Join us in the Rare Book & Manuscript Library on Friday, September 16th, from 3-5pm for the opening reception of our fall exhibit, The Viceroyalty of Peru and the Times of Conde de Montemar. Remarks by the exhibit's curators, Ana D. Rodríguez and Dr. Antonio Sotomayor, will begin at 3:10, followed by a short lecture by Emeritus Professor of History Nils Jacobsen. This event is free and open to all, and refreshments will be served (pending current COVID-19 protocols).
Exhibit description: For nearly 300 years (1542-1824), the Viceroyalty of Perú was an integral part of the extensive Spanish Empire in the Americas. The Spaniards had taken over the Inca Empire that had ruled those lands for generations and had established a complex civilization. By taking the Inca Empire, its riches and lands, the descendants of these conquistadors developed a new society characterized by the diversity of communities where they lived, with the indigenous peoples placed at a disadvantage. As a stratified society, the white noble class was at the top of the social pyramid, including the family of the V Conde de Montemar, which had vast interests throughout the territory. The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign holds a unique and sizable collection of letters that belonged to this family; this exhibit will showcase a fraction of its content, alongside other equally rare and fascinating material from the University of Illinois collections.
This exhibit will remain on display through May 12, 2023, and is open for viewing Monday-Friday from 9am-5pm.
