DIGITAL PRESERVATION ACTIONS: CURT NIMUENDAJÚ’S GAZE UPON THE ORIGINAL PEOPLES OF BRAZIL

The Digital Preservation Actions project arises from the urgent need to rescue and protect the iconographic memory left by the German-born, naturalized Brazilian researcher, Curt Nimuendajú (1883-1945). Considered the "founding father" of Ethnology in Brazil, Nimuendajú dedicated his life to the study and defense of Indigenous cultures, leaving a legacy of unique photographic records of the individuals, territories, rituals, and customs of Brazil’s original peoples.

The original works held by the Museu Nacional (UFRJ)—original photographs and negatives—were lost in the tragic 2018 fire at the Paço de São Cristóvão. However, thanks to a partnership initiated in 2016 with Funarte, digital capture masters were produced, which now allow for the "rebirth" of this collection.

Fotografia histórica em preto e branco de corpo inteiro de uma figura usando um traje ritual máscara tamanduá completo feito de fibras longas e palha, cobrindo o rosto e o corpo, formando uma estrutura cônica alta na cabeça. A figura segura um bastão longo em uma mão e objetos cerimoniais na outra, em pé em um campo gramado.
Tamandua Mask used in the imposition of various female names. FDCN COLLECTION.

What are we accomplishing?

Sob coordenação da Profª. Drª. Tania Conceição Clemente de Souza, nossa iniciativa emprega as técnicas de preservação e os recursos tecnológicos preconizados pelas autoridades do campo – IPHAN e CONARQ, para garantir que esse conhecimento não se perca e chegue à sociedade de três formas principais:

  • Physical and Digital Reconstitution of the Photograph Set: Utilizing 483 digital capture masters, we are producing facsimiles (Fine Art prints meeting museum certification parameters for fidelity and conservation) and generating high-fidelity digital representatives for preservation masters and access derivatives.
  • Rescue and Diffusion: The new works will be incorporated into the National Museum's collection through the institution's digital platforms and databases. This will allow researchers and the general public to access the works virtually, while enabling the descendants of these source communities to recover these works as a right to memory.
  • A publicação “Povos originários e o olhar de Curt Nimuendajú”: Além da preservação, a obra traz uma curadoria crítica sobre as fotografias e o contexto histórico de sua produção.

Why is this important?

Digitally preserving Nimuendajú’s gaze is more than a technical act; it is an action of virtual reparation and repatriation of these peoples' memory. By making these records available, we contribute to strengthening the representation of original peoples and offer the world a window into the cultural diversity that constitutes the formative identities of what we define as Brasilidade.

Um tríptico fotográfico horizontal composto por três variações de cor das possibilidades de positivação de negativos digitalizados. O versão central está em preto e branco, o esquerdo a versão ciano (inverso tonal da tonalidade amarelecida do negativo) e o direito um tonalidade sépia quente, simulando o amarelecimento das fotografias em papel. Todos os painéis mostram uma jovem mulher indígena sentada no chão de ripas de madeira de uma habitação tradicional de palha. Ela veste um vestido floral e sorri para a câmera enquanto segura e apresenta uma pequena cesta trançada. Outras pessoas desfocadas e postes de madeira são visíveis no fundo rústico.
Stages of negative preservation. FDCN Collection.

CNIC / Ministério da Cultura (MinC) Report

Meeting No.: 367
Meeting Date: 2026-02-05
Status: Favorable
Sent to Plenary?: No

This project is a true mission of “digital rescue” of Curt Nimuendajú’s legacy, focusing on the safeguarding of 483 photographic records whose originals were tragically lost in the National Museum fire in 2018. The initiative goes beyond simple storage: it recovers the digital masters produced before the disaster and creates printed facsimiles with museum certification. In practice, the project returns physical existence to the collection, ensuring that Nimuendajú’s gaze upon the original peoples remains preserved for future generations, now protected against the vulnerabilities of time and space.

To democratize this heritage, the plan foresees the creation of a free-access virtual platform, aimed at both the cultural public and scientific research. In addition to the digital environment, the project includes the publication of the book “Original Peoples and the Gaze of Curt Nimuendajú” and the holding of a seminar on memory policies and heritage preservation. These actions transform material loss into an opportunity for broad diffusion, connecting the academic community and society in general to the urgent debate on the protection of our historical and ethnographic memory.

The project is in compliance with the requirements of Law No. 8.313/91, Decree No. 11.453/2023, and Normative Instruction No. 23, of February 05, 2025, and meets the criteria for social counterpart, accessibility, and democratization of access.

The budget is compatible with the project's objectives, and the presented costs are aligned with the region's market values. No inconsistencies justifying a disallowance (glosa) were identified.

The proponent and their technical team demonstrate the aptitude to execute the project.

In view of the above and in agreement with the analyses of the reviewer and the linked unit, I conclude that the project meets the legal and normative requirements for approval.

Our goals

By promoting digital preservation actions of the photographic collection of Curt Nimuendajú (1883-1945), a process initiated in 2016, before the Museu Nacional fire, we invest in the achievement of several goals:

  • Production and safeguarding of the 483 Digital Representatives of the physical works destroyed in the 2018 fire and preserved in capture masters produced in cooperation between the Museu Nacional and Funarte;
  • Production of printed facsimiles with museum certification;
  • To structure the Curt Nimuendajú Photographic Collection of the Museu Nacional UFRJ through cataloging and diffusion on a web platform, with free access for cultural preservation and scientific research purposes;
  • Organization of a book with curatorial selection and research on the historical contextualization of the production and work of the German researcher, naturalized Brazilian, Curt Nimuendajú.

Cultural collection preservation

Nossa missão consiste em reconstituir o acervo com o estabelecimento de políticas arquivísticas, visando, com as normas técnicas preconizadas pelo IPHAN e CONARQ, recuperar a organicidade original da coleção, além da armazenagem e salvaguarda, a partir de impressão Fine Art dos Representantes Digitais em imagens de alta fidelidade tonal, com tintas à base de pigmentos minerais e em papéis de alta performance para a preservação de longo prazo.

Specific objectives

To catalog the Digital Representatives following technical parameters required for incorporation into web platforms with free and public access for the maintenance of digital preservation policies.

To diffuse the collection for cultural and academic preservation purposes, offering historical and geographical contextualization of Curt Nimuendajú’s ethnographic production.

Produzir conhecimento sobre a abrangência do percurso etnológico do autor e sua importância para a preservação da memória dos povos originários e a formulação de políticas indigenistas.

Organizar eventos acadêmicos para a divulgação e discussão da importância da obra de Curt Nimuendajú e das ações de preservação digital do patrimônio cultural, com participação de especialistas. Bem como a transmissão dos encontros em vídeos, com recursos de acessibilidade e disponíveis para acesso público.

Team


Proponente
TANIA CLEMENTE DE SOUZA

Coordenação Geral
EDNEY CLEMENTE DE SOUZA

Técnica de Audiovisual
ALINE RAPOSO DA SILVA

Comunicação e Divulgação Acessíveis
FABRICA13 CULTURA E MEMÓRIA

Assistente de Produção
BEATRIZ DE ARAUJO TORTURELLI

Assessoria Jurídica
BRUNO PEREGRINO

Assessoria Contábil
ESCRITORIO VERO CONTABILIDADE