Griselda Álvarez

Griselda Álvarez (born in Guadalajara, Jalisco April 5, 1913) was the first female governor in Mexico. Álvarez was Governor of the state of Colima from 1979-1985. [http://www.e-mexico.gob.mx/wb2/eMex/eMex_Gro eMujeres :: Mujeres y hombres, mismos derechos, mismas oportunidades ] ]

Biography

Born in the Capital of Colima's northern neighbor, Guadalajara where her family was after the most violent eruption in modern history of the Volcano of Fire in Colima. The eruption began January 20th 1913 and continued for 4 days. [ [http://volcano.und.nodak.edu/vwdocs/volc_images/img_colima.html Distant Image of Colima Volcano, State of Jalisco, Mexico ] ] She was born into one of the most important families in Colima. Her parents were Miguel Álvarez García y María Dolores Guadalupe Eugenia Ponce de León.

Her father at the time of her birth was a soldier in the Mexican Army, but later was governor of Colima from 1919 until 1923. [http://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Miguel_%C3%81lvarez_Garc%C3%ADa] Her great grandfather, General Manuel Álvarez a delegate in the Constitutional Congress was designated the highest political figure in the territory of Colima in 1826. In 1857 when Colima became a state, he became its first governor. [http://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manuel_%C3%81lvarez]

Writing career

Griselda Álvarez studied at UNAM the National Autonomous University of Mexico and received her degree in writing and composition. She then began her work as one of the major female poets and writers in Mexican History. Her works include:

*Cementerio de Pájaros 1956
*Dos cantos 1959
*Desierta compañía 1961
*Letanía erótica para la paz 1963
*La sombra niña 1965
*Anatomía superficial 1967
*Estación sin nombre 1972

While composing her works, she was also working as a teacher, but eventually she entered public service. While she did not abandon her work as a teacher, she took a post in the public sector working under the secretary of education, and moved into the realm of social work eventually becoming the director of volunteer services in the federal social security institute. [Enciclopedia de México on CD ROM, Dataconsult S.A. de C.V., 1999, Disk 1]

Public office

Álvarez left this place to serve as Senator from the state of Jalisco from 1976-1979. Then as Governor of Colima from 1979-1985, making her the first female governor of Mexico. Her goal as governor was "educar para progresar" (Educate for progress) [Musacchio, Humberto, Diccionario enciclopédico de México, 4v. Colombia, Andrés León Editor, 1990, t. 1] While she did work hard for progress as governor, her work did not end there. She went on to found various organizations such as the Center of Attention to Women, The Mexican Women's Alliance, and The Mexican Association of Social Wellbeing. She also served her political party, the PRI, as a member of the Caucus on National Ideology in 1978 and 1994 and the National Commission of Honor and Justice of the National Executive Committee in 1994 as well as various other committees and consult groups.

Awards and recognition

Álvarez has received various awards and recognitions, most recently the Gold Medal of Fine Arts at the National Palace of Fine Arts in Mexico City on April 8th, 2008. However, due to poor health and her 95 years of age, the award was accepted by her son, Miguel Delgado Álvarez. She had been bed-ridden for a year, but in very stable condition as her son was quoted as saying she had been out of the hospital for more than a year and that her vital signs were all normal. [ [http://www.eluniversal.com.mx/notas/496996.html Condecoran a Griselda Alvarez con Medalla de Bellas Artes - El Universal - Cultura ] ]

References