Mexico City, April 15, 2024.— The Universidad Panamericana celebrated the reprinting of the book The Mixcoac Sawmill in the 18th Century, written by Dr. Salvador Cárdenas Gutiérrez, which explores the history and operations of a timber mill in the town of Mixcoac during that century, located precisely where our university’s campus stands today.
In addition to the author, the event was attended by Dr. Fernanda Llergo Bay, President of Panamericana and IPADE; Dr. José Antonio Lozano Díez, Chair of the UP-IPADE Governing Board; Dr. Santiago García Álvarez, Dean of the Mexico City Campus; and Maite Lot Goicuría, a research professor at Panamericana, who was in charge of coordinating the reprint.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J5HYOKDUuw0&t=81s
Historical Heritage
When she took the floor, Maite Lot spoke of the deep connection she has felt to the subject of the book being presented and the interest that the history of our campus has sparked in her ever since she was a student at the Panamericana.
He emphasized the importance of reprinting the book The Mixcoac Sawmill in the 18th Century, noting that every time he spoke with Dr. Lozano, the idea of reissuing the work came up. He thus highlighted Dr. Cárdenas’s 15 years of arduous research, the five-year effort to bring this reprint to fruition, and the importance of continuing to explore the history of the place in the 19th and early 20th centuries.
He also took the opportunity to highlight the pride felt by the Panamericana University community in having this building, which is a historic landmark, and the importance of continuing to create new stories within that university setting.
“I believe that (Panamericana) is a unique university, at least in our country, since it can boast of having a fully preserved architectural complex dating back to the 18th century, ”he said
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y1jfKFwvyOU&t=8s
The Transformative Role of the Pan-American Highway
Dr. Salvador Cárdenas then recounted his experience discovering the Panamericana building, where he studied law in 1981, and his subsequent connection to it. He also mentioned the then-vice-rector, Dr. Salvador Mier y Terán, who encouraged him and opened the door to research work; and his mentor, Guillermo Porras Muñoz, who introduced him to paleography and took him to the General Archive of the Nation.
He also discussed the complexity of writing the history of the logging camp in the 18th century, highlighting legal, economic, and social aspects. He emphasized the importance of understanding Mexico’s historical reality, including labor exploitation and the lack of legal protection for certain social groups.
He also highlighted the transformative role of the Universidad Panamericana educating students committed to scientific rigor and ethics, in stark contrast to the injustices of the past. “The building is fully justified, because after having been a place of exploitation, it has for many years now served as a center where students are educated in fields of knowledge committed to scientific rigor and technology, ” he said.
He also noted: “The UP has more than made up for it through its many achievements, its numerous classes, the personal dedication of its members, the many business leaders it has trained, and so on; it has improved and made amends for what happened in this building.”
Finally, he expressed his delight at the opportunity to share his perspective on the importance of a university education at a historically significant institution such as the Universidad Panamericana.
The Importance of Putting Down Roots
Dr. Lozano then recalled the relocation of the Universidad Panamericana Mixcoac mill in 1975, highlighting the coincidences and circumstances that led to this location.
He explained the historical and architectural context of the site, as well as the identity it has acquired thanks to the presence of the university and its prominent figures, such as Dr. Carlos Llano, the first president of the Panamericana, and Dr. Alberto Pacheco, a key figure in the School of Law, who oversaw the acquisition of what is now our campus.
“In this building, we feel completely at home. ( …) If there’s one thing this building has given all of us who have been here, it’s friendship, ” he said.
He also reflected on the crisis of identity and loneliness facing today’s society, emphasizing the importance of human relationships and the need to find a sense of belonging and companionship in a world marked by digitalization and artificiality. “This university allows us who have been here to build friendships.”
Finally, he concluded by reflecting, “If this Universidad Panamericana has taught us anything Universidad Panamericana that physical spaces—such as this campus and this Obraje building—help us put down roots.” He then quoted Octavio Paz: “Freedom does not need to take up arms; what it needs is to put down roots.”
Pan-American Identity
Dr. García Álvarez expressed his gratitude for the preservation of the university’s history and emphasized the importance of traditions and institutional identity. “If we can speak of a distinct character of the Universidad Panamericana, it is undoubtedly closely linked to this site and to this history (as recounted in the book).”
He also acknowledged the work of Dr. Salvador Cárdenas and Maite Lot in preserving the culture and history of the Pan-American Highway. “All of us Pan-Americans identify deeply with the Mixcoac lumber mill, and we also identify with this magnificent work by Dr. Cárdenas, ” he said of the latter’s research and work.
Meanwhile, Ms. Lot remarked: “We can describe Maite as a distinguished professor and an outstanding university administrator, but then another way to describe her came to mind: she is a tireless fighter, ” referring to her persistence in launching the reprint and in preserving culture and traditions.
He also mentioned upcoming projects to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the Universidad Panamericana, including a collection of books on the history of the Panamericana.
Nurturing our students' souls
To conclude the event, Dr. Llergo highlighted the importance of Dr. Cárdenas’s work by revealing a little-known chapter in the history of the Pan-American Highway.
Similarly, he highlighted the similarity between the university and the weaving mill in their ability to influence society and educate people: “To draw an analogy, the weaving mill was a place where fine fabrics were woven (although Salvador already told us that they also made coarse cloth). Today, we weave the souls of our students.”
He also compared teaching at the Panamericana to the embroidery done in the workshop: “We want to nurture our students’ souls so that they may become increasingly free individuals, more and more devoted to the pursuit of truth.”
Finally, the President expressed her gratitude for the opportunity to gain a new perspective on the university and its history. She thanked everyone involved in the writing and reprinting of El obraje de Mixcoac en el siglo XVIII and emphasized the importance of preserving and caring for the university campus as a legacy for future generations.
Learn more about the Mixcoac campus at: https://www.up.edu.mx/campus-cdmx/
