23 new registrations in the Memory of the World for Latin America and the Caribbean

On this occasion, the members of the Regional Committee analyzed 30 eligible applications out of a total of 32 presented by Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Cuba, Mexico, Panama, Peru, Uruguay and Venezuela, and it was considered an addendum to an already registered document of Nicaragua. 

In this way, there are 23 new registrations that will be added to the MoWLAC Registry in 2023. 

The Memory of the World programme was set up by UNESCO in 1992 in order to ensure the preservation and access to documentary heritage worldwide. Various factors, such as lack of resources, looting, natural disasters, wars, and illegal trade, make documentary heritage susceptible to destruction or loss, threatening its preservation for the benefit of humanity.

about the new additions to the Memory of the World Registry here:

1. Women and Dictatorship. Audiovisual archive of life stories of women who lived through the last dictatorship in Río Negro 

The objective of these audiovisual interviews is to capture the experiences of women who were residing in the province of Río Negro during the period corresponding to the last Argentine civic-military dictatorship. 

These interviews delve into the experience of being a woman in that socio-historical period, addressing the relationship between women and education, profession, work, family, health, and violence. The latter point refers to women who were imprisoned or had family members detained-disappeared. This archive deals with the experiences of women from Río Negro within a specific historical context, from a gender perspective. 

2. Audiovisual record of trials for crimes against humanity - Argentina 2006-2023 

In 2006, trials for crimes against humanity committed at a national level during the implementation of state terrorism in Argentina began, which occurred during the last civic-military dictatorship between 1976 and 1983. This became possible thanks to the annulment of impunity laws that prevented the prosecution of those responsible. 

During that same year, the Provincial Commission for Memory (CPM) started documenting the hearings of trials related to crimes committed in the Buenos Aires province, one of the areas most affected by state violence. This decision was grounded in bolstering a broad concept of the principle of dissemination, promoting its outreach, and creating a publicly accessible archive documenting the judicial process and the testimonies of victims and their families. 

3. Harry Grant Olds Fund (1868-1943) 

The photographs by the American Harry Grant Olds, taken on 20 by 25-centimeter glass plates, represent a professional record of the life and customs of the inhabitants of Argentina in the early 20th century. 

Unlike most of his colleagues, he didn't focus on studio portrait photography. His work mainly consists of photos depicting different types of people and customs, urban and rural scenes, prominent buildings, company facilities, and purebred animals. He took these photos upon Commission by commercial firms, primarily in the city and province of Buenos Aires, Santa Fe, and Córdoba. 

Today, these photographs hold a prominent place in the history of Argentine photography. Due to their technical quality and quantity, they are one of Argentine history's most important heritage sources. 

The Collection comprises over 1260 photographs on various mediums (glass, nitrate, metal, and paper), alongside several handwritten letters, notebooks, and 151 postcards with various motifs. Olds took all his studio knowledge into the field, representing a break from the tradition of documentary photography.

4. Dossier of documents related to the revolution of May 25, 1809 and the War of Independence in the Viceroyalties of Peru and the Río de La Plata (1809-1824) 

The dossier compiles diverse documents that address the War of Independence in the Viceroyalties of Peru, Río de la Plata, and the Audiencia of Charcas. It highlights the 1809 revolution in Sucre (formerly La Plata), led by graduates and magistrates of the Royal and Pontifical University of San Francisco Xavier de Chuquisaca, who ousted the established regime, instituting the first autonomous government through the "Governor's Audiencia." 

This movement swiftly echoed in La Paz and other cities of Charcas like Buenos Aires, marking the onset of the War of Independence until the founding of Bolivia in 1825. These clandestine documents reflect this period of singular importance in the creation of the states of Bolivia, Peru, and Argentina, offering perspectives from revolutionaries and Spanish authorities in the region. 

They include poems, pamphlets, and correspondence from figures such as Simón Bolívar and José Artigas. The unique and handcrafted dossier contains 26 documents stitched together, representing the historical and political period of emancipation in the region. 

5. Taxes of the Indians who are in the Royal Crown ordered by His Grace Don Francisco de Toledo Visorrey and Captain General in these Kingdoms and Provinces of Peru, 1575. 

The proposed document is the first census conducted in the Imperial Villa of Potosí and its surroundings, encompassing a vast area under the jurisdiction of Charcas, including Cusco and Arequipa. Regarded as foundational, it offers a detailed overview of the indigenous population and their society following the Toledo reforms, which introduced reductions and established tribute based on local wealth and productivity. It also provides a comprehensive description of all indigenous inhabitants of Potosí in 1575. The Toledo reforms of 1570, driven by Viceroy Toledo in Peru, marked a definitive tax policy. 

This 349-page manuscript on paper, divided into three parts and hand-bound in leather and wood, furnishes extensive information on social, economic, commercial, political, linguistic, cartographic, and religious aspects of the time, representing the 16th and 17th centuries with italicized script characteristic of the era. 

6. Cabildo Secular de Potosí (1585-1817) 

Potosí, which in the 17th century was one of the most populous towns in the American continent, generated a large number of documents regarding activities and procedures carried out in the city. 

The documentary collection comprises 33 agreement books containing minutes of meetings held by the municipality to address pending matters under its purview: production, supplies, public works, and duties, among others, and holds a richness and importance proportional to that of the famous mining site.

7. Rádio Sociedade do Rio de Janeiro: the beginnings of educational radio in Brazil (1923-1936) 

Rádio Sociedade do Rio de Janeiro was the first radio station officially recognized by the Brazilian government, reflecting the ideals of its founders, Edgar Roquette-Pinto and Henrique Morize. 

Roquette-Pinto saw in this new technology the opportunity to integrate peoples and provide pure scientific information, diversified education, and culture to the population. Established in 1923, during its 13 years of existence, the station kept its ideals alive, strengthened Brazil's relationships with neighboring nations, and contributed to the country's progress, becoming the largest and best broadcast in Latin America. 

8. TRT‐2 Labor Judgment Books (acórdãos): 1964‐1988 

This documentary collection refers to the judgments in labor proceedings (acórdãos) carried out by the Regional Labor Court of the 2nd Region (TRT-2) from 1964 to 1988, spanning from the establishment of the Military Dictatorship in Brazil (1964) to the restoration of the democratic regime with the promulgation of the Constitution in 1988. 

This Collection comprises 2,000 bound books containing all the collective judgments made by the judges of TRT-2 in labor trials handled by this court during that period. These judgments (collective trials) are symbolic of the struggle for labor rights by the working classes during a period of exception and political repression, serving as records of the political, economic, and cultural transformations occurring in Latin America during these decades, impacting most of the Brazilian population. 

9. Archive Walter Pinto 

The "Walter Pinto Archive" gathers texts, programs, scores, and photographs of artists and shows, along with administrative documents from the Walter Pinto Company. This archive spans roughly sixty years of revue theatrical productions in Brazil and neighboring Hispanic American countries. 

The peak of the Walter Pinto Company occurred in the 1940s and 1950s, a period of high activity that brought together numerous Brazilian and Hispanic American stars in its various revues. 

Beyond its significance for Brazilian theater history, this archive represents a primary source of information regarding the professionalization of revue theater. It contains documents that record the creation and production processes of these shows. 

Additionally, Walter Pinto's theater company played a significant role in promoting music and popular culture, propelling actors and singers who stood out in their era, both in Brazil and neighboring countries.

10. Colonia Section, Old Central Archive of Cauca. José Maria Arboleda Llorente Historical Research Center 

The Colonial Section of the Former Central Archive of Cauca illustrates the political and judicial administration exercised by the Spanish empire in the former governorate of Popayán, a territorial division established in 1540 by Emperor Charles V. This political-administrative entity encompassed roughly 70% of the current Colombian national territory, with Popayán as its capital. There, judicial, civil, ecclesiastical, and military matters, among others, were addressed, resulting in a rich documentary heritage. 

The Colonial Section stands as a valuable resource for studying the colonial period in the American territories, offering insights into the political, administrative, and judicial structure implemented by the Spanish empire in its overseas territories. The documentary sources in the Colonial Section consist of mostly rag paper manuscripts featuring various iron gall inks and different scripts such as procedural chain and courtly scripts. These documents provide a glimpse into the history and development of writing in America during the colonial period. 

11. Archives Collection of the Administrative Department of Security (DAS in Spanish), 1960-2014 

The now-defunct Administrative Department of Security (DAS) documentary collection stands as a documentary source for understanding the truth of the war in Colombia. It accounts for the entity's actions as an intelligence organization, enabling the identification of occurrences or behaviors to attribute responsibilities associated with serious Human Rights violations and breaches of International Humanitarian Law within the framework of the armed conflict in Colombia. Ultimately, this Collection contributes to realizing truth-seeking processes, justice, and reparation. 

This documentary collection comprises approximately 55,200 storage units or 13,755 linear meters of paper archives and around 78 magnetic and optical media items. Lastly, this documentary collection includes inventories and partial documentation lists, necessitating a special plan for document archival management and protection. 

12.Archive of the Commission for the Clarification of Truth, Coexistence and NonRepetition (CEV) 

The Truth Commissions have emerged in societies that have experienced traumatic moments due to severe and evident violations of human rights in contexts of armed conflicts, dictatorships, or authoritarian and undemocratic regimes. Their purpose is to clarify the facts from an extrajudicial perspective, identify the key perpetrators of crimes committed by state, anti-state, or paramilitary agents, combat impunity, and reconstruct historical Memory to prevent the recurrence of such events. 

The exhaustive search for truth by the Commission for the Clarification of Truth, Coexistence, and Non-Repetition (CEV) in Colombia materialized in the production and compilation of a large amount of information, becoming a valuable resource for understanding the armed conflict in the country. 

While there are other Truth Commissions in Latin America, the CEV in Colombia's most recent work has embraced updated human rights standards. Therefore, its report presents a broader narrative, with a special emphasis on gender, focusing on women and LGBTQ+ individuals. 

Additionally, it offers a multi-causal and comprehensive view of the historical development of the armed conflict in Colombia, integrating testimonies from different regions and considering ethnic and cultural diversity. 

The documentary collection comprises over 70,000 records, bibliographic pieces, and special items containing relevant information about the armed conflict in Colombia.

13. Julián del Casal Collection (1863-1893) of the National Library of Cuba “José Martí” 

The Casal Collection at the José Martí National Library of Cuba reveals the sensitivity and creative transcendence of Julián del Casal, one of the most important figures in Latin American modernism. 

This Collection comprises 177 handwritten letters dated between 1880 and 1894 from various locations across Latin America, Spain, and France. These letters unveil the intellectual networks and exchanges in the region during the 19th century, confirming Casal's connections with some of the most prominent figures in Hispanic American literature of that era, such as Rubén Darío, Manuel Gutiérrez Nájera, Enrique Gómez, Bonifacio Byrne, and other valuable intellectuals. 

In addition to the letters, the Collection includes photographs and postcards with autographed dedications from renowned intellectuals, a family photo album, and two scrapbooks containing articles, text fragments, and poems, reflecting the reception of Casal's work among his distinguished contemporaries. This is evident in the emotional tribute dedicated to him by José Martí in the newspaper Patria, among others. 

Comprised mostly of unpublished documents, this Collection has sparked impactful research and editorial initiatives led by individuals such as Fernando Ortiz, Manuel Altolaguirre, José Lezama Lima, Iván Schulman, Cintio Vitier, and Leonardo Sarría. In 2018, the Collection was declared a National Memory as part of UNESCO's Memory of the World Program.

14. Prints of Puebla in the Mexican Empire 1822. Documentation of oath, recognition and obedience printed on paper support with metallic alloys 

These are three printed proclamations in black typography belonging to the Historical Collection of the Municipal General Archive of Puebla. Each document is printed on a metallic alloy of distinct colors: gold, silver, and bronze. 

This printing technique was scarcely used for document production, hence its uniqueness and significant symbolic and historical value. 

The three documents contain similar content: in printed letters, they declare the council's agreement on the oath of recognition and obedience to His Imperial Majesty Agustín Primero, sovereign of the Mexican Empire, an event scheduled for December 8, 1822, which marked a significant change in Mexico's life. The documents originated from the 'De la Rosa' workshop, which appeared in Puebla's prints from 1777 and remained active until 1830. 

These documents are part of Mexico's historical process, innovating in diplomatic and artistic matters by using metallic support with finishes in gold, silver, and bronze to highlight the importance of the act and the person being discussed 

15. Fund of the Old Academy of San Carlos 1781-1919 

The former Academy of San Carlos was the first fine arts school in Latin America and the Caribbean. Its Collection represents, through its documents, the history of fine arts in Mexico, Latin America, and the Caribbean. 

One can find the academic, cultural, political, ideological, and social exchanges within its historical records with countries such as Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Ecuador, Guatemala, Nicaragua, Peru, Uruguay, and Venezuela. 

The Collection of the Former Academy of San Carlos contains: 

• Historical documents dating from its establishment in 1781 to 1919 
• Covering diverse topics, including the significance of its founding, governance, economic structure 
• Its initial professors and directors 

These are presented in various formats, such as certificates, letters, statistics, invitations, appointments, and receipts, among others, totaling 13,123 records.

16. Addendum to the "Ruben Dario" Archive at the Nicaraguan Institute of Culture 

Books, poems, letters, and other belongings of and about the Prince of Castilian Letters were part of the Rubén Darío Archive Museum. Félix Rubén García Sarmiento, "Rubén Darío," was born on January 18, 1867, in the rural municipality of Metapa, today Ciudad Darío, and died on February 6, 1916, at the age of 49, in León. 

Rubén Darío, the great innovator of poetry in Spanish of the 20th century, led literary movements in Argentina, Chile, Spain, and Nicaragua. According to experts, Darío is considered the father of modernism in Latin America, which began with two of his works, "Azul" (1888) and "Prosas Profanas" (1896), and which concluded with his death in 1916. Azul", a A compilation of poems and prose, it was written by the Nicaraguan during his stay in Valparaíso (Chile), between 1886 and 1888.

17. Panamá - Annual Reports of the Board of Directors of the Panama Railroad Company 

The Annual Reports of the Board of Directors of the Panama Railroad Company describe, across 99 volumes spanning from 1852 to 1951, the details of the management and administration of the Panama Railroad. 

The reports are authored by the Panama Railroad Company. The information is based on the railroad activities between the cities of Colón and Panama and the towns and stations between these two cities. 

Among the topics covered are passenger traffic, ticket prices, the situation of shareholders, freight traffic, railroad workers' salaries, the machinery used for operation, the company's profits, expenses, and financial status throughout the years, among other aspects. It also highlights the economic situation of the maritime powers of the era, particularly the American port cities such as New York and San Francisco.

18. Treaty of 1873: The foundations of friendship Peru-Japan 

The Preliminary Treaty of Peace, Friendship, Commerce, and Navigation between Peru and Japan, signed in 1873 in the city of Edo (present-day Tokyo), stands as the oldest link between Latin America and Asia. 

This treaty made Peru the first Latin American country to establish diplomatic relations with Japan, marking the beginning of a long-standing relationship of friendship and cooperation that, in 2023, celebrates its 150th anniversary. 

This agreement initiated economic and trade relations between the two countries and laid the foundation for organized Japanese migration to Latin America. The connection has also fostered cultural, artistic, and culinary exchanges, promoting various developments. 

19. Eight bibliographic units corresponding to the first editions (1918-1965) of the literary production of César Abraham Vallejo Mendoza, belonging to the National Library of Peru 

The Collection consists of 8 bibliographic units corresponding to first editions (1918-1965) of the intellectual production of César Abraham Vallejo Mendoza. Born in Santiago de Chuco, La Libertad Department - Peru, Vallejo is one of the foremost figures in Peruvian literature and one of the most significant representatives of Hispanic American and world poetry. 

These bibliographic units represent essential titles for understanding Peruvian literature within the Hispanic American and global context of 20th-century avant-garde movements. In narrative, through his chronicles and fiction, Vallejo offers a social perspective and showcases the humanistic ideas that form his ideological and intellectual background. 

Materially, each of the eight bibliographic units presents unique features that allow us to understand their history and provenance. Poetically, Vallejo's creations stand out as among the most prominent in the world during the 20th century.

20. Collection of scripts-repertoires of the Montevidean carnival of the 20th century (1919-1988) 

This Collection brings together over 500 songbooks printed by the groups of the Montevideo carnival during the 20th century. Unlike other cities on the continent, Montevideo has established a stage that bears witness to the development of popular and street art in the Río de la Plata region. 

This Collection broadens the perspective regarding folk customs inherited from Africa, Europe, and the Caribbean. The sung and theatricalized lyrics on numerous stages were accompanied by various musical genres (Tango, Milonga, Candombe, Foxtrot, Zarzuela, Rumba, Waltz, among others) and reflect a musical heritage produced by a melting pot of cultures, with a transmission style far removed from formal teaching. 

Emphasis is placed on the importance of Candombe, integrated into Montevideo's Carnival in the 19th century, which continues today through the Societies of Blacks and Lubolos. This percussive rhythm not only extends to the festive atmosphere but intertwines with sporting triumphs, national holidays, and cultural events, being recognized as Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity 

21 Historical Archive of the Inter-American Children's Institute (1905-2001) 

The Historical Archive of the Inter-American Children's Institute (IIN) contains two notable collections: the documentation of the Pan-American Congresses on Children (1905 - 1999) and the IIN Bulletins (1927 - 2001). 

The IIN, as the Specialized Organization of the OAS in matters concerning childhood and adolescence, assists States in developing public policies, contributing to their design and implementation with a focus on promoting, protecting, and respecting the rights of children and adolescents. From its inception, it emphasized the need for a center for study and consultation that gathers everything being carried out regarding childhood in the Americas. 

For the Institute, documents are an end in themselves and fundamental tools to achieve its objectives. Within its documentation, one can trace the networks built to defend children's rights, also witnessing the political, social, cultural, and economic changes throughout the 20th century. 

The Historical Archive of the IIN and its descriptive instruments serve as a crucial source for research, as evidenced by the diverse testimonies of childhood researchers worldwide. 

22. Lauro Ayestarán Archive (Montevideo, 1913-1966) 

Lauro Ayestarán, Uruguay's foremost musicologist and a pioneer in the country's musicology field, played a crucial role across various realms of music and culture, leaving fundamental contributions to a better understanding of the country's identity. 

With a comprehensive and integrative vision and a critical stance towards the models of his time, he undertook the monumental task of collecting, systematizing, and analyzing Uruguay's traditional popular music—an unprecedented endeavor in the country's history. 

His archive encompasses a variety of documents, ranging from writings to correspondence, recordings, photographs, notes, inventories, scores, books, magazines, and historical sound recording and playback devices, among others. Considering Lauro Ayestarán's foundational role in Uruguay's musical and musicological research, the value of his Collection represents a significant advancement in the intellectual sphere of social and human sciences and within the artistic domain.

23. Audiovisual testimonies of living cultures in Latin America and the Caribbean in the 20th Century 

Countless field missions enabled the documentation of ethnic representations, traditional manifestations, and the multitude of existing linguistic forms in the Latin American and Caribbean region between 1948 and 1986. 

This work resulted in 152,344 images (negatives, slides, and photographs) and 23,383 sound recordings (music, legends, games, poetry, prayers, recipes, and physical and spiritual healing practices, among other aspects). 

This is a documentary heritage stemming from the ethnographic work of specialists from 28 countries: Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Brazil, Bolivia, Colombia, Chile, Costa Rica, Dominica, Ecuador, El Salvador, Grenada, Guatemala, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Jamaica, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, the Dominican Republic, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Saint Lucia, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, Uruguay, and Venezuela. 

It's a collection with significant features not only due to its extensive testimony but also because it projects symbolic resources for strengthening identity frameworks and senses of belonging. It's also an unprecedented example in favor of regional integration, valuing the cultural diversity that