Nilita Vientos Gastón
Encyclopedia
Nilita Vientós Gaston
was an educator, writer
, journalist
and the first female lawyer to work for the Department of Justice of Puerto Rico.
, Puerto Rico
, a town located on the western region of Puerto Rico. Her parents moved to Havana, Cuba when she was only a child, where she received her primary education. After living in Cuba
for various years, they moved to New York City
where she received her secondary education. In 1923, Vientós Gastón returned to Puerto Rico.
where she studied law and earned her degree. In 1945, while she was a student, she founded and directed the magazine Asomante. She was granted a scholarship from the Rockefeller Foundation and studied literature at Kenyon College at Canton, Ohio
.
to teach literature. She was also hired by the Department of Justice of Puerto Rico, becoming the first woman to receive such a distinction. She worked as an auxiliary prosecutor general for three decades. Vientós Gastón defended the use of the Spanish language
in the courts of Puerto Rico, before the Supreme Court, and won.
Vientós Gastón was a founding member of the Puerto Rican Academy of the Spanish Language. In 1946, Vientós Gastón became the first woman president of the Puerto Rican Athenaeum, a position which she held until 1961. In 1966, she was also named president of the Puerto Rico Pen Club.
) and in 1957 Impresiones de un Viaje (Impressions of a trip). For many years she was editor of the prestigious literary journal "Asomante". In 1970, she founded the journal Sin Nombre (Without a Name). She was also the author of Apuntes Sobre Teatro.
. Vientós Gastón died on July 10, 1989 in Santurce
, Puerto Rico.
was an educator, 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....
, journalist
Journalist
A journalist collects and distributes news and other information. A journalist's work is referred to as journalism.A reporter is a type of journalist who researchs, writes, and reports on information to be presented in mass media, including print media , electronic media , and digital media A...
and the first female lawyer to work for the Department of Justice of Puerto Rico.
Early years
Vientós Gastón was born in San SebastiánSan Sebastián, Puerto Rico
San Sebastián is a municipality of Puerto Rico located northwest of the island south of Isabela and Quebradillas; north of Las Marías; east of Moca and Añasco; and west of Lares. San Sebastián is spread over twenty-four wards and San Sebastián Pueblo...
, 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...
, a town located on the western region of Puerto Rico. Her parents moved to Havana, Cuba when she was only a child, where she received her primary education. After living in Cuba
Cuba
The Republic of Cuba is an island nation in the Caribbean. The nation of Cuba consists of the main island of Cuba, the Isla de la Juventud, and several archipelagos. Havana is the largest city in Cuba and the country's capital. Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city...
for various years, they moved to New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
where she received her secondary education. In 1923, Vientós Gastón returned to Puerto Rico.
Academic education
She entered the University of Puerto RicoUniversity 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 studied law and earned her degree. In 1945, while she was a student, she founded and directed the magazine Asomante. She was granted a scholarship from the Rockefeller Foundation and studied literature at Kenyon College at Canton, Ohio
Canton, Ohio
Canton is the county seat of Stark County in northeastern Ohio, approximately south of Akron and south of Cleveland.The City of Caton is the largest incorporated area within the Canton-Massillon Metropolitan Statistical Area...
.
Professional career
When Vientós Gastón returned to the island, she was hired by her Alma MaterAlma mater
Alma mater , pronounced ), was used in ancient Rome as a title for various mother goddesses, especially Ceres or Cybele, and in Christianity for the Virgin Mary.-General term:...
to teach literature. She was also hired by the Department of Justice of Puerto Rico, becoming the first woman to receive such a distinction. She worked as an auxiliary prosecutor general for three decades. Vientós Gastón defended the use of the Spanish language
Spanish language
Spanish , also known as Castilian , is a Romance language in the Ibero-Romance group that evolved from several languages and dialects in central-northern Iberia around the 9th century and gradually spread with the expansion of the Kingdom of Castile into central and southern Iberia during the...
in the courts of Puerto Rico, before the Supreme Court, and won.
Vientós Gastón was a founding member of the Puerto Rican Academy of the Spanish Language. In 1946, Vientós Gastón became the first woman president of the Puerto Rican Athenaeum, a position which she held until 1961. In 1966, she was also named president of the Puerto Rico Pen Club.
Author
Vientós Gastón had a column in the newspaper "El Mundo" where she became a renowned literary critic. In 1956, she published Introducción a Henry James (Introduction to Henry JamesHenry James
Henry James, OM was an American-born writer, regarded as one of the key figures of 19th-century literary realism. He was the son of Henry James, Sr., a clergyman, and the brother of philosopher and psychologist William James and diarist Alice James....
) and in 1957 Impresiones de un Viaje (Impressions of a trip). For many years she was editor of the prestigious literary journal "Asomante". In 1970, she founded the journal Sin Nombre (Without a Name). She was also the author of Apuntes Sobre Teatro.
Later years
In 1996, the Association of Graduates of the University of Puerto Rico, dedicated the 50th anniversary issue of Asomante to Vientós Gastón and to the memory of Margot Arce de VázquezMargot Arce de Vázquez
Dr. Margot Arce de Vázquez was a writer, essayist and educator who founded the Puerto Rican Academy of the Spanish Language.-Early years:...
. Vientós Gastón died on July 10, 1989 in Santurce
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...
, Puerto Rico.
Legacy
The Nilita Vientós Gastón Foundation was founded in 1995 and Vientós Gastón's house was converted into a museum-library. The Foundation together with the Puerto Rican Institute of Culture manages her publications and documents. The Puerto Rican Bar Association annually present the Nilita Vientós Gastón Medal to the person whose principles exemplifies that of Vientós Gastón's. The Bar Association also honored her memory by naming a Hall after her.Further reading
- Apuntes Sobre Teatro, 1956-1961; by Nilita Vientós Gastón; Publisher: Instituto de Cultura Puertorriquena; Publication Date: 1989; ISBN 0865814422; ISBN 9780865814424
- Women, Creole Identity, and Intellectual Life in Early Twentieth-Century Puerto Rico; By Magali Roy-Féquière, Juan Flores, Emilio Pantojas-García; Published by Temple University Press, 2004; ISBN 1592132316, ISBN 9781592132317
See also
- List of famous Puerto Ricans
- French immigration to Puerto RicoFrench immigration to Puerto RicoThe French immigration to Puerto Rico came about as a result of the economic and political situations which occurred in various places such as Louisiana , Saint-Domingue and in Europe....