Ana Vergara Sierra, assistant professor of Latin American history at Susquehanna University, was awarded the prestigious Antoine S. Tibesar Prize from the Conference on Latin American History for her research into 19th century Venezuelan royal notary Rafael Almarza.
At the center Sierra’s award-winning article is Almarza’s role in undermining monarchical authority among displaced enslaved communities in the central and southwestern plains region during Venezuela’s War of Independence. The last royal escribano, or notary, of Mérida in the Captaincy of Venezuela, Almarza serves as a window into how political authority shifted during the tumultuous years of 1814 to 1818.
Tracing Almarza’s fascinating life trajectory, Sierra revealed a striking transformation: from a loyal servant of the Spanish Crown to the secretary of an itinerant Republican government. Sierra’s research illuminated the surprisingly powerful role that escribanos played in the Spanish imperial system.
Research keeps curiosity alive, and that same energy inevitably flows into the classroom.
Ana Vergara Sierra, assistant professor of Latin American history, Susquehanna University
“They were often regarded as minor officials, but in practice, notaries had significant influence because the records they produced established the legally binding truths of everyday life,” Sierra said. “Their work made them essential agents of colonial rule, especially for enslaved people seeking notarial documents to claim freedom, known as manumission.”
By examining manumission records preserved in Almarza’s notarial book, Sierra uncovered how enslaved individuals actively participated in legitimizing the leadership of José Antonio Páez and the emerging Republican project. At the same time, Almarza — drawing on his longstanding authority within these communities — helped broker a fragile pact between enslaved people and a revolutionary leader still consolidating his power.
For Sierra, this ground-level approach to history is intentional. Rather than focusing on well-known figures, her work highlights the agency of ordinary people and the institutional structures that shaped their lives.
“I have always been interested in studying independence and political transformations from the ground up,” Sierra said, “beyond the actions of leaders who have dominated most of the historical literature.”
Being an active scholar, Sierra said, makes her a better professor.
“Being active researchers prevents us from becoming sclerotic as professionals. Research keeps our curiosity alive, and that same energy inevitably flows into the classroom. It makes our teaching more open to change and helps us show students new ways of observing the world from different perspectives,” she added.
Established in 1990 to honor outstanding scholarship in Latin American history published in the peer-reviewed academic journal The Americas, the Tibesar Prize recognizes work that pushes the field in new and compelling directions.
