Ángela Ruiz Robles

Ángela Ruiz Robles (March 28, 1895 in Villamanín, León – October 27, 1975 in Ferrol, A Coruña) was a Spanish teacher, writer, pioneer and inventor of the mechanical precursor to the electronic book, invented 20 years prior to Michael Hart’s Project Gutenberg, commonly referred to as the true inventor of the e-book, and over half a century before present-day e-books. She received two patents related to her “Mechanical Encyclopedia” (Spanish: la Enciclopedia Mecánica). In 1949, Ruiz was awarded Spanish patent 190,698 for mechanisms with buttons that, when activated and pressed, displayed the learning materials. In her second patent, 276,364, awarded in 1962, she modified the design to remove buttons and instead include rotational reels that presented the subjects and learning materials. .

As someone deeply caring for her students and passionate about education, Ruiz Robles designed her mechanical encyclopedia to lighten the weight of the books carried by her students, make learning more attractive, and adapt learning materials to the needs of each student.

Biography Ángela Ruiz Robles, also known as "Doña Angelita", was born on March 28, 1895, in Villamanín, León.

In 1948 she started to work as a teacher at the Ibañez Martín School, became director in 1959 and stayed in the position until her retirement.

Ángela Ruiz Robles lived in a time during and after Spain’s Civil War. In early 20th century Spain, only 25% of the female population knew how to read and write, and the female illiteracy rate was 60% higher than in men. Women were primarily housewives, with most of them hardly having the most basic education. For that reason, Ruiz Robles’ work and accomplishments are that more significant and worthy of being highlighted.

Ángela Ruiz Robles was known for her work in education and for advocating changes to teaching methods used at the time. Her books, inventions, and career focused on improving educational accessibility and adapting instruction to students' needs. In her spare time, Doña Angelita taught free night lessons to people with limited financial resources. She was also known for visiting her students’ homes to help reinforce classroom material.

Ruiz Robles died in 1975 in Ferrol. Up until her death, Ruiz Robles paid all her patent fees for her mechanical book.

Works and legacy Between 1938 and 1946 Ruiz Robles published 16 books to help children study. In her patent, she stated the objectives of her invention were to lighten the weight of student's school bags, improve the learning process, and make learning more intuitive and enjoyable.

In 1962, Ángela Ruiz Robles applied for a second patent, 276,346, for her Mechanical Encyclopedia idea through a more simplified device. A prototype following this design was built in 1962. Her prototype was made of bronze, wood, and zinc. However, the invention never reached the public since it was not possible for her to find the appropriate funding.

Awards and honours

Throughout her life, Ángela Ruiz Robles received a number of awards and recognitions both nationally and internationally for her inventions, despite them never going into production. The Civil Order of Alfonso X the Wise to recognize her social work and innovation in training along professional career (1947). The Gold Medal at an Exhibition for Spanish inventors (1952). The Oscar for invention at the Official and National Fair of Zaragoza (1957). The Bronze Medal at the International Exhibition in Brussels (1957). The Bronze Medal for educational innovation in Brussels (1958). The Silver Medal at the International Exhibition of Inventions in Brussels (1963). Medal at the Seville Exhibition (1964). Geneva Medal for Spanish inventors (1968).

She appears in the 2011 Spanish publication 200 Years of Patents in the "Women" section, published by the Spanish Ministry of Industry.

Ruiz Robles’s 121st birthday was the subject of a Google Doodle on March 28, 2016.

In 2018, a street was named after her in the Spanish capital to recognize and celebrate her contributions.

In November 2023, her obituary was published as part of the New York Times' Overlooked No More series.