| Ana Roque de Duprey | |
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Roque was one of the founders of the University of Puerto Rico |
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| Born | April 18, 1853 Aguadilla, Puerto Rico |
| Died | 1933 Río Piedras, Puerto Rico |
| Nationality | Puerto Rican |
| Occupation | educator and suffragist |
| Spouse | Luis Duprey |
| Notes
Roque founded the Puerto Rican Feminist League, the first feminist organization in Puerto Rico dedicated to the issues of women's rights.
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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.
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Roque was born in Aguadilla, 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.[1]
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 Juan 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.
In 1884, Roque was offered a teacher's position in Arecibo, 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.[2]
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 Campus of the University of Puerto Rico) and she also volunteered to help establish the University of Puerto Rico.[1]
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.[3]
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.[4]
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.