Fulbright Commission Historical Archive now available for consultation

This archive brings together 56 years of scientific and academic cooperation between Portugal and the US. Spanning 38 linear meters and 416 boxes, it contains documents that provide insight into the institution's activities in the fields of philosophy, history, science policy, and international relations. Among other documents, the Fulbright collection consists of minutes, plans, reports, Studentships student files, financial administration documents, correspondence, and photographs.

All documentation is available in paper format, in English and Portuguese, and also online via the Science and Technology Archive (ACT) platform. In 2014, the Fulbright Commission historical collection was integrated into the ACT, which now manages the archiving of this collection in terms of its organization, processing, and dissemination.

Since the Fulbright Program was first implemented in Portugal in 1960, more than 2,000 Portuguese and American students and teachers have received Studentships in various academic fields. Among the Fulbright scholars is the current President of the Republic, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa.

The conference presenting this archival restoration and treatment project was attended by the Secretary of State for Science, Technology, and Higher Education, Maria Fernanda Rollo, as well as the Executive Director of the Institution, Otília Reis, the Chairman of the FCT Board of Directors, Paulo Ferrão, and the person responsible for archival processing, Cláudia Filipe from the Institute of Contemporary History, FCSH-UNL.

For Secretary of State Maria Fernanda Rollo, "this is a cherished project that dignifies the good relations between Portugal and the US."She also stressed that it is a "common heritage" andthatit is up to the MCTES to "promote its dissemination and ensure its physical and digital preservation." The President of FCT, Paulo Ferrão, highlighted the good relations between this institution and the Fulbright Commission, which has been based in the FCT building since 2014, and the crucial contribution of the ACT team to this project.

Image credits: Fulbright