Archivo Histórico de la Provincia de Buenos Aires "Dr. Ricardo Levene"

History and Founding

The Archivo Histórico de la Provincia de Buenos Aires "Dr. Ricardo Levene" was established on December 15, 1925, by Decree No. 655 of Governor José Luis Cantilo. It arose from the province's need to reclaim its own archival identity after Buenos Aires Province lost its historical documentation to the federal government following the federalization of the city of Buenos Aires in 1880. The archive's first director, the historian Dr. Ricardo Levene (for whom the institution is named), organized the initial collection and served in this role until his death in 1959. The archive first operated in the former jail on Calle 14 between 48 and 49 in La Plata, before moving in 1929 to its current location in the Pasaje Dardo Rocha. In 1957, the archive was given responsibility for technical oversight of all municipal archives in the province.

Collections and Holdings

The archive holds more than three million original documents, occupying over two thousand linear meters of shelving. Its collections span from the 16th century to the early 21st century, with the richest concentration in the 18th through early 20th centuries. Major funds include those of the Real Audiencia de Buenos Aires, the Sala de Representantes, the Cámara de Diputados, the Cámara de Senadores, the Ministerio de Obras Públicas, the Dirección General de Escuelas, and Ministerio de Gobierno. The archive also holds notable private collections, including the Fondo Fotográfico del diario "El Argentino," and the Madres de Plaza de Mayo fund. The Real Audiencia fund contains Reales Cédulas from 1704 and materials on the Viceroyalty of the Río de la Plata.

Notable Materials Related to Journalism

The photographic fund of the newspaper "El Argentino" is a significant resource for press history research. Historical documents include records of Argentina's first printing house (Imprenta de Niños Expósitos), relevant to the history of print media in the region.

Access and Usage

The archive is located in the Pasaje Dardo Rocha, Calle 49 No. 588, between Calles 6 and 7, in La Plata. It is regularly consulted for academic, pedagogical, and audiovisual production purposes and maintains an active public outreach program including biennial congresses of the history of the province's towns.