Silvio Zavala y la institucionalización/ profesionalización de la historia en México, 1933-1950

Abstract

In the article I explore the role that Silvio Zavala played in the process of institutionalization and professionalization of history in Mexico. I analyze the historiographical value of his first works produced during his stay in Spain under the guidance of Rafael Altamira y Crevea and the national and international alliances and bonds that he established upon his return to Mexico since 1936. I argue that the prestige as an academic and historian allowed Zavala to be one of the creators of publications such as Revista de Historia de América and fundamental promoter of institutions such as El Colegio de México where he trained multiple generations of students and researchers. The research ends at 1950, his last year as director of the Historical Studies Centre. In this work I use archival and bibliographic sources that have been scarcely studied before.