Casa Iberia

This lovely Spanish-Portuguese style house was not constructed by Rollins College; it was rather a private residence that was purchased by the College in 1944. Nevertheless, the College turned it into a magnificent work of art. The furniture was all authentic antique furniture from Spain and other Hispanic countries. For example, there was a cabinet that dates back to the 16^th century and a desk that was reputed to have been used by monks in Spain. On the inside one could also find a mural painted in oil by Joy Postle. One of the great features that remains today is the “Wall of the Americas,” which contains tiles representing each Hispanic country in the Western hemisphere.

Casa Iberia interior in 1945

Professor A.J. Hanna (’17 ’45H) was the driving force behind the purchase of the building. The Rollins Spanish program had been in existence since the Spanish-American War broke out in 1898. After the war, people became interested in the Spanish culture and many international students from Spanish regions came to Rollins, which sparked further interest in the language and cultures. However, before the building was purchased in 1944, French had been the main foreign language taught at Rollins. With the fall of France at the height of World War II, much interest shifted once again towards the Spanish language and it was then that the Spanish program started searching for an actual building which it could call its own. Much like the French House, which let the students feel immersed in an atmosphere that was very French, the Spanish department argued that it should have such an atmosphere provided for its students as well. In October of 1944, the College was able to purchase the house for $10,000 with numerous donations.

Casa Iberia in 1978

In the late 1970s, however, key members of the Rollins Hispanic Institute had passed away or retired. The administration declared that the building was to be integrated into the school as a welcome center for the College as well as the offices for Public Affairs and Community Relations. Over the years it was mostly forgotten until 2001, when the building was once again sought after as the home for Hispanic Studies. On March 21, 2002, it was rededicated as the Center for Hispanic and Inter-American Studies at Rollins.

Casa Iberia in 1995