20. Collection of scripts-repertoires of the Montevidean carnival of the 20th century (1919-1988)
This Collection brings together over 500 songbooks printed by the groups of the Montevideo carnival during the 20th century. Unlike other cities on the continent, Montevideo has established a stage that bears witness to the development of popular and street art in the Río de la Plata region.
This Collection broadens the perspective regarding folk customs inherited from Africa, Europe, and the Caribbean. The sung and theatricalized lyrics on numerous stages were accompanied by various musical genres (Tango, Milonga, Candombe, Foxtrot, Zarzuela, Rumba, Waltz, among others) and reflect a musical heritage produced by a melting pot of cultures, with a transmission style far removed from formal teaching.
Emphasis is placed on the importance of Candombe, integrated into Montevideo’s Carnival in the 19th century, which continues today through the Societies of Blacks and Lubolos. This percussive rhythm not only extends to the festive atmosphere but intertwines with sporting triumphs, national holidays, and cultural events, being recognized as Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity
21 Historical Archive of the Inter-American Children’s Institute (1905-2001)
The Historical Archive of the Inter-American Children’s Institute (IIN) contains two notable collections: the documentation of the Pan-American Congresses on Children (1905 – 1999) and the IIN Bulletins (1927 – 2001).
The IIN, as the Specialized Organization of the OAS in matters concerning childhood and adolescence, assists States in developing public policies, contributing to their design and implementation with a focus on promoting, protecting, and respecting the rights of children and adolescents. From its inception, it emphasized the need for a center for study and consultation that gathers everything being carried out regarding childhood in the Americas.
For the Institute, documents are an end in themselves and fundamental tools to achieve its objectives. Within its documentation, one can trace the networks built to defend children’s rights, also witnessing the political, social, cultural, and economic changes throughout the 20th century.
The Historical Archive of the IIN and its descriptive instruments serve as a crucial source for research, as evidenced by the diverse testimonies of childhood researchers worldwide.
22. Lauro Ayestarán Archive (Montevideo, 1913-1966)
Lauro Ayestarán, Uruguay’s foremost musicologist and a pioneer in the country’s musicology field, played a crucial role across various realms of music and culture, leaving fundamental contributions to a better understanding of the country’s identity.
With a comprehensive and integrative vision and a critical stance towards the models of his time, he undertook the monumental task of collecting, systematizing, and analyzing Uruguay’s traditional popular music—an unprecedented endeavor in the country’s history.
His archive encompasses a variety of documents, ranging from writings to correspondence, recordings, photographs, notes, inventories, scores, books, magazines, and historical sound recording and playback devices, among others. Considering Lauro Ayestarán’s foundational role in Uruguay’s musical and musicological research, the value of his Collection represents a significant advancement in the intellectual sphere of social and human sciences and within the artistic domain.