A preservação dos livros de registros do Teatro Alberto Maranhão (1904-1920): desafios e estratégias para a conservação documental

Abstract

The monograph analyzes the conservation process of the record books of the Alberto Maranhão Theater, produced between 1904 and 1920, considering the importance of the collection for institutional memory and for the preservation of the cultural heritage of Rio Grande do Norte. The research is based on the following problem: how does the conservation of the Alberto Maranhão Theater’s record books contribute to the preservation of the theater's historical heritage? To answer this question, objectives were established that include identifying the conservation status of the collection, describing the stages of preventive and curative conservation carried out at the Conservation and Restoration Laboratory of Documentary Collections of the Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, and analyzing the content and materiality of the books as primary sources. The methodology involved bibliographic review and the monitoring of technical interventions—cleaning, diagnostic forms, digitization, deacidification, gluing, the use of Japanese paper, lamination, and binding—which physically stabilized the documents and increased their durability. The analysis of the content of the volumes revealed administrative, cultural, and journalistic records that document the artistic life of the theater and highlight its historical importance as a cultural institution. The study concludes that the conservation of these books is essential to ensure continued access to information, reaffirming their role as key sources for collective memory and as fundamental elements for the preservation of the cultural heritage of the Alberto Maranhão Theater.