He became Director the National Library of Peru for many years, and took the task of rebuilding it after its destruction by the occupation forces of the Chilean army after the battle of Lima during the War of the Pacific.
He became Director the National Library of Peru for many years until his death in 1919. Palma took on the task of rebuilding the National Library after its ransack and destruction by the occupation forces of the Chilean army after the battle of Lima during the War of the Pacific.