A native of Chile and an immigrant to the UK, Claudio Ogass Bilbao decided to embark on the fascinating work of digging into the memory of his country and of Latin America. He does so because he understands the importance of telling more than the official story, of ensuring that all Latin American voices are heard.
Harry Allen
PhD student at the University of Liverpool and lecturer at the University of Chile, he is clear from the beginning in his conversation with The Prisma: “Latin American archives are vital for documenting our history. They hold records dating back to the 15th century, covering the period when Spanish conquerors first arrived.”
And these documents are essential for constructing the base perspective of national histories and identities. However, national archives often present the official history, often overlooking those who helped construct it. Claudio explains that the national archives coordinate and centralise various documents produced by the state, and also private institutions. “They create a sense of identity and promote an official history.”
He adds that “there is no representation of women, workers, migrants, indigenous people” referring to gaps that appear in the archival storytelling.
The emergence of community archives
They started appearing in the early 21st century, and were a response to the biases in national archives.
This new approach documents the histories of marginalised groups. “They represent voices often excluded from official records,” Claudio says. “All [groups] can find a place in community archives.”
Community archives often arise out of necessity, reflecting a grassroots approach to historical preservation. “They are built by people who feel their histories have been overlooked,” Claudio explains. They document stories that might otherwise be lost.
In the archival discipline, it’s been largely recognized that all the archives overrepresent some people and underrepresent others. There is no perfect archive that represents everybody.
This is Claudio’s understanding, adding that “community archives supplement and complement the archival silence, filling the gaps in national archives.”
Technological integration
As community archives continue to grow, technology plays an increasingly important role in their management and preservation. Claudio shares his experiences with digital tools.
“Artificial intelligence and software like ChatGPT are game-changers,” he states. “They could help manage and analyse vast amounts of [new] information quickly.”
This document attached shows some context of how the transfer of directorship happened in the archives.Digital archiving tools can improve the efficiency and accuracy of maintaining archives, and these tools can automate the cataloguing process and help identify patterns in [past] data that would be impossible to see manually.”
As Claudio says, “we [archivists] like to call it the archival multiverse.” reaffirming this idea of a growing web of community archives.
Challenges facing Latin American archives
The challenges facing Latin American archives are big. There are key issues, such as lack of budget, personnel, and space.
For example, the National Archives of Chile have been struggling with these issues since the 1960s, despite Chilean law from 1929 enshrining that “the National Archive has to receive and centralize records, by creating regional archives in different parts of Chile.
Community archives face even greater challenges. Claudio reveals that about 60% of community archives in Chile are run by just one or two people, and they “often lack legal protection and funding.”
Additionally, there is often a lack of formal training for those who run these community archives. “Many archivists in community settings are volunteers without professional training,” Claudio notes. “This can lead to inconsistencies in how archives are managed and preserved.” However, it is not lost on him that community archives should remain autonomous: “We really want to give them the tools to help them, and do whatever they want with their archives, but do it while calming down the anxieties of the archive owner.”
The archival awareness
One significant issue Claudio identifies is the lack of archival awareness among Latin American governments.
“There’s a long history of neglect,” he says. “Governments don’t see the value of archives as tools for policy-making and historical preservation.”
Claudio emphasises the need for a shift in perspective: “We need to recognise the administrative role of archives”.
They are not just about preserving the past, but also about informing future policies. Archives can play a crucial role in transparency and governance. “They’re essential for holding governments accountable,” Claudio explains, “By maintaining comprehensive records, we can ensure that public officials are acting in the public’s interest.”
“In Latin America, our states don’t have a really deep archival consciousness. They don’t value the archives.” he says regretfully.
The role of archivists
Claudio’s work involves more than just managing documents. “We often have to engage with communities”. It is about building trust and respecting their terms.
He describes a collaborative approach, saying “We need to create horizontal relationships with community archives.”
“By working closely with community members, we can ensure that archives are relevant and accessible,” Claudio notes. It is a partnership that benefits both the archivists and the communities they serve.
Archiving in Chile and the UK
Claudio’s experience as an immigrant from Chile provide a unique perspective on the challenges of archiving: “I’m working on my PhD, focusing on the history of the National Archives of Chile from 1962 to 197. I’m exploring the obstacles to archival development during this period.”
He is studying three different administrations during that period using a comparative perspective: the Frei Montalva administration, which was a social democracy, the Popular Unity government, and the Pinochet dictatorship.
“These three governments had three different archivists with three different political projects”, he states.
His research reveals a consistent pattern of challenges. “Every administration identified the same problems: space, budget, modernization”. And these issues have persisted for decades.
Frequent government shifts also mean new administrations would rather break with continuity – due to often deep political differences – that underscore regime or democratic changes in the region.
“There is no handover process to say, you are from the left. I’m going to show you how you have to manage [archives]. These are my pieces of advice to you. Thanks for your arrival!”. He states in laymans’ terms that “you [simply] didn’t know if there was an archive.”
Claudio highlighted broader systemic issues: “As someone who has lived and worked in both Chile and the UK, I see the stark differences in how archives are valued and supported”, and he stresses the need for archivists from the Global South to absorb knowledge from more developed archives, like his own work in Liverpool.
Importance of community archives
“It’s an endless loop.” he sighs, “If you participate in a [archival] seminar, you are going to listen to the same thing in Latin America.”
Between 1958 and 1964, José Honório Rodrigues was the national director of the Brazilian National Archive. And he pushed the same critical narratives still being produced by contemporary archivists today. He was a social historian who aimed to incorporate the history from below, “and criticized the official histories” favoured by governments.
He can be seen as a godfather-like figure, for his early work, in what Claudio deems the beginnings of “community archival thinking.” that could illuminate one-dimensional histories.
He points to specific examples, “In Chile, there’s a community archive dedicated only to political posters,” he explains. “It holds over 8,000 posters, providing a unique chronology of social movements.”
Other significant collections, he says, “focus on anarchist literature, punk music, and other cultural artefacts,” continuing, “These collections are invaluable for understanding the history of our continent.”
The future of archiving
Claudio looks at community archives fondly, “They represent the future of archiving. We need to embrace their diversity and creativity.”
However, he remains pessimistic about government interest in the field, and is even more cautious about the challenges faced by community archives. These are the most vulnerable. Ensuring their sustainability requires ongoing support and resources.
Claudio believes that increased advocacy can make a significant difference: “By raising awareness about the importance of these archives, we can attract more funding and support. It’s a collective effort that requires the involvement of the entire community.”
(Photos supplied by the interviewee and authorized for publication)
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