Bridget María Chesterton - The Grandchildren of Solano López: Frontier and Nation in Paraguay, 1904–1936

THE GRANDCHILDREN OF SOLANO LPEZ

Map of Paraguay. Design by Paula Montenegro.

2013 by the University of New Mexico Press
All rights reserved. Published 2013
Printed in the United States of America
18 17 16 15 14 13 1 2 3 4 5 6

The Library of Congress has cataloged the printed edition as follows:
Chesterton, Bridget Mara, 1973
The grandchildren of Solano Lpez : frontier and nation in Paraguay,
19041936 / Bridget Mara Chesterton.
pages cm
Includes bibliographical references and index.
ISBN 978-0-8263-5348-1 (cloth : alk. paper)
ISBN 978-0-8263-5349-8 (electronic)
1. ParaguayHistory18701938. 2. Chaco War, 19321935.
3. Chaco Boreal (Paraguay and Bolivia)History20th century.
4. NationalismParaguayHistory20th century.
5. BoundariesParaguayHistory20th century.
I. Title.
F2688.C44 2013
989.206dc23
2013012723

Cover art postcard: Top: Those who you see here will echo in the great plains of the Chaco the legacy of our grand epic. Bottom: Taking their memorable charge and their invincible bravery they defeated the No. 41 Bolivian RegimentFebruary 7, 1933. Image used with permission of the Alfredo M. Seiferheld collection at the Museo Andrs Barbero, Asuncin.

Map 1: Map of Paraguay

AS I TELL MY STUDENTS every semester, the writing of history does not happen without a community who supports, encourages, teaches, inspires, and evaluates. This book is no exception. An international array of family, colleagues, and friends contributed their expertise and assistance to this project. The network of contributors spans the globe: from Asuncin, Paraguay, to Long Island, New York; from Athens, Georgia, to Cologne, Germany; and from Toronto, Canada, to Crdoba, Argentina.

Most acknowledgements begin with professional recognitions. Mine, however, must start with my parents, Mara Chesterton and Alan Chesterton. This project started when they sent me on a vacation with my grandparents, Carlos and Mara Gaido, from Crdoba, Argentina, to Asuncin, Paraguay, in 1989, just weeks after the fall of Alfredo Stroessner. Little could they have imagined that that sojourn would so profoundly shape my professional and academic life. During my two-day stay in Paraguay, I learned about that nations disastrous defeat in the War of the Triple Alliance and its successes in the Chaco. I was mesmerized. For the first time in my life, I felt history come alive everywhere I turned. I also made a personal connection with Aldo Albertini, a close friend of my uncle and aunt, Hugo Gaido and Matilde (Coca) Gamond de Gaido, and Aldos then very young familymy first connection in Asuncin. For that bus ticket, support (emotional and financial), encouragement, and love I am profoundly grateful. I also need to thank my sister, Rita Chesterton, for her love, support, and endless patience as she listened to all my ideas about the Chaco as I thought aloud. Thanks Mom, Dad, and Rita.

My years at Stony Brook University left me indebted to many, including first and foremost Paul Gootenberg, Brooke Larson, and Thomas Klubock. Their careful readings, assessments, and insights are immensely appreciated. Special thanks to Thomas Whigham at the University of Georgia for supporting this budding Paraguayanist. His knowledge of Paraguayan history is without comparison and his ideas have profoundly influenced my work. Thanks to Jerry Cooney for his insightful and significant contributions to this project. In Paraguay, I am grateful to Adelina Pusineri, Raquel Zalazar, and the entire staff at the Museo Andrs Barbero. Their generosity, friendship, and support are unmatched. Others who contributed in various ways to this project in Paraguay include Roberto Cespedes, Guido Rodrguez Alcal, Martn Romano Garcia, Mario Rubn lvarez, Diego Abente, Margarita Prieto Yergos, Margarita Duran, Ricardo Scavone Yegros, Osvaldo Masi, Father Carlos Heyn, Miguel Fritz, Gundolf Niebuhr, Ramn Sosa, Heinrich Ratzlaff, Mara Elena Gonzlez Aguilar, Ana Barreto Valinotti, Ana Silke Vera de Schmidt, and Bishop Lucio Alfert. I also warmly thank those who opened their family archives to me, including the late Alicia Medin de Trujillo, her son, Flix Trujillo, and her grandson, Manuel Trujillo. Ramon Sosa Azuaga also shared some family correspondence with me and I am profoundly grateful for the generosity.

I give special thanks to Aldo, Doris, Bettina, Franco, and Fabbrizio Albertini. The latter three were just children when I met them in 1989; what fun has it been to watch them grow and flourish! Without the assistance of the entire Albertini family I do not know how I would have found my way around Asuncin or navigated the challenges of that city. I do know, however, that my weekends would have been lonely without them. Gracias. To y Ta, gracias por la conexcin; it continues to be invaluable. My stays in Asuncin were also made comfortable and easy because of Ivn Vera Jochems priceless friendship, superior intellect, and selfless generosity. Danka schn, Ivn.

Since my arrival in Buffalo in 2007, I have been surrounded by a community of academics extending from Binghamton to Toronto. Thanks to the numerous members of the New York State Latin American Workshop, especially Anne Macpherson and Nancy Appelbaum, who have made me feel welcome in the far reaches of New York State. In Toronto, I wish to thank the Latin American Research Group who thoughtfully gave insight into what became McGillivray, Anne Rubenstein, Alan Durston, and the other Paraguayanist in the group, Dot Tuer. Toronto is lucky to have such accomplished scholars and cooks! Buffalo State College has welcomed me with open arms. They took a big chance in hiring a Paraguayanist! Special thanks go to Andrew Nicholls, David Carson, and Gary Marotta for their advice, direction, and warmth as I settled into my new wintry home.

Others have contributed to this project in informal but still significant ways, such as with conversations about Paraguayan history over coffee in Asuncin or at the biennial Paraguayan History Conference in Montevideo, Uruguay, or other Paraguayan-themed events. Included in this group are Carlos Gmez Florentn, Michael Huner, Ren Harder Horst, Juan Manuel Casal, Ignacio Telesca, Jennifer French, Luc Capdevila, and Liliana Brezzo. Their dedication to the study of Paraguay has encouraged and inspired me. Furthermore, there are those who contributed in less academic ways but are nonetheless contributors, including Steve Patnode, Melixa Abad-Izquierdo, Andrea DiBenardo, Diane Creagh (one fantastic note taker!), Sarah Marchesano, Misty Rodeheaver, and Deirdra Bishop.