Fernando Ortiz

Image Gallery Fernando Ortiz Fernando Ortiz and his parents Fernando Ortiz at the Sociedad Económica Fernando Ortiz conference on Afrocuban music and dances, 1955 Fernando Ortiz Fernando Ortiz and José María Chacón y Calvo, 1925 Fernando Ortiz at the Inauguration of President. Caracas, 1948 Fernando Ortiz and his daughter, María Fernanda, 1969

Photo courtesy © María Fernanda Ortiz Herrera.

1881	Born in Havana, Cuba.
1895-1898	Studies law at the University of Havana.
1898	Travels to Spain and continues studies at the University of Barcelona.
1901	Receives a doctorate in law at the University of Madrid.
1906	Writes the book “Los negros brujos (Apuntes para un estudio de etnología criminal),” the first in a famous series Hampa-afrocubana, which also includes “Los negros esclavos” (1916) and “Los negros curros” (1986, posthumous edition).
1910-1959	Works as editor of la Revista Bimestre Cubana.
1912	Edits la Revista de administración teórica y práctica del Estado, la provincia y el municipio.
1915	Joins the Liberal Party.
1940	Writes one of his major works “Contrapunteo cubano del tabaco y el azúcar” (trans. “Cuban Counterpoint: Tobacco and Sugar,” 1955)
1924	Finds the journal Archivos del Folklore Cubano.
1929	Edits el Boletín de Legislación.
1930-1931	Finds and directs the magazine Surco.
1936-1947	Creates the magazine Estudios Afrocubanos. Finds and works as director of the magazine Ultra.
1952	Starts publishing his five-volume work “Los instrumentos de la música afrocubana.”
1959	Publishes “La historia de una pelea cubana contra los demonios,” the first volume of the trilogy “Defensa póstuma de un  inquisidor cubano del siglo XVII.”
1923	Drafted the “Manifiesto del 2 de abril de 1923 de la Junta Cubana de renovación cívica.”
1931-1933	Lives in Washington, helds activities against Gerardo Machado’s dictatorship. Participates in the annual meeting of the American History Association.
1969	Dies on April 10 in Havana.

(Font, Mauricio A. and Alfonso W. Quiroz. 2005. Cuban Counterpoints: The Legacy of Fernando Ortiz. New York: Lexington Books.
Retrieved from Fundación Fernando Ortiz)