The Residencia de Señoritas in Times of War (1937-1939): A Cultural Outreach and Popular Education Experience

Abstract

There are many studies on the Grupo Femenino de la Residencia de Estudiantes (Residencia de Señoritas) [Women’s Group of the Residencia de Estudiantes Cultural Institution] in the period from its foundation in October 1915 to the start of the Spanish Civil War, a time when the Residencia was practically vacated and ceased most activity, with the buildings under threat of occupation or destruction. Current documentation provides much fruitful information on its operation, organisation, objectives, financial status, the students who stayed there, the ancillary staff who worked there, the contributing lecturer, etc. Nonetheless, there is scant-to-no information, documentation or references about its later stage: the time where the Residencia de Señoritas moved to the Valencian countryside during the war, between 1937 and the rebel victory. Our aim, therefore, is to look deeper into this experience of renewal and pedagogical innovation that the Republican government of the Popular Front put into action during the war in order to support and drive cultural outreach and popular education. We introduce the principles, objectives, organisation, the values promoted and the professional and human relationships established, the activities and work undertaken there, the intended recipients, etc. and, of course, the teachers who developed this cultural and educational popularisation and socialisation project, rescuing them from oblivion and, therefore, the cruel ostracism they were later condemned to.

Key words: Residencia de Señoritas, lecturers, cultural outreach, popular education, pedagogical renewal and innovation, Hort de les Palmes, Paiporta, Picanya, Civil War, institutionalism.