Caribbean Conferences on Medieval Studies:
In Memory of Dr. Isabel Gutiérrez del Arroyo
March 21, April 1 and 2, 2025
General Studies College
University of Puerto Rico, Río Piedras Campus
The dark cold Middle Ages seem far away from the warm festive environment of the Caribbean. Both these statements are clichés. As the Middle Ages were not only dark and cold, and had much more to offer to History, the same applies for the Caribbean. Although a priori the study of the Middle Ages in the Caribbean will seem odd, in our case Puerto Rico is fertile ground for researchers. Within the United States, it is in Puerto Rico that the oldest European constructions can be found. Although these constructions were started by the mid-16th century, they were built following the style used in Castille during that period: late gothic art. Since that period, and until the mid-20th century, different medieval objects arrived on the island, either to embellish structures or as additions to institutions’ collections throughout Puerto Rico[1].
Since the 1950’s, European’s scholars, such as Juan Contreras y López de Ayala, have foreseen the influences of the late Middles Ages and Early Modernity in Puerto Rico[2]. And by the 70’s, Puerto Rican scholars started paying attention to this subject. Dr. Isabel Gutiérrez del Arroyo was the first Puerto Rican historian to suggest that 16th century Puerto Rico was a transition, a leap between the Middle Ages and the Modern Era[3]. By that time, another Puerto Rican was interested in the Middle Ages. Dr. Fernando Picó was finishing his doctoral degree in Medieval History at John Hopkins University. Later, he became a professor at the University of Puerto Rico, Rio Piedras Campus where he created courses related to the Middle Ages. It was not until 2019, encouraged by Dr. Víctor Ruiz that began the establishment of a center dedicated to medieval studies, the CEMyR (Centro de Estudios Medievales y Renacentistas).
Since 1970’s, other Puerto Ricans have embarked in the study and education of the Middle Ages. Due to our minority status and the geographical cliché, Puerto Rico’s medieval influences and medievalists are often underestimated and underrepresented. To this also the belittlement that Humanities are facing around the world puts Puerto Rican’s medievalists in an undermined situation. Locally, many are unable to see the relevance and importance of medieval studies not only for our own history -as Dr. Isabel Guitierrez did- but on a large scale for understanding Puerto Rico’s participation/connection to the History of Humanity and universal knowledge. Since 2019, a group of professors from the Humanity’s Department of the General Studies College led by Dr. Víctor Ruiz have worked in the creation of a Center for Medieval and Renaissance Studies (CEMyR) to promote Medieval Studies in Puerto Rico.
Since 2023 the CEMyR has planned and behold conferences and seminars related to the Middle Ages and
the Early Modern period. Although the center’s chronology includes the medieval period, the focus of this past activities has been on the Early Modern period. It is for this reason that for our second big event we want to focus exclusively on the Medieval Ages. During Spring 2025, for a period of three days we planned to celebrate our second conference, under the title: Jornadas caribeñas de estudios medievales: dedicadas a la Dra. Isabel Gutierrez del Arroyo (Caribbean Conferences on Medieval Studies: In Memory of Dr. Isabel Guitierrez del Arroyo). The event will be in memory of Dr. Gutierrez del Arroyo to celebrate her life, interest, and audacity as a scholar. These conferences will be exclusively dedicated to promoting and highlighting the importance and relevance of Medieval Studies on the island. Through this three-day event and a series of lectures, we intend to create a platform that will either focus on expounding the relevance of Medieval Studies in Latin American and the Caribbean and/or also in sharing the research work of local medievalist. The conferences are intended for faculty, students, and the public. They will be presented in a hybrid modality. The General Studies College will host the in-person conferences, and these will be live stream trough the College’s YouTube channel.
These conferences will be possible thanks to the sponsorship of The Medieval Academy of America, through a Centennial Grant.
[1] See: “Arte medieval en Puerto Rico: estado de la cuestión inicial sobre colecciones y recursos medievales”, Visión Doble: Revista de Crítica e Historia del Arte, December 31, humanidades.uprrp.edu/visiondoble
[2] Contreras y López de Ayala, Juan, Marqués de Lozoya. “Vestigios de la “Edad Media” puertorriqueña” Revista del Instituto de Cultura Puertorriqueña. Año 2, No. 2, (oct-dic 1959), pp. 1-7.
[3] Gutiérrez del Arroyo, Isabel. Conjunción de elementos del medioevo y la modernidad en la conquista y colonización de Puerto Rico. San Juan: Instituto de Cultura Puertorriqueña, 1974.