María Cadilla
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Dr. Maria Cadilla (December 21, 1884-August 21, 1951) born in Arecibo, Puerto Rico, was a writer, educator, women rights activist and one the first women in Puerto Rico to earn a doctorates degree.
Cadilla lived with her parents in the northwestern town of Arecibo. There she received her primary and secondary education. As a child she showed an interest for writing stories and she enjoyed going to school. In 1902, she graduated form high school and enrolled in the University of Puerto Rico.
In 1906, Cadilla earned her Bachelors Degree in Arts and Education. She taught school in some of the towns surrounding the San Juan metropolitan area. After a short period of time, Cadilla went to the United States where she earned her teachers degree. Upon her return to the island, she attended the Academy of Francisco Oller and took classes in plastic arts. The Athenium of Puerto Rico awarded her a prize for one of her works in 1914. Cadilla earned her Masters Degree in the University of Puerto Rico and then went to Spain where she attended the Central University of Madrid. Among her professors were the Spanish writer Americo Castro and poet Damaso Alonso. She earned her Doctorates Degree in 1933 with the thesis "La Poesia Popular de Puerto Rico" (The Popular Poems of Puerto Rico).
When Cadilla returned to Puerto Rico, she was hired by her Alma Mater. There she taught history and literature. She would also travel to her hometown where she was named to the position of school principal. Cadilla dedicated many hours of her spare time investigating Puerto Rico's folklore.
The following are some of Cadilla's written works:
- Cuentos a Lilliam (1925)
- Cazadera en el Alba (1933)
- La Poesia Popular en Puerto Rico (1933) (Popular Poems of Puerto Rico)
- La Campesina de Puerto Rico (1937) (The farmwomen of Puerto Rico)
- Costumbres y tradiciones de mi tierra (1938) (Customs and traditions of my land)
- Cuentos y Juegos infantiles de Puerto Rico (1940) (Children's Stories and games from Puerto Rico)
- Alturas Paralelas (1941)
- Hitos de la Raza (1945), This book won an award from the Puerto Rican Institute of Culture.
- Rememorando el Pasado Berocio (1946)
Cadilla was also a women's rights activist. She belonged to the Civic League of Puerto Rico and the Association of Women Voters. As a member of these organizations, she fought for the women's right to vote.
Cadilla was a member of the Academy of History of Puerto Rico and of the Dominican Republic; the folklore societies of Mexico and Uruguay and of the Academy of History of France. She received awards and recognitions from Puerto Rico, Argentina, The United States and India.
Maria Cadilla died on August 21, 1951 in her hometown Arecibo.
Arecibo honored her memory by naming a school and an avenue after her. Ohio State University Library dedicated December 21, 2002 to Maria Cadilla in its Universal Human Rights Month.
