Instituto de Estudios Genealógicos del Uruguay
(Institute of Genealogical Studies of Uruguay)
El Instituto de Estudios Genealógicos del Uruguay, (hereinafter referred to as “the institute”), is a non-profit corporation, with legal capacity, incorporated pursuant to order No. 189/980 of the Department of Education.
It was founded on May 26, 1979 by a group of studious individuals and pundits in Genealogy. Its main goal: “To bring together researchers and people committed to the study of Genealogy and to enrich the cultural heritage of the nation through publications and research.” (Bylaws –Article 2)
The institute works very closely throughout the nineteen states/provinces in our country, and secures, at least, one correspondent for consultations and research in every state/province.
The institute reaches out internationally, as well. In 1980, it joined “The International Confederation of Genealogy and Heraldry” and participated in several conventions of this nature in Spain (Madrid, Santiago de Compostela); Austria (Vienna); Argentina (Buenos Aires, La Plata, Córdoba); Bolivia (La Paz); Costa Rica (San José de Costa Rica); Sucre (Bolivia); Chile (Santiago de Chile); Paraguay (Asunción), and in many other locations.
Furthermore, the VIII American Meeting of Genealogy held in Montevideo in the Department of State, May 21 through 23, 1999 was hosted by the institute. Also, it has over fifty honorary members abroad and since its inception, it has held one Monthly Study Session between March and November and has organized and offered numerous other sessions, exhibits, workshops, conferences, and training courses on research.
The institute prides itself in publishing the only journal on Genealogy in the country. So far, twenty-seven issues have come out with national and international success; many of the issues are sold out.
In the last decade, a film (microfilm and microchip) library was started thanks to the support of the Defense Department and its Division of Microfilming where microfilms of the oldest church archives in the nation are available for research and consultation: Iglesia Matriz de Montevideo (1727), Iglesia de la Aguada (1838), Catedral de Minas (1783), Catedral de San José (1783), Nuestra Señora de la Santísima Trinidad de los Porongos, Flores (1803).
For twenty-five years, the institute has carried out several activities, to wit:
1)
Sessions
a) First Sessions of Genealogy, sponsored by the Department of Education and Culture in the National Library in Montevideo, October 2 through 13th, 1980.
b) Second Sessions of Genealogy, sponsored by the Department of Education and Culture in the National Museum Juan Zorrilla de San Martín, April 16 through 19, 1982.
c) Italian Sessions (1984), sponsored by the Italian Embassy at the National Museum Juan Zorrilla de San Martín.
d) French Sessions (1985), sponsored by the French Embassy in the Parque Hotel.
e) Portuguese Sessions (1986), sponsored by the Embassy of Portugal in the Club Uruguay.
f) Galician Sessions (July 1987), sponsored by the Spanish Embassy and the Galician Center in Montevideo. They were held in the Centro Gallego (Galician Center).
g) Basque Sessions (November 1987), sponsored by the Spanish Embassy and the Euskal Erria Center in Montevideo. Held at the Euskal Erria Center.
h) Session commemorating the fifth centennial of the discovery of America, sponsored by the Spanish Embassy and held in 1988.
i) Sessions of the Canary Islands (March 1994), sponsored by the Department of Education and Culture, Department of Tourism, Department of State, the City Halls in Maldonado and Montevideo, the autonomous government of the Canary Islands, and the Spanish Embassy.
j) Second Italian Sessions of Genealogy (October 1996), sponsored by the Italian Embassy in the Institute of History and Geography in Uruguay.
k) First British sessions of Genealogy and Heraldry (November 2000), sponsored by the British Embassy in Uruguay.
For September 2004, three events are scheduled:
2)
Courses and Seminars
a) Course in Heraldry (1981). Sponsored by and held in the Catholic University of Uruguay Dámaso Antonio Larrañaga.
b) Short course of Introduction to Genealogy and Heraldry (May 1989). Institute of History and Geography of Uruguay.
c) Short course in Orientation to Heraldry and Paleography (September 1989). Institute of History and Geography of Uruguay.
d) Short course in Orientation to Genealogy and Heraldry II (May 1990). Institute of History and Geography of Uruguay.
e) Seminar & Workshop: “Family History of the Uruguayans: Genealogy and Regional Integration.” Catholic University (October 1991).
f) Seminar “Juan Alejandro Apolant” (November 2003). The institute paid tribute to the founder of Genealogy in Uruguay, Dr. Juan Alejandro Apolant, to commemorate the centennial of his birth. Sponsors: Department of Education and Culture, UCUDAL, Santander Bank. National and international lecturers participated in this event.
3)
Exhibits
a) First Exhibit of Genealogy, Heraldry and Iconography. Sponsored by the Department of Education and Culture in the National Library of Montevideo, October 1980.
b) Second Exhibit of Genealogy, Heraldry and Iconography. Sponsored by the Department of Education and Culture in the National Museum of History, June 1984.
4)
Consulting Services
The institute works very hard at doing research and supplying the information that the general population, governmental institutions -- domestic and foreign ask for and need, without discrimination by race, culture or socioeconomic status.
At present, Uruguay has the Spanish, Italian, French, Portuguese, British, German, Armenian, Jewish, Arabic and Creole genealogies. The institute also assists in the research and search of the genealogical identity of minority groups, with the understanding that the humanitarian principles of equality, fraternity and liberty lie at the very roots of these groups.
Examples that illustrate some of the services offered by the institute:
a) Research on the descendants of the founders of the Constitution of 1830, requested by the national government in 1980.
b) Dr. Celestino Granato Goulart, Secretary of the Justice Department of Río Grande do Sul (Brazil), requested the Director of Cultural Affairs in the Department of State to contact the institute so that the lineage of the Goulart family could be researched. All the information was gathered and furnished to the Department of State on November 11, 1980.
c) Guidelines for the bids for the flag of the High School Board of Education, requested by said institution in 1981.
d) Coat of arms of General José Gervasio Artigas, requested by the army general staff.
e) Proposal on the bill of allocation of last names in the case of natural children. (1983)
f) Project Alvar Núñez: Genealogy for the twenty-first century (1992). Purpose: to create a data bank in Uruguayan genealogy. Besides being useful in this specific field, the project will be utilized in the study of related subjects such as history, biography, onomatology, heraldry, iconography and so forth.
5)
Agreements
a) Civil Registry. Agreement of October 15, 1992 between the institute and the Civil Registry. The latter was represented by its Director, Dr. Juan José Laborde Vidal. The President of the Republic, Dr. Luis Alberto Lacalle, ratified the agreement on January 25, 1993.
b) Institute of History of Canelones (September 2003).
6)
Monthly Study Sessions
On the last Thursday of every month at 7:00 p.m., the institute holds a study session where one or two speakers, members or special guests lecture on subjects related to genealogy, heraldry or history.
Up to now, over 200 study sessions have taken place. As of 2004, the sessions are being recorded with the purpose of starting a video library.
7)
Publications
The institute publishes its journal, called Revista, periodically. The research work of the members and foreign specialists, and also the activities of the institute appear in the journal. The first issue came out in 1980 and the last one, number 27, in 2003. A Special Edition for September 2004 is in the works to commemorate the 25 years of the institute. The journal, which is the voice of the institute, does not have any advertising. It is financed by its members.
The institute has partially sponsored and/or financed the publication of several works of historic-genealogic interest, most of which were developed by the members of the corporation. Among the sponsored and co-financed copies are:
a) Génesis de la familia uruguaya (Genesis of the Uruguayan Family), 2nd edition by Dr. Juan Alejandro Apolant., Montevideo 1979. Monumental work of the Uruguayan genealogy and a must for every researcher in the field of history and genealogy.
b) Oficios, manos de obra y trabajos en el Puerto de Montevideo (Trades, Labor and Work in the Port of Montevideo) by Dr. Juan José Villegas Mañé. Montevideo 1985.
c) Capitán de mis sombras (Captain of My Shadows) by Professor Julio Silva y Antuña. It studies the lineage of the Silvas, Antuñas, Valdés y Milhas. Montevideo 1986.
d) El viaje continúa (The Journey Continues) by Juan Ignacio Risso. (Life and legend in Uruguay of the pilot and land surveyor Juan Risso born in Genoa). Montevideo 1986.
e) El Coronel Doroteo Vélez (Coronel Doroteo Vélez) by Professor Fabián Melogno Vélez. (Historic and genealogic outline). Montevideo 1986.
f) Soriano en el éxodo (Soriano in the Exodus) by Escribano Alonso Arias. 1987.
g) La capilla de Mercedes (The Chapel in Mercedes) by Escribano Alonso Arias. (Description of its first settlers). Montevideo 1988.
h) Genealogía de la familia Estévez (Genealogy of the Estévez Family) by Mabel Cordero. Montevideo 1988.
i) El libro de los linajes (The Book of Lineages) by Prof. Ricardo Goldaracena. Several volumes. 1976-2003.
j) Descendencia Montero-Sempera (Montero-Sempera Lineage) by Prof. María del Pilar Abbate de Gelpi. 1996
k) La sangre nos une (Linked by Blood) by Ms. Nidia Silveira Carli. (Outline of the Silveira family, native of Fayal, the Azores Islands). Montevideo 1997
l) De españoles y orientales (Of Spanish and Orientals) by Dr. José María Gimeno Sanz. Montevideo 1999
m) La genealogía, ciencia de todos (Genealogy, Everybody’s Science) by the same author. Montevideo 2003
n) Los Quirós: una antigüa familia rioplatense (The Quirós: An Old Family From The River Plate) by Dr.Enrique Yarza Rovira (Uruguay) and Escribano Hernán Carlos Lux Wurm Centurión (Argentina). Montevideo 2002
o) Historia de Cerro Largo (History of Cerro Largo) by Prof. Víctor Gannello. Montevideo 2002
p) Libro primero de matrimonios de San Juan Bautista-Santa Lucía (First Book of Weddings of San Juan Bautista-Santa Lucía) by Luis F. Loriente and Luis Pintos Anza. Montevideo 2003.
q) Libro de matrimonios de San Fructuoso de Tacuarembó (Book of Weddings of San Fructuoso of Tacuarembó) by Dr. José María Monterroso Devesa (Honorary member from abroad residing in Galicia, Spain).
8)
Elsa Aguiar y Silva Library
The library of the institute is very good and is growing permanently. It caters to the needs of members and researchers and is open on Tuesdays from 3:00 to 5:00 p.m.
9)
Web Page
The web page is under construction. However, right now, you can visit:
http//: webs.montevideo.com.uy/iegu
The Institute of Studies in Genealogy of Uruguay operates out of the Institute of History and Geography of Uruguay. The address is Edificio Caubarrere, 1366 Convención Street, third floor, corner with 18 de Julio Avenue. The library is very spacious and two rooms for 100 and 50 people, respectively are used to carry out the activities.
According to our Bylaws, the members are divided into four categories:
1) Founding members constitute all those that signed the Articles of Incorporation of the Institute on May 26, 1979.
2) Subscribing members are all the potential candidates that fill out a membership form and wait for the approval of the Board of Directors. Access if free.
3) Active members are chosen by their intellectual capabilities. Essential requirements to be accepted: “to have made publications, studies or research in the sciences of genealogy or to have demostrated skillfulness and knowledge in these disciplines.” (Article 6 of the Bylaws). Also, to be an active member, your name must have appeared in the roster of members for over a year.
4) Honorary members can be domestic or foreign and according to the Members Assembly, they have deserved this distinction because of their merits and background. Unanimously, in the extraodinary session of April 1, 2004, all the founding members were declared honorary members.
Furthermore, the institute has approximately 40 active members in all the country and 30 subscribing members.