Family History

Tia Angelita

Yesterday I went to talk with Tia Angelita, look at her photo albums and hear her recount how and when the Gisbert family came from Spain to Bolivia. I love stories of long voyages to unknown lands and of life at the turn of the century (turn of the 1900's, that is) ...if you're interested, too, here is the abridged version:

First we have the Carbonell family. Jose Carbonell--artist--had come to Bolivia around 1900. Susan has four of his paintings of turn-of-the-century La Paz in her hall. Here's one he painted in 1900 of Plaza de Estudiante, and beside it, the plaza today (the mountain Illimani would be behind the building with the "Toyo" billboard).

In 1901 Jose wrote this letter to his brother Andres asking him to join him in Bolivia. Back in Spain, times were turbulent. Apparently there was a lot of money in Bolivia and lots of work to be had, the result of damages Chile had to pay to Bolivia in restitution for the "War of the Pacific."

It is a very cool letter--includes drawings of hats he suggests Andres bring, and he illustrates how to pack much-missed Spanish chorizo (sausages) in a false-bottomed chest for the journey and to help them sneak past customs.

In 1902, Andres, his wife and two daughters made a 3-month journey from their home in Barcelona to Bolivia--with stops in Puerto Rico, Cuba, Panama (three weeks there to wait out a yellow fever outbreak), Ecuador and Chile.

A photo taken soon after their arrival in 1902: left to right, brother Jose, Maria, (unknown child), Rosa, Angela, and Andres Carbonell. Here Andres worked as a blacksmith and is responsible for lots of ornate ironwork on buildings that line El Prado. Angela and Andres later had a third daughter, Pepita--Javier's mother--born in La Paz.
The three Carbonell daughters, Maria, Pepita and Rosa

Meanwhile three Gisbert brothers, also from Spain (Valencia), made independent journeys to Bolivia (via Buenos Aires), all initially working in construction. Jose(Pepe), Javier’s dad, eventually left construction and started working at a bookstore, sweeping floors, delivering messages, gradually climbing up the business…until one day the owner went to Spain, leaving Pepe in charge. While the owner was away, the Spanish civil war broke out and the owners never came back: Pepe bought the bookstore and that was the beginnings of Libreria Gisbert. Javier worked in the bookstore his entire career, and it is still running today under the leadership of Javier's nephew Antonio.
The three Gisbert Brothers that came to La Paz

The Spanish immigrant community was relatively small and close-knit and it turned out that two Gisbert brothers (Rafael and Pepe) married two Carbonell sisters (Maria and Pepita). The families they raised all lived close to each other and their children grew up together, being “primos hermanos dobles" or double first cousins. It was in the early 1940s that the family moved to their present houses on Capitan Ravelo, which adjoin the house where we're staying now (this house was used as a rental property at that time). Javier and his sister Carmen grew up with his cousins (Teresa, Maruja, and Angelita) right next door.

Rafael and Maria's daughters: Marujin, Angelita and Teresa
Pepe and Pepita's children: Javier and his sister Carmen (left) and Luchita (who died at age 13. There was also another brother Jorge who died at age 13.)

Next up, I will give you some current family photos.