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The Lopez Library Collections: An Overview
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This essay is not meant to be an exhaustive presentation of the Eugenio Lopez Library
collections, but simply intended as an aid to the readers who may wish to get a quick glimpse of
the nature, scope and magnitude of a wide array of the library holdings.
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Established by Don Eugenio López on February 13, 1960 in honor of his beloved parents, the Museum's library exists to preserve the
Filipino intellectual heritage and is being developed for advanced information and research needs in the field of Philippine history and culture.
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An ardent enthusiast for rarity, Don Eugenio took particular care to gather as many
rare books and manuscripts as he was able to obtain from the famous antiquarian shops
and book dealers in America, Europe and in the Philippines. Some of the titles he
purchased from abroad reflect both his collector's passion and scholarly taste for
remarkable works on epoch-making voyages such as those of
Pre-Hispanic Trade,
a detail from the painting "Pageant of Commerce" by Carlos V. Francisco |
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 James Burney's A chronological history of the voyages and discoveries in the South Sea or Pacific Ocean, London, 1803-l8l7, 5 vols.;
Martin Fernandez de Navarrette's Coleccion de las viajes y descubrimientos, Madrid 1825-1837, 5 vols.;
Richard Hakluyt's The principal navigations, voyages traffiques and discoveries of the English nation… London, J. M. Dent, 1927-1928, 10 vols.;
Samuel Purchas, Hakluytus posthumus or Purchas his pilgrimes… London, 1905-1907, 20 vols.; and
Armando Cortesao, The suma oriental of Tomé Pires; an account of the East, from the Red sea to Japan…, translated from the Portuguese Ms…. edited by Armando Cortesao, 2 vols.
Of the few extant copies of Bartolome Juan Leonardo y Argensola's The discovery and conquest of the Molucco and Philippine Islands, London, 1708,
"only the Lopez Museum and an anonymous private collector have copies"† in the Philippines.
The early explorers and travelers made valuable first hand accounts on what they saw and experienced in the Philippines and their
writings on the ethnic groups stimulated thought and aroused curiosity, especially on the unusual and the bizarre aspects of the
indigenous life and culture.
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Woman Holding a Sword (study under Per Pacem et Libertatem) painting by Felix Resurreccion Hidalgo
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Notable among the early travellers' accounts are Giovanni Francisco Gemelli Carreri, Giro del Mondo, Napoli, 1708, 6 vols.;
Alexander Dalrymple, A historical collection of several voyages and discoveries on the South Pacific Ocean…(2 vols. in 1) London, 1770;
Vicomte de Pierre Marie Francois Pages, Voyages auour du monde… Paris, Chez Moutard, 1782, 2 vols.; and
Jean Francois Galaup de la Perouse, Voyage de la Perouse autour du monde… Paris, 1797, 4 vols.
Don Eugenio's untiring efforts in the world of rare books and
manuscripts culminated in success as exemplified by the inauguration of the Lopez Museum forty years ago, the publications of the catalog of
Filipiniana materials in the Lopez Museum in 1962 and the formidable five-volume works on the Philippine Insurrection Against the United States,
based on John R.M. Taylor's galley proofs and the constant build-up or enrichment of the Filipiniana collection.
Since l960 onwards, the Filipiniana materials both primary and secondary have increased significantly. Today, the Lopez Museum takes pride in
the splendid manner in which the monumental core collections acquired over the years by Don Eugenio are being utilized by researchers and are being
preserved for posterity. Its tiny dedicated staff members graciously preside over the rich source materials and their knowledge of the entire holdings
is only matched by their ability to put their fingers upon them at a moment's notice.
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