Maria Estrada de Santos

Ecuadorian educator and independence fighter who established Latin America's first public library

Maria Estrada de Santos (1825-1898) was a multifaceted figure in Ecuador's post-independence era. Initially a freedom fighter during the 1860s border conflicts with Peru, she transitioned to education reform after the war. In 1872 she founded Quito's first public library Biblioteca Nacional Santander, which became a hub for republican thought. She developed a bilingual Spanish-Quechua literacy program reaching indigenous communities. Her 1883 manifesto 'Knowledge for All' argued for universal education as a path to national unity. Maria also pioneered agricultural education initiatives, establishing demonstration farms to improve Andean farming techniques. Her legacy is honored through the annual Maria Estrada Prize for educational innovation. Learn about her dual roles.