General Archive of Puerto Rico

FAIN: PG-271868-20

Insituto de Cultura Puertorriquena (San Juan, PR 00902-4184)
Pedro Roig (Project Director: January 2020 to present)

A conservation assessment and purchase of preservation supplies for 84 bound volumes of compiled manuscripts recording the proceedings of the municipal council meetings of the City of San Juan, 1730-1900. These volumes are part of the General Archives of Puerto Rico (GAPR), which experienced severe damage in the aftermath of Hurricane Maria. Documenting the social, economic, and political life in eighteenth- and nineteenth-century San Juan, these books are widely used: in 2019, one in five research requests sought records from this series. As San Juan prepares to mark the 500th anniversary of its establishment as Puerto Rico’s capital in 2021, the research demands on these collections are expected to increase.

A project to safeguard the historic collection, The Proceedings from the Council Meeting from the Municipality of San Juan Bautista de Puerto Rico.

Associated Products

ICP logra nuevos fondos para el Archivo General y la Biblioteca Nacional de Puerto Rico (Article)
Title: ICP logra nuevos fondos para el Archivo General y la Biblioteca Nacional de Puerto Rico
Author: Primera Hora
Abstract: The Institute of Puerto Rican Culture (ICP) announced that the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) approved three grants totaling $69,932 to continue the implementation of essential projects related to the preservation of collections in the General Archive of Puerto Rico ( AGPR) and the National Library of Puerto Rico (BNPR). These were accepted by the NEH's Preservation and Access Division and its Preservation Assistance Grants for Smaller Institutions and Sustaining Cultural Heritage Collections programs. The projects will start between September and October of this year. The first management will focus on the evaluation, stabilization, treatment and re-storage of the Actas de Cabildo de San Juan Bautista de Puerto Rico, guarded in the AGPR. This historical documentation, dating from 1730 to 1900, contains the oldest data preserved in the Archive on the Spanish colonial period. According to Pedro Roig and José Charón, who are part of the staff of the AGPR Reference Room, these documents are among the most requested by researchers. Their preservation and future digital access is part of the commemoration of the 500th anniversary of the founding of the city of San Juan. Digitization of all 103 volumes of the Proceedings is planned, thanks to another grant awarded last June by the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation.
Year: 2020
Primary URL: https://www.primerahora.com/entretenimiento/teatro/notas/icp-logra-nuevos-fondos-para-el-archivo-general-y-la-biblioteca-nacional-de-puerto-rico/?fbclid=IwAR3Yrs9UPbNmSqNgAxhjahinWHMeyV15Z18cHDbGBBMvQ-SuROIXou7QdFY
Primary URL Description: Online Newspaper Article, Primera Hora.
Access Model: Open Access
Format: Newspaper
Periodical Title: Primera Hora
Publisher: Primera Hora

ICP logra nuevos fondos para el Archivo General y la Biblioteca Nacional de Puerto Rico (Article)
Title: ICP logra nuevos fondos para el Archivo General y la Biblioteca Nacional de Puerto Rico
Author: Notiseis
Abstract: The Institute of Puerto Rican Culture (ICP) announced that the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) approved three grants totaling $69,932 to continue the implementation of essential projects related to the preservation of collections in the General Archive of Puerto Rico ( AGPR) and the National Library of Puerto Rico (BNPR). These were accepted by the NEH's Preservation and Access Division and its Preservation Assistance Grants for Smaller Institutions and Sustaining Cultural Heritage Collections programs. The projects will start between September and October of this year. The first management will focus on the evaluation, stabilization, treatment and re-storage of the Acts de Cabildo de San Juan Bautista de Puerto Rico, guarded in the AGPR. This historical documentation, dating from 1730 to 1900, contains the oldest data preserved in the Archive on the Spanish colonial period. According to Pedro Roig and José Charón, who are part of the staff of the AGPR Reference Room, these documents are among the most requested by researchers. Their preservation and future digital access is part of the commemoration of the 500th anniversary of the founding of the city of San Juan. Digitization of all 103 volumes of the Proceedings is planned, thanks to another grant awarded last June by the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation.
Year: 2020
Primary URL: https://wipr.pr/icp-logra-nuevos-fondos-para-el-archivo-general-y-la-biblioteca-nacional-de-puerto-rico/
Primary URL Description: Article on website
Format: Other
Periodical Title: WIPR
Publisher: WIPR

ICP logra nuevos fondos para el Archivo General y la Biblioteca Nacional de Puerto Rico (Article)
Title: ICP logra nuevos fondos para el Archivo General y la Biblioteca Nacional de Puerto Rico
Author: La Isla Oeste
Abstract: The Institute of Puerto Rican Culture (ICP) announced that the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) approved three grants totaling $69,932 to continue the implementation of essential projects related to the preservation of collections in the General Archive of Puerto Rico ( AGPR) and the National Library of Puerto Rico (BNPR). These were accepted by the NEH's Preservation and Access Division and its Preservation Assistance Grants for Smaller Institutions and Sustaining Cultural Heritage Collections programs. The projects will start between September and October of this year. The first management will focus on the evaluation, stabilization, treatment and re-storage of the Acts de Cabildo de San Juan Bautista de Puerto Rico, guarded in the AGPR. This historical documentation, dating from 1730 to 1900, contains the oldest data preserved in the Archive on the Spanish colonial period. According to Pedro Roig and José Charón, who are part of the staff of the AGPR Reference Room, these documents are among the most requested by researchers. Their preservation and future digital access is part of the commemoration of the 500th anniversary of the founding of the city of San Juan. Digitization of all 103 volumes of the Proceedings is planned, thanks to another grant awarded last June by the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation.
Year: 2020
Primary URL: https://laislaoeste.com/icp-logra-nuevos-fondos-para-el-archivo-general-y-la-biblioteca-nacional-de-puerto-rico/
Format: Newspaper
Periodical Title: La Isla Oeste
Publisher: La Isla Oeste

ICP logra nuevos fondos para el Archivo General y la Biblioteca Nacional de Puerto Rico (Article)
Title: ICP logra nuevos fondos para el Archivo General y la Biblioteca Nacional de Puerto Rico
Author: Mara Cintron
Abstract: The Institute of Puerto Rican Culture (ICP) announced that the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) approved three grants totaling $69,932 to continue the implementation of essential projects related to the preservation of collections in the General Archive of Puerto Rico ( AGPR) and the National Library of Puerto Rico (BNPR). These were accepted by the NEH's Preservation and Access Division and its Preservation Assistance Grants for Smaller Institutions and Sustaining Cultural Heritage Collections programs. The projects will start between September and October of this year. The first management will focus on the evaluation, stabilization, treatment and re-storage of the Actas de Cabildo de San Juan Bautista de Puerto Rico, guarded in the AGPR. This historical documentation, dating from 1730 to 1900, contains the oldest data preserved in the Archive on the Spanish colonial period. According to Pedro Roig and José Charón, who are part of the staff of the AGPR Reference Room, these documents are among the most requested by researchers. Their preservation and future digital access is part of the commemoration of the 500th anniversary of the founding of the city of San Juan. Digitization of all 103 volumes of the Proceedings is planned, thanks to another grant awarded last June by the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation.
Year: 2020
Primary URL: https://conectatetvpr.com/icp-logra-nuevos-fondos-para-el-archivo-general-y-la-biblioteca-nacional-de-puerto-rico/
Format: Newspaper
Periodical Title: Conectate TV
Publisher: Conectate TV

Actas de Cabildo de San Juan Facebook Post (Web Resource)
Title: Actas de Cabildo de San Juan Facebook Post
Author: Instituto de Cultura Puertorriqueña
Abstract: A grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities made it possible to give conservation treatment to 35 of the 103 books that comprise the Actas de Cabildo or Minutes of the City Council of the City of San Juan Bautista. The process included the evaluation, cleaning, punctual consolidation according to the degradation caused by iron gall ink or by insects, and the flattening of folds that prevent the reading of the text. This treatment was necessary to be able to safely digitize the bindings and make these valuable texts on the history of our Country accessible. Here is a sample of the consolidation treatment by the paper conservator Viviana van Vliet.
Year: 2022
Primary URL: https://www.facebook.com/icppr/posts/pfbid02CXjE7RSyfi7JJuFWEiLXQkJRioJnRRpsSUn51uYw9N6TufP7EUFhBT1QXjDVMsXwl
Primary URL Description: Instituto de Cultura Puertorriqueña Facebook Post with description of images and initiative

Steps to Digitize 18th Century Acts (Web Resource)
Title: Steps to Digitize 18th Century Acts
Author: Instituto de Cultura Puertorriqueña
Abstract: On the occasion of the celebration of the 500 years of the City of San Juan, the first documents that are digitized in the General Archive of Puerto Rico are the "Actas del Cabildo" of San Juan, Capital City. These documents date back to 1730. Thanks to the National Endowment for the Humanities, the most deteriorated volumes are treated by a paper conservator and, thanks to The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, digitized. The process is not easy and requires a lot of care. In this infographic we explain how our work team safely digitizes these #documentaryjewels.
Year: 2021
Primary URL: https://www.facebook.com/icppr/photos/a.466298506805748/3838549146247317/
Primary URL Description: Facebook Post Social Media Instituto de Cultura Puertorriqueña

Boletín Mensual (Web Resource)
Title: Boletín Mensual
Author: Instituto de Cultura Puertorriqueña
Abstract: Sample of the Actas de Cabildo de San Juan will be exhibited in the Old Chapel in the General Archive of Puerto Rico in Puerta de Tierra from Thursday, August 4 until August 31 from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Year: 2022
Primary URL: https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5875145d579fb3a75c49cdb4/t/6351693f3aefb35d8386b705/1666279744060/agosto.pdf
Primary URL Description: Monthly Newsletter of ICP highlighting and promoting the Actas de Cabildo de San Juan - August 2022.

EXHIBITION: CONSERVATION OF THE RECORDS OF THE COUNCIL (Web Resource)
Title: EXHIBITION: CONSERVATION OF THE RECORDS OF THE COUNCIL
Author: Instituto de Cultura Puertorriqueña
Abstract: For the past year, and thanks to a grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities, the General Archive of Puerto Rico of the Institute of Puerto Rican Culture, has carried out a special project focused on the conservation of the Actas de Cabildo de San Juan. Once the project is finished, we invite the public to enjoy a small sample of the work done to ensure that these historic documents can be preserved for posterity. They will have the opportunity to learn about the various treatments carried out and their justification. The selection of books will be exhibited in the Old Chapel, in the General Archive of Puerto Rico in Puerta de Tierra in San Juan from Thursday, August 4, 2022 to August 31, 2022 from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. This project was made possible by the National Endowment for the Humanities:
Year: 2022
Primary URL: https://culturalpr.com/event-pro/conservacion-de-las-actas-del-cabildo-memorias-de-san-juan/
Primary URL Description: Announcement of the Actas de Cabildo Exhibition

Conservación de las Actas de Cabildo (Public Lecture or Presentation)
Title: Conservación de las Actas de Cabildo
Abstract: Preservation of the Acts of the Cabildo For the past year, and thanks to a grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities, the General Archive of Puerto Rico of the Institute of Puerto Rican Culture, has carried out a special project focused on the conservation of the Acts of the City Council de San Juan. At this conference, the public will be able to enjoy a small sample of the work carried out to ensure that these historic documents can be preserved for posterity.
Author: Instituto de Cultura Puertorriqueña
Date: 08/11/2022
Location: San Juan, Puerto Rico, Online from the General Archives
Primary URL: https://www.facebook.com/watch/live/?ref=watch_permalink&v=471356997783917
Secondary URL: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KTOcHCtYfdA

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