The General Archives of the Nation (AGN), responsible for safeguarding millions of folios, images, and documents that form a principal part of the nation’s historical memory, is hosting the 12th Edition of the Dominican History Book Fair at the National Archives Building at #2 General Modesto Díaz Street in the Zona Universitaria, a short distance east of the Abraham Lincoln Avenue.
The fair, which runs from 17 to 21 November 2025 was opened by the Minister of Culture, Roberto Ángel Salcedo. This year it is dedicated to Dominican folklorist Dagoberto Tejeda.
The fair features conferences, book presentations, talks, exhibitions, workshops and cultural activities and is open to the general public.
Key highlights from the director
Roberto Cassá, director of the AGN, shared details of the event and the institution’s work during a luncheon with El Caribe and CDN. He highlighted the extensive program, diverse literary offerings, and the importance of culture as a service.
The fair features approximately 32 publishing houses and an intense schedule of educational and cultural activities. The books presented include essays, historical novels, and other genres related to history.
Cassá stated the fair is open to anyone who wishes to present a book on historical themes.
He stresses that culture is not a mere economic activity, but rather a service to the country.
The AGN receives about 35 in-person visits daily from people seeking historical information, many of them young, in addition to web traffic that connects the institution with the diaspora.
Concern over historical ignorance
In an interview with Hoy, the director of the AGN, Roberto Cassa expressed his concern that there is a general lack of historical knowledge among the younger generations. He described this as a “very delicate, very serious, I would say strategic problem for the destiny of the national community.”
He warned: “If a people do not know their past, their history, they do not understand their present and can hardly forge ideas about the future.”
He expressed frustration over the “rupture between education and normal life,” lamenting that a young person might not know who Francisco Caamaño is, to name a contemporary historic game changer.
Archival achievements and expansion
Professor Cassá commended the ongoing online uploading of historic works. The AGN is notable for the quantity of online documents it holds in its repositories, boasting a Dominican Digital Library of over 15,000 books online, in addition to about 150,000 physical books in the institutional library.
Furthermore, to decentralize access to the files, the AGN is establishing regional archives. An existing one is in San Juan de la Maguana, and a Cibao archive (including Santiago) is expected to open early next year. Two more are planned for La Romana and San Francisco de Macorís.
Cassá noted that while they once needed foreign specialists, most of the staff is now made up by specialized Dominicans, and efforts are underway for a university to offer a Bachelor’s degree in Archival Science.
Read more in Spanish:
El Caribe
AGN
Program details
AGN program details
19 November 2025