Virginia Bolten
Encyclopedia
Virginia Bolten was an anarchist of German
descent. A gifted orator, she originally lived in Argentina
, before she was deported to Uruguay
in 1902.
. After reaching adulthood she worked as a shoemaker and a sugar factory worker. While working as a shoemaker she met Juan Marquez, an organiser of a shoe workers union, whom she later married. Instrumental in her introduction to anarchist circles was her acquaintance with Pietro Gori
. After a number of years of activity in the feminist, anarchist, and workers' movements, she was deported to Uruguay
under the Residence Law in 1902.
, probably the first strike by female workers in Argentina.
In 1890 Virginia Bolten, Romulo Ovidi and Francisco Berri were the main organizers of the first May Day
demonstrations. The other editors of The Working Baker of Rosario had an equally important role in the organization of the demonstrations. On April 30, 1890 (the day before the demonstrations), she was detained and interrogated, by local police forces, for distributing leaflets outside the major factories of the area. During the May Day demonstrations she led a group of thousands of workers who were marching to Plaza Lopez, the main square of Montevideo
, the capital city of Uruguay. Throughout the march she carried the red flag
, on which was written "First Of May - Universal Fraternity" .
, which suggests that Bolten may also have founded and edited it after her deportation.
in Argentina decided to fund a film honoring Virginia Bolten. The film focuses mainly on Bolten's life, anarchist feminism and the social conditions, which led to the publication of La Voz de la Mujer. It is titled No god, No master, no husband after one of the newspaper's mottos and Virginia Bolten is played by Julieta Díaz
. The film, which will be released on April 29, 2010, in Argentina, was directed by the Spanish
director Laura Mañá
.
Germans
The Germans are a Germanic ethnic group native to Central Europe. The English term Germans has referred to the German-speaking population of the Holy Roman Empire since the Late Middle Ages....
descent. A gifted orator, she originally lived in Argentina
Argentina
Argentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires...
, before she was deported to Uruguay
Uruguay
Uruguay ,officially the Oriental Republic of Uruguay,sometimes the Eastern Republic of Uruguay; ) is a country in the southeastern part of South America. It is home to some 3.5 million people, of whom 1.8 million live in the capital Montevideo and its metropolitan area...
in 1902.
Biography
Virgian Bolten, the daughter of a German emigrant, was born in 1870 in Argentina, either in San Luis or San Juan. She spent her childhood in San Juan, a province of ArgentinaSan Juan Province (Argentina)
San Juan is a province of Argentina, located in the western part of the country. Neighbouring provinces are, moving clockwise from the north, La Rioja, San Luis and Mendoza. It borders with Chile at the west....
. After reaching adulthood she worked as a shoemaker and a sugar factory worker. While working as a shoemaker she met Juan Marquez, an organiser of a shoe workers union, whom she later married. Instrumental in her introduction to anarchist circles was her acquaintance with Pietro Gori
Pietro Gori
Pietro Gori was an Italian lawyer, journalist, intellectual and anarchist poet. He is known for his political activities, and as author of some of the most famous anarchist songs of the late 19th century, including Addio a Lugano , Stornelli d'esilio , Ballata per Sante Caserio Pietro Gori (14...
. After a number of years of activity in the feminist, anarchist, and workers' movements, she was deported to Uruguay
Uruguay
Uruguay ,officially the Oriental Republic of Uruguay,sometimes the Eastern Republic of Uruguay; ) is a country in the southeastern part of South America. It is home to some 3.5 million people, of whom 1.8 million live in the capital Montevideo and its metropolitan area...
under the Residence Law in 1902.
Activism
In 1888 Bolten became one of the publishers of The Working Baker of Rosario , one of the first anarchist newspapers in Argentina. In 1889 she organized the seamstresses' demonstration and consequent strike in RosarioRosario
Rosario is the largest city in the province of Santa Fe, Argentina. It is located northwest of Buenos Aires, on the western shore of the Paraná River and has 1,159,004 residents as of the ....
, probably the first strike by female workers in Argentina.
In 1890 Virginia Bolten, Romulo Ovidi and Francisco Berri were the main organizers of the first May Day
May Day
May Day on May 1 is an ancient northern hemisphere spring festival and usually a public holiday; it is also a traditional spring holiday in many cultures....
demonstrations. The other editors of The Working Baker of Rosario had an equally important role in the organization of the demonstrations. On April 30, 1890 (the day before the demonstrations), she was detained and interrogated, by local police forces, for distributing leaflets outside the major factories of the area. During the May Day demonstrations she led a group of thousands of workers who were marching to Plaza Lopez, the main square of Montevideo
Montevideo
Montevideo is the largest city, the capital, and the chief port of Uruguay. The settlement was established in 1726 by Bruno Mauricio de Zabala, as a strategic move amidst a Spanish-Portuguese dispute over the platine region, and as a counter to the Portuguese colony at Colonia del Sacramento...
, the capital city of Uruguay. Throughout the march she carried the red flag
Red flag
In politics, a red flag is a symbol of Socialism, or Communism, or sometimes left-wing politics in general. It has been associated with left-wing politics since the French Revolution. Socialists adopted the symbol during the Revolutions of 1848 and it became a symbol of communism as a result of its...
, on which was written "First Of May - Universal Fraternity" .
La Voz de la Mujer
Bolten is probably responsible for the publication of a newspaper called La Voz de la Mujer (The Woman's Voice), which was published nine times in Rosario between 8 January 1896 and 1 January 1897, and was revived, briefly, in 1901. A similar paper with the same name was reportedly published later in MontevideoMontevideo
Montevideo is the largest city, the capital, and the chief port of Uruguay. The settlement was established in 1726 by Bruno Mauricio de Zabala, as a strategic move amidst a Spanish-Portuguese dispute over the platine region, and as a counter to the Portuguese colony at Colonia del Sacramento...
, which suggests that Bolten may also have founded and edited it after her deportation.
La Nueva Senda
In Uruguay, Bolten continued her activism, publishing a newspaper called La Nueva Senda (The New Path) from 1909 to 1910.Other publications
She published many articles in anarchist-communist journals and newspapers, the most notable of which were La Protesta and La Protesta Humana.Film
In 2007 the government of the San Luis ProvinceSan Luis Province
San Luis is a province of Argentina located near the geographical center of the country . Neighboring provinces are, from the north clockwise, La Rioja, Córdoba, La Pampa, Mendoza and San Juan.-History:...
in Argentina decided to fund a film honoring Virginia Bolten. The film focuses mainly on Bolten's life, anarchist feminism and the social conditions, which led to the publication of La Voz de la Mujer. It is titled No god, No master, no husband after one of the newspaper's mottos and Virginia Bolten is played by Julieta Díaz
Julieta Díaz
Julieta Díaz is an Argentine film, television, and theatre actress. She began her career at age 13.Díaz works in the cinema of Argentina.-Filmography:* Lobos marinos * Déjala correr...
. The film, which will be released on April 29, 2010, in Argentina, was directed by the Spanish
Spanish people
The Spanish are citizens of the Kingdom of Spain. Within Spain, there are also a number of vigorous nationalisms and regionalisms, reflecting the country's complex history....
director Laura Mañá
Laura Mañá
Laura Mañá is an actress, film director and screen writer.-As a director and screen writer:*Morir en San Hilario, 2005*Killing Words, 2003*Sexo por compasión, 2000*Paraules, 1997...
.