Mistral, Gabriela, 1889-1957

Variant names

Hide Profile

Poet and Nobel Laureate (1945) Gabriela Mistral was born Lucila Godoy y Alcayaga in Vicuña, Chile, in 1889. Mistral was an active member of the League of Nations and served as Chilean consul in Italy, Spain, and Portugal. She taught Spanish literature in the United States at Columbia University, Barnard College, and Vassar College, and at the University of Puerto Rico. Her works include Desolación, Ternura, and Tala . She died in 1957.

From the guide to the Gabriela Mistral Papers 1987-20, 2004-01. 42706327., 1911-1949, (Benson Latin American Collection, The University of Texas at Austin)

Lucila Godoy Alcayaga, who wrote as Gabriela Mistral, was born April 7, 1889, in Vicuña, Chile, and died in New York on Jan. 10, 1957. Her experience as a rural teacher (1905-1925), which turned her into a leading authority on rural education, her contributions to several literary magazines, along with the award-winning "Sonetos de la muerte" (1914), brought her international attention. The publication of her first book of poems "Desolación" in 1922, which would subsequently earn her the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1945, enabled her to end her teaching career of 15 years and start a life of international responsibilities as consul of Chile (1925-1957) serving in Italy, Spain, Portugal, Brazil, and the United States. Her next two works: "Lecturas para mujeres" (1923) and "Ternura" (1924) consolidated her fame. While consul in Madrid (1933-1935), her criticism of social conditions became known. Her answer to her critics, the typescript of "Respuesta a un manifiesto de españoles," published in Santiago de Chile in 1935, is in the collection. On Aug. 1937, she embarked on a trip to South America, from where she wrote most of the letters in the collection, chiefly concerning the publication of her third book of poems "Tala" (1938), the proceeds of which were donated to help homeless children from Spain. Her "Poemas de las madres" (1950) and "Lagar" (1954) were the last books of poems published during her lifetime. "Poema de Chile" was published posthumously in 1967.

From the description of Gabriela Mistral letters, 1936-1947. (University of Texas Libraries). WorldCat record id: 42706327

Biography

Gabriela Mistral was born Lucila Godoy y Alcayata on April 6, 1889 in Vicuña, Chile –one of the main cities in the valle de Elqui. Her father, Juan Jeronimo Godoy, was a school teachers in latin, greek, philosophy, literature and theology and her mother, Petronila Alcayaga Godoy, was a seamstress.

At the age of 14 Gabriela began working as a teacher in order to help support her mother and family since their father left when Gabriela was only 3 years old. Around this period she was beginning to write and explore other authors and poets. A year after she began teaching Gabriela had her first publication, "El Muerte del Poeta" in the newspaper El Coquimbo. Following her publication Mistral wrote and published several works under various pseudonyms, including Gabriela Mistral.

In 1914 the Sociedad de Artistas y Escritores de Chile awarded Gabriela for her collection of poems titled Sonetos de la Muerte. After receiving national recognition she stuck with the name Gabriela Mistral – a fusion from the names of Italian poet Gabriela D' Annunzio and French poet Fédéric Mistral. She continued to devote herself to education, especially women's education as a teacher and director of a girls' school in Chile. She was later invited to Mexico by the Minister of Public Education, José Vasconcelos, to participate in programming Mexico's national education.

Her writings achieved an international reputation after the publication of her first book Desolación in 1922. She toured the United States, Europe and Latin America establishing friendships with many contemporary writers. During her travels Gabriela published more of her poetry. She returned several times to Chile, but lived primarily in France and Italy. There she was very active with the League for Intellectual Co-operation for the League of Nations. After, Mistral worked as a professor at several prestigious universities in the United States. Later, she became Chile's ambassador and consul while staying in other parts of the world such as Brazil, Spain, Italy, Portugal and a short period in Los Angeles, California. In 1945 Gabriela Mistral received the Nobel Prize –she was the first Latin American to be awarded the prize for Literature. Due to failing health, Mistral stopped traveling and settled in New York where she passed away on December 10, 1957.

From the guide to the Gabriela Mistral collection, 1924-1948, (University of California, Los Angeles. Library. Department of Special Collections.)

Archival Resources
Role Title Holding Repository
creatorOf Mistral, Gabriela, 1889-1957. Maestra rural / Gabriela Mistral. Dibam Biblioteca Nacional de Chile
creatorOf Mistral, Gabriela, 1889-1957. Gabriela Mistral letters, 1936-1947. University of Texas Libraries
creatorOf Rooth, Anna-Greta, 1901-. 4 sånger till dikter av Gabriela Mistral : för sång och piano / Anna-Greta Rooth ; dikt av Gabriela Mistral ; tolkning, Hjalmar Gullberg. McGill University Library
creatorOf Gabriela Mistral collection, 1924-1948 University of California, Los Angeles. Library Special Collections.
referencedIn Leal, Luis, 1907-2010. Luis Leal papers, 1946-1985. Stanford University. Department of Special Collections and University Archives
referencedIn Raphael Lemkin Collection, undated, [1763]-2002 (bulk 1941-1951) American Jewish Historical Society
referencedIn Juana de Ibarbourou Papers, 1915-1960 Stanford University. Department of Special Collections and University Archives
creatorOf Mistral, Gabriela, 1889-1957. Luz de las cumbres / Gabriela Mistral. Dibam Biblioteca Nacional de Chile
creatorOf Gabriela Mistral Papers 1987-20, 2004-01. 42706327., 1911-1949 Benson Latin American Collection, General Libraries, The University of Texas at Austin
creatorOf Mistral, Gabriela, 1889-1957. Serenidad / Gabriela Mistral. Dibam Biblioteca Nacional de Chile
creatorOf Mistral, Gabriela, 1889-1957. La ancha luna / Gabriela Mistral. Dibam Biblioteca Nacional de Chile
creatorOf Mistral, Gabriela, 1889-1957. Himno al sol / Gabriela Mistral. Dibam Biblioteca Nacional de Chile
referencedIn Oliver, María Rosa, 1898-1977. María Rosa Oliver papers, ca. 1899-1997 (bulk 1930-1975) Princeton University Library
referencedIn Enrique Lihn papers, 1941-1988 Getty Research Institute
creatorOf Mistral, Gabriela, 1889-1957. [Una joven señora cuyo fìsico delicado dice ...] / Gabriela Mistral. Dibam Biblioteca Nacional de Chile
creatorOf Leng, Alfonso, 1884-1974. Cima / Alfonso Leng ; (Chile) New England Conservatory of Music, Harriet M. Spaulding Library
referencedIn Gabriela Mistral collection, 1924-1948. University of California, Los Angeles
creatorOf Mistral, Gabriela, 1889-1957. Dios mío, en este día ... / Gabriela Mistral. Dibam Biblioteca Nacional de Chile
creatorOf Ocampo, Victoria, 1890-1979. Victoria Ocampo papers, 1908-1979. Houghton Library
referencedIn Pedro Salinas papers, ca. 1912-1975 (inclusive), 1936-1951 (bulk). Houghton Library
creatorOf Mistral, Gabriela, 1889-1957. La tarde / Gabriela Mistral. Dibam Biblioteca Nacional de Chile
creatorOf Mistral, Gabriela, 1889-1957. [Poema] / Gabriela Mistral. Dibam Biblioteca Nacional de Chile
creatorOf Leng, Alfonso, 1884-1974. Cima / Alfonso Leng ; (Chile) New England Conservatory of Music, Harriet M. Spaulding Library
creatorOf Müller, Lita. Me triviste : canción de cuna / letra, Gabriela Mistral ; musica, Lita Müller. University of Pennsylvania Libraries, Van Pelt Library
creatorOf Mistral, Gabriela, 1889-1957. Y amé la cordillera tajeada / Gabriela Mistral. Dibam Biblioteca Nacional de Chile
referencedIn Ibarbourou, Juana de, 1895?-1979. Juana de Ibarbourou papers, 1915-1960. Stanford University. Department of Special Collections and University Archives
referencedIn Mabel Vernon Papers, 1933-1947 Syracuse University. Library. Special Collections Research Center
referencedIn Grant, Frances R. Frances Grant collection, 1897-1986 (bulk 1917-1986). Rutgers University
creatorOf Mistral, Gabriela, 1889-1957. El tiene de un azul ... / Gabriela Mistral. Dibam Biblioteca Nacional de Chile
creatorOf Mistral, Gabriela, 1889-1957. [Carta], 1926, noviembre 27, Paris, Francia [a] Pedro Prado, Chile [manuscrito] / Gabriela Mistral. Pontificia Universidad Catolica de Chile
creatorOf Mistral, Gabriela, 1889-1957. Interrogaciones / Gabriela Mistral. Dibam Biblioteca Nacional de Chile
creatorOf Valerio Raphael, 1919-. This was a rose : for soprano / [music by] Raphael Valerio ; [words by] Gateriela Mistral, trans. by Edna Lue Furness. New York Public Library System, NYPL
creatorOf Wassing, Gina. Canción de Cuna : El mar : op. 5 / Gina Wassing ; [words by] Gabriela Mistral. University of Pennsylvania Libraries, Van Pelt Library
creatorOf Mistral, Gabriela, 1889-1957. [Carta], 1924, junio 2, Santiago, Chile [a] Pedro Prado [manuscrito] / Gabriela Mistral. Pontificia Universidad Catolica de Chile
referencedIn Barnard College. Barnard College framed art collection 1800-1990. Columbia University in the City of New York, Columbia University Libraries
creatorOf Mistral, Gabriela, 1889-1957. [Con mi corazón convulso ...] / Gabriela Mistral. Dibam Biblioteca Nacional de Chile
referencedIn Turnbull, Eleanor L. (Eleanor Laurelle). Eleanor Turnbull papers, 1887-1960. Johns Hopkins University, Sheridan Libraries and the Milton S. Eisenhower Library
creatorOf Mistral, Gabriela, 1889-1957. Sonnets of death / Gabriela Mistral ; traducida por Alice Blackwell. Dibam Biblioteca Nacional de Chile
creatorOf Mistral, Gabriela, 1889-1957. [Sobre sus cabellos ponían ...] / Gabriela Mistral. Dibam Biblioteca Nacional de Chile
creatorOf Mistral, Gabriela, 1889-1957. [Carta], [19--?], [a Pedro Prado] [manuscrito] / Gabriela Mistral. Pontificia Universidad Catolica de Chile
referencedIn Magda Portal Papers 1986-28. 44071674., 1922-1986 Benson Latin American Collection, General Libraries, The University of Texas at Austin
referencedIn Blackwell Family Papers, 1759-1960, (bulk 1845-1890) Library of Congress. Manuscript Division
creatorOf Mistral, Gabriela, 1889-1957. Decidme. pues. hacia dónde ... / Gabriela Mistral. Dibam Biblioteca Nacional de Chile
creatorOf Portal, Magda, 1901-1989. Magda Portal papers, 1930-1989. University of Texas Libraries
creatorOf Mistral, Gabriela, 1889-1957. [Carta], 1947, julio 29, California, Estados Unidos [a] Eduardo Barrios, Pedro Prado y Alfonso Bulnes, Santiago, Chile [manuscrito] / Gabriela Mistral. Pontificia Universidad Catolica de Chile
creatorOf Mistral, Gabriela, 1889-1957. Probaron al alma ... / Gabriela Mistral. Dibam Biblioteca Nacional de Chile
referencedIn New Directions Publishing records Houghton Library
creatorOf Mistral, Gabriela, 1889-1957. Balada / Gabriela Mistral. Dibam Biblioteca Nacional de Chile
referencedIn Miscellaneous bound volumes, [ca. 1954-1969]. New York State Historical Documents Inventory
creatorOf Floyd, Carlisle. The mystery : five songs of motherhood / poems by Gabriela Mistral ; translated by Anita K. Fleet ; music by Carlisle Floyd. New York Public Library System, NYPL
referencedIn Victoria Ocampo papers, 1908-1979. Houghton Library
creatorOf Mistral, Gabriela, 1889-1957. [Notebook]. University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign
creatorOf Mistral, Gabriela, 1889-1957. Himno a la naturaleza / Gabriela Mistral. Dibam Biblioteca Nacional de Chile
creatorOf Mistral, Gabriela, 1889-1957. [Pero no soi exclusivism ...] / Gabriela Mistral. Dibam Biblioteca Nacional de Chile
referencedIn Lihn, Enrique. Enrique Lihn papers, 1941-1988. Getty Research Institute
creatorOf Mistral, Gabriela, 1889-1957. Poema del hijo / Gabriela Mistral. Dibam Biblioteca Nacional de Chile
referencedIn Fernando Alegria papers, 1924-2000, 1940-1998 Stanford University. Department of Special Collections and University Archives
referencedIn Racz, André, 1916-. Papers, 1952-1970. Columbia University in the City of New York, Columbia University Libraries
referencedIn Harvard University. Autograph File, G. 1641-2009. Houghton Library
Role Title Holding Repository
Relation Name
associatedWith Albert Einstein College of Medicine. corporateBody
associatedWith Alegr? a, Fernando, 1918- person
associatedWith Barnard College. corporateBody
associatedWith Barrios, Eduardo, 1884-1963 person
associatedWith Blackwell, Alice. person
correspondedWith Blackwell family family
associatedWith Borges, Norah person
associatedWith Borges, Norah. person
correspondedWith Bórquez Solar, Antonio, 1873-1938 person
associatedWith Bulnes, Alfonso, 1885-1970 person
associatedWith de Ibarbourou, Juana person
associatedWith Floyd, Carlisle. person
correspondedWith Grant, Frances R. person
associatedWith Ibarbourou, Juana de, 1895?-1979. person
associatedWith Labarca Hubertson, Amanda, 1886-1975. person
associatedWith Leal, Luis, 1907-2010. person
associatedWith Leng, Alfonso, 1884-1974. person
associatedWith Lihn, Enrique person
associatedWith Lihn, Enrique. person
associatedWith Mistral, Gabriela, 1889-1857. person
associatedWith Mistral, Gabriela, 1889-1957. person
associatedWith Müller, Lita. person
associatedWith New Directions Publishing Corp. corporateBody
associatedWith Ocampo, Victoria, 1890-1979. person
correspondedWith Ocampo, Victoria, 1891- person
associatedWith Oliver, María Rosa, 1898-1977. person
associatedWith Portal, Magda, 1901- person
associatedWith Post-1650 Manuscript Collection (University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Library) corporateBody
associatedWith Prado, Pedro, 1886-1952 person
associatedWith Racz, André, 1916- person
associatedWith Raphael Lemkin, 1900-1959 person
associatedWith Rooth, Anna-Greta, 1901- person
correspondedWith Salinas, Pedro, 1892-1951 person
associatedWith Torre, Guillermo de, 1900- person
associatedWith Turnbull, Eleanor L. (Eleanor Laurelle) person
associatedWith Valerio Raphael, 1919- person
associatedWith Vernon, Mabel. person
associatedWith Wassing, Gina. person
Place Name Admin Code Country
Republic of Chile 00 CL
Republic of Chile 00 CL
Subject
Authors, Chilean
Women authors
Women authors
Cartas chilenas
Cartas chilenas
EDUCADORAS
Manuscripts, Spanish
MANUSCRITOS ESPAÑOLES
Poesías chilenas
PROSA CHILENA
Women authors, Chilean
Occupation
Writer
Activity

Person

Birth 1889

Death 1857

Birth 1889-04-07

Death 1957-01-10

Female

Chileans

English,

Spanish; Castilian

Information

Permalink: http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6mm72zn

Ark ID: w6mm72zn

SNAC ID: 83659054