The Lopez Library Collections: An Overview [ 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 ]

istorically speaking, the collection and preservation of rare books and manuscripts have been a vital task of a small segment of our society. Both our indigenous culture as well as our contemporary culture have always been based solely and simply upon the transmission of ideas and concepts from one generation to another. And one way of communicating ideas and concepts in pre-Spanish times was by words, inscribed originally on dried palm leaves and bamboo tubes; in the Spanish era in manuscripts and printed books; and eventually during the American period, in addition to published books, in typewritten notes, films and other non-book materials.

Spanish Conquistadors, detail from the painting, "Pageant of Commerce" by Carlos Francisco In Manila, the lucrative trade with Asia and Mexico and other favorable circumstances gave rise to a tiny, responsive socio-religious elite. Thus, the collection of books and manuscripts was one of the earlier erudite manifestations of the colonial society and flourished mainly in an old key cultural center like Intramuros. Two factors stimulated the flow of reading materials from Spain and the subsequent printing of books in Manila; the first was the intellectual needs of the civil and ecclesiastical communities, and the second was the growing prosperity of the miniscule, but dominant hispanic elite and the principalia cum ilustrada gente. These, in turn, stimulated collecting, and with the passage of time there came into existence libraries in the various religious and private houses in Manila and other key towns in the archipelago. Priest Holding a Bayonet by Felix Resurreccion Hidalgo In keeping with the long established European tradition, it was the monastic orders who set the tone and taste for a sophisticated appreciation of rare printed books and unpublished manuscripts. It is in this vein that many meaningful words and many great concepts and ideas have been preserved by them; but many others have been regrettably lost due to the vicissitudes of time and ravages of human events. The ranks of the destructive elements both human and natural, however, have dwindled gradually and the most telling explanation for this lies in the recognition of responsibility for providing clean, safe, durable houses for all sorts of records and mementoes of our Hispano-Western oriented society.* Let us now turn to the collections in the library proper.