Fulbright Commission Historical Archive can now be consulted

This archive brings together 56 years of the history of scientific and academic cooperation between Portugal and the USA. In 38 linear meters and 416 boxes are documents that allow us to understand the Institution's activities in the areas of Philosophy, History, Science Policy and International Relations. Among other documents, the Fulbright collection includes minutes, plans, reports, Studentships files, financial administration documents, correspondence and photographs.

All the documentation is available on paper, in English and Portuguese, and also online through the Archive of Science and Technology (ACT) platform. In 2014, the Fulbright Commission's historical collection was integrated into the ACT, which is now responsible for the archival management of this collection, in terms of its organization, processing and dissemination.

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

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

For the Secretary of State, Maria Fernanda Rollo, "this is a cherished project that dignifies the good relations between Portugal and the USA." She also stressed that it is a "common heritage" and that it is up to 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 housed in the FCT building since 2014, and the crucial contribution of the ACT team to this project.

Image credits: Fulbright