The Latin Americana Collection at ASU Library and Distinctive Collections

The Latin Americana Collection at ASU Library draws on many collections in the open stacks and Distinctive Collections, including the Greater Arizona Collection, the Labriola National American Indian Data Center and the Chicano/a Research Collection.  My educational background in Latin American History and my experience as the Ayer Librarian for indigenous materials at the Newberry Library in Chicago prepared me for collaborating with faculty and students in the humanities and sciences across the Arizona State University campuses.

As the first curator for the Latin Americana Collection, I have expanded our collecting interests and focused on acquiring teaching materials. The Latin Americana Collection supports the teaching, curriculum and research of ASU faculty and students studying the literature, history, culture, art, social sciences, indigenous history and languages of Latin America, Spain and Portugal. This collection will connect ASU researchers to cultural and economic life in Latin America.

New materials coming into the collections include 1970s folk music from Brazil, and new artists’ books from Mexico and Brazil. In February 2021, the Design and the Arts Library will host an exhibit of Brazilian small press and artists’ books.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

One of the more important groups of books in the Latin Americana Collection are the 2,200 rare books printed during the colonial period (1519-1810) in New Spain (Mexico). The anchor of this collection is a rare copy of "Neptune’s Allegory" by the 17th century poet and nun Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz (1648-1695). This book provides a window into the literary richness produced in New Spain during the Mexican Inquisition. Additionally, ASU Library has recently acquired two manuscripts that help us to understand life in colonial convents for women from a variety of backgrounds.

I look forward to developing and sharing the Latin Americana Collection with ASU and the broader community. Please contact me if you have any questions about the collection.