Publication of the first study on Pau Casals’ humanitarian work within the SRA

When the Spanish Civil War came to an end, hundreds of thousands of people were forced into exile. Among them was Pau Casals, who settled in Prades (France) and channelled his commitment to peace, democracy, and the defence of human rights into intensive efforts to support refugees.

One of the most significant initiatives stemming from this commitment involved Spanish Refugee Aid (SRA), a US-based humanitarian organization founded in 1953 by activist Nancy Macdonald to support Spanish refugees who, following the Civil War, were forced to live—primarily in France—under extremely harsh conditions.

This relatively little-known chapter of Pau Casals’s life forms the core of the book “Pau Casals and Spanish Refugee Aid: The Maestro’s Humanitarian Commitment”, written by Gemma Caballer Albareda, who holds a PhD in History from the University of Barcelona (UB). Based on research involving documents consulted in both Catalonia and New York, the work offers a fresh perspective on the relationship between Pau Casals and the SRA. Beyond merely holding the honorary title of the organization’s president, the research demonstrates that the maestro was actively and consistently involved in its initiatives, establishing himself as a key figure in supporting Republican refugees during their exile.

The book also recounts the history of Spanish Refugee Aid and its founder, Nancy Macdonald, as well as the work the organization carried out to provide financial aid, medical assistance, and material support to thousands of exiles who had to rebuild their lives far from their home country.

This publication is the result of the first research project by the Pau Casals UNESCO Chair, an initiative driven by the Pau Casals Foundation and the Universitat Oberta de Catalunya (UOC) with the aim of fostering research into and the dissemination of Pau Casals’ legacy.

The book presentation will take place on Friday, October 9, 2026, at 6:00 p.m. at the Biblioteca de Catalunya. The event will feature a conversation between the author, Gemma Caballer, and Miquel Berga, a professor of English literature at Pompeu Fabra University, and will conclude with a performance of short musical pieces by cellist Mariona Camats.

Supported by the Memorial Democràtic.

You can view the book’s abstract here.

Reserve your ticket here.