The Arxiu Municipal de Granollers, known locally as the Archivo Municipal de Granollers, is a treasure trove of history nestled in the heart of Granollers, Spain. This remarkable institution is dedicated to collecting, organizing, preserving, and disseminating the documentation generated by the Granollers City Council, its boards, and municipal companies, as well as materials donated by various entities, businesses, and individuals. With a collection that spans over 3,000 linear meters, the archive houses documents dating from the 12th century to the present day, including parchments, paper documents, books, photographs, slides, CDs, and even oral and audiovisual sources of historical interest.
The history of the Arxiu Municipal de Granollers is as rich and varied as the documents it houses. During the Spanish Civil War, Granollers experienced significant losses, with three major archives - the Parochial, the Notarial, and the Property Registry - being destroyed. Only the Civil Registry and the City Council Archive were spared, though they too suffered damage from a Carlist attack in 1875. The documents were later rescued and returned to the city council by Jaume Maspons, ensuring their preservation for future generations.
In the 1960s, the archive began to take shape with the donation of a vast collection of periodicals by the descendants of Josep Mora. This collection, along with other documents from the region, was stored in various municipal locations, often under less than ideal conditions. It wasn't until 2002 that efforts were made to bring the archive in line with current legislation, relocating the documents to a facility with proper conservation conditions on Sant Josep Street. By 2005, some of the collections were also moved to the facilities of the Comarcal Archive of Vallès Oriental.
The Arxiu Municipal de Granollers is a hub of historical and administrative documentation. It comprises a diverse array of public and private collections, including local government records, royal and seigneurial administration documents, judicial records, professional, commercial, and business archives, patrimonial documents, association and entity records, ecclesiastical documents, personal archives, audiovisual and image collections, and more. The archive's materials come in various formats, from manuscripts and typescripts to cartographic, iconic, audiovisual, sound, and electronic documents.
Among the many treasures housed at the Arxiu Municipal de Granollers, several collections stand out:
The Palou Town Council Fund: This collection includes approximately 5.8 linear meters of documents from 1724 to 1930, detailing the activities and functions of the Palou Town Council.
The Roca Umbert Fund: This archive contains documents from Roca Umbert, S.A., a textile company established in 1880 by Josep Umbert Ventura. It offers a glimpse into the management and administration of one of Granollers' most significant textile factories, which operated until 1991.
The Viuda Sauquet Company Fund: Spanning from 1925 to 2013, this collection features documents from Viuda Sauquet, S.A., a company founded in 1919 that remained active until its closure in 2013.
The Amics de la Unió Choral Society Fund: This archive documents the activities of a highly influential cultural entity in Granollers, from its founding in 1877 to the early 21st century.
The Salvador Llobet and Reverter Fund: This personal archive contains documents, photographs, and plans collected by Salvador Llobet and Reverter, a renowned geographer from Granollers, throughout his career as a geography professor at the University of Barcelona and his studies across Catalonia.
The Tomàs Torrabadella Fund: This collection of photographs captures the essence of Granollers at the turn of the 20th century, featuring images of the market, plazas, street dances, processions, and agricultural work.
The Rubí and Iglesias Family Fund: This archive includes documents related to the personal and professional activities of the Rubí and Iglesias family members, with records dating from 1332 to 1929.
The Parchment Collection: This collection comprises the oldest documents preserved at the Arxiu Municipal de Granollers, featuring parchments from the 12th to the 18th centuries, originating from municipal activities and the patrimonial archives of various farmhouses in the region.
The La Unión Liberal Fund: This archive documents the activities of La Unión Liberal from its founding in 1887 to 1935, including meeting minutes and various versions of the entity's statutes.
The Montserrat Ponsa Fund: Donated by the social activist, journalist, and writer Montserrat Ponsa, this collection is another highlight of the archive.
The Arxiu Municipal de Granollers also boasts an extensive newspaper library, featuring local press publications from 1882 to the present day.
Whether you're a history enthusiast, a researcher, or simply curious about the rich heritage of Granollers, a visit to the Arxiu Municipal de Granollers is a must. The archive not only preserves the past but also makes it accessible to the public, offering a unique window into the history and culture of this vibrant city. Step into the archive, and you'll find yourself immersed in centuries of stories, documents, and artifacts that paint a vivid picture of Granollers' journey through time.
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