Father Rubén Vargas Ugarte, S.J.
Father Vargas, the third rector of the Pontifical Catholic University of Peru, was born in Lima on October 22, 1886, and was ordained a priest of the Society of Jesus in 1921.
He joined the university as a professor in 1931, after a period of teaching at the secondary level in Spain, Bolivia, and Peru. A historian, he became dean of the School of Liberal Arts in 1935 and was elected president following the death of Father Dintilhac in 1947. He remained in this position until 1953.
As a historian, his works include the monumental *General History of Peru*, which he authored up to Volume X, as well as several works on the history of religion in Peru and on the colonial period. He was unquestionably one of Peru’s leading historians. He also served as director of the National Library of Peru during Manuel Prado’s second term in office. In 1955, the University of San Marcos published a thirty-page booklet devoted solely to listing his publications. His output continued to grow until his death in 1975.
A priest, professor, and rector of the Pontifical Catholic University of Peru, the memory of Father Rubén Vargas Ugarte, S.J., lives on in what was once one of his homes.
