In a notable collection that underscores Rafael Altamira’s enduring legacy in the United States, more than one hundred personal items are documented. Among these are a red-velvet desk chair with drawers, a finely framed Rococo-style picture, two wooden display cabinets, a wooden wall barometer, and a briefcase bearing his initials. This donation forms part of the Altamira family’s contribution to scholarship in the United States, as the University of Alicante established a documentation and research center in a hall opened this morning at the AU headquarters in Alicante.
Included in the donation are photos and books, notably a two-volume Gospel of the Duke of Alba and other volumes dedicated to the historian and jurist. The collection also holds everyday objects such as a gold watch engraved with initials, a family photo album, and an award with an original framed diploma for the Gold Medal of the State of Alicante. Also present are 48 volumes of the complete works.
UA rector Amparo Navarro, along with relatives of Rafael Altamira, and Jorge Olcina, director of the headquarters, joined the mayor of El Campello, Juanjo Berenguer, to inaugurate on the first floor of the University of Alicante a space honoring the intellectual life of the Campello region. The room is now accessible to the public as a setting that highlights Altamira’s contributions.
Observers describe Rafael Altamira as a distinguished figure whose multifaceted intellectual career spanned literature, literary criticism, history, law, and pedagogy. His work reflects a broad international presence, and the University of Alicante emphasizes the study and dissemination of his writings and influence.
The rector thanked the Altamira family, especially Pilar Altamira, who passed away last year, for their decision to entrust the university with his legacy. The ceremony also highlighted the cooperation with the Jorge Juan de Alicante Institute in displaying engravings featuring Altamira as a central figure.
the living space
The Altamira family was represented by three grandchildren, Alvaro, Javier, and Pilar Ramos Altamira, who spoke of the tireless work of preserving the memory of their great-grandfather and his enterprise. Their remarks underscored the ongoing effort to keep his legacy vibrant for future generations.
A forgotten burial not aligned with the universal legacy of Rafael Altamira
The family member Javier Ramos Altamira thanked the University of Alicante for relocating this space to the original office of their great-grandfather. He added that their mother would be proud of the outcome, citing that the space breathes life into Altamira’s life and work and serves to disseminate his contributions.
El Campello’s mayor, Juanjo Berenguer, spoke about the importance of honoring Altamira and continuing his legacy. El Campello is part of a broader vision linked to the Altamira name, with the town historically connected to Altamira’s family through residence and inspiration. There are ongoing efforts to bring back Altamira’s remains from Mexico, where he died in exile, to a place that reflects his national and cultural significance.
contract: description and research
The agreement between Altamira’s family and the University of Alicante envisions the permanent display of the heritage in a room within Alicante’s city center, open to the public as defined by the terms approved by the government and the university. The collaboration commits to clear and continuous documentation aimed at life, culture, and science, highlighting the life and pacifist works of Rafael Altamira. The exhibition will present objects donated by the family to the institution.
The arrangement rests on the university’s obligation to ensure ongoing access and public education about Altamira’s life, with a focus on his roles as a humanist, historian, lawyer, literary critic, and writer. The display underscores the breadth of his contributions and the impact he left on scholarly and civic circles.