Isabel Andreu de Aguilar facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Isabel Andreu de Aguilar
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| Born | November 15, 1887 |
| Died | April 7, 1948 |
| Nationality | American/Puerto Rican |
| Occupation | writer, educator, philanthropist |
Isabel Andreu de Aguilar (born Isabel Andreu y Blanco; November 15, 1887 – April 7, 1948) was an important woman from Puerto Rico. She was a writer, a teacher, and someone who helped others (a philanthropist). She also fought for women's rights, especially for women to have the right to vote. People who fight for the right to vote are called suffragists.
Isabel helped start the Puerto Rican Feminist League. She also co-founded the Association of Women Graduates of the University of Puerto Rico. Later, she became the second president of the Puerto Rican Association of Women Suffragists. She was one of the first women to run for a Senator position after women gained the right to vote.
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Early Life and Education
Isabel Andreu y Blanco was born on November 15, 1887. Her hometown was Fajardo, Puerto Rico. Her parents were Cristóbal Andreu Comendador and Blanca Irene Blanco Guzmán.
At the time, Puerto Rico was an administrative district of Spain. Isabel's father, who was from Majorca, later became the mayor of Fajardo. Her mother was born in Puerto Rico. After finishing elementary school, Isabel earned a scholarship in 1902. This allowed her to attend Normal School. She graduated in 1907. She was part of the first group of students to graduate from the Escuela Normal of the University of Puerto Rico.
Her Career and Activism
Isabel Andreu started her career as a teacher. She worked at the model school connected to the university. Soon after, she went back to her hometown of Fajardo. There, she continued teaching.
In 1917, the Carnegie Library was created. Isabel was chosen to be on its board of directors. In the same year, she became the vice president of the Puerto Rican Feminist League. This group was founded by Ana Roqué. The League worked hard to get women the right to vote. When their local senator, Antonio Rafael Barceló, would not discuss the issue, Isabel took action. She, along with María L. de Ashford and Milagros Benet de Mewton, traveled to Washington, D.C. to present their case.
Fighting for the Right to Vote
In 1921, the organization changed its name. It became the Suffragist Social League. This group wanted more than just voting rights for women. They wanted women to be able to take part fully in civic and political life.
By 1924, some members, including Isabel, resigned from the League. They had different ideas about how to achieve their goals. The next year, Ana Roqué and Isabel formed a new group. It was called the Puerto Rican Association of Women Suffragists. The main disagreement was about who should be allowed to vote. Some believed all women should vote. Others, like Isabel and Roqué, thought only educated women should vote at first. In 1925, Isabel was also appointed to the Board of Trustees of the University of Puerto Rico.
Achieving Voting Rights and Running for Office
In 1929, Isabel Andreu became the president of the Association of Women Suffragists. Under her leadership, they succeeded! Women who could read and write gained the right to vote.
In 1932, Isabel made history. She ran for a Senator position for the Liberal Party. She was the first woman ever to do so. Although she did not win the election, her attempt was a big step for women in politics.
After the election, Isabel went back to school. She earned a Bachelor of Education degree from the University of Puerto Rico in 1935. Later that year, she studied sociology at Columbia University. She then earned a Master of Arts degree, focusing on adult education.
In 1936, Isabel and other professional women started a new group. It was called the Association of Women Graduates of the University of Puerto Rico. Their goal was to help members and the university grow professionally, academically, and culturally.
Throughout the 1930s and 1940s, Isabel continued her important work. She served on the boards of the Library and the University. She also gave many public speeches and wrote articles. Her topics included education, women's rights, and teaching adults to read. Isabel Andreu de Aguilar passed away on April 7, 1948. After her death, a building at the University of Puerto Rico was named after her. A street in San Juan also bears her name.
See also
In Spanish: Isabel Andreu de Aguilar para niños
