Concha Meléndez
Encyclopedia
Dr. Concha Meléndez was an educator, poet
, and writer
.
, Puerto Rico
, where she received her primary and secondary education. After graduating from high school
she enrolled at the University of Puerto Rico
where she earned her teacher's certificate.
Meléndez taught at the University's high school while she continued to pursue her University studies. In 1924, she received her Bachelor's degree and soon after went to New York
where she obtained her Master's Degree in 1926 from Columbia University
. She returned to Puerto Rico where she became a professor at the University of Puerto Rico.
Meléndez later went to Mexico
where she enrolled in the National University of Mexico (UNAM
). In 1932, she became the first woman in the history of Mexico to earn a Doctorate
in philosophy
and letters.
. She was named director of the Hispanic
Studies and Humanities Faculty Department at the University, a position she held between 1940-1959. Meléndez also founded a tenured chair on Hispanic-American Literature in the University. In 1964, Meléndez acted as visiting professor at the Middlebury School of Languages
in Vermont
. Concha Meléndez died in San Juan, Puerto Rico
on June 26, 1983.
for their outstanding academic records. Puerto Rico has a school in San Juan named after her and in Virginia
there is also a high school named after her.
Poet
A poet is a person who writes poetry. A poet's work can be literal, meaning that his work is derived from a specific event, or metaphorical, meaning that his work can take on many meanings and forms. Poets have existed since antiquity, in nearly all languages, and have produced works that vary...
, and writer
Writer
A writer is a person who produces literature, such as novels, short stories, plays, screenplays, poetry, or other literary art. Skilled writers are able to use language to portray ideas and images....
.
Early years
Meléndez was born and raised in CaguasCaguas, Puerto Rico
Caguas , founded in 1775, is a city and municipality of Puerto Rico located in the Central Mountain Range of Puerto Rico, south of San Juan and Trujillo Alto, west of Gurabo and San Lorenzo, east of Aguas Buenas, Cidra, and Cayey....
, Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico , officially the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico , is an unincorporated territory of the United States, located in the northeastern Caribbean, east of the Dominican Republic and west of both the United States Virgin Islands and the British Virgin Islands.Puerto Rico comprises an...
, where she received her primary and secondary education. After graduating from high school
High school
High school is a term used in parts of the English speaking world to describe institutions which provide all or part of secondary education. The term is often incorporated into the name of such institutions....
she enrolled at the University of Puerto Rico
University of Puerto Rico
The University of Puerto Rico is the state university system of Puerto Rico. The system consists of 11 campuses and has approximately 64,511 students and 5,300 faculty members...
where she earned her teacher's certificate.
Meléndez taught at the University's high school while she continued to pursue her University studies. In 1924, she received her Bachelor's degree and soon after went to New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
where she obtained her Master's Degree in 1926 from Columbia University
Columbia University
Columbia University in the City of New York is a private, Ivy League university in Manhattan, New York City. Columbia is the oldest institution of higher learning in the state of New York, the fifth oldest in the United States, and one of the country's nine Colonial Colleges founded before the...
. She returned to Puerto Rico where she became a professor at the University of Puerto Rico.
Meléndez later went to Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
where she enrolled in the National University of Mexico (UNAM
National Autonomous University of Mexico
The Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México is a university in Mexico. UNAM was founded on 22 September 1910 by Justo Sierra as a liberal alternative to the Roman Catholic-sponsored Royal and Pontifical University of Mexico The Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM) (National Autonomous...
). In 1932, she became the first woman in the history of Mexico to earn a Doctorate
Doctorate
A doctorate is an academic degree or professional degree that in most countries refers to a class of degrees which qualify the holder to teach in a specific field, A doctorate is an academic degree or professional degree that in most countries refers to a class of degrees which qualify the holder...
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...
and letters.
Professor Emeritus
When she returned to Puerto Rico, the University of Puerto Rico bestowed upon her the title of "Professor Emeritus" in Hispanic-American LiteratureLatin American literature
Latin American literature consists of the oral and written literature of Latin America in several languages, particularly in Spanish, Portuguese, and indigenous languages of the Americas. It rose to particular prominence globally during the second half of the 20th century, largely due to the...
. She was named director of the Hispanic
Hispanic
Hispanic is a term that originally denoted a relationship to Hispania, which is to say the Iberian Peninsula: Andorra, Gibraltar, Portugal and Spain. During the Modern Era, Hispanic sometimes takes on a more limited meaning, particularly in the United States, where the term means a person of ...
Studies and Humanities Faculty Department at the University, a position she held between 1940-1959. Meléndez also founded a tenured chair on Hispanic-American Literature in the University. In 1964, Meléndez acted as visiting professor at the Middlebury School of Languages
Middlebury College
Middlebury College is a private liberal arts college located in Middlebury, Vermont, USA. Founded in 1800, it is one of the oldest liberal arts colleges in the United States. Drawing 2,400 undergraduates from all 50 United States and over 70 countries, Middlebury offers 44 majors in the arts,...
in Vermont
Vermont
Vermont is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. The state ranks 43rd in land area, , and 45th in total area. Its population according to the 2010 census, 630,337, is the second smallest in the country, larger only than Wyoming. It is the only New England...
. Concha Meléndez died in San Juan, Puerto Rico
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...
on June 26, 1983.
Written works
Melendez's works have been compiled into 15 volumes by the Editorial Cultural. Amongst these are:- "Amado Nervo",
- "La Inquietud Sosegada: Poética de Evaristo Ribera ChevremontEvaristo Ribera ChevremontEvaristo Ribera Chevremont is considered by many the most lyrical poet from Puerto Rico. Although several of his published books deal with Puerto Rican nationality and regionalism, the majority of his verses are liberated from folkloric subject matter and excel in universal lyricism.-Literary...
", - "Various Hispanic-American Poets",
- "The Act of Storytelling in Puerto Rico",
- "Signs from Iberoamerica",
- "Entrance in PeruPeruPeru , officially the Republic of Peru , is a country in western South America. It is bordered on the north by Ecuador and Colombia, on the east by Brazil, on the southeast by Bolivia, on the south by Chile, and on the west by the Pacific Ocean....
", - "Figuration of Puerto Rico and other studies",
- "Jose de DiegoJosé de DiegoJosé de Diego y Martínez , known as "The Father of the Puerto Rican Independence Movement", was a statesman, journalist, poet, lawyer, and advocate for Puerto Rico's independence from Spain and from the United States....
in my Memory", - "Hispanic-American Literature",
- "Words for Listeners",
- "People and Books",
- "FictionFictionFiction is the form of any narrative or informative work that deals, in part or in whole, with information or events that are not factual, but rather, imaginary—that is, invented by the author. Although fiction describes a major branch of literary work, it may also refer to theatrical,...
Literature in Puerto Rico", - "Poetry in Alfonso Reyes" and
- "Indian NovelNovelA novel is a book of long narrative in literary prose. The genre has historical roots both in the fields of the medieval and early modern romance and in the tradition of the novella. The latter supplied the present generic term in the late 18th century....
in Hispanic-America".
Honors and distinctions
Melendez was awarded many honors and distinctions in Puerto Rico and other countries. Amongst the awards are:- "Medal of Literature" from the Puerto Rican Ateneo,
- "The Diploma of Honor" from the Mexican Academy of Languages,
- the "Order of Andres Belloy" and
- the "Award of Honor" from the Puerto Rican Ateneo.
- She was the first woman to belong to the Puerto Rican Academy of Languages.
In memory
A center of the Biblioteca Nacional de Puerto Rico del Instituto de Cultura Puertorriqueña is named after her. Every year the Coalition of Hispanic American Women of Miami, selects five high school graduates, whom will receive the Elena Mederos/Concha Melendez ScholarshipScholarship
A scholarship is an award of financial aid for a student to further education. Scholarships are awarded on various criteria usually reflecting the values and purposes of the donor or founder of the award.-Types:...
for their outstanding academic records. Puerto Rico has a school in San Juan named after her and in Virginia
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
there is also a high school named after her.
See also
- List of Puerto Rican writers
- List of Famous Puerto Ricans
- Puerto Rican literature