First ArchivoyMemoria Conference
The First Conference was held on 8 and 9 April 2005 at the
Palacio de Fernán Núñez, headquarters of the Fundación de los
Ferrocarriles Españoles. Owing to the topics under discussion,
it was entitled ”Jornadas de Archivos Etnográficos y
Construcción Social de la Memoria” (“Conference on Ethnographic
Archives and Social Construction of Memory”), the main objective
being to discuss the methodological aspects of the creation of
ethnographic archives, the latter encompassing both archives
that include materials of ethnographic value and collections
that bring together the primary sources that are generated when
conducting research based on ethnographic fieldwork (audio and
video tapes, analogue and digital photos, objects, field
diaries, etc.), while also reflecting on the role of these
archives in the social construction of memory, given that what
is preserved is what is going to form part of our social memory.
We preserve what we consider most valuable, and in order to be
able to assess value it is necessary to understand and analyse.
Researchers usually focus on the analytical phase, but this
Conference put the emphasis on closer working links with
information and documentation professionals who can help
preserve primary sources and allow them to play an active role
in the social construction of memory.