Maria Verger i Ventayol (Alcúdia, 1892 - Madrid, 1983) was a curator, librarian, and archivist. 

In 1923 she began to work as a curator, librarian, and archivist at the Terrassa City Council, thus becoming the first woman in Spain to head a municipal library. She participated in literary activities and was connected with the cultural milieu of the time.

In the 1920s and 1930s, she was winner of, or obtained Special Mentions in the Jocs Florals Literary Competitions in several cities and, during this period, she published three collections of poems in Catalan, Clarors matinals (1924), Tendal d’estrelles (1930), and L'estela d’or... (1934).

She also published the sentimental novel L’esflorament d’una il·lusió between 26 July and 11 October 1930, in the weekly Sóller, as well as the articles, prose pieces, and poems she wrote for a range of periodical publications.

After the Civil War, and now with health problems, she retired in 1943 and stopped publishing poetry for some decades. When her work started appearing again, she became known for works in Spanish, fruit of visits to Latin America and her move to Madrid. These works include Rutas maravillosas. Poemas de mi viaje a América del Sur (1966) and Por la senda de las rosas. Poema en XXVII cantos (1970).

Web page: Irene Zurrón Servera for AELC.
Cover photograph: Portrait of Maria Verger included in the collection of poems L’estela d’or... (1934).
Biography photograph: Biblioteca de la Universitat de Barcelona.
Translation by Julie Wark.