urn:taro:utexas.blac.00061 José Vasconcelos An Inventory to His Manuscripts at the Benson Latin American Collection Text converted and initial EAD tagging provided by Apex Data Services, July 2001. Finding aid written in English. February 21, 2003 Edited with XMetal3 by Bob Stewart followingTARO EAD V.1 Editing for BLAC Finding Aids. Tue Jul 22 14:58:35 CDT 2003 urn:taro:utexas.blac.00061 converted from EAD 1.0 to 2002 by v1to02.xsl (20030505). Descriptive Summary Vasconcelos, José, 1881-1959. José Vasconcelos Manuscripts 1935-1939 31139467 Benson Latin American Collection, General Libraries, The University of Texas at Austin Four autobiographical literary manuscripts by Vasconcelos

Benson Latin American Collection

Rare Books and Manuscripts

Biographical Note

Author, philosopher, politician. Born 1881 in Oaxaca, Mexico; died 1959 in Mexico City. Graduated from law school in 1907. Vasconcelos, who served twice as Minister of Education and also held the position of Rector of the Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, exerted a profound influence on Mexican culture by promoting education for the lower classes and encouraging popular exposure to literature. He experienced his most productive years as an author during the 1930s, following an unsuccessful campaign for the presidency of Mexico in 1929.

Chronology 27 Feb 1881 born in Oaxaca, Mexico, to Ignacio Vasconcelos and Carmen Calderón Conde 1887 moved with family to Piedras Negras, Coahuila 1888 entered English-language primary school in Eagle Pass 1895 returned with family to Mexico City; briefly attended Instituto de Toluca 1896 moved with family to Campeche; entered secondary school at Instituto de Ciencias 1898 graduated from Instituto de Ciencias in Campeche 1899 entered Escuela Nacional Preparatoria in Mexico; family moved back to Piedras Negras, where his mother died 1901 entered Escuela de Jurisprudencia in Mexico City 1905 graduated with thesis, <emph render="doublequote">Teoría dinámica del derecho</emph> ; worked as secretary and as law clerk, in Durango and in Mexico City 1906 in Tlaxcala, married Serafina Miranda of Tlaxiaco, Oaxaca 1907 admitted to bar; published <emph render="italic">Teoría dinámica del derecho</emph> 28 Oct 1908 with friends, founded the anti-Díaz Ateneo de la Juventud 25 Apr 1909 formally joined anti-Díaz Partido Nacional Antireeleccionista in Mexico City; named one of its Secretaries and co-director of its weekly periodical El Antireeleccionista, soon suppressed by Díaz 1910 published anti-Díaz <emph render="italic">Gabino Barreda y las ideas contemporáneas, </emph> resulting in President Díaz' order for his arrest; escaped to New York, returning to Mexico City after three months 5 Oct 1910 immediately backed Francisco I. Madero's Plan de San Luis Potosí 1911 pursued in Mexico City by Díaz' police, Vasconcelos closed his law office and relocated to Washington, D.C., authorized to continue working there for Madero July 1911 upon Díaz' resignation and Madero's triumph, Vasconcelos returned to Mexico City and re-opened his office; named president of the Ateneo de la Juventud 2 Sep 1911 Partido Nacional Antireeleccionista changed by Madero to Partido Constitucional Progresiva, Vasconcelos made vice-President of its executive committee 6 Nov 1911 Madero assumed the presidency of the republic Oct 1912 rebellion of Félix Díaz broke out with clandestine support of Victoriano Huerta, supposedly Madero's supporter Jan 1913 Vasconcelos futilely warned Madero in person against Huerta 18 Feb 1913 Huerta named President 22 Feb 1913 Madero assassinated 26 Mar 1913 V. Carranza issued Plan of Guadalupe repudiating Huerta; Vasconcelos sent as Carranza's confidential agent to London, Paris 1914 Vasconcelos named Director of Escuela Nacional Preparatoria by Carranza 8 Oct 1914 Refusing to support Carranza unconditionally, Vasconcelos resigned directorship, was jailed; escaped to Aguascalientes Nov 1914 Convention of Aguascalientes named Gen. Eulalio Gutiérrez Presidente provisional de la República; Gutiérrez named Vasconcelos Minister of Public Instruction 16 Jan 1915 Gutiérrez and Vasconcelos escaped from Villistas in Mexico City 20 Jan 1915 Gutiérrez, declared no longer provisional president, escaped to United States April 1915 Gutiérrez sent Vasconcelos as his representative to Washington, D. C.; Vasconcelos subsequently resigned Oct 1915 U.S.A. officially recognized Carranza government in Mexico Nov 1915 Vasconcelos withdrew from public life 1916 published <emph render="italic">Pitágoras, una teoría del ritmo </emph> (Havana), <emph render="italic">Prometeo vencedor </emph> (Madrid); accepted post with Escuelas Internacionales, left for South America 1917 left Escuelas Internacionales, returned to New York 1918 earned living as corporate lawyer across U.S.; published <emph render="italic">El monismo estético </emph> (Mexico) 1919 abandoned professional life and relocated to California 1920 published <emph render="italic">Estudios Indostánicos </emph> and <emph render="italic">La caída de Carranza; de la dictadura a la libertad </emph> 21 May 1920 Carranza killed in Mexico; Vasconcelos returned to Mexico City 9 June 1920 Adolfo de la Huerta, named provisional president, appointed Vasconcelos Rector of Mexico's Universidad Nacional 18 June 1920 Vasconcelos began formal campaign against illiteracy 1 Dec 1920 Obregón assumed presidency and placed national presses at disposal of the National University; Vasconcelos began monthly journal <emph render="italic">El Maestro, </emph> continued forming Secretaría de Educación 1921 Vasconcelos traveled constantly in Mexico promoting education 9 Feb 1921 began publication of series of classic titles in translation 15 Apr 1921 started free-breakfast program in Mexico's public schools 27 Apr 1921 produced shield and motto for National University, Por mi raza hablará el espíritu; began arranging for his elected successor 20 Sept 1921 inaugurated Primer Congreso Internacional de Estudiantes 3 Oct 1921 announced Acta Constitutiva de Federación de Intelectuales Latinoamericanos, served as president of steering committee 12 Oct 1921 ceased to be rector of UNAM; immediately appointed Secretary of Public Education 1922 published <emph render="italic">Divagaciones literarias </emph> (Mexico), <emph render="italic">Orientaciones del pensamiento en México </emph> (Córdoba, Argentina); set up libraries throughout Mexico; subsidized muralist movement of Rivera, Orozco, Siqueiros; patronized national folk arts, founded a national Symphony, carried out first census of indigenous regions and languages; designated special ambassador to South America 1923 established beginnings of National Polytechnical Institute in Mexico City; developed cultural missions in rural towns; named Maestro de la Juventud by students of Colombia, Peru, and Panama 1924 published <emph render="italic">Ideario de acción </emph> (Lima), <emph render="italic">La revulsión de la energia; los ciclos de la fuerza, el cambio y la existencia </emph> (Mexico); resigned as Secretary of Public Education, accepting candidacy for governor of Oaxaca, where he was popularly elected; central government refused to recognize him in office; began collaboration with periodical <emph render="italic">El universal, </emph> started his review <emph render="italic">La antorcha </emph> 1925 published <emph render="italic">La raza cósmica </emph> (Barcelona); left Mexico for Europe via Cuba, traveled Spain, settled in Paris 1926 published <emph render="italic">Indología: una interpretación de la cultura iberoamericana </emph> and final issues of <emph render="italic">La antorcha</emph> ; lectured by invitation in Central America and at the University of Chicago 1927 attended European anti-communist conference as Puerto Rican delegate; traveled Europe, lectured at University of Chicago 1928 continued as university lecturer across U.S., including political as well as academic topics; accepted nomination for president of Mexico from the Partido Nacional Antireeleccionista 10 Nov 1928 encouraged to return to public life, entered Mexico via Nogales 1929 published <emph render="italic">Tratado de metafísica</emph> (Mexico); campaigned along Mexico's Pacific coast, then central and northern states 17 Nov 1929 unanimously chosen President of the Republic, Vasconcelos was declared President-elect from Guaymas; opposed by both U.S. and central Mexican governments, returned to U.S., after issuing his Plan de Guaymas, advocating Mexican rebellion, from Nogales 1930 disillusioned with political efforts, left for Panama; lectured against U. S. imperialism and the Calles regime 1931 published <emph render="italic">Etica </emph> (Madrid), <emph render="italic">Pesimismo alegre </emph> (Madrid); went to Paris 1933 moved to Argentina; published <emph render="italic">Sonata mágica: cuentos y relatos </emph> (Madrid) 1934 published <emph render="italic">Bolivarismo y Monroismo: temas iberoamericanos </emph> (Santiago, Chile); in Chile, completed first volume of his autobiographical memoirs, <emph render="italic">Ulises criollo </emph> 1935 published <emph render="italic">Estética </emph> and first volume of <emph render="italic">Ulises criollo </emph> (Mexico); entered U.S.A., moved to New Orleans, then to San Antonio, Texas 1936 moved to Austin, Texas; completed and published <emph render="italic">La tormenta</emph> (Mexico), second of four volumes of <emph render="italic">Ulises criollo </emph> 1937 published <emph render="italic">Historia del pensamiento filosófico </emph> and <emph render="italic">Breve historia de México </emph> 1938 published <emph render="italic">El desastre, </emph> third volume of <emph render="italic">Ulises criollo </emph> 1939 moved to Mexico City; published <emph render="italic">El proconsulado, </emph> completing <emph render="italic">Ulises criollo</emph> 1940 published <emph render="italic">Manual de filosofía </emph> and <emph render="italic">Páginas escogidas </emph> 1941 published <emph render="italic">Hernán Cortés, creador de la nacionalidad</emph> ; first wife died 1943 married the pianist Esperanza Cruz 1945 published <emph render="italic">Lógica orgánica </emph> and <emph render="italic">El viento de Bagdad </emph> 1946 named director of Mexico's Biblioteca Nacional 1952 published <emph render="italic">Filosofía estética </emph> 1955 published <emph render="italic">Temas contemporáneas </emph> 1957 published <emph render="italic">En el ocaso de mi vida </emph> 1958 elected vice-president of the Federación Internacional de Sociedades Filosóficas; published <emph render="italic">Don Evaristo Madero </emph> and an expurgated edition of his autobiography 30 June 1959 died at his home in Mexico City Scope and Contents

Four literary manuscripts by Vasconcelos: <emph render="italic">Ulises criollo: la vida del autor escrita por él mismo </emph> (1933); <emph render="italic">La tormenta: segunda parte de Ulises criollo </emph> (1936); <emph render="italic">El desastre: continuación de La tormenta </emph> (1937) (lacking approximately three final pages of the published text) ; <emph render="italic">El proconsulado: cuarta parte de Ulises criollo</emph> (1939).

The manuscripts comprise the first four of five volumes of his autobiography; the fifth is <emph render="italic">La flama: los de arriba en la Revolución, historia y tragedia, </emph> published posthumously.

The bound typescripts bear corrections, additions, and deletions by Vasconcelos which did not appear in the published first editions.

 Acquisition Information

The José Vasconcelos Manuscripts were purchased by the Benson Latin American Collection from Ediciones Botas in 1988.

 Processing Information

Described by the Benson's Mexican Archives Project in June 1994.

The Chronology was compiled by Ann Lozano based on the Biographical Sources cited.

Prepared by the Mexican Archives Project, January 9, 1995.

Preferred Citation

José Vasconcelos Manuscripts, 1935-1939, Benson Latin American Collection, General Libraries, The University of Texas at Austin.

 Index Terms Subjects Vasconcelos, José, 1881-1959--Autobiography. Mexico--History--Revolution, 1910-1920--Personal narratives. Titles of Vasconcelos' manuscripts Ulises criollo: la vida del autor escrita por él mismo La tormenta: segunda parte de Ulises criollo El desastre: continuación de La tormenta El proconsulado: cuarta parte de Ulises criollo Biographical Sources Musacchio, Humberto, 1943- <emph render="italic">Diccionario enciclopédico de México, </emph> Mexico: Andrés León, 1989, v. 4, pp. 2130-2131. <emph render="italic">Diccionario Porrúa de historia, biografía y geografía de Mexico,</emph>5th ed., rev. Mexico City: Editorial Porrúa, 1986, v. 3, pp. 2820, 3082. <emph render="italic">Enciclopedia de México. </emph> Mexico City: Secretaría de Educación Pública, 1987, v. 14, pp. 7958-59. Cárdenas N., Joaquín. <emph render="italic">José Vasconcelos, guía y profeta. </emph> 2a ed. Mexico: Editorial PAC, 1985, pp. ix-xx, 279-285.