The preservation of the national memory is one of the priorities within the government policy of Cuban society and in this effort the historical archives play a fundamental role.
Proof of this is the Archive of the Office of the Historian of Camagüey city, which houses valuable documents and research from different periods. In order to preserve these valuable documents for use in present and future studies, this institution created a Conservation and Restoration project.
According to Patricia Gamboa Torres, Main Specialist of the project, it is much better for the original documents to apply the conservation processes as long as possible because the restoration techniques are always going to be invasive.
Gamboa added that the Curator is the one who sets the priorities and dictates what documents need to be restored and that is when the restorers begin their work. All documents receive a mechanical and manual cleaning where all adhering dirt is removed and then depending on the state of deterioration, different restoration techniques are used.
This process becomes more complex due to the weather conditions of the island and the lack of raw materials to carry out the task, since these types of materials are not commercialized in the country.
In addition, the technology is already in place to start a document digitization project with the aim of perpetuating historical memory and making it available to the city, mainly in schools.
This November 3th, we celebrate the Day of the Cuban Archivist, in recognition of those who safeguard the country’s documentary heritage in an anonymous way. Their work routine forces them to handle paper, photographs and other old materials on a daily basis, which lead to the appearance of diseases due to humidity or dust.
The work of these professionals, and specifically of the people of Camagüey, confirms that the new generations will have at their disposal a wealth of years of history, essential knowledge to defend the most indigenous roots of the nation.
Translated by: Aileen Álvarez García
