Former women's prison to house Spain's Historical Archive of Social Movements
The Historical Archive of Social Movements (AHMS) will find its permanent home in La Galera, a former women's prison located in Alcalá de Henares, as announced by Spain's Ministry of Culture, under the leadership of Ernest Urtasun, and the University of Alcalá, led by Carmelo García. Constructed in 1852 and functioning as a prison until 1978, this site showcases 19th-century architecture. Established by Royal Decree 880/2021, the AHMS aims to gather and safeguard documentary heritage from various social organizations, fostering research on social history and cultural initiatives. Additionally, the Ministry revealed the inclusion of the historical archive from Ecologists in Action. Urtasun highlighted the transformation of a confinement space into one dedicated to knowledge and democratic memory.
Key facts
- The Historical Archive of Social Movements (AHMS) will be housed in the former women's prison La Galera in Alcalá de Henares.
- The building was constructed in 1852 on a 16th-century college site and operated as a prison until 1978.
- The AHMS was created by Royal Decree 880/2021 in 2021.
- The building spans over 8,000 square meters across five floors.
- The archive's collections include documents from labor, feminist, environmental, and human rights organizations.
- The Ministry of Culture announced the incorporation of the historical archive of Ecologists in Action.
- Ernest Urtasun is the Minister of Culture; Carmelo García is the rector of the University of Alcalá.
- The project aims to transform a former prison into a space for knowledge and democratic memory.
Entities
Institutions
- Ministry of Culture (Spain)
- University of Alcalá
- Historical Archive of Social Movements (AHMS)
- General Archive of the Administration
- Ecologists in Action
Locations
- Alcalá de Henares
- Spain