Centro de Memória-UNICAMP CMU Universidade Estadual de Campinas

History and Founding

The Centro de Memória-UNICAMP (CMU) was founded in 1985 through the efforts of Professor José Roberto do Amaral Lapa (1929–2000), a historian and faculty member at the Instituto de Filosofia e Ciências Humanas (IFCH) of the Universidade Estadual de Campinas. The genesis of the center can be traced to the early 1970s, when Lapa sought to prevent the destruction of over 50,000 historical documents—including wills, inventories, and civil proceedings—from the Tribunal de Justiça do Estado de São Paulo (Comarca de Campinas). Following years of negotiation, the transfer of these judicial archives to UNICAMP was authorized in March 1985, and the CMU was formally established.

Collections and Holdings

The CMU custodies approximately 150 documentary collections comprising personal and institutional records—both public and private—spanning from the mid-17th century to the present day. Holdings include around 150,000 textual documents, more than 90,000 iconographic items, over 11,000 books and pamphlets, and a substantial volume of audiovisual, sound, and three-dimensional materials. The CMU also maintains a specialized library focused on Campinas, holding rare books and a large volume of historical periodicals, newspapers, and pamphlets. Collections are particularly strong in the history of the Campinas region, covering economic cycles from sugar cane and coffee to industrialization.

Notable Materials Related to Journalism and Media

The CMU's specialized library holds a large volume of historical periodicals, newspapers, and pamphlets documenting the press and publishing history of Campinas and the surrounding region. Several personal archive collections include materials from intellectuals, journalists, and cultural figures active in the region.

Access and Usage

The CMU is open to the public Monday through Friday, 9:00–12:30 and 13:30–17:00. It provides free access to its collections for research and consultation. An online digital portal (atom.cmu.unicamp.br) uses the AtoM system to facilitate remote access to collection finding aids. Reproduction services are available subject to the CMU's formal reproduction policy.