We are thrilled to announce a partnership between the Federal University of Pernambuco (UFPE) and Loyola University New Orleans. This collaboration, made possible by The Transatlantic Bodies Project (TBP), is aimed at fostering academic cooperation between these two distinguished institutions, with a specific focus on a transformative endeavor. The shared objective is to digitally preserve an extensive historical collection of 19th and early 20th-century Brazilian medical theses, totaling around 120,000 pages. These invaluable documents, currently housed within UFPE’s Historical Research Laboratory, will soon be made available online on our TPB webpage as well.
This collective effort holds profound significance as it seeks to safeguard the memory and evolution of scientific history in the context of Latin America. The overarching aspiration is to broaden access to this knowledge for scholars and the global public at large. The intrinsic value of this initiative is further amplified by a monetary contribution from Loyola’s History Department. This financial support has provided an opportunity for five underprivileged Brazilian History majors to engage in an enriching journey of training and experiential learning.
The partnership encompasses various facets, including the mentioned document digitization and memory management. Beyond the realm of preservation, this initiative also paves the way for transformative learning experiences for some underprivileged students from the Global South. As these students engage with the process, they are poised to gain invaluable insights into the intricacies of document conservation, archival research, and technical reading.
The joint effort aligns with The Transatlantic Bodies Project’s aim to serve as a valuable tool and promote academic cooperation and holistic student development. The collaboration between UFPE and Loyola University New Orleans demonstrates TBP’s commitment to preserving scientific history within the transatlantic realm.
The collaboration also extends an opportunity to the participating underprivileged Brazilian students for they are afforded the chance to immerse themselves in the practices of conservation, archival research, and technical reading. Through their dedicated efforts, they are learning to discern the contents of the collection, ensuring comprehensive preservation of historic archival documents in alignment with academic and legal provisions.
This partnership between the History departments of both institutions exemplifies The Transatlantic Bodies Project’s initiative in catalyzing and expanding collaborations within the realm of Digital Humanities studies, providing fertile ground for meaningful and lasting partnerships to flourish.