Digital archive of Algarvean newspapers and magazines dating back from 1810 unveiled

There are already 200,000 pages that have been uploaded to the online archive, but it is expected to reach 400,000. The Hemeroteca Digital do Algarve’s goal is to gather every page the 400 individual press titles’ publications released in the Algarve region since 1810, capturing over 200 years of history. It is now available online by clicking HERE.

The newspaper library accomplishes the dream of Luis Guerreiro, who died in 2017, of gathering in one place all the newspapers, magazines, almanacs and newsletters, that is, all periodical publications printed and published in the Algarve.

The Heremoteca was officially unveiled to the public last Sunday, in Querença, Loulé.

“We finally have a platform that brings together all the publications of the Algarve into one access point,” says Patrícia de Jesus Palma, the project’s coordinator.

At this moment in time, the archive only includes newspapers and magazines published up until 1949, due to “copyright issues”, although the full collection, which is set to include publications up to 1974, can be viewed at the University of the Algarve’s library.

From now on, the remaining digitalised editions of publications will be put on the website on a yearly basis.

The coordinator explained that monetary limitations have limited the digitalisation of more publications. Still, anyone who has an edition of a newspaper or magazine that is not included in the archive is encouraged to contact the university.

The archive is considered to be of extreme importance in aiding the study of the region’s history, as it brings together publications that were “dispersed all over the country”, said Salomé Horta, the executive coordinator of the project.

“These newspapers tell the story of the region, and often there are events that can only be remembered when consulting the publications from that time,” she added.

While many newspapers were in poor conditions, some have been refurbished and preserved to be kept from being lost altogether.