Preservation and digitisation of César Sánchez Bonifato´s photographic archives (1882–1946): indigenous culture and immigration across Latin America and Europe (EAP1738)

The César Sánchez Bonifato Archive, comprising 1,598 documentary units, is a unique collection that combines two distinct sets of materials. The first includes photographs and personal writings by Julio César Sánchez Ratti (1906–83), historian, amateur photographer and interim governor of Misiones, Argentina. His work captures life in Posadas and its surroundings, indigenous communities, family scenes reflecting immigration contexts, and activities like hunting, fishing and local masonry. It also features images from early explorations of the region in the late 19th century. The second set consists of photographs by Ramón Ruda Dorrego (1880–1972), a renowned professional photographer in northeastern Argentina. Dorrego’s studio portraits depict Posadas’ diverse social classes, alongside images of ranches, plantations, schools, civic events and the Jesuit ruins of 17th-century Guarani missions. This project will preserve and share this invaluable cultural heritage, offering insights into Argentina’s history and identity.

Dorrego’s archive was rescued from destruction in the 1970s, while Sánchez Ratti’s collection was preserved by his son. Both archives endured the high temperatures and humidity of Misiones, Argentina’s tropical climate, before being donated and transferred to Fundación CIFHA in Buenos Aires. Stabilisation measures were implemented to protect these endangered materials, which include fragile and hazardous nitrate, glass and acetate negatives. While some nitrate negatives show deterioration, they remain suitable for digitisation. An urgent priority is cleaning fungal growth from most items, though its spread has been successfully halted.