Delma S. Arrigoitia (born February 10, 1945) is a historian, author, educator and lawyer whose written works cover the life and works of some of Puerto Rico's most prominent politicians of the early 20th century. After earning her doctorate in history at Fordham University in New York, she helped develop the graduate school for history at the University of Puerto Rico and taught there for years. Early years Arrigoitia (birth name: Delma S. Arrigoitia Peraza ) was born in the City of Arecibo to Enrique and Consuelo Arrigoitia. Her father had two sons from his first marriage, but Delma grew up mostly as an only child. She was always intrigued by reading books. One of her brothers became a medical doctor, and the other has a doctorate in literature. She comes from a distinguished family whose love for education and culture served as her inspiration. She received her primary education at the Colegio San Felipe de Arecibo and her secondary education at the University High School of the University of Puerto Rico (also known as the UPR) in Rio Piedras. Arrigoitia earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in history from the University of Puerto Rico, where she was also a magna cum laude student, with the highest GPA in her academic concentration. Arrigoitia continued her studies to earn a master's degree in history. Her thesis was La Diputacion Provincial de Puerto Rico, 1820–23. For a short period of time, Arrigoitia taught humanities in the University of Puerto Rico before she proceeded to study law, earning her Juris Doctor degree. She practiced with the law firm of Hartzell, Ydrach, Mellado, Santiago before deciding to attend Fordham University in New York City to pursue a doctorate degree in history. There she earned her degree with a thesis on José de Diego. It was later published by the Institute of Puerto Rican Culture, titled as José de Diego, el Legislador. In this book, and in her later biographies, Arrigoitia drew on her legal experience to analyze and understand the laws created by the subjects of her political biographies, and their influence on the economic and political status of Puerto Rico in relation to the United States. Academic career Arrigoitia returned to the UPR and helped establish, as coordinator, the institution's first graduate school of history, which offered a doctorate degree in history. She wrote the biography of Eduardo Giorgetti, a Puerto Rican millionaire