Ricardo Alegría
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Dr. Ricardo Alegría (born April 14, 1921) is a Puerto Rican scholar, cultural anthropologist and archeologist known as the "Father of Modern Puerto Rican Archaeology".
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[edit] Early years
Alegría was born in San Juan, Puerto Rico, where he received his primary and secondary education. He was motivated by his father, the writer and one of the leaders of the Puerto Rican Nationalist Party, Jose Alegría, who taught him to love Puerto Rico and to be proud of it's history and culture. In 1942, Alegría earned his Bachelors of Science degree in archeology from the University of Puerto Rico. He continued his academic education in the University of Chicago where in 1947 he earned his Masters in Antropology and History. In 1954, Alegría earned his Phd. (doctorate) in Antropology from the University of Harvard.[1]
[edit] Institute of Puerto Rican Culture
Alegría was named the first director of the "Institute of Puerto Rican Culture" by Luis Muñoz Marín, Puerto Rico’s first elected governor. He was responsible for the creation of the "Archaeological Center of Investigation of the University of Puerto Rico". Alegría also created the "Center of Popular Arts of the Puerto Rican Cultural Institute", the program of publication of books of the institute, and created the logo for the Institute of Neurobiology in Puerto Rico.
Alegría was responsible of the renovation and restoration of Historical "Old San Juan" under the leadership of then San Juan mayor Felisa Rincon de Gautier. He is also responsible for the restoration of the ruins of "Caparra" and "Fort San Jeronimo". As a result of his work "Old San Juan" was declared a "Historical World Treasure". In 1976, Alegría opened the "Center of Advanced Studies of Puerto Rico and the Caribbean". In 1992, he established the "Museum of the Americas".[2]
[edit] Anthropology pioneer
Alegría is credited with being a pioneer in the anthropolic studies of the Taino culture and the African heritage in Puerto Rico. His extensive studies have helped historians to understand how the Taínos lived and suffered, before and after the Spanish Conquistadores arrived in the island. Alegría estimated that about one third of all Puerto Ricans (2 million out of 6 million) have Taíno blood and therefore the Taínos where not completely extinct and some had to survive. Recently, the results of recent DNA studies have proved him right.[3]
[edit] Written works
The following is a list of books which Alegría has either authored or co-authored.
- "Ball Courts and Ceremonial Plazas in the West Indies"
- "The three wishes; a collection of Puerto Rican folktales" (with Lorenzo Homar)
- "History of the Indians of Puerto Rico"
- "El Instituto de Cultura Puertorriqueña, 1955-1973 : 18 años contribuyendo a fortalecer nuestra conciencia nacional"
- "Taino: Pre-Columbian Art & Culture from the Caribbean" (with Fatima Bercht and Jose J. Arrom)
- "Las primeras representaciones gráficas del indio americano, 1493-1523"
- "Descubrimiento, conquista y colonización de Puerto Rico, 1493-1599" (with Mela Pons Alegría)
- "Historia y Cultura de Puerto Rico: Desde La Epoca Pre-Colombina Hasta Nuestros Dias"
- "Excavations at Maria de La Cruz Cave & Hacienda Grande Village Site, Loiza, Puerto Rico" (with Irving Rouse)
- "La vida de Jesucristo según el santero puertorriqueño Florencio Cabán"
- "San Juan de Puerto Rico" (with Manuel Méndez Guerrero and María de los Angeles Castro Arroyo)
- "Cafe" (1967)
- "Programa De Parques Y Museos Del Instituto De Cultura Puertorriquena" (1973)
- "La Fiesta De Santiago Apostol En Loiza Aldea"
- "El Fuerte De San Jerónimo Del Boquerón"
[edit] Awards and recognitions
In 1993, President Bill Clinton presented Alegría with the "Charles Frankel Honor Award" for his contributions in the field of archaeology. In 1996, he was awarded the "James Smithson Bicentennial Medal". In 2001, Alegría received from the hands of Nancy Morejon "The Haydee Santamaria Medal" in Havana, Cuba. In 2002, Alegría received the "Luis Muñoz Marín Medal" in recognition of his life achievements from Puerto Rican Governor Sila Calderon. Puerto Rican artist Lorenzo Homar honored Alegría by making an artistic graphic poster of him.[3]
Ricardo Alegría still lives in San Juan, however, his age has limited his activities.
