This dataset collects 1,433 bibliographic references related to Spanish architecture during the Franco's dictatorship (1939-1975). The research was focused on news of Spanish Architecture abroad, including academic journals, architectural press, conference proceedings, books, book chapters, magazines and newspapers, but it excludes the Spanish media. All references were tagged including names of architects, buildings, types of buildings and cities. The database is delivered in three file formats (BibTeX, RIS and Zotero RDF), which are compatible with several reference managers as Zotero, Mendeley, EndNote or RefWorks. This dataset was produced by the R&D project “Spanish architecture in international communication media: Publications, exhibitions, congresses (First part: 1940-1975)”. Three ways were used to find the news: Firstly, systematic research was done using architectural databases as Avery Index to Architectural Periodicals, JSTOR or ProQuest Periodicals Index Online; secondly, the most influential architectural magazines were revised in paper (The Architectural Review, Architectural Forum, Casabella continuità, Domus or L’Architecture d’Aujourd’hui); and thirdly, some authors and works were studied following bibliographical references published in their monographs.