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OUR HISTORY
For 70 years La Biblioteca has brought art, education and culture to the San Miguel community.
Building
The history of the emblematic building of Insurgentes 25
In 1734, Father José Hipólito de Aguado and a group of clergy from the church of the Oratorio founded a home for poor women who had been abandoned by their families, husbands or that were widows called the Home of Our Lady of Santa Ana. This institution was maintained through gifts from San Miguel de Allende’s wealthy citizens.
In 1862, the Home was expropriated by the government during the War of the Reform and the occupants were expelled. The building was abandoned and later became a market.
In 1958, after 4 years in a private home, the Biblioteca Pública moved to this building, offering a series of cultural events.
Biblioteca Pública
Birth of an idea
In 1954, Helen Wale invited young Mexicans to her house on Hospicio street to make use of her large collection of magazines. Word got around and she had to bring in additional chairs and tables to accommodate the number who arrived.
A number of other foreign residents offered to help out. They brought in additional educational material and created a collection of tales translated to Spanish.
The volunteers were happy with the success of their efforts, thus in 1957, they decided to ask the governor of Guanajuato, Jesus Rodriguez Gaona, for a more adequate space for the Library to better serve the community.
The next year, the governor offered them lodging in the building at Insurgentes 9 which then became number 25. A number of fundraising events were organized to collect the money needed to begin the restoration of the building.
The Biblioteca Pública was officially inaugurated on November 1958.
