A place for scholarship. Elitism, socialization and state oblivion in the former National Library of Peru (1821-1943)

Abstract

This paper seeks to explain the historical reasons why the former National Library of Peru, between 1821 and 1943, showed a tendency towards elitism. The review of sources on the National Library of Peru indicates that during this period the institution mainly kept material for specialists, bibliophiles, or scholars. It was, therefore, a meeting and work place for a cultural elite. At first glance, this bias contradicts the egalitarian ideals with which it was created by the protective government of General José de San Martín. An in-depth analysis shows several historical reasons that explain these characteristics: the type of society to which the library belonged, the development of the concept of public library, the bibliophilia of the funds from which the collections were obtained, and the indifference of the state towards culture. The analysis of primary sources, director’s memoirs and various testimonial writings of the time have been used to understand and explain the reasons for this phenomenon.