María Libertad Gómez Garriga[note 1] (July 18, 1889 – July 7, 1961) was a Puerto Rican educator, community leader, and politician. She is one of the twelve women honored with a plaque in "La Plaza en Honor a la Mujer Puertorriqueña" (Plaza in Honor of Puerto Rican Women), in San Juan.
María Libertad Gómez Garriga was born in Arenas barrio of mountainous Utuado, the daughter of Francisco Esteban Gómez and Maria Jesusa Garriga. Francisco Esteban Gómez's grandfather Germán and great-grandmother Gregoria were born in slavery. She completed teacher training at the University of Puerto Rico in 1909.[1][2]
Career
Gómez Garriga taught elementary school for several years; she was also trained as an accountant and active in rural labor organizations.[3] She was director of a tobacco cooperative; in 1929, she and other activists founded a bank for women. In 1932, she was elected to a leadership position on the Puerto Rican Liberal Party, but soon her wing of the party split off to become the Popular Democratic Party (PPD). After several years working in politics, she was elected to the Puerto Rican House of Representatives in 1940, representing the district of Utuado. She worked particularly on education issues and civil rights, and was pro-independence. For one month in 1945, during a time of transition, she was President of the House, the first woman to hold that position.[4] She was re-elected to her seat three times, and won her last election to the House of Representatives in 1952. She was the only woman in the Constitutional Convention of Puerto Rico, formed in 1951, and the only woman to sign the 1952 Constitution.[5]
She ran unsuccessfully for the Senate of Puerto Rico in 1956, and resigned her positions in the Popular Democratic party after that.[6]
Personal life and legacy
Gómez died in 1961, aged 72 years. She is one of the twelve women honored with a plaque in the "Plaza en Honor a la Mujer Puertorriqueña" (Plaza in Honor of Puerto Rican Women) in San Juan.[7] There is a public upper elementary school named for María Libertad Gómez Garriga in Utuado.[8] There is also a middle school named for Gómez, in Toa Baja, Puerto Rico.[9]
In this Spanish name, the first or paternal surname is Gómez and the second or maternal family name is Garriga.
References
^Yolanda Martínez Viruet, María Libertad Gómez Garriga y el proceso de la Asamblea Constituyente del Estado Libre Asociado de Puerto Rico (PhD diss., Universidad del Pais Vasco 2016).
^Glorimar Rodríguez González, "María Libertad Gómez Garriga: una transgresora en la política puertorriqueña" Mujeres con Visión (December 1, 2016).
^Gabriel Villaronga, Toward a Discourse of Consent: Mass Mobilization and Colonial Politics in Puerto Rico, 1932-1948 (Greenwood Publishing Group 2004): 65. ISBN9780313324239
^Female Presidents of Parliaments and Parliamentary Bodies, 1920-1990, Guide2WomenLeaders.com.
^Serafín Méndez-Méndez, Ronald Fernandez, eds., Puerto Rico Past and Present: An Encyclopedia, 2nd Edition (ABC-CLIO 2015): 158. ISBN9781440828324
^Aixa Merino Falú, María Libertad Gómez Garriga : una mujer con voluntad de acero (Oficina de la Procuradora de las Mujeres, 2004). ISBN9781881730163
^"Asamblea Legislativa homenajea a 12 mujeres ilustres" El Nuevo Dia (March 6, 2014).
^Escuela María Libertad Gómez, Puerto Rico Department of Education.
José Luis Colón Gonzalez, ed., María Libertad Gómez: Mujer de Convicción, Líder de Cambios (Librería la Tertulia 2014).
January 06, 2023
maría, libertad, gómez, garriga, note, july, 1889, july, 1961, puerto, rican, educator, community, leader, politician, twelve, women, honored, with, plaque, plaza, honor, mujer, puertorriqueña, plaza, honor, puerto, rican, women, juan, 15th, speaker, puerto, r. Maria Libertad Gomez Garriga note 1 July 18 1889 July 7 1961 was a Puerto Rican educator community leader and politician She is one of the twelve women honored with a plaque in La Plaza en Honor a la Mujer Puertorriquena Plaza in Honor of Puerto Rican Women in San Juan Maria Libertad Gomez Garriga15th Speaker of the Puerto Rico House of RepresentativesIn office 1945 1945Speaker pro tempore of the House of Representatives of Puerto RicoIn office 1953 1956Personal detailsBornJuly 18 1889Utuado Puerto RicoDiedJuly 7 1961San Juan Puerto RicoPolitical partyLiberal PartyOccupationEducator civic leader and politicianKnown forShe was the only woman in the Constitutional Convention of Puerto Rico formed in 1951 and the only woman to sign the 1952 Constitution of Puerto Rico Contents 1 Early life 2 Career 3 Personal life and legacy 4 See also 5 Notes 6 References 7 External linksEarly life EditMaria Libertad Gomez Garriga was born in Arenas barrio of mountainous Utuado the daughter of Francisco Esteban Gomez and Maria Jesusa Garriga Francisco Esteban Gomez s grandfather German and great grandmother Gregoria were born in slavery She completed teacher training at the University of Puerto Rico in 1909 1 2 Career EditGomez Garriga taught elementary school for several years she was also trained as an accountant and active in rural labor organizations 3 She was director of a tobacco cooperative in 1929 she and other activists founded a bank for women In 1932 she was elected to a leadership position on the Puerto Rican Liberal Party but soon her wing of the party split off to become the Popular Democratic Party PPD After several years working in politics she was elected to the Puerto Rican House of Representatives in 1940 representing the district of Utuado She worked particularly on education issues and civil rights and was pro independence For one month in 1945 during a time of transition she was President of the House the first woman to hold that position 4 She was re elected to her seat three times and won her last election to the House of Representatives in 1952 She was the only woman in the Constitutional Convention of Puerto Rico formed in 1951 and the only woman to sign the 1952 Constitution 5 She ran unsuccessfully for the Senate of Puerto Rico in 1956 and resigned her positions in the Popular Democratic party after that 6 Personal life and legacy EditGomez died in 1961 aged 72 years She is one of the twelve women honored with a plaque in the Plaza en Honor a la Mujer Puertorriquena Plaza in Honor of Puerto Rican Women in San Juan 7 There is a public upper elementary school named for Maria Libertad Gomez Garriga in Utuado 8 There is also a middle school named for Gomez in Toa Baja Puerto Rico 9 See also Edit Puerto Rico portal Biography portalList of Puerto Ricans History of women in Puerto RicoNotes Edit In this Spanish name the first or paternal surname is Gomez and the second or maternal family name is Garriga References Edit Yolanda Martinez Viruet Maria Libertad Gomez Garriga y el proceso de la Asamblea Constituyente del Estado Libre Asociado de Puerto Rico PhD diss Universidad del Pais Vasco 2016 Glorimar Rodriguez Gonzalez Maria Libertad Gomez Garriga una transgresora en la politica puertorriquena Mujeres con Vision December 1 2016 Gabriel Villaronga Toward a Discourse of Consent Mass Mobilization and Colonial Politics in Puerto Rico 1932 1948 Greenwood Publishing Group 2004 65 ISBN 9780313324239 Female Presidents of Parliaments and Parliamentary Bodies 1920 1990 Guide2WomenLeaders com Serafin Mendez Mendez Ronald Fernandez eds Puerto Rico Past and Present An Encyclopedia 2nd Edition ABC CLIO 2015 158 ISBN 9781440828324 Aixa Merino Falu Maria Libertad Gomez Garriga una mujer con voluntad de acero Oficina de la Procuradora de las Mujeres 2004 ISBN 9781881730163 Asamblea Legislativa homenajea a 12 mujeres ilustres El Nuevo Dia March 6 2014 Escuela Maria Libertad Gomez Puerto Rico Department of Education Maria Libertad Gomez Middle School Toa Baja PR House of Representatives of Puerto RicoPreceded byBenjamin Ortiz Ortiz Speaker pro tempore of the Puerto Rico House of Representatives1953 1956 Succeeded byJorge Font SaldanaPolitical officesPreceded byRafael Rodriguez Pacheco Speaker of the Puerto Rico House of Representatives1945 1945 Succeeded byFrancisco M Susoni AbreuExternal links EditJose Luis Colon Gonzalez ed Maria Libertad Gomez Mujer de Conviccion Lider de Cambios Libreria la Tertulia 2014 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Maria Libertad Gomez Garriga amp oldid 1117138913, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
