Contact with history
Francisco Marroquín University promotes disruption of the status quo, even in its “special collections” room of the library.
By Clark Frederickson
Libraries are places of rules and order. Hushed voices. No eating. Special collections which can only be handled by staff.
Francisco Marroquín University’s library, Biblioteca Ludwig von Mises, has similar rules. However, stamped on the brick walls of the university’s library are the words “rebels” and “provocateurs” and “disrupters.” Disruption can also be found inside the special collections room. To a point.
“We don’t allow the students to touch these books. They are too old and valuable,” librarian Regina de La Vega said.
UFM’s Biblioteca Ludwig von Mises in Guatemala City is constantly receiving donations of books. Many of the books are newer and kept in the larger part of the library. A small, locked room where the humidity and visitors are monitored is where the valuable collections donated from the estates of politicians, map collectors and economists are housed. One of those donors was José Cecilio del Valle, a founding father of Central America. The former mayor of Guatemala City helped declare independence from Spain and Mexico. Some students think this room is off-limits to them, but with an appointment, any student can use the room with the help of staff.
De La Vega believes the importance of the special collections lies in their history and craftsmanship. She proudly showcases to visitors the classic leather bindings, crisp typography and centuries-old illustrations. She slowly slides books off the shelf and gently sets them on a red velvet book-holder. She takes her time to turn each page. She is especially cautious with the lexicon from 1528, the oldest book in the collection.
At UFM disruption is also encouraged. Bold artwork of a man swinging a sledgehammer above the word “disrupter” stands near the library. Director of Public Relations Luis Figueroa thinks the library is essential to the school.
“I think that it is important for students to make contact with history,” Figueroa said.
When he takes students and tourists to visit the special collections, he makes it a point that they touch the historic books despite the rules. He has them turn the pages and run their fingers across the fragile bindings. To him, students connecting with these books is more important than the rules.
In January, UFM students returned to their campus in person for the first time since March 18, 2020. Students come before tradition at UFM. Liberal arts students can create their own assignments. Business students are expected to develop their own business endeavors. Literary and history students touch these books as they study.
Biblioteca Ludwig von Mises is home to the valuable collection of one of the great disrupters in Guatemalan history, Cecilio del Valle. Students rebel against the library rules to fully connect with the history of the books. UFM students and staff look to disrupt the norms in Guatemala, even in the library.
Highlights from the collection
José Cecilio del Valle, 1780-1834
José Cecilio del Valle’s donated collection makes up most of the books in the special collection room. The university considers Valle to be one of Central America’s founding fathers. Though born in what is now Honduras, he was raised and spent most of his life in Guatemala.
Valle was the mayor of Guatemala City in 1821 until he wrote the Act of Independence of Central America (also known as the Act of Independence of Guatemala) and Central America became independent from Spain. In 1822, Central America became a part of the Mexican Empire and he was imprisoned on charges of conspiring against that empire. He was released in 1823, the same year Central America became independent from Mexico.
He turned down an offer to be Vice President of the Federal Republic of Central America in 1830 and became Director of San Carlos University’s Fine Arts Department. He earned a bachelor’s degree and two law degrees at San Carlos University in Guatemala City during the three decades prior.
In 1834, Valle won the presidential election in Guatemala but passed away from an illness before he could take office. Valle was a writer interested in many fields, as shown by UFM’s collection, which contains books of law, history, geography, literature and more. The politician’s heirs donated his collection of 1,800 books to Francisco Marroquín University in 1986.
The Encyclopédie, 1751-1772
The Encyclopédie, one of the first encyclopedias, was published in France in the 18th Century. More than 150 writers or encyclopédistes – members of a French writers’ society – helped to create it. It was edited by Denis Diderot and Jean le Rond d’Alembert.
An encyclopedia is considered an extended dictionary or guide of sciences, arts and crafts. Diderot wanted to change the way people thought and archive all of the world’s knowledge. The Encyclopédie influenced the French Revolution and helped people shift away from the idea of political powers being definitive and the Catholic Church being authoritative in science.
The success and the popularity of this encyclopedia in France is seen as a reason for the ideological shift that led to the revolution. The church and French government suspended, censored and banned the encyclopedias, but they still managed to circulate.
Wikipedia founder Jimmy Wales visited the UFM library in August of 2008 to see the Encyclopédie. UFM saw him as a disrupter investigating some of the most important documents of status quo disruption in history.
The Lexicon, 1528
“Lexicon” is the oldest book in the special collection. A lexicon is similar to a dictionary in that it contains words specific to a person, region, subject or time. This one contains Greek and Latin words. The art within it represents ways of life in the city of Basileae, or Basel, located in what is now Switzerland.
The Oeuvres, 1819
“Oeuvres” by Jean-Jacques Rousseau is a 22-volume collection of books about French philosophy, correspondence, dialogues and literature. They were published in Paris in 1819. This volume about politics has a butterfly form within its pages because it was slowly eaten by moths.