Recovery, preservation and dissemination of the Collection General Directorate of Social Communication of the UNAM

Abstract

The Historical Archive of the National Autonomous University of Mexico holds photographic collections, among them is the collection of the General Directorate of Social Communication of this University, which publishes the UNAM Gazette, this publication is the official internal organ of communication of this university. In the pages of this informative organ of the University, scientific discoveries are reported, it covers museums, theaters, murals; it gives voice to students and academics, activities of the Rector, reviews the achievements of university athletes and the national and international triumphs of students, as well as the presence at the University of heads of state, literary scientists, philosophers, men and women of science and Nobel Prize winners. UNAM Gazette also has a large and growing digital presence and is prepared for the challenges imposed by the university itself. This collection has the characteristic of being open because it records university life; this documentary group is composed of analog and digital photographs.

 The custody, organization and management of the university photographic heritage is an urgent task that is not only necessary but also imperative. To guarantee its organization, conservation and access is a challenge that we have faced, through the knowledge of the evolution of the different techniques, supports and the deterioration that the photographic documents show us, as well as their documentary value, their iconic content, their testimonies, the images offer us a panorama in which is implicit the evolution of our institution, which is the memory of this University. In short, the conservation of our heritage depends on good administration and the establishment of protocols to enhance its value as a cultural asset to be preserved. Due to the importance of this documentary group since the eighties, several shipments have entered the Historical Archive, which we have organized, described and preserved in our photographic collections, and to date they continue to enter in digital format. Preservation measures have been applied to the collection of the General Directorate of Social Communication of this university, which have consisted of using stabilization measures, as well as three levels of safekeeping and ensuring environmental storage conditions and levels of protection that allow the increase in the life expectancy of this photographic collection.