The Regional Historical Archive of Santander is a public archive whose mission is to rescue, organize, preserve, and safeguard the documentary collections of the region in order to protect its documentary heritage and make information available to the community. It is the most important archive in northeastern Colombia.

This archive holds a significant collection of documents with heritage value for the region. It contains approximately 1,400 linear meters (lm) of paper documents and over 2,600 microfilm rolls, dating from the 16th to the 20th century. These materials originate from various governmental entities, public, cultural, and educational institutions, as well as private documents from prominent families in the region. As such, the archive’s diverse collections are fundamental sources for research on the region’s political, social, and cultural development.

The Regional Historical Archive of Santander serves as the primary documentation center for the training of History and Archival Studies students at the Industrial University of Santander and supports research conducted in the graduate programs of the School of History. Additionally, it is a permanent resource for external researchers and the general public.

• Notarial Records

Date Range: 1557-1979

Volume: 540 linear meters

This collection includes notarial protocols from over twenty notaries in municipalities of Santander, Norte de Santander, and Cesar. The documents are well-preserved and organized by year and deed number, as established by the notaries. Some volumes contain indices created at the notaries’ offices, with basic information on the subject and parties involved in the transactions.

• Judicial Records

Date Range: 1789-1960

Volume: 350 linear meters

This collection comprises civil and criminal judicial case files from various courts and judicial circuits in northern Santander, especially Bucaramanga and its surroundings. The records are categorized by type of crime.

• Soto Collection

Date Range: 1699-1976

Volume: 1,056 boxes

This collection includes documents salvaged from a fire at the Municipal Palace of Girón in 1977. The documents have varied origins and are cataloged with dates, subjects, locations, and brief descriptions. However, due to damage caused by the fire, a significant portion is severely deteriorated and inaccessible.

• Wilches Family Collection

Date Range: 1877-1960

Volume: 14 boxes

Contains public and private documents of the Wilches Calderón family and their descendants, a prominent family from the García Rovira province of Santander who played a significant role in regional politics, particularly during Colombian federalism (1857-1886).

• Clausen Family Collection

Date Range: 1882-1958

Volume: 4 boxes and 22 volumes

Includes accounting books of this pioneering Colombian company in soda and beer production, founded in the late 19th century by Swedish entrepreneur Christian Peter Clausen. The collection is divided into two sections: Accounting and Civil Records.

• Eliseo Martínez Hernández Collection

Date Range: 1942-1976

Volume: 15 boxes

Documents of Eliseo Martínez Hernández (1899-1977), a notable Mason and businessman in Bucaramanga. He served as rector of San José de Guanentá School in San Gil, a municipal official, manager of the Santander Lottery, shareholder in various companies, and cattle rancher.

• University Student Association – AUDESA Collection

Date Range: 1953-1982

Volume: 6 boxes

This collection holds the records of AUDESA, founded in 1953 by students of the Industrial University of Santander to advocate for student interests at both university and national levels, including high school students in Bucaramanga.

• Jenaro Perico García Collection

Date Range: 1905-1993

Volume: 8 boxes

Personal archive of priest Jenaro Perico García (?-1994), a prominent religious and cultural figure in Santander. He served as parish priest in various municipalities, was a canonical lawyer, writer, poet, and hagiographer.

• Colombian Mutuality Company Collection

Date Range: 1913-1946

Volume: 9 boxes

Contains documents from this company, promoted in 1905 by Víctor Manuel Ogliastri and other elite merchants of Bucaramanga for life insurance sales and savings operations.

• San José de Guanentá School Collection

Date Range: 1820-1899

Volume: 25 documents

Includes rectorial letters and educational materials from this historic public school, established in 1785 in San Gil, with over 200 years of history intertwined with the town’s social, cultural, and economic development.

• Enrique Otero D’Costa Collection

Date Range: 1890-1934

Volume: 1 box

Documents of Enrique Otero D’Costa (1881-1964), a prominent Santanderian entrepreneur, politician, and historian. The collection includes transcripts, manuscripts, newspapers, and communications.

• Genealogical Collection of Juan Francisco Mantilla Valenzuela

Date Range: Undated

Volume: 12 boxes

Contains genealogical research conducted by Juan Francisco Mantilla Valenzuela, a member of the Santander Historical Academy, documenting significant surnames in the region’s history.

• Department of Galán Collection

Date Range: 1906-1909

Volume: 1 box

Includes documents donated by relatives of Juan de Dios Francisco Mantilla López (1858-1927), governor of the Department of Galán between 1906 and 1910, created during a territorial reform under President Rafael Reyes.

• Parish Archives

Date Range: 1607-1991

Volume: 306 microfilm rolls

Parish records from dioceses in Socorro-San Gil, Málaga-Soatá, Bucaramanga, and Pamplona. Donated by the Genealogical Society of Utah, these records are accessible online through “FamilySearch.”

• Photographic Collection

Date Range: Undated

Volume: 290 photographs and 8,365 negatives

Contains images and negatives related to the history of the Industrial University of Santander.

• Map Collection

Date Range: Undated – 2005

Volume: 210 maps and plans

Includes maps and plans from entities such as the General Comptroller’s Office, DANE, and the Urban Development Company of Bucaramanga (EDUB).

• Cassette Collection

Date Range: 1990-2007

Volume: 57 cassettes

Features recordings of interviews and lectures on regional and local history topics, including UIS history, violence, education, colonization, and political and social history.

• Library

Date Range: 1800-2022

Volume: Over 2,000 units

A specialized library on regional and local history, with significant publications, official gazettes, statistical yearbooks, and private editions dating back to the 19th century.

• Newspaper Library

Date Range: Undated

Volume: Approximately 650 magazines and periodicals

Includes the complete collection of Vanguardia Liberal (now Vanguardia) microfilmed from 1919 to 1940 and printed from 1940 to 1996, as well as regional laws, ordinances, and congressional records.

Hours of operation:

Monday to Friday, 7:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. and 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Location:

Edificio de Ciencias Humanas

First Floor, Former Correspondence Area

Contact Information:

• Phone: (607) 6344000 ext. 2185
• Email: ahr@uis.edu.co

Guidelines:

Visitors must bring their own personal protective equipment (gloves and face masks) and use pencils only.