Official Historian of Puerto Rico
Encyclopedia
Pursuant to a law approved in 1903, "An Act for the Approval and Conservation of Certain Historical Data of Puerto Rico", the Puerto Rico Legislature created the Office of the Official Historian of Puerto Rico. The historians who held the position during the early decades of the 20th century included Francisco Mariano Quiñones
, Salvador Brau y Asencio
, Dr. Cayetano Coll y Toste
, Mariano Abril and Adolfo de Hostos
. The office remained vacant until 1993, when then Sen. Kenneth McClintock
authored a measure to reestablish the office. Upon its approval, Senate President Roberto Rexach Benítez
and House Speaker Zaida Hernández Torres appointed Dr. Pilar Barbosa
as the first Official Historian in the office's "modern era". The first female to hold the job, she held it until her death in 1997. At that time, Senate President Charlie Rodríguez
and House Speaker Edison Misla Aldarondo
appointed Dr. Luis González Vale
, the current incumbent.
Under Dr. González Vale's leadership, the office has collaborated in multiple publications, including the letters of Resident Commissioner Félix Córdova Dávila, and several works regarding Puerto Rico's military history. In 2005, in collaboration with Puerto Rico's Endowment for the Humanities and the National Endowment for the Humanities
, his office published an eight-book "We, the People" Puerto Rican Series of books regarding the history of Puerto Rico during the first 30 years of US sovereignty.
Dr. González Vale was invited to testify as a non-partisan witness at hearings held by the U.S. House of Representatives Subcommittee on Insular Affairs on legislation regarding Puerto Rico's future political relationship with the United States.
Francisco Mariano Quiñones
Francisco Mariano Quiñones was a proponent of the abolition of slavery and of the self-determination of Puerto Rico.-Early years:...
, Salvador Brau y Asencio
Salvador Brau
Dr. Salvador Brau Asencio , was a journalist, poet and writer from Puerto Rico. He was also a renowned historian.-Early years:...
, Dr. Cayetano Coll y Toste
Cayetano Coll y Toste
Dr. Cayetano Coll y Toste , was a Puerto Rican historian and writer. He was the patriach of a prominent family of Puerto Rican, educators, politicians and writers.-Early years:...
, Mariano Abril and Adolfo de Hostos
Adolfo de Hostos
Adolfo de Hostos served in the mid twentieth century, from January 1936 to 1950, as the fifth Official Historian of Puerto Rico, a position created in March, 1903, by the Puerto Rico Legislature....
. The office remained vacant until 1993, when then Sen. Kenneth McClintock
Kenneth McClintock
Kenneth D. McClintock-Hernández is the current Secretary of State of Puerto Rico. Mr. McClintock served as co-chair of Hillary Clinton presidential campaign's National Hispanic Leadership Council in 2008, co-chaired Clinton's successful Puerto Rico primary campaign that year and served as the...
authored a measure to reestablish the office. Upon its approval, Senate President Roberto Rexach Benítez
Roberto Rexach Benítez
Roberto Rexach Benítez is a Puerto Rican politician, and former Senator and Representative. Rexach Benítez served as the tenth President of the Senate of Puerto Rico from 1993 to 1996...
and House Speaker Zaida Hernández Torres appointed Dr. Pilar Barbosa
Pilar Barbosa
Dr. Pilar Barbosa de Rosario was an educator, historian and political activist.-Early years:Barbosa born in Bayamón, Puerto Rico, was one of twelve children of Jose Celso Barbosa, also known as the "Father of the Puerto Rican Statehood Movement". Her father was a member of the Puerto Rican Senate...
as the first Official Historian in the office's "modern era". The first female to hold the job, she held it until her death in 1997. At that time, Senate President Charlie Rodríguez
Charlie Rodríguez
Charles "Charlie" Rodríguez is a New York City-born Puerto Rican politician affiliated with the New Progressive Party . He served as the eleventh President of the Senate of Puerto Rico from 1997 until 2000.-Early life:...
and House Speaker Edison Misla Aldarondo
Edison Misla Aldarondo
Edison Misla Aldarondo is a Puerto Rican politician who served as the Speaker of the Puerto Rican House of Representatives from 1997 to 2000. He was a founder of the pro-statehood New Progressive Party of Puerto Rico . He also served as Representative from the 4th District from 1977 to 2002, and...
appointed Dr. Luis González Vale
Luis González Vale
Dr. Luis González Vale is the latest in a long line of historians who have held the post of Official Historian of Puerto Rico, having succeeded Dr. Pilar Barbosa in the post....
, the current incumbent.
Under Dr. González Vale's leadership, the office has collaborated in multiple publications, including the letters of Resident Commissioner Félix Córdova Dávila, and several works regarding Puerto Rico's military history. In 2005, in collaboration with Puerto Rico's Endowment for the Humanities and the National Endowment for the Humanities
National Endowment for the Humanities
The National Endowment for the Humanities is an independent federal agency of the United States established by the National Foundation on the Arts and the Humanities Act of 1965 dedicated to supporting research, education, preservation, and public programs in the humanities. The NEH is located at...
, his office published an eight-book "We, the People" Puerto Rican Series of books regarding the history of Puerto Rico during the first 30 years of US sovereignty.
Dr. González Vale was invited to testify as a non-partisan witness at hearings held by the U.S. House of Representatives Subcommittee on Insular Affairs on legislation regarding Puerto Rico's future political relationship with the United States.