VALLADOLID, Spain.
On January 10th the book “El Colegio Mayor Femenino “María de Molina” (1931-1975) Por una educación universitaria integral, ” (The Female University Residence Maria Molina" (1931-1975) For a comprehensive University Education)" by Dr. Sofia Rodriguez, was presented. The author received her Ph.D. in Contemporary History from the University of Valladolid (UVa).
Rocío Anguita, Vice President for Academic and Student Affairs at Uva, Elena Maza, Professor of Contemporary History at Uva, and Jesus Maria Palomares, Professor of Contemporary History at Uva, participated in the event. M ª Luz Renuncio, director of the “Colegio Mayor María de Molina” (CMMM) said some words of thanks for the work done. Also, current university students, a group of former students, members of the Teresian Association, and former directors and members of the management teams of this “Colegio Mayor” were also in attendance.
Elena Maza explained that this book is part of an effort to research institutions and groups related to the University during the period of history studied: History of women in Spanish Universities in the twentieth century; comparison with European universities, led by Dr. Josefina Cuesta, and Sociability and dictatorships in Europe.
Within this line of research, two other studies on Residence Halls at the University of Valladolid during the Franco regime were published. SEU-Sección Femenina, the so-called “Catholic Monarchs,” and “Santa María del Castillo” sponsored both. This work would therefore close this trilogy with a gender focus with María de Molina being the first female University residence of Valladolid and it is still active. Elena Maza described the book as: excellent, innovative and entertaining.
Sofia Rodriguez, the author of the research and publication, thanked the management team of CMMM for making available files, documents, workspace and time. She also thanked Jesús María Palomares and Elena Maza for their collaboration on this project. In her speech, she referred to the variety of cultural activities of high caliber and conferences of the CMMM.
The María de Molina “mark"
Professor Jesús María Palomares responded to questions about the objectives and the gestation of this publication: Why this book? With what? About what? The María de Molina "mark"?
Professor Palomares began his speech by saying that CMMM is already a landmark for this university. It was the first female “Colegio Mayor” and the only one that continues in existence today. He also stated "the study of University residences during the Franco’s regime requires the study of CMMM, which has demonstrated a special leadership in the style of St. Pedro Poveda.
The research was done with the generous collaboration of CMMM, the historical archive of the Teresian Association, current students and alumnae, newspapers and journals. Since this is research, the work is not a mere collection of data."
Professor Palomares added: "It is curious that the Bulletin of the Diocese is the first to recognize this ‘Colegio Mayor.’ Also, it is striking that the Secretary of the University said that: a ‘Colegio Mayor’ is to prepare women for their work at home while the Colegio Mayor María de Molina stated that they would prepare women for civil service, teaching, etc.”
The Professor said that one of the features of CMMM was the amount of work performed since its inception, as well as the wealth and quality of cultural and social activities in the areas of film, theater, intercollegiate, inaugural parties, proms, conferences given by reputable people, and Science Days on the feast of Saint Albert the Great with the participation of numerous faculty members from the university.
"On the economic side, the CMMM had great skill to receive grants. It also received more favorable grants than other university residences because of the good grades of its students and the cultural activities it offered," said Professor Polomares.
A special chapter was dedicated to what he considered the "prehistoric" stage of CMMM during the time when the Teresian Association began its presence in Valladolid to collaborate with the Catholic League of Women Farmers. He highlighted Micaela Isaac and Maria Dolores Naverán, who had traveled to Belgium to learn about the initiatives on the subject there. Precisely Micaela Isaac who, at the request of Pedro Poveda, resided in this city, renting an apartment at Alonso Pesquera St. That became the location of Luis Vives Catholic Academy, which soon became a University Residence starting in 1933. It achieved the rank of “Colegio Mayor” in May 1946. At this point Professor Palomares recalled that St. Pedro Poveda started the Teresian Association in 1911 with the purpose of prioritizing attention to university women, something that was achieved by the pioneering female University Residence (Colegio Mayor) founded in Madrid in 1914.
Finally, Professor Palomares expounded upon what he called "the mark" of CMMM. He recognized the identification of this institution with the University because of the joint cultural activities between CMMM and CM Felipe II. He also noted "the presence of student with their navy blazers and badges of María de Molina in intercollegiate events at the University, and they were there every time the University President asked them to participate."
He acknowledged a "great understanding with the University,” as university professors would visit CMMM. Initially, since there were more students majoring in Arts and Humanities, more Professors from these fields would go to CMMM. However, over the years, as the number of science majors increased, more Science and Medicine faculty would join them. This had advantages for both: faculty saw the university residence as their "extension" and the students could see and talk to their professors in a different environment. Another highlight was that "the students collaborated in the works of CMMM. This was an open space and students were free to express themselves and share their opinion on organization and management. "There was an interest to keep up with the world. Everything was important, such as Vatican II, the Chinese revolution, etc.”
In addition to the outstanding lecturers that were invited to CMMM every academic year, Professor Palomares mentioned José Luis Martín Descalzo, who was able to mobilize the whole society of Valladolid, as a dynamic part of cultural activities of CMMM. “There are reasons to continue thinking that ‘the mark’ made by CMMM is worthwhile," he said.
To influence society
Professor Rocío Anguita, Vice President for Academic and Student Affairs, closed the event. In addition to thanking CMMM for the invitation to participate in the presentation of this book, she praised the work to the authors and the Chair of Contemporary History for their projects of interesting research, including this one, the result of which has been the publication of this book.”
She emphasized the "linking of CMMM with the University,“ given the connection from its beginnings to the present moment” She stated that it CMMM is considered part of the University.
She also commented that she had enjoyed reading the book during the Christmas holidays and finding that CMMM did not prepare students “for the home" but to exercise a profession and have their impact on society.
Thanks, Recognize, and Project
M ª Luz Renuncio, current director of CMMM, alluded to three verbs through which she summarized her thought: thank, recognize and project. "We thank the authors of the book that have given us the opportunity to dive into the archives and hear more about the life of CMMM. Thanks to many people who, since 1931 have made possible the formation of the various classes: managers, staff and different teams that collaborate to the proper functioning of this Center. And we thank all the students that have studied, laughed, cried, and lived with such passion and intensity and can still remember people, events, and anecdotes that have had a part in weaving and configuring the persons they are now, " she said.
"Recognize signs of Povedan identity and educational style. These signs are expressed in three dimensions: Intellectual, Social and Spiritual.”
“And project towards the future from an identity and an educational style that requires us to be, in the words of Poveda, ‘with the head and heart in the present moment.’ This is a time of profound and rapid change that requires a lot of creativity, search, insight, and patience to find new ways to respond to the here and now that we live.“
M ª Luz Renuncio concluded by giving the floor to St. Pedro Poveda, who in a letter of 1933, entitled "Let's talk about the students," said: "Our centers are first and foremost houses of formation. Our centers are not inns or simple residences. They are formation centers. We must train teachers, educated women, who must in turn form others and be leaders in society."
Info.IT
With information from M ª Pilar Díaz Palacios, Former Student of CMMM