The city of Cádiz joins the celebration of International Archives Week with a series of activities organized by the Provincial Historical Archive under the theme ‘#Archives for Justice’. The kickoff event featured the presentation of the books Diaries of Distinguished Volunteers of Cádiz, volumes IV and V, dating back to 1810 and 1811. These works were acquired and restored in the archive's own workshop.
The volumes, covering the periods from April 1810 to February 1811 and February 1811 to October 1811, belong to the Line Infantry Regiment. They reflect the daily routine of the military units and include testimonies of particular cases, such as reprimands or exemptions, offering a valuable perspective on the French siege and the Spanish War of Independence.
“"Archives are not just a place for document custody, but a guarantee of rights, transparency, and collective memory. They preserve the essence of our past and constitute a fundamental tool for accessing information. They are, ultimately, a guarantee of legal certainty and a first-class public service."
The head of the Provincial Historical Archive, Santiago Saborido, expressed his satisfaction with the exhibition of these handwritten diaries, calling them "unique" and "unique evidence that gives us a snapshot of life in the city during that period between 1810 and 1811."
“"We are talking about books that are unique because they are handwritten diaries made by the commanders about the life of the units, and no similar copies are known. They are unique pieces of evidence that give us a snapshot of life in the city during that period between 1810 and 1811."
Historian Helios González de la Flor added that these documents, "which were previously unknown," will enrich existing research and open future investigations thanks to their preservation at the Provincial Historical Archive of Cádiz.
The activities for Archives Week continue with guided theatrical tours, a photographic scavenger hunt titled ‘Cádiz, how have you changed?’, and an event on archaeology and its institutionalization in the province. These initiatives aim to bring the value of archives closer to the general public.
