminent writers and intellectuals from the Iberian Peninsula and various countries of Latin America. Readers who turn their gazes upward as they consult with the librarian at the Hispanic Reference Desk will see the name Cervantes. Miguel de Saavedra Cervantes (1547-1616) wrote his novel "El ingenioso hidalgo don Quixote de la Mancha" in two volumes, published in 1605 and 1615. Known as the most influential work of the Spanish Golden Age, the novel is also frequently named as one of the greatest works of fiction ever published. The novel has inspired a ballet, an opera buffa, classical orchestral works by Strauss and Telemann, a modern musical and movie, hundreds of literary allusions to "chasing windmills," and even led to the use of the adjective "quixotic," meaning, according to the Oxford English Dictionary, "characteristic of or appropriate to Don Quixote; naively idealistic, unpredictable, whimsical."

So while some may whistle tunes from the musical "Man of La Mancha," when considering the name Cervantes, others might think of Picasso's spare black and white sketch of a gaunt Don Quixote looking down at his trusty friend Sancho Panza, both astride their patient steeds. Here in the Hispanic Division, the name is a proud reminder of the immense collection of "cervantina" held by the Library of Congress. From rare copies of the novel dating from its 1605 publication year to 19th- and 20th-century translations into English, French, German, Italian, and Chinese, among other languages; from photographs of prima ballerina Suzanne Farrell and George Balanchine dancing as Dulcinea and Don Quixote to scores for Quixote-inspired polkas; from cartoons lampooning politicians for foolishly tilting at windmills to a webcast commemorating the 400th anniversary of the publication of Don Quixote (http://www.loc.gov/wiseguide/mar06/windmills.html), the Library is replete with examples of the lasting influence of Cervantes and his tale of an idealistic, but determined, dreamer and his ever loyal friend.

To learn more about Cervantes and the many renditions of the tale of Don Quixote, please search the Library's online catalog (http://catalog.loc.gov) or contact the Hispanic Reading Room reference staff (http://www.loc.gov/rr/hispanic/refasst.html).

The Hispanic Reading Room is a center for the study of the cultures and societies of the Iberian Peninsula, Latin America, and the Caribbean, and other areas where Spanish and Portuguese influence has been significant. Researchers may visit the reading room to seek assistance from reference librarians and area specialists. The reading room offers free wi-fi and is open to the public from 8:30 am to 5:00 pm, Mon-Fri. Find us online at http://www.loc.gov/rr/hispanic.

Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff Visits White House

Mon, 09 Apr 2012 14:27:11 GMT

Today, Dilma Rousseff, the first woman president of Brazil, meets with President Barack Obama during her official visit to the United States. The relationship between Brazil and the US is a long one. The US was the first country to recognize Brazil's independence from Portugal in 1824. The countries are strikingly similar in continental land mass; both have diverse, multi-ethnic, multi-racial populations; and both enjoy richly varied landscapes and abundant natural resources. Today Brazil is among the top ten trading partners of the US and is the sixth-largest economy in the world. According to an official statement by the White House Press Secretary, the visit will allow the two leaders "to continue efforts to grow commercial, economic, education, and innovation ties."

To learn more about the history of Brazil, US-Brazil relations, or contemporary Brazilian politics, among other subjects, please search the Library's online catalog (http://catalog.loc.gov), the Handbook of Latin American Studies (http://hlasopac.loc.gov), or contact the Hispanic Reading Room reference staff, (http://www.loc.gov/rr/hispanic/refasst.html).

The Hispanic Reading Room is a center for the study of the cultures and societies of the Iberian Peninsula, Latin America, and the Caribbean, and other areas where Spanish and Portuguese influence has been significant. Researchers may visit the reading room to seek assistance from reference librarians and area specialists. The reading room offers free wi-fi and is open to the public from 8:30 am to 5:00 pm, Mon-Fri. Find us online at http://www.loc.gov/rr/hispanic.

Happy Birthday, Gabriela Mistral!

Fri, 06 Apr 2012 16:17:51 GMT

Today the Hispanic Division honors the memory of one of Latin America's most beloved poets. Lucila Godoy Alcayaga, better known as Gabiela Mistral, was born April 7 of 1889 in Vicuna, Chile. One of this nation's most celebrated figures, Mistral will forever be remembered for her legacy in poetry, education, feminism, diplomacy, but most of all, for being the first Latin American to win the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1945.

Mistral was recorded for the Library of Congress Archive of Hispanic Literature on Tape (AHLOT) in 1950. The AHLOT has recordings of nearly 700 writers from Spain, Latin America, and the US, and is available to the public in the Hispanic Reading Room (http://www.loc.gov/rr/hispanic/archive.html). For more information on Gabriela Mistral and analyses of her life and works, search the Library's online catalog (http://catalog.loc.gov), the Handbook of Latin American Studies (http://hlasopac.loc.gov), or contact the Hispanic Reading Room reference staff, (http://www.loc.gov/rr/hispanic/refasst.html).

The Hispanic Reading Room is a center for the study of the cultures and societies of the Iberian Peninsula, Latin America, and the Caribbean, and other areas where Spanish and Portuguese influence has been significant. Researchers may visit the reading room to seek assistance from reference librarians and area specialists. The reading room offers free wi-fi and is open to the public from 8:30 am to 5:00 pm, Mon-Fri. Find us online at http://www.loc.gov/rr/hispanic.

Explore the Hispanic Reading Room!

Fri, 30 Mar 2012 17:53:17 GMT

The Hispanic Reading Room owes its unique design to the French-American architect and industrial designer Paul Philippe Cret. Already a well-established architect when he was hired by the Library of Congress, Cret's portfolio included designs for the Pan-American Union Building (now the OAS) and the Folger Shakespeare Library, both in Washington DC, as well as the master architectural plan for the University of Texas at Austin, among many other projects.

Drawing inspiration from Spanish Renaissance architecture, the reading room features high vaulted ceilings of white plaster and large windows extending nearly floor to ceiling. The room is lit by dual wrought iron chandeliers decorated with graceful scrollwork. Running high along the east and west walls of the room are the names of Luso-Hispanic literary greats, including Cervantes, Sarmiento, Camoes, and Dario. Shining blue and white tiles, known as talavera, from Puebla, Mexico add a bright touch of color to the lower half of the west walls. The reading room opened in 1939 and today's readers are welcomed by four brilliantly colored murals painted on the entryway walls in 1941 by Brazilian artist Candido Portinari. While seated at one of the room's solid wood tables, researchers can gaze at a shimmering mural depicting the coat of arms of Columbus before turning back their laptops or to one of the computers made available for readers.

Take a look at one of Cret's original sketches and a 1940 photograph of the completed reading room, available through the Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Online Catalog: http://www.loc.gov/pictures/item/93503534/resource/ and http://www.loc.gov/pictures/item/93503644/resource/. Or better yet, visit the Hispanic
Reading Room for a quiet space to read, write, or do research. The reading room offers free wifi and is open M-F, 8:30am to 5:00 pm. Find us on the second floor of the Jefferson Building (LJ-240), Library of Congress.

The Hispanic Reading Room is a center for the study of cultures and societies of the Iberian Peninsula, Latin America, and the Caribbean, and other areas where Spanish and Portuguese influence has been significant. Researchers may visit the reading room to seek assistance with the vast Luso-Hispanic collections from reference librarians and area specialists.

Chola woman in Bolivia

Mon, 19 Mar 2012 17:47:50 GMT

The full-length portrait of the Bolivian woman, available through the Prints and Photographs Online Catalog (http://hdl.loc.gov/loc.pnp/cph.3c11676), provides a glimpse of traditional mestizo fashion of the early 20th century. Max T. Vargas, a noted Peruvian photographer and postcard publisher who worked in La Paz, Bolivia, took the photograph. Find more of his photographs in the Prints and Photographs Online Catalog: http://www.loc.gov/pictures/

The term chola was commonly used in the early 20th century to describe a woman of indigenous ancestry from the Andean Highlands. The term could be derogatory, but was often used as an expression of ethnic pride or a term of endearment. Today the indigenous women of the Highlands continue to dress in a similar fashion, wearing petticoats, colorful embroidered blouses, and bowler hats. To learn more about chola women in Bolivia, see the following books annotated in the Handbook of Latin American Studies catalog, http://hlasopac.loc.gov/. Readers may consult the books at the Library of Congress.

La chola boliviana -- Antonio Paredes Candia
Ser mujer indígena, chola o birlocha en la Bolivia postcolonial de los años 90 -- Compilación de Silvia Rivera Cusicanqui.

The Hispanic Reading Room is a center for the study of cultures and societies of the Iberian Peninsula, Latin America, and the Caribbean, and other areas where Spanish and Portuguese influence has been significant. The reading room is located on the second floor of the Jefferson Bldg, LJ-240 and is open M-F, 8:30am to 5:00 pm. Find us online at http://www.loc.gov/rr/hispanic.

Award-Winning Poets Share their Work: Latino/a Poetry Now

Mon, 12 Mar 2012 18:00:17 GMT

Part of a national tour celebrating emerging Latina/o poets, this event will feature the first and second place winners of the 2010 International Latino Book Awards, William Archila and Ruth Irupe Sanabria. Archila, a native of El Salvador, and Sanabria, born in Argentina, use the English language to explore themes of exile, political repression, and the ultimate freedom found in writing and poetry. Join the two young poets for a reading and discussion on Tuesday, March 20, 2012 at 8pm, Copley Formal Lounge, Georgetown University, 37th and O Sts, NW. The free event is co-sponsored by the Hispanic Division of the Library of Congress and presented in partnership with Letras Latinas, Lannan Center for Poetics and Social Practice at Georgetown University, and the Poetry Society of America.

An interview with the two poets is available online from the Poetry Society of America: http://www.poetrysociety.org/psa/poetry/crossroads/interviews/page_5/
And their award-winning books, "The Art of Exile" by Archila (http://lccn.loc.gov/2008024784) and "The Strange House Testifies: Poems" by Sanabria (http://lccn.loc.gov/2007036795) are available for consultation at the Library of Congress.

Those interested in discovering more works by Latino/a writers may consult the reference librarians in the Hispanic Reading Room of the Library of Congress. The Hispanic Reading Room is a center for the study of the cultures and societies of the Iberian Peninsula, Latin America, and the Caribbean, and other areas where Spanish and Portuguese influence has been significant. The reading room offers free wi-fi and is open to the public from 8:30 am to 5:00 pm, Mon-Fri. Find us online at http://www.loc.gov/rr/hispanic.

Happy Birthday "Gabo"!

Tue, 06 Mar 2012 18:18:29 GMT

Eighty-five years ago today, Nobel Laureate Gabriel Garcia Marquez was born in Aracataca, Colombia. Little did he know, growing up in this small picturesque Caribbean town, that he would one day become one of the world's most prominent literary figures and craft such masterpieces as "One Hundred Years of Solitude," "Chronicle of a Death Foretold," and "Love In the Time of Cholera." Even though he began his career as a journalist, it has been his contributions to the world of fiction that have made him one of the greatest writers of our time. Today, Garcia Marquez is considered one of the most significant authors of the 20th century, not only heavily influencing Latin American literature, but also having a lasting impact on the world of letters around the globe.

Garcia Marquez was recorded for the Library of Congress Archive of Hispanic Literature on Tape (AHLOT) in 1977. The AHLOT has recordings of nearly 700 writers from Spain, Latin America, and the US, and is available to the public in the Hispanic Reading Room (http://www.loc.gov/rr/hispanic/archive.html). For more information on Garcia Marquez and analyses of his works, search the Library's online catalog (http://catalog.loc.gov), the Handbook of Latin American Studies (http://hlasopac.loc.gov), or contact the Hispanic Reading Room reference staff, (http://www.loc.gov/rr/hispanic/refasst.html).

The Hispanic Reading Room is a center for the study of the cultures and societies of the Iberian Peninsula, Latin America, and the Caribbean, and other areas where Spanish and Portuguese influence has been significant. Researchers may visit the reading room to seek assistance from reference librarians and area specialists. The reading room offers free wi-fi and is open to the public from 8:30 am to 5:00 pm, Mon-Fri. Find us online at http://www.loc.gov/rr/hispanic.

Historian Beezley to Discuss Mexican History and Culture

Thu, 01 Mar 2012 22:39:04 GMT

The Hispanic Division and the Hispanic Cultural Society invite you to a book talk by Professor William H. Beezley, University of Arizona, Thursday, March 8, from noon to 1 PM at the Mary Pickford Theater of the Library of Congress (James Madison Building, 3rd floor), 101 Independence Ave., S.E., Washington, DC. Beezley has written or edited dozens of books and articles on Mexican history and culture, ranging from studies of the Mexican Revolution to works on political humor and the rise of baseball in Mexico. The historian will discuss his two most recent books, 'Mexico in World History' (Oxford University Press, 2011) and 'A Companion to Mexican History and Culture' (Wiley-Blackwell, 2011). Link to the Library of Congress catalog records for the books: http://lccn.loc.gov/2011007315 and http://lccn.loc.gov/2010049293. Event is free and open to the public. RSVP: 202-707-6404, or cgom@loc.gov.

To learn more about Mexican history, consult the Handbook of Latin American Studies (HLAS), or visit the Hispanic Reading Room (http://www.loc.gov/rr/hispanic/). The Hispanic Reading Room is a center for the study of cultures and societies of the Iberian Peninsula, Latin America, and the Caribbean, and other areas where Spanish and Portuguese influence has been significant. The reading room is located on the second floor of the Jefferson Bldg, LJ-240 and is open M-F, 8:30am to 5:00 pm. Find us online at http://www.loc.gov/rr/hispanic.

The Dominican Republic Celebrates 168 Years of Independence

Tue, 28 Feb 2012 18:23:12 GMT

This week, the Dominican Republic commemorates the country's independence from Haiti on February 27, 1844. Although the countries of Haiti and the Dominican Republic share the island of Hispaniola, their histories have followed notably different paths. At times unified by similar interests, the two countries have also experienced periods of violent discord. After years of colonial rule, the Dominican Republic threw off Spanish domination and declared itself the independent state of Spanish Haiti on November 30, 1821. The new nation was short lived however as the French Haitian president almost immediately invaded, reuniting the island as one Haiti. After 22 years of Haitian occupation, rebels of La Trinitaria, a separatist movement founded by Dominican nationalists Juan Pablo Duarte, Ramon Matias Mella, and Francisco del Rosario Sanchez, stormed the Ozama fortress, a Haitian garrison in Santo Domingo, declaring their independence from Haiti. The Haitians were taken by surprise and retreated. Within days, all Haitian officials fled Santo Domingo. A constitution was drafted on November 6, 1844.

To learn more about the Dominican Republic, see the Dominican Republic Country Study, prepared by the Federal Research Division of the Library of Congress and available online at http://lcweb2.loc.gov/frd/cs/dotoc.html, browse the Handbook of Latin American Studies at http://hlasopac.loc.gov/, or contact a reference librarian in the Hispanic Division via Ask a Librarian: http://www.loc.gov/rr/askalib/ask-hispanic-eng.html.

The Hispanic Reading Room is a center for the study of cultures and societies of the Iberian Peninsula, Latin America, and the Caribbean, and other areas where Spanish and Portuguese influence has been significant. Researchers may visit the reading room to seek assistance with the vast Luso-Hispanic collections from reference librarians and area specialists. The reading room is located on the second floor of the Jefferson Bldg, LJ-240 and is open M-F, 8:30am to 5:00 pm.

Kluge Fellow to Discuss Jewish Argentine Identity

Fri, 24 Feb 2012 16:28:18 GMT

Much like the United States, Argentina is often referred to as a nation of immigrants. Italians, Spaniards, Jews, Poles, Germans, English, and other migrant groups transformed the social and cultural landscape of the Argentine nation, and were, in turn, transformed by their new country. On Thursday, March 1, Dr. Adriana Brodsky will discuss her research on Jewish Argentines in a talk on the Sephardim, marriage choice, and the construction of a Jewish Argentine identity (1920-1960). Please come to this free lecture to find out more about Sephardic Jews in a South American nation: Noon-1pm, Room 119, Thomas Jefferson Building, Library of Congress.

To learn more about immigrants in Argentina, consult the Handbook of Latin American Studies (http://hlasopac.loc.gov/) or talk to one of the reference librarians in the Hispanic Reading Room (http://www.loc.gov/rr/hispanic/). The Hispanic Reading Room is a center for the study of cultures and societies of the Iberian Peninsula, Latin America, and the Caribbean, and other areas where Spanish and Portuguese influence has been significant. Researchers may visit the reading room to seek assistance with the vast Luso-Hispanic collections from reference librarians and area specialists. The reading room, on the second floor of the Jefferson Bldg in LJ-240, offers free wi-fi and is open M-F, 8:30am to 5:00 pm.

Experiencing the Collections: Early Writing on Latin America from a Western Perspective

Tue, 21 Feb 2012 19:57:03 GMT

Considered by many to be the world's first anthropologist, Franciscan friar Bernardino de Sahagun arrived in New Spain in 1529. In addition to his mission to convert Amerindians to the Christian faith, during his years in the New World, in the territory which today is Mexico, the Spanish friar dedicated his time to producing a massive written, illustrated, and carefully crafted account of the customs, practices, and lives of the Mexica (often known as Aztec) peoples. This important document, which bears the title "Historia general de las cosas de Nueva España," also known as the "Florentine Codex," was written in both Spanish and in Nahuatl by Sahagun and his four Nahua collaborators. Despite having been produced mostly from an outsider's perspective, this document is one of the few surviving works which now offer us a window on precolumbian reality.

While the original work is held in the Biblioteca Medicea-Laurenziana in Florence, Italy, a facsimile copy of the Florentine Codex can be found in the Hispanic Reading Room of the Library of Congress (http://www.loc.gov/rr/hispanic/). Readers may also view a microform copy in the Manuscript Division of the Library (http://www.loc.gov/rr/mss/).

To learn more about Fray Bernardino de Sahagun and his works, consult the Handbook of Latin American Studies (HLAS) (http://lcweb2.loc.gov/hlas/); contact the Hispanic Reading Room reference staff (http://www.loc.gov/rr/hispanic/refasst.html); or visit the Hispanic Reading Room, located on the second floor of the Jefferson Bldg, LJ 240. The Hispanic Reading Room is a center for the study of the cultures and societies of the Iberian Peninsula, Latin America, and the Caribbean, and other areas where Spanish and Portuguese influence has been significant. Researchers may visit the reading room to seek assistance from reference librarians and area specialists. The reading room offers free wi-fi and is open to the public from 8:30 am to 5:00 pm, Mon-Fri.

Professor R. Andrew Chesnut to Discuss the Mexican Folk Figure of "Saint Death"

Wed, 15 Feb 2012 22:38:24 GMT

The Hispanic Division and the Hispanic Cultural Society of the Library of Congress invite you to the upcoming event “Devoted to Death: Santa Muerte, the Skeleton Saint,” a book talk by R. Andrew Chesnut, Professor of Religious Studies, Virginia Commonwealth University, on Wednesday, February 22, from noon to 1 PM, in the Mary Pickford Theater, James Madison Building, Library of Congress, 101 Independence Ave. S.E., Washington, DC. Chesnut will discuss his new book on "Santa Muerte" (Saint Death), published this year by Oxford University Press. Event is free and open to the public.

Although her image dates back to the 19th century, in the last decade "Santa Muerte" has become one of the most popular figures of Mexico’s folk culture. Many believe the "Bony Lady," (as she is affectionately called) has supernatural powers, and her statuettes and paraphernalia now outsell those of the patron saint of Mexico, the Virgin of Guadalupe. For those who revere her, she’s also come to play the role of supernatural healer, love doctor, money-maker, lawyer, and Angel of Death.

To learn more about Mexican folklore, please consult the Handbook of Latin American Studies (HLAS) (http://hlasopac.loc.gov), or visit the Hispanic Reading Room (LJ 240) on the second floor of the Jefferson Bldg, open from 8:30am to 5:00 pm.

See the World Through the Eyes and Ears of Alan Lomax

Thu, 09 Feb 2012 22:14:21 GMT

Born in 1915, Alan Lomax began collecting traditional folklore at age 18 with his father, musicologist John Lomax. Throughout his life he compiled one of the most important collections of ethnographic material in the world. In March 2004, the Library acquired his collection. The Alan Lomax Collection includes field recordings of traditional folk music that Lomax made during his many travels throughout the world. Examples from the collection include photographs and recordings from his travels to Spain and the Caribbean available online here:
http://www.loc.gov/folklife/lomax/spain/spain.html
http://www.loc.gov/folklife/lomax/caribbean/caribbean.html

Visit the American Folklife Center to find out more about the Alan Lomax Collection at the Library of Congress: http://www.loc.gov/folklife/lomax/lomax.html.

And for more information about the history and cultures of Spain and the Caribbean, visit the Hispanic Reading Room:
http://www.loc.gov/rr/hispanic/

The Hispanic Reading Room is a center for the study of the cultures and societies of the Iberian Peninsula, Latin America, and the Caribbean, and other areas where Spanish and Portuguese influence has been significant. Researchers may visit the reading room to seek assistance from reference librarians and area specialists. The reading room offers free wi-fi and is open to the public from 8:30 am to 5:00 pm, Mon-Fri.

Famed Spanish Abstract Artist, Tapies, Dies at 88

Tue, 07 Feb 2012 22:27:21 GMT

Antoni Tapies Puig (1923-2012)

On Monday, February 5th, Spanish painter and sculptor, Antoni Tapies, died at age 88. Born in Barcelona in 1923, Tapies was one of Spain's most prolific abstract artists. He is widely credited with introducing contemporary abstract painting to Spain. Tapies was heavily influenced by the tumultuous political events of his youth, including the Spanish Civil War and the Catalan nationalist movement. Notable works include "Gray Relief on Black," "Pants and Woven Wire," and "Sock." In 1984, Tapies established the Tapies Foundation to promote the study of modern art in Spain. In 1990, the foundation opened a museum in Barcelona, which today holds almost 2,000 pieces of his work.

Search for books by and about the artist by entering Antoni Tapies in the Quick Search box on the Library of Congress catalog homepage: http://catalog.loc.gov.

The Hispanic Reading Room is a center for the study of the cultures and societies of the Iberian Peninsula, Latin America, and the Caribbean, and other areas where Spanish and Portuguese influence has been significant. Researchers may visit the reading room to seek assistance from reference librarians and area specialists. The reading room offers free wi-fi and is open to the public from 8:30 am to 5:00 pm, Mon-Fri.

Romantic Greek Poetry and Hispanic Literature: Finding the Connections

Tue, 24 Jan 2012 16:14:34 GMT

The Hispanic Division, the European Division, and the Poetry and Literature Center of the Library of Congress, together with the Embassy of Greece, invite you to a discussion about Greek poet and Nobel Prize winner, Odysseas Elytis, and Hispanic literature. The event will be held this Friday, January 27, 2012, from 6:30 to 8:30 PM, in the West Dining Room, James Madison Building (6th floor), Library of Congress, 101 Independence Ave., S.E., Washington, DC. Free and open to the public.

Elytis influenced Hispanic literature in the late 1930s and 1940s with his exuberant style, adding a further level of passion to the established poetic romanticism of the day. In this presentation, which commemorates the centennial of Elytis' birth, poets Pedro Serrano and Rei Berroa will discuss the Nobel Laureate’s importance within the Hispanic world of letters.

To learn more about the Luso-Hispanic collections and European collections of the Library of Congress, please visit the Hispanic Reading Room (LJ 240) and the European Reading Room (LJ 249) on the second floor of the Jefferson Bldg, open from 8:30am to 5:00 pm. Find the reading rooms on the web at http://www.loc.gov/rr/hispanic/ and http://www.loc.gov/rr/european/. For more information about the Poetry and Literature Center and its upcoming events, please see http://www.loc.gov/poetry/. Follow the Center's blog at http://blogs.loc.gov/catbird/.

Donations Enrich the Library's Collections!

Mon, 23 Jan 2012 20:21:54 GMT

The Hispanic Division recently received an exciting donation entitled "El Viaje a Compostela de Cosme III de Medicis." The book was published in conjunction with an exhibit held at the Museo Diocesano in Santiago de Compostela (Galicia, Spain). Both the book and exhibit commemorate the 1669 journey that Cosme III de Medicis made along the Way of St. James, a very important Christian pilgrimage route to the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela. The publication includes a beautifully bound iconographic catalog of Pier Maria Baldi’s watercolor images of the journey. Baldi, a Florentine painter and architect, accompanied Cosme de Medicis on his 17th century travels through Portugal and Spain. The publication is truly a gem. The Hispanic Division is very grateful to the donor, and to all the generous donors who enrich the Library’s collections.

The Hispanic Division is pleased to receive unique donations of materials related to the Luso-Hispanic world. Items within scope for the Library are cataloged and incorporated into the collections for the ongoing use of current and future generations of researchers and scholars.

To learn more about the Library’s vast Luso-Hispanic collections, visit the Hispanic Division's website (http://www.loc.gov/rr/hispanic/), contact the Hispanic Reading Room reference staff, (http://www.loc.gov/rr/hispanic/refasst.html), or visit the Hispanic Reading Room, located on the second floor of the Jefferson Bldg, LJ 240. The reading room is a center for the study of the cultures and societies of the Iberian Peninsula, Latin America, and the Caribbean, and other areas where Spanish and Portuguese influence has been significant. Researchers may visit the reading room to seek assistance from reference librarians and area specialists. The reading room offers free wi-fi and is open to the public from 8:30 am to 5:00 pm, Mon-Fri.

Mexican Politics Deciphered: Book Launch and Discussion

Fri, 13 Jan 2012 22:13:01 GMT

The Hispanic Division, Library of Congress and The Woodrow Wilson Center's Mexican Institute invite you to the launch of two new books, "Mexico: What Everyone Needs to Know" and "Mexican Political Biographies, 1935-2009," by Roderic Camp on Friday, January 20, 2012, 10am-12pm, Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars. Free and open to the public.

Roderic Camp is Philip M. McKenna Professor of Pacific Rim at Claremont McKenna College and HLAS Contributing Editor for Government and Politics of Mexico. The author of numerous books and articles, a three time Fulbright Fellowship scholar, and frequent media consultant, Camp is a leading expert on Mexican politics.

Camp's new books are now available at the Library of Congress. See http://lccn.loc.gov/2011001655 and http://lccn.loc.gov/2011015728.

For more information on Mexico and analyses of Mexican politics, search the Handbook of Latin American Studies (http://hlasopac.loc.gov) and visit the Hispanic Reading Room at the Library of Congress.

The Hispanic Reading Room is a center for the study of cultures and societies of the Iberian Peninsula, Latin America, and the Caribbean, and other areas where Spanish and Portuguese influence has been significant. The reading room is located on the second floor of the Jefferson Bldg, LJ-240 and is open M-F, 8:30am to 5:00 pm. Find us online at http://www.loc.gov/rr/hispanic.

Portinari Murals Turn 70 Years Old This Month

Tue, 10 Jan 2012 20:03:57 GMT

This month the Hispanic Division commemorates 70 years since Brazilian painter Candido Portinari completed the murals that adorn the vestibule walls of the Hispanic Reading Room.

Portinari began painting his four murals in the reading room in late October 1941 at the invitation of then Librarian of Congress Archibald MacLeish. The murals were completed on January 12, 1942. They are painted on dry plaster in tempera and are titled "Discovery of Land, " "Entry into the Forest, " "Teaching of the Indians," and "Discovery of Gold." For more information, and images of the murals, see the Portinari page on the Hispanic Division web site: http://www.loc.gov/rr/hispanic/portinari.html.

View some of the preliminary drawings of the Portinari murals by doing a search for "Candido Portinari" in the Prints and Photographs Online Catalog: http://www.loc.gov/pictures or visit the Prints and Photographs Reading Room in person. The reading room is located on the third floor of the Madison Bldg, LM-337 and is open M-F, 8:30am to 5:00pm.

The Hispanic Reading Room is a center for the study of cultures and societies of the Iberian Peninsula, Latin America, and the Caribbean, and other areas where Spanish and Portuguese influence has been significant. Researchers may visit the reading room to seek assistance with the vast Luso-Hispanic collections from reference librarians and area specialists. The reading room is located on the second floor of the Jefferson Bldg, LJ-240 and is open M-F, 8:30am to 5:00 pm.

Check out the Hispanic Division's Webcasts!

Wed, 04 Jan 2012 20:18:13 GMT

Check out the Hispanic Division webcasts (http://www.loc.gov/rr/hispanic/webcasts.html), and enjoy programs sponsored by the Hispanic Division and our co-sponsors, including state of the art lectures featuring the latest research on the Luso-Hispanic world. Our filmed events include the launching ceremony of the Hispanic Division's Mexican Revolution website (May 23, 2011), and our recent symposium on Machu Picchu (June 29, 2011).

The Hispanic Reading Room is a center for the study of cultures and societies of the Iberian Peninsula, Latin America, and the Caribbean, and other areas where Spanish and Portuguese influence has been significant. Researchers may visit the reading room to seek assistance with the vast Luso-Hispanic collections from reference librarians and area specialists. The reading room is located on the second floor of the Jefferson Bldg, LJ-240 and is open M-F, 8:30am to 5:00 pm.

Ladino Songs for Hanukkah

Tue, 27 Dec 2011 16:49:26 GMT

"Ocho Kandelikas" is a song in Ladino written by the Jewish-American composer Flory Jagoda in 1983 for the celebration of Hanukkah. The song is a modern composition usually performed in an Argentine tango-rhythm, and the lyrics speak of a child's joy of lighting the candles on the menorah.

Ladino, otherwise known as Judeo-Spanish, is the spoken and the written language of Jews of Spanish origin. To learn more about Ladino and the Judeo-Spanish traditions you can consult the compiled bibliography of Ladino books in the Library of Congress (http://lccn.loc.gov/63062107); the Handbook of Latin American Studies (HLAS) (http://lcweb2.loc.gov/hlas/) by searching for Jews or Judaism as subject headings; or you can talk to one of the reference librarians in the Hispanic Reading Room. You can also learn about Judaism in Latin America through resources made available by organizations such as the Latin American Jewish Studies Association (http://www.utexas.edu/cola/orgs/lajsa/).

The Hispanic Reading Room is a center for the study of cultures and societies of the Iberian Peninsula, Latin America, and the Caribbean, and other areas where Spanish and Portuguese influence has been significant. Researchers may visit the reading room to seek assistance with the vast Luso-Hispanic collections from reference librarians and area specialists. The reading room is located on the second floor of the Jefferson Bldg, LJ-240 and is open M-F, 8:30am to 5:00 pm.

Villancicos at the Library of Congress

Fri, 23 Dec 2011 16:45:18 GMT

Celebrate the season and check out the Library's holdings of villancicos, otherwise known as Spanish Christmas carols!

Did you know that the term "villancico" comes from the world "vilano" meaning a peasant from a small village in medieval Spain? The villancico was a common musical form popular from the late 15th to 18th centuries. It first developed as a secular genre commenting on daily peasant life until religious villancicos, commemorating important holidays of the Catholic calendar, became increasingly popular in the 17th century. The villancico declined in popularity in the 19th century and today the term strictly refers to the Spanish Christmas carol.

Search the Library of Congress's Online Catalog (http://catalog.loc.gov) using the following subject headings to find sound recordings, sheet music, and books:
Villancicos (Music)--
Christmas Music--

The Hispanic Reading Room is a center for the study of cultures and societies of the Iberian Peninsula, Latin America, and the Caribbean, and other areas where Spanish and Portuguese influence has been significant. Researchers may visit the reading room to seek assistance with the vast Luso-Hispanic collections from reference librarians and area specialists. The reading room is located on the second floor of the Jefferson Bldg, LJ-240 and is open M-F, 8:30am to 5:00 pm.

Colombian Bambuco and other Early Hispanic Sound Recordings Avaliable on the National Jukebox!

Mon, 19 Dec 2011 16:16:13 GMT

Check out the Library of Congress National Jukebox (http://www.loc.gov/jukebox/) and listen to a 1923 recording of the Colombian Bambuco: "El Palomo," by Vicente Moreno (http://www.loc.gov/jukebox/recordings/detail/id/9201), and other historic recordings from the Americas. Through this online platform, the Library of Congress makes available to the public early recordings produced by the Victor Talking Machine between 1901 and 1925. The recordings are part of the extraordinary collections of the Library of Congress Packard Campus for Audio Visual Conservation and other contributing libraries and archives.

To learn more about Colombian Bambuco or about other types of music from Latin America consult the Handbook of Latin American Studies (HLAS) (http://hlasopac.loc.gov/), or talk to one of the reference librarians in the Hispanic Reading Room (http://www.loc.gov/rr/hispanic/). The Hispanic Reading Room is a center for the study of cultures and societies of the Iberian Peninsula, Latin America, and the Caribbean, and other areas where Spanish and Portuguese influence has been significant. Researchers may visit the reading room to seek assistance with the vast Luso-Hispanic collections from reference librarians and area specialists. The reading room is located on the second floor of the Jefferson Bldg, LJ-240 and is open M-F, 8:30am to 5:00 pm.

Happy Birthday, Diego Rivera!

Thu, 08 Dec 2011 22:55:03 GMT

Today the Hispanic Division commemorates the 125th birthday of one of Mexico's most renowned painters. Mostly known for the large-scale murals he produced in Mexico and in the United States between the early 1920s through the early 1950s, Rivera also produced an extraordinary number of easel paintings, drawings, watercolors and illustrations for books. He constantly sought to express his own views on politics, his respect for indigenous peoples; and the importance of representing the pre-Columbian past of Mexico through his timeless images. He was married to Frida Kahlo, another giant of Mexican art, best known for her bright and dramatic self-portraits.

To learn more about Diego Rivera consult the Handbook of Latin American Studies (http://hlasopac.loc.gov/) or talk to one of the reference librarians in the Hispanic Reading Room (http://www.loc.gov/rr/hispanic/). The Hispanic Reading Room is a center for the study of cultures and societies of the Iberian Peninsula, Latin America, and the Caribbean, and other areas where Spanish and Portuguese influence has been significant. Researchers may visit the reading room to seek assistance with the vast Luso-Hispanic collections from reference librarians and area specialists. The reading room is located on the second floor of the Jefferson Bldg, LJ-240 and is open M-F, 8:30am to 5:00 pm.

Puerto Rico in Pictures

Thu, 08 Dec 2011 17:51:02 GMT

In December 1941, 70 years ago, American photographer Jack Delano travelled to Puerto Rico on assignment for the Farm Security Administration. Born in Ukraine in 1914, Delano and his family emigrated to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania in 1923. His photographs offer an extraordinary glimpse into the living and working conditions of Puerto Ricans following the Great Depression. Delano later returned to Puerto Rico in 1946 after serving in World War II and lived there until his death in 1997.

Browse Delano's photographs through the Library's Flickr page here: http://tinyurl.com/3qx6dzj or visit the Prints and Photographs Reading Room in the Madison Building, LM-337, to view the photographs in person. Also, take a look at the Library's catalog record for Delano's book of photographs, Puerto Rico mio: four decades of change=cuatro decados de cambio, here: http://lccn.loc.gov/89600274

The Hispanic Reading Room is a center for the study of cultures and societies of the Iberian Peninsula, Latin America, and the Caribbean, and other areas where Spanish and Portuguese influence has been significant. Researchers may visit the reading room to seek assistance with the vast Luso-Hispanic collections from reference librarians and area specialists. The reading room is located on the second floor of the Jefferson Bldg, LJ-240 and is open M-F, 8:30am to 5:00 pm.

Chilean Poet Nicanor Parra Wins 2011 Cervantes Prize

Mon, 05 Dec 2011 15:55:25 GMT

One of the authors recorded by the Hispanic Division for their Archive of Hispanic Literature on Tape (AHLOT), Nicanor Parra, was awarded the Miguel de Cervantes Prize in Spain. The Cervantes Prize is the world's most prestigious Spanish-language literary honor. Known for his "anti-poetry" in which he uses everyday words coupled with traditional rhythms, the 97-year old Parra is one of the most influential Latin American poets of our era.

The AHLOT has recordings of nearly 700 writers from Spain, Latin America, and the US, and is available to the public in the Hispanic Reading Room (http://www.loc.gov/rr/hispanic/archive.html). For more information on Parra and analyses of his works, search the Library's online catalog (http://catalog.loc.gov), and the Handbook of Latin American Studies (http://hlasopac.loc.gov).

The Hispanic Reading Room is a center for the study of cultures and societies of the Iberian Peninsula, Latin America, and the Caribbean, and other areas where Spanish and Portuguese influence has been significant. The reading room is located on the second floor of the Jefferson Bldg, LJ-240 and is open M-F, 8:30am to 5:00 pm. Find us online at http://www.loc.gov/rr/hispanic.

Jay I. Kislak Fellow to Discuss the Guale Uprising in 16th Century Spanish Florida

Mon, 28 Nov 2011 22:12:26 GMT

The Jay I. Kislak Fellow at the Kluge Center of the Library of Congress, Dr. J. Michael Francis, will discuss his book "Murder and Martyrdom in Spanish Florida: Don Juan and the Guale Uprising of 1597" on Tuesday, November 29th, at 2 PM at the Whittall Pavillion, Ground Floor, Thomas Jefferson Building, 10 First St. S.E., Washington, DC.

Professor Francis has taught at the University of North Florida since 1997, where he is also Chair of the Department of History. He has published numerous articles on the history of early-colonial New Granada (modern day Colombia). He is currently working on another book project: The Martyrs of Florida.

To learn more about Spanish Florida, consult the Handbook of Latin American Studies (http://hlasopac.loc.gov/) or talk to one of the reference librarians in the Hispanic Reading Room (http://www.loc.gov/rr/hispanic/). The Hispanic Reading Room is a center for the study of cultures and societies of the Iberian Peninsula, Latin America, and the Caribbean, and other areas where Spanish and Portuguese influence has been significant. Researchers may visit the reading room to seek assistance with the vast Luso-Hispanic collections from reference librarians and area specialists. The reading room is located on the second floor of the Jefferson Bldg, LJ-240 and is open M-F, 8:30am to 5:00 pm.

Richard E. Greenleaf (1930-2011)

Mon, 14 Nov 2011 21:46:50 GMT

We are saddened to report that eminent Latin American historian, Tulane University professor, and former Handbook of Latin American Studies contributing editor Richard E. Greenleaf passed away on November 8 in Albuquerque, N.M. A prolific and prize-winning writer and energetic advocate for the field of Latin American history, Greenleaf wrote eleven major scholarly works, contributed to seventeen others, and authored dozens of articles, while also teaching and mentoring countless students. His teaching career began at the University of Albuquerque, where he earned his Bachelor's, Master's and Doctoral degrees. Greenleaf then taught at the University of the Americas in Mexico City for several years before moving to Tulane University where he served as director of the Roger Thayer Stone Center for Latin American Studies and chair of the History Department.

As a contributor to the Mexican history section of the Handbook for fourteen years, Greenleaf reviewed hundreds of books and articles between 1972-1986, leaving a bibliographic legacy to inspire future generations of students and scholars. (See http://www.loc.gov/hlas.)

The Hispanic Division remembers him with fondness and deep admiration.

Calling All Hispanic Veterans! The Library of Congress Wants Your Stories!

Thu, 10 Nov 2011 19:03:00 GMT

The Veterans History Project of the Library of Congress is in its second decade of collecting, preserving, and sharing remembrances of U.S. war veterans. The project has digitized 10,000 of its 75,000 collections, making them available to anyone with access to the Internet: http://www.loc.gov/vets/. In addition to oral histories, the project is collecting diaries, postcards, letters, scrapbooks, and other materials that convey the hardships, accomplishments, and dedication of all veterans. Experiences of more than 680 Hispanic veterans are highlighted on the web site, and VHP staff encourages Hispanic and all veterans of the World Wars, the Korean War, the Vietnam War, Persian Gulf War, and the more recent conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan to contribute to the project. Ven! Participen!

Details about how to participate are available on the Veterans History Project web site:
http://www.loc.gov/vets/kit.html. For a Spanish translation of the field kit, contact the VHP staff. Those interested in learning more about Hispanics in the US are encouraged to visit the Hispanic Reading Room in person or via the web at
http://www.loc.gov/rr/hispanic.

The Hispanic Reading Room is a center for the study of cultures and societies of the Iberian Peninsula, Latin America, and the Caribbean, and other areas where Spanish and Portuguese influence has been significant. Researchers may visit the reading room to seek assistance with the vast Luso-Hispanic collections from reference librarians and area specialists. The reading room is located on the second floor of the Jefferson Bldg, LJ-240 and is open M-F, 8:30am to 5:00 pm.

Best wishes for a peaceful Veterans Day!

The Hispanic Division Launches Guide to Panama Materials in the Library of Congress

Tue, 08 Nov 2011 20:43:01 GMT

The Hispanic Division has launched a new guide entitled: Reference Guide to Panama Materials at the Library of Congress. Available at http://www.loc.gov/rr/hispanic/panama/Panama%20Guide.pdf , the guide provides the researcher with a glimpse of the rich variety of Panamanian materials available at the Library.

The Division also commemorated the independence of Panama from the Republic of Colombia last week. After Colombia's independence from Spain in 1821, Panama, which was then part of Gran Colombia, attempted separation on several occasions during the federalist era. It was during these times that a political struggle between the federalists and the centralists arose, and Panama was established as a department under centralism, and as a sovereign state under federalism. Panama achieved independence on November 3, 1903.

To learn more about Panama access the Reference Guide, and the Handbook of Latin American Studies http://lcweb2.loc.gov/hlas/. You can also visit the Hispanic Reading Room which is located on the second floor of the Jefferson Bldg, LJ-240.
The Hispanic Reading Room is a center for the study of cultures and societies of the Iberian Peninsula, Latin America, and the Caribbean, and other areas where Spanish and Portuguese influence has been significant. Researchers may visit the reading room to seek assistance with the vast Luso-Hispanic collections from reference librarians and area specialists. The reading room is open M-F, 8:30am to 5:00 pm.

Celebrate Dia de los Muertos, Nov. 1-2

Fri, 28 Oct 2011 19:15:56 GMT

Dia de los Muertos, or the Day of the Dead, is a Mexican holiday celebrated Nov. 1-2. Traditionally, family members and friends gather to celebrate those who have died, often building private altars and adorning them with sugar skulls, marigolds, the deceased's favorite foods and drinks, and other physical tokens. In 2003, UNESCO declared Dia de los Muertos an "Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity" because it is one of the oldest representations of living heritage in Mexico and the world.

To find more information about Mexico's Dia de los Muertos celebration, search the Library's Online Catalog, using the following subject headings:
All Souls' Day -- Mexico
All Saints' Day -- Mexico

Also, check out the "calaveras" of Jose Guadalupe Posada, a Mexican lithographer, whose illustrations have become synonymous with the holiday.
http://hdl.loc.gov/loc.pnp/ppmsc.03455
http://hdl.loc.gov/loc.pnp/ppmsc.04468

The Hispanic Reading Room is a center for the study of cultures and societies of the Iberian Peninsula, Latin America, and the Caribbean, and other areas where Spanish and Portuguese influence has been significant. The reading room is located on the second floor of the Jefferson Bldg, LJ-240 and is open M-F, 8:30am to 5:00 pm. Find us online at http://www.loc.gov/rr/hispanic.

Happy Birthday, Picasso!

Tue, 25 Oct 2011 21:47:45 GMT

Today the Hispanic Division honors the legacy of one of the boldest and most influential artists in the history of western art. Pablo Ruiz Picasso was born on October 25, 1881, in Malaga in the Andalusian region of Spain. Widely known for being the co-founder of the Cubist movement, Picasso revolutionized 20th century art and forever changed artistic notions of form, abstraction, and imagination.

To learn more about Pablo Picasso, Cubism, or about art history in general, access the Online Catalog of the Library of Congress (subject search --"Picasso, Pablo", "Cubism," or "Art History") and visit the Hispanic Reading Room of the Library of Congress, located on the second floor of the Jefferson Bldg, Room LJ-240.

The Hispanic Reading Room is a center for the study of cultures and societies of the Iberian Peninsula, Latin America, and the Caribbean, and other areas where Spanish and Portuguese influence has been significant. Researchers may visit the reading room to seek assistance with the vast Luso-Hispanic collections from reference librarians and area specialists. The reading room is open M-F, 8:30am to 5:00 pm.

Award-winning Science Writer to Discuss the Expedition that Explored the Shape of the Earth

Mon, 24 Oct 2011 18:38:52 GMT

Ricardo V. Luna, distinguished John W. Kluge scholar and former ambassador of Peru will hold a discussion with Larrie D. Ferreiro, author of the book "Measure of the Earth: The Enlightenment Expedition That Reshaped Our World" which tells the story of the 10-year scientific expedition to the Equator in 1735 that resolved the mystery surrounding the true shape of the Earth. The discussion will take place at the Library of Congress at 4 pm on Tuesday, October 25, in Room 119 on the first floor of the Thomas Jefferson Building, 10 First St. S.E., Washington, DC. The event is sponsored by the Library’s Kluge Center and the Hispanic Division, and it’s free and open to the public.

To learn more about 18th-century expeditions in Latin America you can access the Handbook of Latin American Studies -- http://lcweb2.loc.gov/hlas/, and you can also visit the Hispanic Reading Room at the Library of Congress on the 2nd floor of the Thomas Jefferson Building, Room LJ-240. The Hispanic Reading Room is a center for the study of cultures and societies of the Iberian Peninsula, Latin America, and the Caribbean, and other areas where Spanish and Portuguese influence has been significant. Researchers may visit the reading room to seek assistance with the vast Luso-Hispanic collections from reference librarians and area specialists. The reading room is open M-F, 8:30 am to 5:00 pm.

Happy Birthday, Miguel Angel Asturias!

Wed, 19 Oct 2011 15:20:28 GMT

Today the Hispanic Division commemorates the 112th birthday of the Guatemalan poet, novelist, and diplomat Miguel Angel Asturias (1899-1974). Asturias made significant contributions to the dictator novel and surrealism genres, and was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1967 for his works. The Hispanic Division recorded Asturias in 1958 for the Archive of Hispanic Literature on Tape (AHLOT). View the Library's catalog record for the recording here: http://lccn.loc.gov/93842815. The AHLOT has recordings of nearly 700 writers from Spain, Latin America, and the US, and is available to the public in the Hispanic Reading Room (http://www.loc.gov/rr/hispanic/archive.html). For more information on Asturias and analyses of his works, search the Library's online catalog (http://catalog.loc.gov), and the Handbook of Latin American Studies (http://hlasopac.loc.gov).

The Hispanic Reading Room is a center for the study of cultures and societies of the Iberian Peninsula, Latin America, and the Caribbean, and other areas where Spanish and Portuguese influence has been significant. The reading room is located on the second floor of the Jefferson Bldg, LJ-240 and is open M-F, 8:30am to 5:00 pm. Find us online at http://www.loc.gov/rr/hispanic.

A Trip to the Alhambra through Washington Irving's Words

Thu, 13 Oct 2011 18:36:38 GMT

Thousands of pre-1923 books from the Library of Congress collections are freely available in digital format through direct links from the Library's online catalog. Among the books are dozens of 19th-century travel narratives by North Americans describing their grand tours and family holidays to Spain and Portugal. Delighted by the castles, vineyards, and olive orchards, these travelers captured the sights and sounds of life on the Iberian Peninsula in their diaries and travelogues. They sprinkled their writings with descriptions of meals and conversations, museums and parks, city visits and countryside jaunts.

One of the visitors captivated by Spain's charms and beauty was the American writer Washington Irving, perhaps best known for his eerie short stories, "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow" and "Rip Van Winkle." While in Granada, Spain, researching a history of the conquest, Irving had the remarkable good fortune to live within the then-abandoned 14th-century Moorish palace and fortress, the Alhambra, now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. While there, he wrote a series of essays and stories which he published in 1832 under the title, "Tales of the Alhambra: A Series of Tales and Sketches of the Moors and Spaniards." Several editions of Irving's work may be read online, including the author’s revised edition with illustrations, published in 1871 by the J.B. Lippincott Co. (Copy and paste this URL to link to the book’s Library of Congress catalog record: <http://lccn.loc.gov/03027793>.) For many in North America, "Tales of the Alhambra" was an enticing introduction to the customs, language, and history of Spain.

Reference librarians in the Hispanic Reading Room can help you find more information about Iberian history and contemporary Spain and Portugal. The Hispanic Reading Room is a center for the study of cultures and societies of the Iberian Peninsula, Latin America, and the Caribbean, and other areas where Spanish and Portuguese influence has been significant. The reading room is located on the second floor of the Jefferson Bldg, LJ-240 and is open M-F, 8:30am to 5:00 pm. Find us online at http://www.loc.gov/rr/hispanic.

Panel Discussion 'Frontera Sin Frontera' To Take Place Tonight at the Library of Congress

Tue, 04 Oct 2011 16:18:40 GMT

Come join the Literature and Poetry Center and the Hispanic Division of the Library of Congress tonight, October 4, 2011, 7 pm, in the Mumford Room on the sixth floor of the James Madison Building, 101 Independence Ave. SE, Washington, DC, for the panel discussion on Poetry Traditions of Mexico and the United States: 'Frontera Sin Frontera.' Panelists will include Jeannette Lozano Clariond, co-editor (with Harold Bloom) on a forthcoming anthology of American poets 'La escuela de Wallace Stevens'; Monica de la Torre, co-editor of 'Reversible Monuments: Contemporary Mexican Poetry'; Rafael Perez Torres, author of 'Movements in Chicano Poetry: Against Myths, Against Margins' and co-editor of the 'Chicano Studies Reader: An Anthology of Aztlan 1970-2000'; and Mexican Poet Pedro Serrano. The panel will be moderated by Luis Alberto Ambroggio, author of many essays, books of poems, and member of the Academia Norteamericana de la Lengua Espanola (North American Academy of the Spanish Language).

To learn more about Chicano poetry visit the Hispanic Reading Room and access materials from our collections, as well as original recordings of some of the most prominent Chicano writers and poets such as Cecilio Garcia Camarillo, Rudolfo Anaya, Ana Castillo, and Luis Rafael Sanchez. Also, access the Handbook of Latin American Studies http://lcweb2.loc.gov/hlas/ to learn more about the history of Mexicans-Americans in the United States.

The Hispanic Reading Room is a center for the study of cultures and societies of the Iberian Peninsula, Latin America, and the Caribbean, and other areas where Spanish and Portuguese influence has been significant. The reading room is located on the second floor of the Jefferson Bldg, LJ-240 and is open M-F, 8:30am to 5:00 pm.

George Price, First Prime Minister of Belize, Has Died

Thu, 22 Sep 2011 16:53:40 GMT

On Monday, Sept. 19th, George Price, the first prime minister of Belize, died at the age of 92. Belize celebrated 30 years of independence just two days later, Sept. 21. Price was an instrumental figure in the struggle for Belizean independence from England, and is often considered the father of the country. In 2000, he received the Order of the National Hero, Belize's highest honor, for his role in the independence movement. Price served two terms as prime minister from 1981 to 1984 and 1989 to 1993.

To find out more information about Belize, view the Library's Belize country study http://memory.loc.gov/frd/cs/bztoc.html, browse the Handbok of Latin American Studies (HLAS) http://lcweb2.loc.gov/hlas/, or consult a reference librarian in the Hispanic Division or via Ask A Librarian http://www.loc.gov/rr/askalib/ask-hispanic-eng.html.

The Hispanic Reading Room is a center for the study of cultures and societies of the Iberian Peninsula, Latin America, and the Caribbean, and other areas where Spanish and Portuguese influence has been significant. Researchers may visit the reading room to seek assistance with the vast Luso-Hispanic collections from reference librarians and area specialists. The reading room is located on the second floor of the Jefferson Bldg, LJ-240 and is open M-F, 8:30am to 5:00 pm.

The Library of Congress to Celebrate Hispanic and Latino Poetry!

Thu, 22 Sep 2011 13:24:52 GMT

The Hispanic Division and the Poetry and Literature Center of the Library of Congress present two programs that highlight the world of Hispanic and Latino poetry.

Friday, September 30 -- Poet Luis Alberto Ambroggio, and President of the Academy of the Spanish Language in the United States, Gerardo Pina Rosales, discuss the book 'Gabriela Mistral y Los Estados Unidos,' at the Mary Pickford Theater, James Madison Building (3rd floor), 101 Independence Ave. S.E., Washington, DC 20540.

Tuesday, October 4 -- A panel of poets and scholars discuss the poetry traditions of the United States and Mexico, and the ways they interrelate and reflect upon each other, at the Mumford Room, Madison Building (6th floor).
The programs are free and open to the public.

To learn more about the poetry of the Luso-Hispanic regions you can browse the Handbook of Latin American Studies http://lcweb2.loc.gov/hlas/ by subject heading: --Poetry. Researchers at the Hispanic Reading Room can also access the Archive of Hispanic Literature on Tape (AHLOT) http://www.loc.gov/rr/hispanic/archive.html. The AHLOT is an audiovisual collection of original voice and video recordings that capture selections of the writings of contemporary poets and prose writers. The collection includes readings in Spanish, Portuguese, Catalan, French, Nahuatl, Zapotec, Aymara, English, and Dutch.

The Hispanic Reading Room is a center for the study of cultures and societies of the Iberian Peninsula, Latin America, and the Caribbean, and other areas where Spanish and Portuguese influence has been significant. The reading room is located on the second floor of the Jefferson Bldg, LJ-240 and is open M-F, 8:30am to 5:00 pm.

Belize Celebrates 30 Years of Independence Today

Wed, 21 Sep 2011 20:37:33 GMT

The Hispanic Division celebrates Belize's independence from England on this day 30 years ago, Sept. 21, 1981. After years of settling Belize, England formally declared it a British Crown Colony in 1862, and renamed it British Honduras. England granted Belize self-governing status in 1964, a constitution was drafted, and in 1973, British Honduras was officially renamed Belize. However, independence was not officially achieved until 1981. England continues to have a major influence on Belize. Today, Belize is a constitutional monarchy with Queen Elizabeth II serving as the official head of state, is one of 54 members of the Commonwealth of Nations, formerly known as the British Commonwealth, and CARICOM. The country's official language is English, although Spanish and Kriol are also widely spoken.

To find out more information about Belize's independence, browse the Handbook of Latin American Studies (HLAS) http://lcweb2.loc.gov/hlas/, or consult a reference librarian in the Hispanic Division or via Ask A Librarian http://www.loc.gov/rr/askalib/ask-hispanic-eng.html.

The Hispanic Reading Room is a center for the study of cultures and societies of the Iberian Peninsula, Latin America, and the Caribbean, and other areas where Spanish and Portuguese influence has been significant. Researchers may visit the reading room to seek assistance with the vast Luso-Hispanic collections from reference librarians and area specialists. The reading room is located on the second floor of the Jefferson Bldg, LJ-240 and is open M-F, 8:30am to 5:00 pm.

The Hispanic Division Commemorates the National Day of Chile, September 18, 1810.

Mon, 19 Sep 2011 20:10:50 GMT

The Hispanic Division joins Chile in the commemoration of its independence! 201 years ago, the Governing Junta of Chile proclaimed its autonomy within the Spanish Monarchy. The Junta was formed in 1810, two years after the Napoleonic invasion of Spain. Although the country didn't become completely independent until 1818, it is the formation of the 'junta nacional,' which marked the beginning of the emancipation movement and the end of the colonial period for Chile.

See the Library of Congress' digitized copy of the 'Cancion Nacional de Chile' (Chile's National Anthem) http://lcweb2.loc.gov/diglib/ihas/loc.natlib.ihas.200186286/default.html.
To learn more about the independence movements in Latin America visit the Handbook of Latin American Studies (HLAS) http://lcweb2.loc.gov/hlas/, and visit the Hispanic Reading Room website http://www.loc.gov/rr/hispanic/.

The Hispanic Reading Room is a center for the study of cultures and societies of the Iberian Peninsula, Latin America, and the Caribbean, and other areas where Spanish and Portuguese influence has been significant. Researchers may visit the reading room to seek assistance with the vast Luso-Hispanic collections from reference librarians and area specialists. The reading room is located on the second floor of the Jefferson Bldg, LJ-240 and is open M-F, 8:30am to 5:00 pm.

Today Marks Mexico's Independence from Spain, Two Hundred and One Years Ago

Fri, 16 Sep 2011 15:35:04 GMT

The Hispanic Division commemorates Mexico's independence from Spain on this day, September 16, in 1810. While Mexico's independence was not officially achieved until 1821, this day marks the event in which Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla, a Creole and Catholic priest living in the village of Dolores in Guanajuato, gathered the townspeople and issued a call to arms against the Spanish Crown, proclaiming what was later known as El Grito de Dolores.

Find more information about Mexico during its independence period and other topics in the Handbook of Latin American Studies, compiled and edited in the Hispanic Division: http://lcweb2.loc.gov/hlas/.
Search by subject headings:
Independence Movements --Mexico
Revolutions and Revolutionary Movements --Mexico

The Hispanic Reading Room is a center for the study of cultures and societies of the Iberian Peninsula, Latin America, and the Caribbean, and other areas where Spanish and Portuguese influence has been significant. Researchers may visit the reading room to seek assistance with the vast Luso-Hispanic collections from reference librarians and area specialists. The reading room is located on the second floor of the Jefferson Bldg, LJ-240 and is open M-F, 8:30am to 5:00 pm.

Guatemala, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Honduras and El Salvador Celebrate Independence Day

Thu, 15 Sep 2011 15:24:08 GMT

The Hispanic Division commemorates today the independence of Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua. One hundred and ninety years ago, on the 15th of September, 1821, the Captaincy-General of Guatemala (formed by these five nations, and Chiapas) declared its independence from Spanish rule, becoming part of the Mexican Empire. The empire was dissolved two years later while each of the Central American provinces (with the exception of Chiapas) established their own independent administration.

To learn more about the independence movements in Latin America visit the Handbook of Latin American Studies (HLAS) http://lcweb2.loc.gov/hlas/, or visit the Hispanic Reading Room http://www.loc.gov/rr/hispanic/hisprr.html.

The Hispanic Reading Room is a center for the study of cultures and societies of the Iberian Peninsula, Latin America, and the Caribbean, and other areas where Spanish and Portuguese influence has been significant. Researchers may visit the reading room to seek assistance with the vast Luso-Hispanic collections from reference librarians and area specialists. The reading room is located on the second floor of the Jefferson Bldg, LJ-240 and is open M-F, 8:30am to 5:00 pm.

Washington, D.C. Celebrates Hispanic Heritage Month

Wed, 14 Sep 2011 21:21:12 GMT

Hispanic Heritage Month (Sept. 15-Oct 15.) celebrates the rich diversity of the Hispanic experience as summed up by this years theme: "Many Backgrounds, Many Stories...One American Spirit!" Across Washington, D.C., an array of institutions are hosting a variety of events sure to appeal to a wide audience. From a book talk by Mexican cooking authority Diana Kennedy to gallery lectures about new and old Hispanic master artists, from dance workshops to dinner-and-a-movie events, the month promises to deliver something for all tastes. For those unable to visit D.C., there are YouTube videos of Hispanic veterans recounting their stories of military participation, as well as lesson plans, research guides, and much more to explore from home.

Read about events and activities, and find participating institutions at the Hispanic Heritage Month site hosted by the Library of Congress: http://hispanicheritagemonth.gov/

Brazil celebrates 189 years of independence from Portugal today!

Wed, 07 Sep 2011 21:43:45 GMT

When the Portuguese Court fled Lisbon for Rio de Janeiro in 1820, Brazil became a kingdom and briefly enjoyed "equal status" with Portugal. In 1815, when Napoleon was defeated, Dom Joao VI returned to Lisbon with most of the Court, leaving behind his son, Pedro de Alcantara, to rule as Prince Regent of the Kingdom of Brazil. In September 1821, the Portuguese Cortes voted to abolish the Kingdom of Brazil, and make all the provinces of Brazil subordinate to Lisbon. On this day, Sept. 7, in 1822, Dom Pedro defied these attempts, and declared Brazil's independence from Portugal exclaiming, "By my blood, by my honor, and by God: I will make Brazil free." Dom Pedro became Emperor Pedro I of Brazil and ruled until 1831.

Find answers to your questions on Brazilian Independence among other topics in the Handbook of Latin American Studies, compiled and edited in the Hispanic Division: http://lcweb2.loc.gov/hlas/. Search for the following books: "Dom Pedro: The Struggle for Liberty in Brazil and Portugal, 1798-1834" by Neil Macaulay and "Brazil: Five Centuries of Change" by Thomas E. Skidmore, or search for other works on Brazilian independence by using the following HLAS subject headings:
-Pedro I, Emperor of Brazil
-Independence Movements --Brazil.

The Hispanic Reading Room is a center for the study of cultures and societies of the Iberian Peninsula, Latin America, and the Caribbean, and other areas where Spanish and Portuguese influence has been significant. Researchers may visit the reading room to seek assistance with the vast Luso-Hispanic collections from reference librarians and area specialists. The reading room is located on the second floor of the Jefferson Bldg, LJ-240 and is open M-F, 8:30am to 5:00 pm.

Teach and Learn about National Hispanic Heritage Month Using Library of Congress Materials

Tue, 06 Sep 2011 18:59:52 GMT

Join us at the Library to celebrate National Hispanic Heritage Month (Sept. 15-Oct. 15)! The Library of Congress collections contain maps, manuscripts, books, and photographs detailing the culture, contributions, and interactions of Hispanic peoples in the Americas. The Library of Congress will be hosting a variety of free events celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month, including a presentation of a children’s book award, discussions of poetry, as well as a number of lectures. Dr. Mark Hugo Lopez, Associate Director of the Pew Hispanic Center, will deliver the kick-off address on September 29 at 10 am (room location to be announced). Please see the Hispanic Division web site for more information about events: http://www.loc.gov/rr/hispanic/events.html

National Hispanic Heritage Month celebrates the achievements of Hispanic Americans and recognizes their contributions to American society and culture. Originally established in 1968 as Hispanic Heritage Week, Congress approved the establishment of National Hispanic Heritage Month in 1988. To see official government documents and proclamations related to Hispanic Heritage Month and to read more about its legal history, see this site created and maintained by the Law Library of the Library of Congress:
http://www.loc.gov/law/help/commemorative-observations/hispanic-heritage.php

America's Award recipient Pam Munoz Ryan to discuss her book "The Dreamer," Sept. 16

Thu, 01 Sep 2011 20:05:11 GMT

Author and America's Award recipient Pam Munoz Ryan will discuss and sign her award-winning book "The Dreamer," illustrated by Peter Sis, on Friday, Sept. 16 at noon in the West Dining Room, located on the sixth floor of the James Madison Building, 101 Independence Ave. S.E., Washington, D.C. The event is hosted by the Hispanic Division and the Center for the Book, and is free and open to the public. View the Library of Congress catalog record for "The Dreamer" here: http://lccn.loc.gov/2011288776.

The America's Award for Children's and Young Adult Literature will be awarded to Munoz Ryan and Sis for "The Dreamer," and Willie Perdomo and Bryan Collier for "Clemente!" in a presentation sponsored by the Hispanic Division and the Center for the Book, on Saturday, Sept. 17 from 9:30 to noon in the Mumford Room of the James Madison Building.

Hispanic Authors at the National Book Festival, Sept. 24-25

Tue, 30 Aug 2011 16:58:18 GMT

Renowned Hispanic writers, Esmeralda Santiago and Carmen Agra Deedy, will be among more than 80 writers speaking at the 11th annual National Book Festival, organized and sponsored by the Library of Congress, on Saturday, Sept. 24 from 10:00am to 5:30pm and Sunday, Sept. 25 from 1:00pm to 5:30pm.

Author Esmeralda Santiago emigrated from Puerto Rico to the US with her family when she was 13 years old. She has worked as a producer and director on educational and documentary films, and her work has been featured in The New York Times, The Boston Globe, House & Garden, and Sports Illustrated. She is the author of the award-winning books, "When I was Puerto Rican," "America's Dream" and "Almost a Woman." Her newest novel is "Conquistadora."

Award winning children's book author Carmen Agra Deedy was born in Havana, Cuba, and emigrated to the US with her family in 1963, following the Cuban Revolution. Her most recent books include, "The Cheshire Cheese Cat: A Dickens of a Tale," and "The Library Dragon Book." She will be participating in a storytelling performance with her husband, musician John McCutcheon. This is her fifth appearance at the National Book Festival. Find webcasts of her previous Festival appearances here: www.loc.gov/bookfest/author/carmen_agra_deedy.

Joe Hayes, author of numerous bilingual Spanish-English books will also make an appearance. The Bloomsberry Review named his book, "The Day it Snowed Tortillas," one of their favorite 15 children's books in the past 15 years. His newest book is "Coyote Under the Table."

The event will be held, in rain or shine, on the National Mall between 9th and 14 streets. The event is free and open to the public. For more information, visit the official National Book Festival website at: www.loc.gov/bookfest/

Happy Birthday, Borges!

Wed, 24 Aug 2011 20:55:25 GMT

Today the Hispanic Division commemorates the 112th birthday of the Argentinean writer, poet, and translator, Jorge Luis Borges (1899-1986). Rooted in the metaphysical and the fantastic, Borges is considered one of the most brilliant and polemic writers of the twentieth century. The Hispanic Division recorded the author both on audio and video for the Archive of Hispanic Literature on Tape (AHLOT) (http://www.loc.gov/rr/hispanic/archive.html) first in 1958, and later in 1976 and 1984. The AHLOT is available to the public in the Hispanic Reading Room of the Library of Congress, Thomas Jefferson Building, 101 Independence Ave., SE, Washington, DC. For more information on the Argentine writer, search the LOC Catalog for over 1000 books by or about Borges (http://catalog.loc.gov), and the Handbook of Latin American Studies for hundreds of descriptions of his works (hlasopac.loc.gov).

Authors and Illustrators to be Honored at the Americas Award Ceremony on September 17

Wed, 24 Aug 2011 15:20:57 GMT

Authors Pam Munoz and Willie Perdomo, and illustrators Peter Sis and Bryan Collier will receive the Americas Awards for Children’s and Young Adult Literature during the 19th annual award presentation, which will be hosted by the Hispanic Division and the Center for the Book of Library of Congress, on Saturday, September 17, 2011, from 9:30 a.m. to noon, in the Mumford Room, James Madison Building, 101 Independence Ave. SE Washington, DC. Munoz and Sis will be awarded for their book “The Dreamer” (Scholastic, 2010), and Perdomo and Collier for “Clemente!” (Holt 2010). See the Library of Congress catalog records for descriptions of the books: http://lccn.loc.gov/2009010274 and http://lccn.loc.gov/2009017808. The award winners will speak about their lives and work, and will sign their books after the award ceremony. Continental breakfast will be served. The Americas Award is sponsored by the Consortium of the Latin American Studies Program (CLASP) at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. The event is free and open to the public.

Literatura de Cordel Symposium: Continuity and Change in Brazilian Street Literature, Sept. 26-27, 2011

Tue, 16 Aug 2011 14:13:19 GMT

The American Folklife Center together with the Hispanic Division and the Rio de Janeiro Office of the Library of Congress will present a symposium titled, "Literatura de Cordel: Continuity and Change in Brazilian Street Literature," September 26-27, in LJ 119, Jefferson Building, 10 First Street SE., Washington, D.C.

The American Folklife Center houses an extensive Cordel collection, totaling more than 8380 items, dating from 1930 to the present, established through acquisitions by the Rio Office of the Library of Congress. Literatura de Cordel, or "string literature," is most popular in the street markets of northeast Brazil, where local vendors hang their literary works from strings to display them to potential buyers. These works include legends, fables, songs, and poems, and are illustrated by woodcut prints and photographs. View the Library of Congress catalog record for the Cordel collection here: http://lccn.loc.gov/2006700204.

The symposium is free and open to the public. Registration is required. For registration details and more information, visit the American Folklife Center events page at: www.loc.gov/folklife/events/index.html

David Stuart to Present Fifth Kislak Lecture on September 16

Tue, 09 Aug 2011 20:42:15 GMT

Art historian and archeologist David Stuart, the foremost expert on Maya hieroglyphs and professor of Mesoamerican Art and Writing at the University of Texas, Austin, will deliver the fifth Jay I. Kislak Lecture titled “Deciphering the Art of the Ancient Maya and the Year 2012” at 7 p.m. on Friday, September 16, 2011, in the Coolidge Auditorium on the ground floor of the Thomas Jefferson Building, 10 First St., S.E. Washington, D.C. The fifth Kislak lecture is a component of the Kislak American Studies Program established at the Library of Congress in 2004 by the Jay I. Kislak Foundation. Previous lecturers were Jared Diamond, Felipe Fernandez-Armesto, Michael Coe, and Jonathan D. Spence. The lecture is free and open to the public. For more information, visit the Hispanic Division events page at http://www.loc.gov/rr/hispanic/events.html.

It's here! Handbook of Latin American Studies, Volume 66!

Thu, 04 Aug 2011 16:14:00 GMT

Find the answers to all your Latin American research questions in the Handbook of Latin American Studies. Compiled and edited in the Hispanic Division and published by the University of Texas Press, HLAS reviews the most significant publications on Latin America and provides expert analyses of the current trends in scholarship. Alternating annually between the Humanities and the Social Sciences, the latest volume examines works of Art, History, Literature, Music, and Philosophy. Annotated citations are also available through two free, searchable databases, HLAS Online and HLAS Web.

Scholars Commemorate 100 Years of Exploration at Machu Picchu

Mon, 20 Jun 2011 19:32:52 GMT

In July 1911 Yale Professor Hiram Bingham announced his discovery of the "lost city" of Machu Picchu. Now a popular tourist destination, Machu Picchu has been a source of speculation and study as archaeologists have pieced together the history of this complex site high in the Andean mountains. Join Dr. Margaret MacLean and Dr. Anita Cook for a discussion of Machu Picchu chaired by Dr. Barbara Tenenbaum on June 29, 6-8 pm, Mumford Room, Madison Building, Library of Congress. Reception follows. Free and open to the public.

Haitian Cultural Advocate Jan Mapou Discusses His Celebrated Bookstore and Community Outreach

Tue, 14 Jun 2011 17:50:54 GMT

Haitian arts advocate, author, and playwright Jean-Marie Denis, also known as Jan Mapou, will discuss his Miami bookstore, Libreri Mapou, and his ongoing support and celebration of Haitian culture and Creole language. Join us on Monday, June 20 from 12-2 in the Pickford Theater, Madison Building, Library of Congress for a conversation about Haitian culture. Free and open to the public.

EducaVision Founder Discusses Haitian Publishing and Education

Mon, 06 Jun 2011 17:27:44 GMT

Fequiere Vilsaint (EducaVision Founder), Maude Heurtelou (Haitian novelist), and Carol R. Hollander (Editor, Caribbean Studies Press) will discuss Haitian publishing, writing, and education on Monday, June 13, 12-1, in the Pickford Theater, James Madison Building, LOC. The event is free and open to the public. For more information, contact Catalina Gomez at 202-707-6404.

Hispanic Division and Mexican Embassy Unveil Mexican Revolution Website

Tue, 03 May 2011 21:16:46 GMT

Mexican Specialist Barbara Tenenbaum and eminent historians John Tutino, Roberto Brena, and Alfredo Avila Rueda will present the new website and discuss the impact of the tumultuous revolutionary years. The Mexican Embassy will also present the beautifully illustrated publication "20/10 Memorias de las Revoluciones en Mexico." Please join us for this very special event: Monday, May 23, 6-8 pm, Hispanic Division, LJ-240, Jefferson Bldg, Library of Congress. RSVP: Catalina Gomez, 202-707-6406.

Hispanic Division Presents 19th Annual Poetry Marathon

Mon, 11 Apr 2011 15:09:09 GMT

Seven Latin American and Spanish poets will read and discuss their poetry on Friday, April 22 from 1:30-3:30 in the Pickford Theater, 3rd Floor, Madison Building, Library of Congress. Moderated by Rei Berroa of George Mason University, the readings and discussion will be in Spanish.

Hispanic Americans in Congress Web Site Updated to Include 112th Congress

Wed, 06 Apr 2011 15:28:45 GMT

The Hispanic Division has updated the Web site on Hispanic Americans in Congress to include five new members of the 112th Congress. The number of Hispanics serving in Congress today is at an all-time high, and all signs suggest the rate will continue to grow. For a historical list of all Hispanic members of Congress in chronological order, see <http://www.loc.gov/rr/hispanic/congress/chron.html>. Two states have elected their first Hispanic members of Congress in history -- RaÃºl Labrador is representing the 1st district of Idaho and Jaime Herrera Beutler represents the 3rd district of Washington State. To date, twelve US states, along with Guam, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands, have elected Hispanics to serve in the US Congress. For a complete list of all Hispanic members of Congress by geographic location, see <http://www.loc.gov/rr/hispanic/congress/geog.html>.

Please note that this Web site is the reflection of a book that was published by the Government Printing Office in 1995; therefore, links to members who were elected after that date will take you directly to their official Congressional Web sites.

Literature specialist to discuss La Malinche y las mujeres de la conquista/La Malinche and the women of Conquest.

Mon, 21 Mar 2011 18:10:28 GMT

Dr. Gladys Ilarregui will explore the myths and realities of La Malinche and the role of women at the time of the Spanish Conquest. La Malinche, a Nahua woman, was adviser, translator, and intermediary for Hernan Cortes, helping him to overthrow the Aztec leader, Moctezuma. Viewed as both a traitor and a founding figure, Malinche has been the inspiration for books, poems, and movies. Join us on Monday, March 28, from 12-1pm to learn more about this key figure of Mexican history. In the Pickford Theater (3rd Fl), Madison Bldg, Library of Congress. Free and open to the public. Lecture in Spanish.

Author Explores the Political Power of Fashion

Tue, 22 Feb 2011 18:17:17 GMT

Dr. Regina Root of William and Mary College will discuss how young patriots in post-Independence Argentina helped shape the country's identity and advance new political ideas through fashion writing and new styles of dress. Root's groundbreaking book, "Couture and Consensus: Fashion and Politics in Postcolonial Argentina," draws on 19th-century magazine articles, songs, novels, and images to present a fascinating examination of the power of fashion. Join us on Monday, March 7 at 12 noon in the Pickford Theater, 3rd Floor, Madison Building, Library of Congress. Book signing to follow lecture.

Georgetown Professor to Discuss Missionary Activities Among Indigenous Peoples on the Bolivian Frontier

Thu, 02 Dec 2010 14:51:46 GMT

Professor Erick Langer of the Georgetown History Department will discuss and sign his highly praised book, "Expecting Pears from an Elm Tree: Franciscan Missions on the Chiriguano Frontier in the Heart of South America, 1830-1949." The book explores the interplay among missionaries, indigenous peoples, and the national government from the 19th through the 20th century. The talk will be on Monday, Dec. 8, 1-2 pm, Pickford Theater, 3rd Fl., Madison Bldg., Library of Congress. Free and open to the public.

US Department of State and LOC Hispanic Division Sponsor "Creating Freedom in the Americas" Symposium

Mon, 15 Nov 2010 16:19:56 GMT

The Librarian of Congress James H. Billington and the Assistant Secretary of State for Western Hemisphere Affairs Arturo Valenzuela welcome three panels of distinguished scholars for a discussion of Latin American independence movements and state building on Friday, Nov. 19, 9:00am-4:30 pm, Mumford Rm, Madison Building, Library of Congress. RSVP to Catalina Gomez, 202-707-6404.

Authors Harris and Sadler to Discuss "The Secret War in El Paso"

Fri, 05 Nov 2010 20:34:32 GMT

Based on 80,000 pages of previously classified FBI documents and hundreds of Mexican secret agent reports, "The Secret War in El Paso: Mexican Revolutionary Intrigue, 1906-1920," reveals the key role played by US border towns during decades of armed conflict in Mexico. Join Professors Charles H. Harris, III and Louis R. Sadler on Monday, Nov. 8, from Noon-1pm at the Library of Congress, Madison Building, 6th Fl., West Dining Rm for a discussion of clandestine meetings, revolutionary intrigue, secret arms deals, and double agents. This free event is open to the public.

"Blackness in the White Nation" Author To Discuss His Work

Thu, 21 Oct 2010 14:40:35 GMT

Professor Reid Andrews will discuss his newly published book on the culture and political mobilization of the Afro-Uruguayan community from the 19th through the 21st century. The book is a follow up to his earlier works on Afro-Brazilians and Afro-Argentineans. The talk is free and open to the public.

Writers Julia Alvarez and Carmen Trafolla to Receive 2010 Americas Awards for Children's Literature

Wed, 13 Oct 2010 14:15:55 GMT

Please join staff of the Hispanic Division, the Center for the Book, and the University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee for continental breakfast with the 2010 Americas Awards Winners Julia Alvarez and Carmen Trafolla. Following presentation of the awards, the authors will speak about their writing careers and read briefly from their works. The free event will be held on Saturday, Oct. 23rd, 9:30-Noon, Mumford Room, 6th Floor, James Madison Building, Library of Congress. Metro: Capitol South.

Hispanic Heritage Month Panel to Discuss "The Borinqueneers," the U. S. Army 65th Infantry Regiment

Tue, 05 Oct 2010 21:35:56 GMT

Puerto Rico's all-volunteer regiment, the 65th Infantry, has battled valiantly in every major American military conflict from the American Revolution to the current wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, including both World Wars and the Korean War. Panelists Tom Wiener, Veteran's History Project; Juan Manuel Perez, Hispanic Division; and Hector Morey, Mexico, Central America, and Caribbean Section, ALAWE, will discuss the regiment's contributions. They will also talk about the Veteran's History Project. The free event will take place on Tuesday, Oct. 12 at 12 pm in Room 119 of the Jefferson Building, Library of Congress, 101 Independence Ave, SE. The event is open to the public. For more information contact the Veterans History Project at (202) 707-4916 or vohp@loc.gov.

Cuba Photos by Carol Highsmith Available Online at the Library of Congress

Mon, 04 Oct 2010 17:06:15 GMT

Hundreds of photographs of Havana and surrounding areas by renowned architectural photographer and author Carol Highsmith are now searchable through the Prints and Photographs Online Catalog (http://www.loc.gov/pictures/). These public domain images are some of the over 100,000 photos of the US and other countries that Highsmith is generously donating, copyright free, to the Library of Congress.

Publisher Angela Zavala to deliver LOC Hispanic Heritage Month Keynote Speech

Fri, 01 Oct 2010 15:43:41 GMT

Angela Zavala, the founder and president of TIYM Publishing Inc., began publishing the Hispanic Yearbook/Anuario Hispano in 1986. The Yearbook assists Hispanics in locating language classes, scholarships, employment, and much more. Zavala, an immigrant from Argentina, saw the need for a guide that would connect Hispanics to available resources. She subsequently began publishing the African-American, Asian-American, and Arab-American Yearbooks. The event will be on Thursday, Oct. 7 at 11 am in the Whittall Pavilion on the ground floor of the Jefferson Building. The event is free and open to the public.

Cuban Cultural History: Playwright, Novelist, Diplomat Jose Antonio Ramos

Thu, 30 Sep 2010 19:00:32 GMT

Professor Judith Weiss will discuss the life and works of Jose Antonio Ramos and his impact during the First Cuban Republic following independence from Spain in 1902. Judith Weiss, professor of Hispanic Studies at Mount Alison University (New Brunswick, Canada), is author of many books and articles on Latin American culture and theater. She has also directed English-language productions of Hispanic plays. The free event is open to the public and will be held on Monday, Oct. 4, 12 to 1 pm, Mary Pickford Theater, Madison Building, 3rd Floor, Library of Congress. RSVP: Catalina Gomez, 202-707-6404.

Book Talk: Poetas Hispanos de Washington D.C./Hispanic Poets of Washington D.C.

Mon, 13 Sep 2010 17:55:53 GMT

Editors Luis Alberto Ambroggio and Carlos Parada Ayala will discuss and read from AL PIE DE LA CASA BLANCA [At The Foot of the White House], their recently published compilation of poetry by Hispanic writers living in the Washington D.C. area. More than 20 area writers contributed their verses to the publication. The free event is open to the public and will take place on Thursday, September 30, 4:30-6:30pm, Mumford Room, 6th Floor, Madison Building, Library of Congress. The discussion and reading will be in Spanish. RSVP: Dr. Georgette Dorn, (202) 707-2003

Haitian Earthquake Recovery Plan to be Discussed by Executive Director of Mouvman Peyizan Papay (MPP)

Fri, 27 Aug 2010 16:25:35 GMT

Chavannes Jean-Baptiste, Founder and Director of the Mouvman Peyizan Papay (MPP), will discuss the current situation in Haiti and the organization's plans for participating in the reconstruction of the country in the aftermath of the January 12th earthquake. The MPP is a non-profit, grassroots movement dedicated to social justice and a better quality of life in Haiti. The free event is open to the public and will be held on Monday, Sept. 27, 1:00 pm-5:00 pm, in the Pickford Theater, Room 302, Madison Building, Library of Congress. Inquiries to Dr. Joan Higbee, 202-707-2011.

Hot Off the Press! Handbook of Latin American Studies, Vol. 65

Mon, 16 Aug 2010 17:52:14 GMT

Find the answers to all your Latin American research questions in the Handbook of Latin American Studies. Compiled and edited in the Hispanic Division and published by the University of Texas Press, HLAS reviews the most significant publications on Latin America and provides expert analyses of the current trends in scholarship. Alternating annually between the Humanities and the Social Sciences, the latest volume examines works in Anthropology, Political Economy, Geography, Government and Politics, International Relations and Sociology. (Look for the next Humanities volume in August 2011!) Reviews are also available through two free, searchable databases, HLAS Online and HLAS Web.

Kislak Post-Doctoral Fellowship New Application Deadline, Oct. 15, 2010

Fri, 06 Aug 2010 14:45:56 GMT

Scholars are invited to apply for an in-residence fellowship of up to 8 months to work with the Kislak Collection's manuscripts, rare books, artifacts, maps, and historic documents of the Americas. The superb objects within the collection span three millenium, recording the discovery, contact, and colonial periods of the Americas, with an emphasis on Mesoamerica, the circum-Caribbean region, and Florida. A shorter-term fellowship of up to four months is also available to qualified candidates.

"In the Americas...the true study is the study of the best."

Wed, 21 Jul 2010 21:58:38 GMT

Archibald MacLeish, Librarian of Congress, at the dedication of the Hispanic Reading Room, October 12, 1939.

Welcome to the Hispanic Division RSS feed! For over seventy years, the staff of the Hispanic Division has guided patrons to Latin American, Caribbean, Iberian, and US Hispanic resources within the Library. Located in Room 240 of the domed Jefferson Building, the Hispanic Reading Room is open M-F, 8:30 am-5:00 pm. Visit us to see the original murals by Brazilian painter Portinari and to study in the elegant Spanish renaissance-style Hispanic Reading Room. Free wireless is available here and in all the Library Reading Rooms. Subscribe to our RSS feed to learn more about the Library's Latin American, Caribbean, Iberian, and US Hispanic and Latino resources and online collections, and to find out about Hispanic Division events.