Sociedad Española de Socorros Mutuos – Spanish Benevolent Society, “La Nacional”

Founded in 1868 in New York.

Society founded in 1868 with a building in 239 W 14th St, 14th Street (neighborhood known as “Little Spain”). It is the oldest Spanish society in New York and still operational. It was created to offer support to migrants from Spain, such as accommodation and funeral services. Over time it integrated other Spanish and regional societies. It had an important Galician representation among his members, such as Xosé Castro who was in the executive team. In the 60’s and 70’s it also hosted the Bergondo group which, led by Benito Santos Aguiar, fought for the recovery of the building known as “A Senra” (Sources: Society’s website; Arquivo Municipal de Bergondo; Emilio González López, Castelao, propagandista da República en Norteamérica (2000); “Los españoles de los Estados Unidos y la guerra civil (1936-1939)” (1994) by Marta Rey García).