El Salvador Archives and Libraries

Archives
El Salvador Archives are intended to store, collect and preserve the original documents of a number of Church and Government organizations. Many of the historical records have been compromised through the years due to lack of resources, fires, and civil/military unrest. Due to these factors and many others, the research possibilities in the country may present a significant challenge to any researcher. Aldo Lauria-Santiago explained some of those possibilities as well as some of those challenges. According to Lauria-Santiago, the archival sources in El Salvador can be separated into the following:


 * The National Archives
 * Asamblea Nacional
 * Ministries and other Government Offices
 * Census Materials
 * Catholic Church Archives
 * Universidad Centroamericana (UCA)
 * Biblioteca Nacional
 * Municipal Materials

The National Archives Old Palacio Nacional Centro Histórico Avenida Cuscatlán San Salvador, El Salvador
 * Researchers should first contact the Historical Archive of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and provide a letter from their sponsoring university or institution.
 * Ministry of Foreign Affairs Historical Archive Final 17ª Avenida Norte Plan Maestro Centro de Gobierno Anexo “B” Edificio Número 2 San Salvador, El Salvador

Central American Archives 4th Avenue, 7th and 8th Streets, Zone 1 Guatemala City, Guatemala
 * This History of the General Archive of Central America located in Guatemala gives more detail on the types of records held.
 * CRL (Center for Research Libraries) Acquires Central American Archives
 * Finding Aid
 * Costa Rica Catalogue Search
 * Accessing the CRL Collections Information on borrowing records
 * "The Archivo General de Centroamérica (Central American Archives) 1544-1821, in Guatemala, is the most comprehensive collection found anywhere in the world of historical records spanning the period of Spanish rule in the Americas. The holdings of the Archivo include myriad types of documents covering a host of cultural, legislative, judicial, fiscal, economic, religious, military, agricultural and commercial matters pertaining to the Kingdom of Guatemala, an area which, from the time of the Conquest in 1544 through 1821, embraced modern-day Guatemala, Belize, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica and the Mexican State of Chiapas."

Libraries
National Library of El Salvador (Biblioteca Nacional) 4 Calle Ote 4a Calle Poniente 8A Avenida Norte Centro Historico San Salvador, El Salvador Telephone: (503) 2221 6312 Email: [mailto:bibliotecanacionales@gmail.com bibliotecanacionales@gmail.com]

University of El Salvador Library End of Av.Martires and Heroes of July 30 San Salvador, El Salvador Telephone: (503) 2511-2000 Email: [mailto:biblioteca.central@ues.edu.sv biblioteca.central@ues.edu.sv]

Museums
For a list of museums in El Salvador, go to List of museums in El Salvador in Wikipedia.

David J. Guzman National Museum of Anthropology (Museo Nacional de Antropologia) Avenida La Revolucion y Alameda Manual Enrique Araujo San Salvador, El Salvador Telephone: (503) 2243 3750/2275 5090/2243 3927

East Regional Museum (Museo Regional de Oriente) Centro de Gobierno Departamental 8ª Avenida Sur y 15A Calle Oriente San Miguel, El Salvador Telephone: (503) 2660 1275 Email: [mailto:scerritos@cultura.gob.sv scerritos@cultura.gob.sv]

Regional Museum of the West (Museo Regional de Occidente) Building A-5 Master Plan Government Center Alameda Juan Pablo II and Guadalupe Street Santa Ana, El Salvador Telephone: (503) 2501 4400/2441 1215 Email: [mailto:mregionaloccidente@gmail.com mregionaloccidente@gmail.com]

Record Offices
The original records are maintained in each municipality of the country.

For suggestions on how to find the correct municipality, see El Salvador Finding Records.

For a list of cities and towns in each department, see Cities of El Salvador - Civil Registration