Doctor Emilio Roig de Leuchsenring was an outstanding Cuban researcher. He gave a significant contribution to the development of research and the diffusion of the history of La Habana. 

Emilio Roig was born in La Habana on august 23, 1889. He studied at Belen school and got the Doctor of Law degree at the University of Havana. He did an exceptional work in the field of history research as well as on journalism.

He worked intensely in the preservation of the most authentic values of the spiritual and material heritage of our country and mainly of Havana. He contributed to make the anti imperialist feeling stronger. In 1916, he delivered a speech at the Cuban Society of International Law in view of the North American invasion to Santo Domingo.

Since 1935 he played an important role as the Historian of the City and was the founder of the Museum of the city of Havana. Some years after, precisely in 1940, he founded the Cuban Society of Historic and International Studies. Likewise he promoted the work done by other institutions such as The National Board of Archeology and Ethnology and the Commission for Historic Monuments.

Doctor Roig explained the importance of History and the joust and valuable popular traditions in several lectures gave, as well as in public communication and on the radio. He was also a defender of the best causes of men worldwide.

Emilio Roig was also in charge of organizing some national congresses on history and published several articles and edited some books.He died in Havana on august 8, 1964.
 

The City Historian’s Office

The Office was founded on June 11, 1938 as a public institution and autonomous municipal organization, with the purpose of fostering Havana’s culture and boost and help developing national and American culture, providing it with an eminently popular character and projection. It was initially in two ground floor rooms in the Municipal Palace.

Havana City Museum

It was founded as an initiative of Doctor Emilio Roig de Leuchsenringwho, upon opening as Chairman the session held by the Havana Commission of Monuments, Buildings and Artistic and Historical Places on December 17, 1940, achieved a decision from said Commission to ask the Municipal Mayor for the creation of the Museum. In its ordinary session held on August 13, 1942, Havana’s Town Council agreed to create the Museum. Its first room was located in the mezzanine floor of the Municipal Palace, former Palace of the Captain General.