José Ferrer Canales
Encyclopedia
Dr. José Ferrer Canales (September 18, 1913 – July 20, 2005), was an educator, writer and a pro-independence political activist.
School in San Juan
. He attended and graduated from the Central Superior High School. It was very difficult for him because after school he had to work in order to help support his family.
In 1934, Ferrer Canales enrolled in the University of Puerto Rico
. During his university years he met and befriended Dr. Pedro Albizu Campos
, leader of the Puerto Rican Nationalist Party
. This led to his active participation in the pro-independence movement. In 1937, he earned his Bachelors Degree in Arts, graduating Magna Cum Laude. In 1944, Canales earned his Masters Degree in Arts with his thesis
: "Enrique José Varona". He felt influenced by the philosophic ideas of Varona, Eugenio María de Hostos
and José Martí
.
. That same year the university also awarded him a grant to study Spanish
and Latin American literature
at Columbia University
in New York City. In New York he was subject to racial discrimination however, that did not keep him from teaching Spanish at Hunter College
.
In 1946, he returned to the island and was offered a position in the Department of Humanities at the University of Puerto Rico. He was fired in 1948, due to the political unrest spreading throughout Puerto Rico and his pro-independence activism.
, Texas
and Washington, D.C.
. Ferrer Canales went to Mexico and enrolled in the National Autonomous University of Mexico
where he earned his Doctorate Degree in Letters in 1952 with his thesis: "Varona, escritor". In 1963, he returned to Puerto Rico and the University of Puerto Rico once again opened their doors to him. He taught Spanish literature
and Political History. During this time he befriend Dr. Margot Arce de Vázquez
who also served as an inspiration for his writings. He was invited as a quest speaker to many countries, among them the United States, Mexico, Cuba
, Brazil, Canada, Ecuador
, Peru
, Venezuela
, Spain, France, Hungary and England.
convinced him to come out of retirement and to teach in the Center of Advanced Studies of Puerto Rico and the Caribbean. He also had a column in the daily newspaper El Nuevo Día. Ferrer Canales received many awards and recognitions during his lifetime, among them are the following:
, at the age of 91 and is survived by his wife Ana Hilda Betancourt. He is buried in the Villa Palmeras Cemetery.
Early years
Ferrer Canales was born in Santurce, Puerto Rico into a poor working class family. Despite the economic hardships his family faced, he was able to attend school. He received his elementary education at the Pedro G. Goyco Elementary School and his secondary instruction at Román Baldorioty de CastroRomán Baldorioty de Castro
Román Baldorioty de Castro distinguished himself as one of Puerto Rico's foremost abolitionists and spokesman for the island's right to self-determination...
School in San Juan
San 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...
. He attended and graduated from the Central Superior High School. It was very difficult for him because after school he had to work in order to help support his family.
In 1934, Ferrer Canales enrolled in 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...
. During his university years he met and befriended Dr. Pedro Albizu Campos
Pedro Albizu Campos
Don Pedro Albizu Campos was a Puerto Rican politician and one of the leading figures in the Puerto Rican independence movement. He was the leader and president of the Puerto Rican Nationalist Party from 1930 until his death...
, leader of the Puerto Rican Nationalist Party
Puerto Rican Nationalist Party
The Puerto Rican Nationalist Party was founded on September 17, 1922. Its main objective is to work for Puerto Rican Independence.In 1919, José Coll y Cuchí, a member of the Union Party of Puerto Rico, felt that the Union Party was not doing enough for the cause of Puerto Rican independence and he...
. This led to his active participation in the pro-independence movement. In 1937, he earned his Bachelors Degree in Arts, graduating Magna Cum Laude. In 1944, Canales earned his Masters Degree in Arts with his thesis
Thesis
A dissertation or thesis is a document submitted in support of candidature for an academic degree or professional qualification presenting the author's research and findings...
: "Enrique José Varona". He felt influenced by the philosophic ideas of Varona, Eugenio María de Hostos
Eugenio María de Hostos
Eugenio María de Hostos known as "El Ciudadano de América" , was a Puerto Rican educator, philosopher, intellectual, lawyer, sociologist and independence advocate....
and José Martí
José Martí
José Julián Martí Pérez was a Cuban national hero and an important figure in Latin American literature. In his short life he was a poet, an essayist, a journalist, a revolutionary philosopher, a translator, a professor, a publisher, and a political theorist. He was also a part of the Cuban...
.
Educator
Ferrer Canales taught high school Spanish in the town of Humacao from 1937 to 1943. After receiving his masters degree, he was hired as a Spanish professor at his alma materAlma mater
Alma mater , pronounced ), was used in ancient Rome as a title for various mother goddesses, especially Ceres or Cybele, and in Christianity for the Virgin Mary.-General term:...
. That same year the university also awarded him a grant to study Spanish
Spanish literature
Spanish literature generally refers to literature written in the Spanish language within the territory that presently constitutes the state of Spain...
and Latin American literature
Latin American literature
Latin American literature consists of the oral and written literature of Latin America in several languages, particularly in Spanish, Portuguese, and indigenous languages of the Americas. It rose to particular prominence globally during the second half of the 20th century, largely due to the...
at Columbia University
Columbia University
Columbia University in the City of New York is a private, Ivy League university in Manhattan, New York City. Columbia is the oldest institution of higher learning in the state of New York, the fifth oldest in the United States, and one of the country's nine Colonial Colleges founded before the...
in New York City. In New York he was subject to racial discrimination however, that did not keep him from teaching Spanish at Hunter College
Hunter College
Hunter College, established in 1870, is a public university and one of the constituent colleges of the City University of New York, located on Manhattan's Upper East Side. Hunter grants undergraduate, graduate, and post-graduate degrees in more than one hundred fields of study, and is recognized...
.
In 1946, he returned to the island and was offered a position in the Department of Humanities at the University of Puerto Rico. He was fired in 1948, due to the political unrest spreading throughout Puerto Rico and his pro-independence activism.
Author
In 1949, he left the island and moved to the United States where he taught in various universities in LouisianaLouisiana
Louisiana is a state located in the southern region of the United States of America. Its capital is Baton Rouge and largest city is New Orleans. Louisiana is the only state in the U.S. with political subdivisions termed parishes, which are local governments equivalent to counties...
, Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
and Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
. Ferrer Canales went to Mexico and enrolled in the National Autonomous University of Mexico
National Autonomous University of Mexico
The Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México is a university in Mexico. UNAM was founded on 22 September 1910 by Justo Sierra as a liberal alternative to the Roman Catholic-sponsored Royal and Pontifical University of Mexico The Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM) (National Autonomous...
where he earned his Doctorate Degree in Letters in 1952 with his thesis: "Varona, escritor". In 1963, he returned to Puerto Rico and the University of Puerto Rico once again opened their doors to him. He taught Spanish literature
Spanish literature
Spanish literature generally refers to literature written in the Spanish language within the territory that presently constitutes the state of Spain...
and Political History. During this time he befriend Dr. Margot Arce de Vázquez
Margot Arce de Vázquez
Dr. Margot Arce de Vázquez was a writer, essayist and educator who founded the Puerto Rican Academy of the Spanish Language.-Early years:...
who also served as an inspiration for his writings. He was invited as a quest speaker to many countries, among them the United States, Mexico, Cuba
Cuba
The Republic of Cuba is an island nation in the Caribbean. The nation of Cuba consists of the main island of Cuba, the Isla de la Juventud, and several archipelagos. Havana is the largest city in Cuba and the country's capital. Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city...
, Brazil, Canada, Ecuador
Ecuador
Ecuador , officially the Republic of Ecuador is a representative democratic republic in South America, bordered by Colombia on the north, Peru on the east and south, and by the Pacific Ocean to the west. It is one of only two countries in South America, along with Chile, that do not have a border...
, Peru
Peru
Peru , officially the Republic of Peru , is a country in western South America. It is bordered on the north by Ecuador and Colombia, on the east by Brazil, on the southeast by Bolivia, on the south by Chile, and on the west by the Pacific Ocean....
, Venezuela
Venezuela
Venezuela , officially called the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela , is a tropical country on the northern coast of South America. It borders Colombia to the west, Guyana to the east, and Brazil to the south...
, Spain, France, Hungary and England.
Written works
Among his works are:- "Marginalia"(1939)
- "Por nuestra lengua y nuestra soberanía" (1941)
- "Agonía y esperanza de Puerto Rico" (1962)
- "Imagen de Varona" (1964)
- "Regionalism and University" (1965)
- "Acentos cívicos" (1972)
- "Gandhi: evocación del centenario (1972)
- "Asteriscos" (1990)
- "Martí y Hostos" (1991)
Honors and recognitions
Ferrer Canales retired in 1983, however Puerto Rican anthropologist Ricardo AlegríaRicardo Alegría
Ricardo Alegría was a Puerto Rican scholar, cultural anthropologist and archeologist known as the "Father of Modern Puerto Rican Archaeology".-Early years:...
convinced him to come out of retirement and to teach in the Center of Advanced Studies of Puerto Rico and the Caribbean. He also had a column in the daily newspaper El Nuevo Día. Ferrer Canales received many awards and recognitions during his lifetime, among them are the following:
- Professor Emeritus of the University of Puerto Rico (1983).
- Honorary Professor of the Humanities Faculty of the National Atonomus University Nacional of Santo DomingoSanto DomingoSanto Domingo, known officially as Santo Domingo de Guzmán, is the capital and largest city in the Dominican Republic. Its metropolitan population was 2,084,852 in 2003, and estimated at 3,294,385 in 2010. The city is located on the Caribbean Sea, at the mouth of the Ozama River...
(1987). - Honorary Professor of the UPR specializing in Eugenio María de Hostos (1989–1990).
- Journalist Prize from the Institute of Puerto Rican Culture (1990).
- Honorary member of the Cuban Teachers Association (1992).
- Member of the Puerto Rican Academy of the Spanish Language (1992).
- Prize of Honor of the Puerto Rican Athenaeum (1994).
- The National Cultural Medal bestowed on him by the Cuban Minister of Culture (1995).
- Named Humanist of the Year by the Puerto Rican Humanities Foundation (1997).
- The Second International Book Fair of Puerto Rico was dedicated to Canales (1998).
Final years
Ferrer Canales died on July 20, 2005 at the Teachers' Hospital in Hato Rey, Puerto RicoHato Rey, Puerto Rico
Hato Rey is a former ward located in the northwest part of the dissolved municipality of Río Piedras. It now stretches over three wards of the municipality of San Juan, Puerto Rico:*Hato Rey Central*Hato Rey Norte*Hato Rey Sur...
, at the age of 91 and is survived by his wife Ana Hilda Betancourt. He is buried in the Villa Palmeras Cemetery.
See also
- List of famous Puerto Ricans
- Puerto Rican Nationalist PartyPuerto Rican Nationalist PartyThe Puerto Rican Nationalist Party was founded on September 17, 1922. Its main objective is to work for Puerto Rican Independence.In 1919, José Coll y Cuchí, a member of the Union Party of Puerto Rico, felt that the Union Party was not doing enough for the cause of Puerto Rican independence and he...
- 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....