During October and November 2024, the first edition of the Iberarchivos Scholarship for Professional Exchanges, focused on archival preservation, was held. The National Archives of Costa Rica was the host institution for this project, which proved to be a transformative experience for the selected fellow.
More than 20 candidates from eight Ibero-American countries participated in the selection process in April. In the end, the chosen candidate was Daniel Cuautli Estrada García, a member of ADABI Mexico.
During his two-month stay in Costa Rica, Daniel immersed himself in the activities of the National Archive, tackling tasks such as the stabilisation of emblematic historical documents, including the “Título de la legua de San Ramón de Palmares” and the Constitution of 1825.
He also contributed to the assembly of travelling exhibitions and the temporary exhibition in commemoration of the 75th anniversary of the Political Constitution of Costa Rica, where he applied advanced conservation and assembly techniques. He also participated in the protocolary act of this important event.
The National Archives organised visits to other local archives, allowing Daniel to learn about different archival realities and their challenges.
In addition, he gave talks on documentary conservation and ethics in interventions, sharing practical recommendations to face challenges such as xylophagous insect infestations and water damage.
All in all, Daniel highlighted that this experience allowed him to:
“to understand the uniqueness of each archive and the unique challenges of documentary conservation, transforming his vision of this discipline”.
The success of this first edition was made possible thanks to the financial support of the Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation(AECID), marking a milestone in the strengthening of Ibero-American archival cooperation.
