ARCINIEGAS, GERMN

born Dec. 6, 1900, Bogot, Colom. died Nov. 29, 1999, Bogot Colombian historian, essayist, diplomat, and statesman whose long career in journalism and public service strongly influenced the cultural development of his country in the 20th century. His contributions abroad as an educator and diplomat played an important role in introducing North Americans and Europeans to Spanish American history and contemporary culture. Arciniegas became a prominent figure in public life soon after his graduation from the law school of the National University of Colombia in Bogot in 1924. He contributed essays to several newspapers and magazines, founding the review Universidad (University) in Bogot in 1928 and becoming director of the newspaper El tiempo (The Times) there in 1939; he contributed to the latter until his death. Also active in education, Arciniegas served as Colombian minister of education (194142 and 194546) and taught at several universities in the United States, including Columbia (194757). Arciniegas published numerous volumes on diverse aspects of Latin American culture and history that reveal his original perceptions as well as his encyclopaedic knowledge. Such works as Biografa del Caribe (1945; Caribbean, Sea of the New World) and El continente de siete colores (1965; Latin America: A Cultural History) introduced an international audience to Arciniegas's panoramic view of his continent. In his 50s Arciniegas turned to a diplomatic career. In 1959 he was appointed Colombian ambassador to Italy; later he also served in Israel, Venezuela, and Vatican City. He became dean of the faculty of philosophy and letters at the University of the Andes, Bogot, in 1979, a position he held until 1981.