Ana Roque
Encyclopedia
Ana Roque de Duprey, also known as "Flor del Valle" (Flower of the Valley), (April 18, 1853–1933), was an educator, suffragist and one of the founders of the University of Puerto Rico
.
. She lived among books and had learned how to write by the age of three. Her mother died when she was only 4 years old and she was raised by her father, aunt and grandmother, all who were educators. In 1860, when Roque was seven years old, she was sent to a regular school, and two years later graduated. She continued her home schooling and in 1864 at the age of eleven, became the youngest teachers assistant in Puerto Rico. In 1866, at age 13, she founded a school in her house. She also wrote a geography
textbook for her students which was later adopted by the Department of Education of Puerto Rico. She applied for her teachers license and passed the examinations.
where she became the first woman to be permitted into the Puerto Rican Athenaeum and the first woman to become member of the Public Library. During her spare time she composed music, though things changed in 1880 when her husband died.
, which she accepted. She also enrolled at the Provincial Institute where she studied philosophy
and science
and earned her Bachelor's Degree. In 1898, Roque founded the first "women's only" magazine in Puerto Rico "La Mujer". Roque wrote articles for the following newspapers "El Buscapie", "El Imparcial" and "El Mundo". She was also the founder of "La Evolucion" (1902), "La Mujer del Siglo XX" in (1907), "Album Puertorriqueño" (1918) and "Heraldo de la Mujer" (1920). In 1899, Roque was named the director of the Normal School of San Juan. Among the many books written by Roque were the following: Sara, La Obrera and Luz y Sombra. Her book Puerto Rican Flora received acclaim and an award from the Fourth Century Christian Civilization Organization. Roque, who also had a passion for astronomy
, was made an honorary member of the Paris Society of Astronomers.
of the University of Puerto Rico) and she also volunteered to help establish the University of Puerto Rico
.
In 1933, Ana Roque Giegel de Duprey died in Río Piedras
, Puerto Rico. The Government of Puerto Rico has honored her memory by naming a school in Humacao and a street in San Juan after her. There is also an elementary school in Chicago, Illinois named after Ana Roque.
University of Puerto Rico
The University of Puerto Rico is the state university system of Puerto Rico. The system consists of 11 campuses and has approximately 64,511 students and 5,300 faculty members...
.
Early years
Roque was born in Aguadilla, Puerto RicoAguadilla, Puerto Rico
Aguadilla , founded in 1775 by Luis de Córdova, is a city located in the northwestern tip of Puerto Rico bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, north of Aguada, and Moca and west of Isabela. Aguadilla is spread over 15 wards and Aguadilla Pueblo...
. She lived among books and had learned how to write by the age of three. Her mother died when she was only 4 years old and she was raised by her father, aunt and grandmother, all who were educators. In 1860, when Roque was seven years old, she was sent to a regular school, and two years later graduated. She continued her home schooling and in 1864 at the age of eleven, became the youngest teachers assistant in Puerto Rico. In 1866, at age 13, she founded a school in her house. She also wrote a geography
Geography
Geography is the science that studies the lands, features, inhabitants, and phenomena of Earth. A literal translation would be "to describe or write about the Earth". The first person to use the word "geography" was Eratosthenes...
textbook for her students which was later adopted by the Department of Education of Puerto Rico. She applied for her teachers license and passed the examinations.
First Puerto Rican woman to become member of the Public Library
In 1872, she married Luis Duprey, a well-to-do landowner who was involved in politics thus, she developed an interest in the political situation of Puerto Rico. With Duprey, she had five children however, only three survived, Luis Enrique, Borinquen and America. The family moved to San JuanSan Juan, Puerto Rico
San Juan , officially Municipio de la Ciudad Capital San Juan Bautista , is the capital and most populous municipality in Puerto Rico, an unincorporated territory of the United States. As of the 2010 census, it had a population of 395,326 making it the 46th-largest city under the jurisdiction of...
where she became the first woman to be permitted into the Puerto Rican Athenaeum and the first woman to become member of the Public Library. During her spare time she composed music, though things changed in 1880 when her husband died.
Author
In 1884, Roque was offered a teacher's position in AreciboArecibo
Arecibo may refer to:*Arecibo, Puerto Rico, a municipality located by the Atlantic Ocean*Arecibo Observatory, a very sensitive radio telescope located approximately south-southwest from the city of Arecibo...
, which she accepted. She also enrolled at the Provincial Institute where she studied philosophy
Philosophy
Philosophy is the study of general and fundamental problems, such as those connected with existence, knowledge, values, reason, mind, and language. Philosophy is distinguished from other ways of addressing such problems by its critical, generally systematic approach and its reliance on rational...
and science
Science
Science is a systematic enterprise that builds and organizes knowledge in the form of testable explanations and predictions about the universe...
and earned her Bachelor's Degree. In 1898, Roque founded the first "women's only" magazine in Puerto Rico "La Mujer". Roque wrote articles for the following newspapers "El Buscapie", "El Imparcial" and "El Mundo". She was also the founder of "La Evolucion" (1902), "La Mujer del Siglo XX" in (1907), "Album Puertorriqueño" (1918) and "Heraldo de la Mujer" (1920). In 1899, Roque was named the director of the Normal School of San Juan. Among the many books written by Roque were the following: Sara, La Obrera and Luz y Sombra. Her book Puerto Rican Flora received acclaim and an award from the Fourth Century Christian Civilization Organization. Roque, who also had a passion for astronomy
Astronomy
Astronomy is a natural science that deals with the study of celestial objects and phenomena that originate outside the atmosphere of Earth...
, was made an honorary member of the Paris Society of Astronomers.
Founder of University of Puerto Rico-Mayagüez Campus
In 1902, she founded a teachers' academy in her house, whose main objective was to train and prepare students who were interested in becoming teachers for their teacher's examination with the Department of Education. Roque founded the Liceo de Ponce (high school) and the College of Mayagüez (which later became the Mayagüez CampusUniversity of Puerto Rico at Mayagüez
The University of Puerto Rico at Mayagüez or Recinto Universitario de Mayagüez in Spanish , is a land-grant, sea-grant, space-grant state university located in the city of Mayagüez, Puerto Rico...
of the University of Puerto Rico) and she also volunteered to help establish the University of Puerto Rico
University of Puerto Rico
The University of Puerto Rico is the state university system of Puerto Rico. The system consists of 11 campuses and has approximately 64,511 students and 5,300 faculty members...
.
Feminist
In 1917, Roque founded the Puerto Rican Feminist League, the first feminist organization in Puerto Rico dedicated to the issues of women's rights. In 1924, she founded the Association of Women Suffragist, which fought for the women's right to vote, a task which became a reality in 1932 and which became law for all women in 1935. It is ironic that she was unable to vote because she forgot to register.Later years
In 1932, the University of Puerto Rico bestowed upon Roque an honorary doctorate degree. She was also named honorary president of the Puerto Rican Liberal Party.In 1933, Ana Roque Giegel de Duprey died in Río Piedras
Río Piedras, Puerto Rico
Río Piedras is a district of San Juan, Puerto Rico. Founded in 1714, it has been the home of the University of Puerto Rico's main campus since 1903, earning the town the popular name of Ciudad Universitaria...
, Puerto Rico. The Government of Puerto Rico has honored her memory by naming a school in Humacao and a street in San Juan after her. There is also an elementary school in Chicago, Illinois named after Ana Roque.
See also
- List of famous Puerto Ricans
- French immigration to Puerto RicoFrench immigration to Puerto RicoThe French immigration to Puerto Rico came about as a result of the economic and political situations which occurred in various places such as Louisiana , Saint-Domingue and in Europe....