The Instituto Universitario de Investigación en Estudios Norteamerianos Benjamin Franklin of the Universidad de Alcalá (Instituto Franklin - UAH) was formed in 1987 when the University established a center for the study and research of North America. The city of Alcalá de Henares, where it is located, is a World Heritage site and the birthplace of Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra, who is best known for writing El ingenioso hidalgo Don Quijote de la Mancha and was also ordained as a secular Franciscan. Since its inception, the Instituto Franklin has focused on developing new ways of institutional collaboration between Spain and North America through specific initiatives based mainly on sponsoring different research projects, organizing international meetings and conferences, and developing academic programs for American students.
St. Francis & the Americas