María del Carmen Millán facts for kids

María del Carmen Millán (1914–1982) was a very important Mexican academic, writer, and teacher. She made history by becoming the first woman ever to join the Mexican Academy of Letters. This special group works to protect and celebrate the Spanish language and literature in Mexico. María del Carmen Millán's efforts to save and share Mexico's literary treasures were honored both in her home country and around the world.

Early Life and Education

María del Carmen Francisca Millán Acevedo was born on December 3, 1914. Her hometown was Teziutlán, Puebla, in Mexico. Her parents were María Acevedo Hernández and Pompello Millán Vargas. She was the oldest of six children. Her father was a merchant in Teziutlán, where María grew up.

She went to primary school at Cantú College. In 1937, she moved to Mexico City. There, she attended the National Preparatory School. This school was located at the San Ildefonso College. In 1940, she began studying at the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM). She focused on Philosophy and Letters. The next year, she started writing for a journal called Tierra Nueva (New Earth). Later, she also wrote for Revista Rueca (Rueca Magazine). She even joined the magazine's editorial team.

A Career in Literature

After finishing her first university studies, María del Carmen Millán began teaching. She taught Spanish and literature in Mexico City schools. She taught both Mexican and Spanish works.

She continued her own education. In 1952, she earned her master's degree in literature from UNAM. She graduated with high honors, called Magna Cum Laude. Her master's paper was about "The Landscape of Mexican Poetry." In 1953 and 1954, she was chosen to represent Mexico. She attended important literature meetings in Mexico City and Berkeley, California.

In 1954, UNAM hired her as a full professor. She taught in the Faculty of Philosophy and Letters. She also helped manage the department. She directed the Center for Literary Studies. Plus, she ran the university's summer school program.

Important Works and Awards

In 1962, María del Carmen Millán earned her PhD in literature. Her doctoral paper was titled "Mexican Literature." This work was published and became a very important book. It is still used as a key reference for studying Mexican literature.

That same year, the French government honored her. She received the Ordre des Palmes Académiques. In 1963, she was given the Order of the Yugoslav Flag. In 1965, she traveled to Germany. She gave lectures at many universities there. These included universities in Berlin, Bonn, Cologne, Hamburg, and Heidelberg.

In 1967, she helped create a major book. It was called the Diccionario de Escritores Mexicanos (Dictionary of Mexican Writers). She wrote the introduction and organized the project. This book was written by Aurora M. Ocampo and Ernesto Prado Velázquez. Because of this important work, her hometown of Teziutlán called her an "illustrious daughter of Mexico." This means she was a very famous and respected person from their town.

Leadership Roles

In 1970, María del Carmen Millán became a director. She led the Audiovisual Education and Publication division. This was part of the Mexican Secretariat of Public Education (SEP). From 1971 to 1976, she led a project called Sep-setentas. This project published many books by famous Latin American writers. The goal was to make great books affordable for everyone. They successfully published 315 books.

She also worked with other writers. They created a two-volume collection of poems. These were by the poet Ramón López Velarde. This was done in 1971, fifty years after his death. She also studied the plays of Manuel Eduardo de Gorostiza. However, her study was never published.

In 1973, Millán took on more leadership roles at SEP. She managed the General Directorate for Publication. She also managed the Radio Education divisions.

First Woman in the Academy

In 1974, María del Carmen Millán was elected to the Mexican Academy of Letters. She officially joined the group in 1975. That same year, she was named Mexico's "Woman of the Year." When she accepted her position, she made history. She was the first woman ever to be admitted to the academy.

She continued her work at SEP until 1976. During this time, she also put together a collection of stories. It was called Antología de cuentos mexicanos. This book was published in three volumes in 1976. After that, she became the first woman to be the Director General of the Mexican Radio Corporation and Television Channel 13.

In 1981, she became the vice president of the Mexican American Institute Of Cultural Relations in Mexico City. In the same year, she was made a permanent secretary of the Mexican Academy.

Death and Lasting Impact

María del Carmen Millán passed away on September 1, 1982, in Mexico City. UNAM held a special event to remember her. An even bigger version of her Diccionario de Escritores Mexicanos started to be published in 1988. In 1992, Luis Mario Schneider collected her main works. He published them in two volumes in Puebla. Her work continues to help people learn about Mexican literature.

See also

In Spanish: María del Carmen Millán para niños