Panama Archives and Libraries

For Spanish version of this content, click Here.

National Archives of Panama
The National Archives of Panama (Archivo Nacional or Registro Publico) contains court records, notary records for all provinces of Panama, a digital collection of all bills that have been passed since 1934 (bills passed between 1903-1934 are too fragile to digitize), land records, etc. Content is in Spanish.

U.S. National Archives
The U.S. National Archives contain many records from the Panama Canal Zone time period, especially between 1904 and 1914, that may contain genealogical information. An article explaining the records is available from the National Archives' magazine.

Central American Archives Center for Research Libraries 6050 S. Kenwood Avenue Chicago, IL 60637-2804 Telephone: (800) 621-6044/(773) 955-4545 Email: [mailto:mwilke@crl.edu mwilke@crl.edu] Website: Central American Archives Website #2: Central American Archives


 * These archives encompass six million pages of original primary source documents (many of which are unique copies) spanning more than three centuries, from 1519 to 1898. They document Spanish rule in the New World from the founding of the city of Antigua, in Guatemala. The collection documents all aspects of commerce, politics, and development throughout El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica and the Yucatan and Chiapas regions of Mexico. Central American Archives is a rich resource for Latin American, Central American, and Spanish studies.

Center for Regional Research of Mesoamerica (CIRMA) 5a. Calle Oriente No. 5 La Antigua, Sacatepéquez Telephone: (502) 7931-0300 Email: [mailto:cirma@cirma.org.gt cirma@cirma.org.gt] Website: Historical Archive Website #2: Center for Mesoamerican Research Website #3: Centro de Investigaciones Regionales de Mesoamérica (CIRMA)


 * The Historical Archive has as its main purpose to protect part of the country's historical memory through the rescue, organization, conservation and dissemination of documentary archives. The materials come from non-governmental institutions and private collections and are presented in different formats (paper, digital, microfilm, audio and video). These archives, some unique and others little known, enrich the national historical legacy and offer different points of view of Guatemalan society over time. Its collections, some of which are recognized as the nation's cultural heritage, date from the 16th century to the present, with an emphasis on the contemporary period starting in 1944. It currently houses 135 collections made up of more than eight million documents.

The National Library of Panama
The National Library of Panama Web site provides an extensive online catalog. You can download digitized books, many of which are out of print. You can also access a national bibliographic database and panamananian biographies. Content is in Spanish.

http://www.binal.ac.pa/

Directory of Public Libraries
List of public libraries in Panama.

http://www.binal.ac.pa/binal/bibliotecas/directorio-bp

Panama Digital Library
The Panama Digital Library is a digital collection of works about the live and culture of the country. The complete texts are available in PDF. The collection includes directories and books on history, literature, art, and science.

Digital Library