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Women and Independence in Latin America An exploration of women's involvement in the Latin American Wars of Independence |
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Women and Independence in Latin America An exploration of women's involvement in the Latin American Wars of Independence |
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Gender:Female
Ethnic origen: Unknown
Events:
| 1818 | - | Querétaro | - | Not applicable | - | She was born on 26 February 1818, at San Juan del Río, Querétaro. |
| 1890 | - | Guanajuato | - | Unknown | - | She died on 19 December 1890. |
Connections:
Education for Girls (Mexico)Biography:
She was born on 26 February 1818, at San Juan del Río, Querétaro.
An eye infection left her blind at the age of one and she interpreted this as divine inspiration. Her father, Antonio Telléz, taught her catechism, grammar and arithmetic until his death when María was 9. Later her sister’s husband taught her Latin. She was in charge of the school of the Cofradía del Cordón de San Francisco, Querétaro, where she taught elemental classes of grammar and arithmetic to children free of charge. This was closed down in the Reforma, but she opened up a private college and branched out into geometry and geography among other subjects. In 1866 she was given the title “profesora” and decorated with the Cruz de San Carlos in recognition of her religious and technical knowledge. She was inspired by the Spanish mystics and San Francisco de Salas’s Práctica del Amor de Dios. She subtly promoted women’s rights although within strict class and religious limits. Staurofila, her religious novel of 780 pages was published in 1889. She died on 19 December 1890. (Domenella, 33-75.)