 With the start of the Spanish Civil War on 17 July 1936, activities the "Lyceum Club" and the Residencia de Señoritas came to an end.In September María resigned as director of the Residencia and on 29 October 1936, her brother, Ramiro, a right-wing intellectual and member of the Generation of '98, was shot by Republican soldiers near Madrid.Stunned, María left Spain for Buenos Aires where she became professor at the University of Buenos Aires.