Cayetano Coll y Toste
Encyclopedia
Dr. Cayetano Coll y Toste (November 30, 1850-November 19, 1930), was a Puerto Rican
historian and writer. He was the patriach of a prominent family of Puerto Rican, educators, politicians and writers.
where he received his primary and secondary education. In 1863, he entered the Jesuits' Seminary College in San Juan
from where he graduated with a Bachelor's degree in Philosophy
in 1868. In 1872, Coll y Toste went to Barcelona, Spain and enrolled in the "School of Medicine" of the University of Barcelona
. From here he graduated as a "Doctor in Medicine and Surgery" in 1872. During his stay in Spain, he was able to study historical documents relating to Puerto Rico which he later found to be useful to him.
, Coll y Toste was "Sub-Secretary of Agriculture and Commerce" and was named "Regional Governor of Northern Puerto Rico" by the Spanish Crown. After the war, Coll y Toste was named "Civil Secretary" and in 1900 "Commissioner of the Interior" by General
Davis the military governor appointed by the United States. He held the position of "Secretary of the Government" and he also became a delegate to Puerto Rico's "House of Representatives". In 1913 Coll y Toste was named "Official Historian of Puerto Rico", preceded by Salvador Brau
. Among Coll y Toste's other civil positions were the Presidency of the "Puerto Rican Historical Academy" and of the "Ateneo Puertorriqueño".
His research into the history of Puerto Rico gave people an insight into the island from the time of the Taínos up until 1927. One of his works "The Indo-Antillean Vocabulary" is valuable in understanding the way of life of the Taínos. His works are required reading in Puerto Rican high schools and universities.
Coll y Toste was married to Adela, daughter of José Cuchí y Arnau former mayor of Arecibo. Together they had six children, among them José Coll y Cuchí
, who founded the Puerto Rican Nationalist Party
and Cayetano Coll y Cuchí
, who was a President of Puerto Rico House of Representatives.
Spain bestowed upon Coll y Toste the title of "Comendador de la Real Orden Americana de Isabel la Catolica" (Commander of the American Royal Order of Isabel the Catholic) and the Government of Venezuela
honored Coll y Toste with the title of "Caballero de la Orden de Bolivar
" (Knight of the Order of Bolivar). Cayetano Coll y Toste died on November 19, 1930 in the City of Madrid
. His granddaughter, Isabel Cuchí Coll
, who was an author and the director of the "Sociedad de Autores Puertorriqueño" (Society of Puerto Rican Authors), published his work "Historia de la esclavitud en Puerto Rico (información y documentos)" (History of Slavery in Puerto Rico (documents and information)) in 1972.
was the founder of the Puerto Rican Nationalist Party
and Cayetano Coll y Cuchí
, was a President of Puerto Rico House of Representatives. Another grand daughter, Edna Coll
, was a notable educator and author. She was one of the founders of the Academy of Fine Arts in Puerto Rico. His great grandson, (Edna's son), Jose "Fufi" Santori Coll
was a former BSN basketball player, coach and television sportscaster.
Puerto Rican people
A Puerto Rican is a person who was born in Puerto Rico.Puerto Ricans born and raised in the continental United States are also sometimes referred to as Puerto Ricans, although they were not born in Puerto Rico...
historian and writer. He was the patriach of a prominent family of Puerto Rican, educators, politicians and writers.
Early years
Coll y Toste was born in the City of Arecibo, Puerto RicoArecibo, Puerto Rico
Arecibo is a municipality in the northern midwest coast of Puerto Rico and located by the Atlantic Ocean, north of Utuado and Ciales; east of Hatillo; and west of Barceloneta, and Florida. Arecibo is spread over 18 wards and Arecibo Pueblo...
where he received his primary and secondary education. In 1863, he entered the Jesuits' Seminary College in San Juan
San Juan, Puerto Rico
San Juan , officially Municipio de la Ciudad Capital San Juan Bautista , is the capital and most populous municipality in Puerto Rico, an unincorporated territory of the United States. As of the 2010 census, it had a population of 395,326 making it the 46th-largest city under the jurisdiction of...
from where he graduated with a Bachelor's degree in Philosophy
Philosophy
Philosophy is the study of general and fundamental problems, such as those connected with existence, knowledge, values, reason, mind, and language. Philosophy is distinguished from other ways of addressing such problems by its critical, generally systematic approach and its reliance on rational...
in 1868. In 1872, Coll y Toste went to Barcelona, Spain and enrolled in the "School of Medicine" of the University of Barcelona
University of Barcelona
The University of Barcelona is a public university located in the city of Barcelona, Catalonia in Spain. It is a member of the Coimbra Group, LERU, European University Association, Mediterranean Universities Union, International Research Universities Network and Vives Network...
. From here he graduated as a "Doctor in Medicine and Surgery" in 1872. During his stay in Spain, he was able to study historical documents relating to Puerto Rico which he later found to be useful to him.
Historian
In 1874, Coll y Toste returned to the island where he set up his own medical practice in Arecibo. In 1891, he was named director of the Catholic Hospital of Arecibo. In his free time, he developed both a love of and an interest in literature. Not only did he become interested in investigating the history of Puerto Rico, but, he also took an active interest in the island's politics and was the founder and director of a publication called "El Ramillete". He also collaborated with the "Revista Puertorriqueña" (Puerto Rican Review), "La Semana Politica" (Political Weekly) and "Plumas Amigas" (Pen Pals).Political activist
In 1897, a year before the Spanish-American WarSpanish-American War
The Spanish–American War was a conflict in 1898 between Spain and the United States, effectively the result of American intervention in the ongoing Cuban War of Independence...
, Coll y Toste was "Sub-Secretary of Agriculture and Commerce" and was named "Regional Governor of Northern Puerto Rico" by the Spanish Crown. After the war, Coll y Toste was named "Civil Secretary" and in 1900 "Commissioner of the Interior" by General
General
A general officer is an officer of high military rank, usually in the army, and in some nations, the air force. The term is widely used by many nations of the world, and when a country uses a different term, there is an equivalent title given....
Davis the military governor appointed by the United States. He held the position of "Secretary of the Government" and he also became a delegate to Puerto Rico's "House of Representatives". In 1913 Coll y Toste was named "Official Historian of Puerto Rico", preceded by Salvador Brau
Salvador Brau
Dr. Salvador Brau Asencio , was a journalist, poet and writer from Puerto Rico. He was also a renowned historian.-Early years:...
. Among Coll y Toste's other civil positions were the Presidency of the "Puerto Rican Historical Academy" and of the "Ateneo Puertorriqueño".
Written works
Among his many written works are:- "El Boletin Historico de Puerto Rico" (Historical Bulletin of Puerto Rico),
- "Cronicas de Arecibo" (Arecibo Annals) and
- "Leyendas y Tradiciones Puertorriqueñas" (Puerto Rican Legends and Traditions).
His research into the history of Puerto Rico gave people an insight into the island from the time of the Taínos up until 1927. One of his works "The Indo-Antillean Vocabulary" is valuable in understanding the way of life of the Taínos. His works are required reading in Puerto Rican high schools and universities.
Later years
José Coll y Cuchí
José Coll y Cuchi was a lawyer, writer and the founder of the Puerto Rican Nationalist Party. He was a member of a prominent Puerto Rican family of politicians, educators and writers See: "Notable family members" section .-Early years:Coll y Cuchi was born in Arecibo, Puerto Rico...
, who founded the Puerto Rican Nationalist Party
Puerto Rican Nationalist Party
The Puerto Rican Nationalist Party was founded on September 17, 1922. Its main objective is to work for Puerto Rican Independence.In 1919, José Coll y Cuchí, a member of the Union Party of Puerto Rico, felt that the Union Party was not doing enough for the cause of Puerto Rican independence and he...
and Cayetano Coll y Cuchí
Cayetano Coll y Cuchí
Cayetano Coll y Cuchí was a politician, writer and an advocate of Puerto Rican Independence. In 1917, he became the first President of Puerto Rico House of Representatives after the island was ceded to the United States by Spain as a result of the Spanish-American War...
, who was a President of Puerto Rico House of Representatives.
Spain bestowed upon Coll y Toste the title of "Comendador de la Real Orden Americana de Isabel la Catolica" (Commander of the American Royal Order of Isabel the Catholic) and the Government of Venezuela
Venezuela
Venezuela , officially called the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela , is a tropical country on the northern coast of South America. It borders Colombia to the west, Guyana to the east, and Brazil to the south...
honored Coll y Toste with the title of "Caballero de la Orden de Bolivar
Simón Bolívar
Simón José Antonio de la Santísima Trinidad Bolívar y Palacios Ponte y Yeiter, commonly known as Simón Bolívar was a Venezuelan military and political leader...
" (Knight of the Order of Bolivar). Cayetano Coll y Toste died on November 19, 1930 in the City of Madrid
Madrid
Madrid is the capital and largest city of Spain. The population of the city is roughly 3.3 million and the entire population of the Madrid metropolitan area is calculated to be 6.271 million. It is the third largest city in the European Union, after London and Berlin, and its metropolitan...
. His granddaughter, Isabel Cuchí Coll
Isabel Cuchí Coll
Isabel Cuchí Coll was a journalist, author and the Director of the "Sociedad de Autores Puertorriqueño"...
, who was an author and the director of the "Sociedad de Autores Puertorriqueño" (Society of Puerto Rican Authors), published his work "Historia de la esclavitud en Puerto Rico (información y documentos)" (History of Slavery in Puerto Rico (documents and information)) in 1972.
Notable family members
Coll y Toste was also the patriach of a prominent Puerto Rican family of educators, politicians and writers. Besides his grand daughter, Isabel Cuchí Coll, both Coll y Toste's sons were notable politicians. José Coll y CuchíJosé Coll y Cuchí
José Coll y Cuchi was a lawyer, writer and the founder of the Puerto Rican Nationalist Party. He was a member of a prominent Puerto Rican family of politicians, educators and writers See: "Notable family members" section .-Early years:Coll y Cuchi was born in Arecibo, Puerto Rico...
was the founder of the Puerto Rican Nationalist Party
Puerto Rican Nationalist Party
The Puerto Rican Nationalist Party was founded on September 17, 1922. Its main objective is to work for Puerto Rican Independence.In 1919, José Coll y Cuchí, a member of the Union Party of Puerto Rico, felt that the Union Party was not doing enough for the cause of Puerto Rican independence and he...
and Cayetano Coll y Cuchí
Cayetano Coll y Cuchí
Cayetano Coll y Cuchí was a politician, writer and an advocate of Puerto Rican Independence. In 1917, he became the first President of Puerto Rico House of Representatives after the island was ceded to the United States by Spain as a result of the Spanish-American War...
, was a President of Puerto Rico House of Representatives. Another grand daughter, Edna Coll
Edna Coll
Dr. Edna Coll was an educator and author. Coll, who came from a prominent family of Puerto Rican politicians and writers,See: "Notable family members" section was President of the Society of Puerto Rican Authors in San Juan...
, was a notable educator and author. She was one of the founders of the Academy of Fine Arts in Puerto Rico. His great grandson, (Edna's son), Jose "Fufi" Santori Coll
Fufi Santori
Jose Santori Coll , better known as Fufi Santori, is a well known former BSN basketball player, coach and television sportscaster. He was also a physical education, basketball and tennis instructor at the University of Puerto Rico at Mayagüez for close to thirty years...
was a former BSN basketball player, coach and television sportscaster.
Legacy
Puerto Rico has honored his memory by naming many public buildings and an avenue after him. The government named the public Arecibo regional hospital Hospital Regional Cayetano Coll y Toste.External links
- Biografías - Cayetano Coll y Toste at www.zonai.com