Founded in 1929 in Havana, its first president was the journalist, suffragist and feminist, Berta Arocena de Martínez Márquez.
Modeled after similar Spanish women's social organizations,[1] the Lyceum was founded in Havana by Berta Arocena, Carmen Castellanos, Dulce María Castellanos, Carmelina Guanche, Rebeca Gutiérrez, Matilde Martínez Márquez, Lillian Mederos, Reneé Méndez Capote, Sarah Méndez Capote, María Teresa Moré, Alicia Santamaría, Ofelia Tomé, and María Josefa Vidaurreta in 1929.
[5] It published a monthly magazine, Revista Lyceum, of which Mirta Aguirre served as assistant editor-in-chief.
[6] University of Havana professor Piedad Maza served as the magazine's editor-in-chief from 1949 until its final issue in 1955.
[7] The Lyceum also hosted notable art events in its exhibition hall, such as those of Pablo Picasso (in 1942)[8] and Lourdes Gomez Franca (1957, 1960).