Agencia Latinoamericana

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Agencia Latinoamericana

The ALA (American Literary Agency) was established in New York by the Spanish politician and prominent journalist, Joaquín Maurín in 1948. It was founded for the purpose of distributing articles written by Latin American and Spanish writers to the different newspapers and magazines in Latin America and Spain.

Joaquín Maurín died in 1973 and was succeeded by his wife. In 1974, the Agency's name was changed to its Spanish name, Agencia Latinoamericana. In 1975, Arturo Villar succeeded Maurín's wife as director and editor of the Agency. In 1977, the Agencia Latinoamericana moved to Miami, and in 1982, the ALA began sending articles to U.S. newspapers published in Spanish under the name of the Latin American Feature Syndicate, as a new service.

In March 1984, Arturo Villar ceased to work as editor of the ALA and remained as president of the Agency in Miami, while the editorial offices were moved to London under the direction of Miguel Angel Diez.

The ALA papers are comprised of the historical files which contain articles written between 1948 and 1975, the topical files containing articles written from 1975 to 1980 and the informational files which include newspaper clippings, magazine articles and editorials. These papers were given to the Otto C. Richter Library on March 10, 1981 through negotiations between Dr. Joaquín Roy, Associate Professor for the Center of Advanced International Studies, Arturo Villar, President of ALA and Frank Rodgers, Director of Libraries.