Digitalização de fotografias dos soldados da borracha como forma de preservação digital

Abstract

This paper discusses the digitization of photographs from the "Rubber Soldiers" collection, part of the Jean Pierre Chabloz Fund, as a strategy for preserving the historical memory of Brazil's involvement in World War II. The research analyzes the experience of the Museum of Art of the Federal University of Ceará (MAUC/UFC), the institution responsible for safeguarding and conserving this collection, highlighting the challenges faced in implementing digital preservation practices. Based on interviews and document analysis, it is observed that, despite significant efforts by the technical team, the lack of an institutional digitization policy and limited infrastructure hinder the systematic organization and public access to the material. Digitization is identified as an essential tool to ensure both the protection of the physical archive and the democratization of access to the memory of the Amazonian workers recruited for the rubber campaign. The study underscores the importance of public policies that support the safeguarding of historical photographic documents, especially those linked to marginalized narratives within Brazil’s official history.