Melvin Hoyos Galarza (Guayaquil, January 9, 1956) is an Ecuadorian historian, architect, and cultural administrator known for his extensive contributions to preserving and promoting Guayaquil’s heritage. Since 1992, he has directed the Municipal Library of Guayaquil, where he oversaw the restoration of historic collections and revived the Boletín de la Biblioteca Municipal, a publication dormant for 80 years. In 2000, he was appointed Director of Guayaquil’s Department of Library, Museum, and Arts, where he transformed the city’s cultural institutions, notably founding the City’s Historical Museum. A distinguished member of the National Academy of History, Hoyos has authored significant works on Ecuadorian history, numismatics, and architecture, including La Moneda Ecuatoriana a Través de los Tiempos (The Ecuadorian Currency Through the Ages, 1998) and Guayaquil: Memorias Urbanas (Guayaquil: Urban Memories, 2007).
Early Life and Education
Melvin Hoyos Galarza was born on January 9, 1956, in Guayaquil, Ecuador. He is the son of Colombian Captain Fabio Hoyos Mejía and Ecuadorian Fanny Galarza Muñoz. Hoyos completed his early education at Instituto Particular Abdón Calderón, followed by secondary studies at Colegio San José. He later transferred to Urdesa School to study alongside his sister. His education continued with studies in architecture at Universidad Católica in Ecuador, where he developed an early passion for both art and history. This interest deepened with studies in art history at La Sorbonne in Paris.
Personal Life
Hoyos resides in Durán, Ecuador, with his wife Gisella Franco Valdivieso, with whom he shares three children. The couple’s home, designed by Hoyos himself, is a hub for his extensive collections and personal library, which supports his historical research and reflects his lifelong dedication to studying Ecuadorian and world history.
Literary and Cultural Career
Hoyos began his career as an investigator and archivist, working closely with notable Ecuadorian historians Julio Estrada Ycaza and Olaf Holm. His professional journey in cultural administration took root in 1992 when León Febres Cordero, then mayor of Guayaquil, appointed Hoyos as the Director of the Municipal Library of Guayaquil. In this role, Hoyos led significant restoration and modernization efforts, reviving the library’s Boletín de la Biblioteca Municipal after an 80-year hiatus and undertaking the preservation of historical Ecuadorian texts.
Hoyos’ roles expanded as he was appointed Director of the Dirección de Biblioteca, Museo y Artes in 2000. Among his notable projects was the revitalization of the Museo Municipal de Guayaquil and the inauguration of the Museo Histórico de la Ciudad. Hoyos has emphasized a focus on civic education, launching programs such as the Festival de Artes al Aire Libre (FAAL), the Salón de Julio art exhibit, and various community engagement activities, aiming to preserve Guayaquil’s cultural heritage.
Research, Collections, and Expertise
An avid collector from a young age, Hoyos amassed diverse collections of Ecuadorian stamps, fossils, coins, and comics, driven by a fascination with historical artifacts. He has been recognized as an expert in philately, achieving international awards and recognition by age 13. Additionally, he holds Ecuador’s third-largest collection of comics and has collected rare historical books, with his personal library comprising over 28,000 volumes.
Hoyos is also an accomplished numismatist. He authored “La Moneda Ecuatoriana a Través de los Tiempos,” a comprehensive exploration of Ecuador’s coin history. This publication and other works established his reputation in numismatics, documenting the evolution of Ecuadorian currency from colonial gold and silver to contemporary metal alloys.
Major Works
Melvin Hoyos has published extensively, with works including:
- Historia de la Medalla Ecuatoriana (1985)
- El Libro de Guayaquil (2006)
- Guayaquil: Memorias Urbanas (2007)
- Guayaquil 1880–1920 (2011), a study on Guayaquil’s social and cultural evolution
- Humboldt en Guayaquil (2019), focused on the famous naturalist’s influence on Ecuadorian historical perspectives
His publications, notable for their rigorous research and accessible style, are foundational texts in Ecuadorian historical studies and have contributed significantly to understanding Guayaquil’s cultural and architectural legacy.
Legacy and Recognition
Hoyos has received numerous accolades, including membership in the Academia Nacional de Historia del Ecuador and honors such as the National Order of Merit. His work has been essential in consolidating Guayaquil’s historical identity, fostering a sense of pride in the city’s heritage, and creating educational resources for future generations.
Conclusion
Melvin Hoyos Galarza’s career as a historian, archivist, and cultural leader has left an indelible mark on Guayaquil and Ecuador. His commitment to preserving and celebrating Ecuadorian heritage, alongside his extensive body of scholarly work, establishes him as a pivotal figure in the country’s cultural history.
Melvin Hoyos speaks about the myths behind the image of Simón Bolívar
Melvin Hoyos showing his collections
RÍO ARRIBA RÍO ABAJO (Up River, Down River) – An Interview with MELVIN HOYOS
Works
- Historia de la Medalla Ecuatoriana (1985).
- Historia de la Artesanía Arquitectónica Guayaquileña (1985).
- Historia del Papel Moneda en el Ecuador.
- El Palacio Municipal (2005).
- El Libro de Guayaquil (4 tomos, en el 2006).
- Guayaquil: Memorias Urbanas (2007).
- Las Peñas: la Historia (2007).
- Historia de Guayaquil, que es parte del programa Más Libros implementado por el Municipio de Guayaquil (2008).
- Recuerdos de la Iguana Historias del Guayaquil que se fue (2008).
- Monumentos Plazas y Parques de Guayaquil(2009).
- Los planos de Guayaquil (2010).
- Guayaquil 1880 – 1920 (2011).
- Guayaquil Ibérico (2015).
- Historia del Museo Municipal (2 tomos, 2015).
- Humboldt en Guayaquil (2019).
References
- Wikipedia. Melvin Hoyos Galarza. Retrieved on November 11, 2024. Click to view.
- Enciclopedia del Ecuador. Arq. Melvin Hoyos Galarza. Retrieved on November 11, 2024. Click to view.
- Mundo Diners. Las obsesivas pasiones de Melvin Hoyos. Retrieved on November 11, 2024. Click to view.
- El Comercio. Melvin Hoyos presenta Guayaquil, 1880-1920. Retrieved on November 11, 2024. Click to view.
- La Nación. Melvin Hoyos y la identidad de Guayaquil. Retrieved on November 11, 2024. Click to view.
- Editorial El Conejo. La moneda ecuatoriana a través de los tiempos. Retrieved on November 11, 2024. Click to view.
- La Línea de Fuego. Grupo de historiadores solicita la renuncia del director de Cultura de Guayaquil. Retrieved on November 11, 2024. Click to view.
- El Telégrafo. Melvin Hoyos al Premio Espejo. Retrieved on November 11, 2024. Click to view.
- El Telégrafo. No podemos dejar a Guayaquil a la deriva por un ‘refrescar’ generacional. Retrieved on November 11, 2024. Click to view.
This article was updated on November 11, 2024.