Archivo Nacional de la República de Cuba ARNAC

History and Founding

The Archivo Nacional de la República de Cuba (ARNAC) was founded on January 28, 1840, under the name Archivo General de la Real Hacienda de la Isla de Cuba. It was the fifth national archive established in Latin America, following those of Argentina (1821), Mexico (1823), Bolivia (1825), and Brazil (1838). Located at Calle Compostela 906, esquina a San Isidro in La Habana Vieja, the archive has served as the principal custodian of Cuba's documentary heritage for more than 180 years.

Collections and Holdings

ARNAC holds 27.5 kilometers of documents spanning from the late sixteenth century to the twentieth century. The collections are organized in funds that reflect the structure of their originating institutions and include records from colonial administrative bodies, notarial protocols, revolutionary-era government records, and private collections of notable Cuban political and cultural figures. The Protocolos Notariales fund contains legal instruments — deeds, wills, and contracts — dating to the late 1500s. Colonial-era collections document the history of slavery, commerce, governance, and military affairs in Cuba and the broader Caribbean and Spanish Atlantic world.

Notable Materials Related to Journalism and Media

ARNAC maintains a specialized biblioteca-hemeroteca focused on the history of Cuba, archival science, and law. This periodical collection preserves historical Cuban press materials and is used extensively by researchers studying the development of Cuban public discourse and media. The Boletín del Archivo Nacional, published by the institution, has served as a key serial source for Cuban history.

Access and Usage

ARNAC is open to researchers, genealogists, and the general public. In 2014, the archive received more than 7,600 visitors. Its historians and researchers publish findings and provide training to archival specialists. ARNAC is a member of the International Council on Archives (ICA) and of the Asociación Latinoamericana de Archivos. It is under the administrative oversight of the Ministerio de Ciencia, Tecnología y Medio Ambiente (CITMA).