The Juan Negrín Foundation

Las Palmas de Gran Canaria · Category: Cultural spaces · Subcategory: Institutions

The Juan Negrín Foundation is a non profit organization that centres on the studies, research and dissemination of politician and scientist Juan Negrín López (Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, 1892-París, 1956) and the political, social and cultural events of his time, particularly the first third of the 20th century (the Silver Age of Spanish culture and science), the 2nd Republic and the civil war.

His slogan was "resisting is winning", and at the end of the day, that is what happened. Negrín's papers, contained in a monumental archive which kept out of the hands of Franquistas and Nazis, and which firstly he and then his family kept under lock and key for 75 years, is now available for researchers to enhance the truth behind the history. On 3rd February 2014, the Juan Negrín Foundation opened its smart new centre in the historical district of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria and started to carry the archive in its heart.

The move of the Negrín Archive to Gran Canaria was achieved following years of negociations between the Juan Negrín Foundation and Carmen Negrín Fetter, Juan's daughter. They coincided in their aim to achieve mechanisms for its custody and conservation and that it could be closely studied by historians. The Foundation also aspired to having its headquarters in the city where the statesman was born. In May 2010, the Casa de Colón museum in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria was the venue for the signing of the agreement. The archive arrived at Gran Canaria in December 2013. The former Caja de Reclutas de Vegueta was refurbished and opened its doors as the Juan Negrín Foundation. In the heart of it, in a reinforced chamber, the statesman's archive has finaly come to rest. (text by Ángeles Arencibia taken from the magazine NT nº 136)

28.098798, -15.414016