Fundación Biblioteca Rafael Hernández Colón facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Fundación Biblioteca Rafael Hernández Colón |
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| Headquarters of Fundación Biblioteca Rafael Hernández Colón in Barrio Quinto, Ponce, Puerto Rico | |
| Type | Gubernatorial library |
| Scope | Administration of Gov. Rafael Hernández Colón |
| Established | 1992 |
| Location | Calle Mayor at Calle Castillo (SE corner), Barrio Quinto, Ponce, Puerto Rico |
| Coordinates | 18°0′51.0474″N 66°36′43.452″W / 18.014179833°N 66.61207000°W |
| Branches | Six Major areas:
RHC Gubernatorial Archives
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| Collection | |
| Items collected | Photographs, speeches, letters, documents, audios, videos, memorabilia, others |
| Size | 4 million documents |
| Access and use | |
| Population served | 3 Million |
| Other information | |
| Director | Lcdo. José Hernández Mayoral, Chairman of the Board |
| References: Informe Anual 2022, Fundación Biblioteca RHC. | |
The Fundación Biblioteca Rafael Hernández Colón (which means Rafael Hernández Colón Foundation Library in English) is a special library and museum. It was created to keep a record of the political life of Rafael Hernández Colón. He was a governor of Puerto Rico for three terms. The foundation started in 1992. In September 2015, it moved to its current home in Ponce, Puerto Rico. This location is in the historic area of the city.
Contents
What is the History of the Library?
The Fundación Biblioteca Rafael Hernández Colón is located in two old buildings. These buildings are right next to each other. They both face west on Calle Mayor. When the library was built here, great care was taken. The goal was to keep the history of both buildings alive.
The Historic Corner Building
The building on the corner has a long history. It was once owned by Juan de Dios Conde. He was a mayor of Ponce many years ago. Later, in 1872, a new two-story building was constructed. This building became a Spanish military hospital. In 1896, a businessman bought the property. The hospital had moved to a bigger place.
In 1898, the US Army took over the building. This happened when they arrived in Puerto Rico. Eventually, the government of Puerto Rico bought the property. A new building was then built on this corner. It was designed to be the Criminal Courthouse for Ponce. This building was designed by Manuel Víctor Domenech. He was an architect from Isabela, Puerto Rico. The style of the building is called Neoclassical. This means it looks like old Greek and Roman buildings.
This historic building was finished in 1897. Over the years, it has been used for many things. It was a courthouse and even a headquarters for a Spanish social club. Several universities also had campuses here.
The Modern South Building
The second building, located to the south, was mostly a skeleton of its past. Much of this building was built new. It was designed to have all the modern things a library and museum need. This includes an elevator, offices, and restrooms. These new additions helped protect the older historic building.
It was important to connect the two buildings smoothly. Halls were built to make it easy to go from the new building to the old one. This newer building was completed in 2014. It was built in a modern style.
What Can You Find Inside?
The Fundación Biblioteca Rafael Hernández Colón holds a huge collection. It has over 4 million documents in its historical archives. These archives include many important items. You can find photographs, speeches, and letters. There are also documents, audio recordings, and videos.
Besides the archives, the library has other cool features. There is an amphitheater where events can be held. It also has a Sala de la Historia Constitucional. This is a hall dedicated to the history of Puerto Rico's constitution. There is also a special children's library. And, of course, a museum to explore.
Other Ways the Library is Used
The library is not just for research and exhibits. It has also been used for special events. For example, in 2002, a photo exhibit was displayed there. It was called Los pies de San Juan.
When Governor Rafael Hernández Colón passed away in 2019, the library was used for his viewing. His body was placed in the main gallery. This allowed people to pay their respects.
See also
- List of libraries in Ponce, Puerto Rico
