State, books and Guano: The National Library and the acquisition of two bibliographic collections in the early 1860s

  • Henry Barrera Camarena Licenciado en Historia por la Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos. Lima, Perú
Keywords: National Library, Benjamin Vicuña Mackenna, Manuel Perez de Tudela, Peruvian State, guano

Abstract

The article studies the situation of the National Library at the beginning of 1860,characterized by minimal support from the Peruvian State to improve its facilities, acquire new books and increase its staff. Despite the country’s favorable financial context, as a result of the sale of guano abroad, this did not mean that a real contribution was made in favor of this cultural space. In this context, two valuable private libraries were offered: that of Benjamin Vicuña Mackenna and that of Manuel Perez de Tudela. Although the government ended up acquiring both, the former partially and the latter in its entirety, with the aim of enriching the National Library’s collections, this did not mark the beginning of a state policy of permanent economic contribution to the institution, which meant that they remained isolated events.

Published
2025-07-25
How to Cite
Barrera Camarena H. (2025). State, books and Guano: The National Library and the acquisition of two bibliographic collections in the early 1860s. Revista Del Archivo General De La Nación, 39(2), 29-48. https://doi.org/10.37840/ragn.v39i2.172
Section
Artículos Originales