This article critically examines the life trajectory of Jean Daniel Revel, an immigrant who arrived on the coast of the River Plate during the 19th century. Revel played a pivotal role in the formation of the first Waldensian colony outside the European continent. Through a comprehensive analysis of Revel's diary, epistles, and other historical documents, this study endeavours to reconstruct the writing practices and modes or reading employed by both individuals and the collective community. These practices and modes of reading contributed significantly to shaping the distinct identity of this group, which was characterised by their unwavering commitment to promoting literacy and the dissemination of written culture, regardless of prevailing state policies. This research partially reconstructs Revel's dedicated efforts to maintain a profound connection with written culture and to propagate, through a diverse range of initiatives, the enthusiasm for religious reading and the dissemination of Scriptural teaching. It underscores the crucial importance of studying how past communities facilitated the social distribution of literacy skills and the significance they attributed to written products. Such an investigation is invaluable for a comprehensive understanding of the dynamics within historical communities.