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Archive of the Benevolent Society of Natives of Catalonia (Havana)
The Natural Beneficence Society of Catalonia in Havana
It is the oldest association created in 1841 by 102 Catalan emigrants settled on the island of Cuba. It was founded with the aim of helping and providing assistance to those natives of Catalonia who were not lucky with the adventure of ” making the Americas “. “For Charity and Catalonia” was the guiding motto that survived for more than a hundred years. This desire of the association to prevent any compatriot from falling into poverty also had another intention, and that was to avoid possible riots and thus preserve social order.
The most plausible explanation is that a large part of its members and founding partners were members of the economic and social elite of Havana in the last third of the 19th century, as demonstrated by its first president (1841-1842), the Vilanova native Francesc Ventosa Soler, and the first benefactor and founding partner Carles Pascual Puig.
Entrance to the headquarters of the SBNC located at Calle Consulado, 68 in the Old City of Havana.
Photo: Juan Alonso
Cover of the booklet of the 1st operating regulations of the Society.
Collection: SBNC. – ANC2-78-T-1
The entity has maintained its activity, uninterruptedly, since 1841, although over the years it has incorporated new functions.
The original healthcare objective has now disappeared , becoming a space for sociability for the Catalan colony in Cuba and a focus for the preservation and revitalization of Catalan culture, customs and language. This transformation responds in part to the assumption by the Cuban communist state of healthcare and education on the Island, following the triumph of the revolution in 1959.
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Organization
Archivists Without Borders, according to their Statutes approved on January 21, 2008, it is a non-profit association made up of members (full-time, affiliated and institutional) that is structured around its governing bodies. These bodies are:
The General Assembly , made up of all members of the entity, constitutes the highest decision-making body for AsF’s actions.
The Board of Directors , which is the executive body that represents and develops the decisions made by the General Assembly.
Archivists Without Borders-Spain is part of the international network Archivists Without Borders International .
