Box #1 – Glass Plate Negatives of the Sociedad Protectora de la Infancia. The photographic negatives, dated around the 1940s, consist of general shots and present a staged composition. They feature children and girls residing at the institution, as well as adults fulfilling charitable and caregiving roles within the institution. There is a single exception: one plate shows a general view of the building's facade and its chapel, without any people. These negatives document various spaces of the main building of the Sociedad Protectora de la Infancia, constructed in 1939 by architect Guillermo Franke, architect Fernando Devilat Rocca, and engineer Eugenio Browne. The building was designed to accommodate 400 children and girls, along with the staff responsible for their care. The recorded spaces include rooms dedicated to healthcare, such as the infirmary and dental office. Other functional areas captured include the laundry room with industrial washing machines, the nuns' offices, the reading room, a classroom, the dining hall, and the sewing room.
Caja #1 – Negativos en placas de vidrio de la Sociedad Protectora de la Infancia. Los negativos fotográficos, fechados en torno a la década de 1940, consisten en registros en planos generales y presentan una composición escenificada. En ellos aparecen niños y niñas residentes, así como adultos que cumplían funciones asistenciales y de caridad dentro de la institución. Se registra una única excepción: una placa que muestra una vista general del frontis del edificio y su capilla, sin la presencia de personas. Estos negativos documentan distintos espacios del edificio principal de la Sociedad Protectora de la Infancia, construido en 1939 por el arquitecto Guillermo Franke, el arquitecto Fernando Devilat Rocca y el ingeniero Eugenio Browne. El edificio fue diseñado para albergar a 400 niños y niñas, junto con el personal encargado de su cuidado. Los espacios registrados incluyen salas destinadas al cuidado de la salud, como la enfermería y la consulta odontológica. También se observan áreas funcionales, entre ellas la sala de máquinas con lavadoras industriales, los escritorios de las monjas a cargo, la sala de lectura, un aula de clases, el comedor y la sala de costura.
Extent: 13 glass plate negatives.
Size and dimensions of original material: Glass plate negatives: Height 18 cm, Width 24 cm.
Condition of original material: The photographs on glass plates show a few signs of deterioration. One of the plates is cracked into two pieces, resulting in physical damage to the material. Some of the plates exhibit emulsion detachment, with areas where the photosensitive layer has peeled off, causing flaking. Deterioration due to sulfurization, caused by residual chemicals from photographic processing or sulfurous gases in the atmosphere, has led to warm tones (ranging from yellow to brown) on the glass plate negatives. "Silver mirroring" is also present as a form of deterioration, caused by the oxidation of silver in the presence of moisture, which generates blue and silver reflections. Despite these signs of deterioration, the negatives are in good overall condition, and the recorded images remain clearly visible.
Author(s)/Creator(s): Sociedad Protectora de la Infancia.
