Letter of Isabel Oyarzábal Smith as Minister of Spain, declaring her accession to the Republic and requesting her reinstatement as soon as circumstances permit, Stockholm, December 2, 1938 (Central Archive 199381)”
International Women’s Day 2020-2021
Isabel Oyarzábal Smith (1878-1974), labour inspector: a tribute on International Women's Day (8/03/2020 and 8/03/2021)
On the occasion of International Women’s Day, the Ministry of Labour and Social Economy wants to pay tribute to working women through the figure of Isabel Oyarzábal Smith, the first woman labour inspector in Spain, exhibiting some selected documents from her personal file, kept in the Central Archive of the department and a compilation of the main biographical, bibliographic and documentary resources about her figure.
Document 1 - carpetilla
Personal file of Isabel Oyarzábal: Extract, 1933-1935 (Central Archive 199381)
Document 2: Personal file
Extract (1st page)
Personal file of Isabel Oyarzábal: Extract, 1933-1935 (Central Archive 199381)
Document 3: Appointment signed by Fco. Largo Caballero
Appointment of Isabel Oyarzábal Smith as Provincial Labour Inspector (sic), April 1, 1933 (Personal File of Isabel Oyarzábal, Central Archive 199381)
Document 4:
Isabel Oyarzábal Smith with the rest of the Spanish delegation to the International Labour Organization (Geneva, 1932) © ILO / ILO
Document 5:
Biographical, bibliographic and documentary resources (compilation by the Central Archive of the Ministry of Labour and Social Economy)
Oyarzábal Smith, Isabel (Málaga, 12/06/1878-Mexico City, 28/05/1974)
- Pseudonyms
- Palencia, Isabel, de; Palencia, Isabel O. de; Oyarzábal Smith de Palencia, Isabel Beatriz de Galindo.
- Professional career
- Labour Inspector; Journalist; Writer; Diplomat; Actress; Suffragette; Translator.
- Gazette: Historical Collection
Orders confirming the gentlemen mentioned in the positions of Provincial Delegates, Provincial Inspectors, Auxiliary Delegations, Auxiliary Labour Inspectors and Auxiliary Labour Inspectors in the mines. Gaceta de Madrid: no. 138, of 18/05/1934, pages 1.135. Department: Ministry of Labour, Health and Welfare.
Decree appointing Minister plenipotentiary of second class and assigning to the Legation of Spain in Stockholm Mrs. Isabel Oyarzábal de Palencia. Gaceta de Madrid: no. 298, of 24/10/1936, page 447. Department: Ministry of State. [It was then extended to Finland, Norway and Denmark]
- Primary Sources of Archive
Central Archive of the Ministry of Labour and Social Economy
Personal file of Isabel Oyarzábal. 199381
General Administration Archive (AGA)
General Administration Archive [AGA]. Fund Renewed Archive of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, box 12/03426, exp. 22675, “Isabel Oyarzábal de Palencia”
Pablo Iglesias Foundation Archive (AFPI)
Background: Archive of the Executive Commission of the Spanish Socialist Workers Party (1931-1940)
Archive of the Executive Commission of the General Union of Workers (1936-1939). Julio Álvarez del Vayo Archive
File Evaristo Jorge Moreno
Francisco Largo Caballero Archive
- Biographies. External references
- Bibliography
Collective Catalogue of the State Archives Library Network. CCBAE
Miguel de Cervantes Virtual Library
Isabel Oyarzábal Smith - bibliography compiled by Amparo Quiles Faz
- Specialized bibliography