Ángela de la Mora Preserves Latin America's Largest Trans Archive
A historic collection of 3,000 pieces moves to Guadalajara for public access.
1A Desert Sanctuary
Located near the border wall between Mexico and the United States, a small, white-walled room serves as a repository for trans history. Ángela de la Mora curates this collection, which currently stands as the largest trans archive in Latin America and the fourth largest of its kind in the entire world.
2Extensive Historical Scope
The archive spans centuries, containing over 3,000 individual pieces that stretch across 17 meters of shelf space. Its oldest item is a book dating back to 1690. These documents provide a rare, tangible timeline of trans existence, ranging from 18th-century London records to modern-day global human rights struggles and documentation.
3Documenting Global Experiences
The collection includes diverse materials such as the 1970s Mexican magazine Alarma! and reports on human rights issues from Iowa to Barcelona. It also preserves cultural artifacts, including invitations to the 1986 Fantasy Fair, recognized as the world's oldest trans conference, highlighting both the struggles and the social vibrancy of the community.
4Enduring Political Questions
Among the archives is the 1993 edition of the magazine Tapestry, which featured articles questioning societal definitions of womanhood. These historical inquiries remain relevant today, as they address the same legal and social challenges that continue to impact the rights and recognition of transgender individuals in contemporary society across the globe.
5Transition to Public Access
After years of meticulous private curation in the border region, the archive is undergoing a significant transition. De la Mora is preparing to move the entire collection to a library in Guadalajara. This shift ensures that the materials are finally accessible to the public, fulfilling their intended purpose as historical records.
6Preserving Marginalized Narratives
Archives like this play a critical role in safeguarding narratives that are frequently excluded from mainstream historical accounts. By consolidating thousands of pieces, De la Mora prevents the erasure of trans history. This systematic preservation allows researchers and the public to examine the evolution of trans identity through primary source documentation.
7Logistics of the Collection
The collection is noted for its extreme organization, housed in a small, orderly space near the Ciudad Juárez and El Paso border. Maintaining 3,000 pieces requires precise cataloging, especially given the fragility of items dating back to the 1600s. The move to Guadalajara involves complex logistical planning to ensure material safety.
8Impact of Institutionalization
Moving the archive to a public library in Guadalajara marks a milestone for Latin American cultural heritage. By institutionalizing this collection, the history of the trans community gains formal recognition and protection. This step is essential for future academic study and for providing a sense of continuity for the community.
Original article: El País México — Ángela de la Mora Preserves Latin America's Largest Trans Archive