Collection Summary
Guatemalan Documents Collection
1944-1954
1944-1954
MSS35881
University of Pennsylvania Foreign Policy Research Institute
60,000 items
94 containers
27 linear feet
58 microfilm reels
Spanish
Collection material in Spanish
Manuscript Division, Library of Congress
Washington, D.C.
Microfilm and papers containing
correspondence, minutes, financial accounts, and other records and papers of Guatemalan
government agencies, political parties, labor unions, and private individuals,
nationally and internationally, documenting the period of reforms and social and
political upheaval in the decade before the overthrow of Jacobo Arbenz Guzmán by Carlos
Castillo Armas in 1954.
Selected Search Terms
The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in the LC Catalog. They are grouped by name of person or organization, by subject or location, and by occupation and listed alphabetically.
People
Ubico, Jorge, 1878-1946.
Organizations
Comité Nacional de Defensa contra El Comunismo.
University of Pennsylvania. Foreign Policy Research Institute.
Subjects
Communism--Guatemala.
Labor unions--Guatemala.
Socialism--Guatemala.
Places
Guatemala--History--20th century.
Guatemala--Politics and government.
Guatemala--Social conditions.
Acquisition Information
The Guatemalan Documents Collection relating primarily to government and labor
activities in Guatemala was given to the Library of Congress by the University of
Pennsylvania Foreign Policy Research Institute in 1958.
Processing History
The collection was processed in 1958. The finding aid was revised in 2009.
Copyright Status
Copyright in the unpublished writings in this collection is reserved. Consult reference
staff in the Manuscript Division for further information.
Access and Restrictions
The Guatemalan Documents Collection is open to research. Researchers are advised to
contact the Manuscript Reading Room prior to visiting. Many collections are stored
off-site and advance notice is needed to retrieve these items for research use.
Microfilm
Microfilm on sixty reels was received as part of the Guatemalan Collection and is listed
and described in this finding aid. This microfilm is not available for interlibrary
loan.
Preferred Citation
Researchers wishing to cite this collection should include the following information:
Container or reel number, Guatemalan Documents Collection, Manuscript Division, Library
of Congress, Washington, D.C.
Scope and Content Note
The Guatemalan Documents Collection consists of material compiled by the Guatemalan
Comité Nacional de Defensa contra el Comunismo concerning the period 1944-1954 and given
to the Library of Congress by the University of Pennsylvania Foreign Policy Research
Institute. Included are 60 reels of microfilm and approximately 35,000 paper documents
that are mostly available also on the film version. The collection is organized in six
series: [ Microfilm ](micro), [ Special Series ](specser), [ Correspondence and Official
Papers ](corresoffpap), [ Minutes
](minut), [ Financial Accounts
](finacc), and [ Miscellany
](miscella).
The papers in this collection cover the period of Guatemalan history dating from the
overthrow and exile from power of General Jorge Ubico in 1944 to the overthrow of Jacobo
Arbenz Guzmán by Carlos Castillo Armas in 1954. They show the emergence and growth of
political parties and labor unions during a decade of change, the sweep of social reform
attempted by Arbenz and his predecessor, Juan José Arévalo, the struggle of Arbenz's
government for survival, and the influence on it domestically and internationally of
socialists and communists.
The documents are composed in part of both official and private correspondence from
individuals in all walks of life, from the president of the republic to farmers in
remote areas. Correspondence from government agencies is represented as well as the
correspondence of political parties and labor unions. Correspondence between Guatemalans
and individuals and organizations abroad, generally of communist origin, is also in the
collection. Present in addition are minutes and records of leading political parties and
labor unions, and financial accounts of the chief labor unions in the country.
Arrangement of the Papers
The collection is arranged in six series:
-
[ Microfilm, 1944-1954 ](micro)
-
[ Special Series, 1944-1954
](specser)
-
[ Correspondence and
Official Papers, 1944-1954 ](corresoffpap)
-
[ Minutes, 1945-1954 ](minut)
-
[ Financial Accounts,
1947-1954 ](finacc)
-
[ Miscellany, 1947-1954
](miscella)
Container List
Box
Contents
1-58
Microfilm, 1944-1954
1944-1954
Microfilm of the collection.
Arranged as received and described in the container list. Microfim shelf no.
11,555.
1
Carnets of the Guatemalan Communist
Party
2
Archive of Correspondence of the Confederación
General de Trabajadores de Guatemala (CGT)
A-P
3
P-Z
4
General Correspondence of the Confederación
General de Trabajadores de Guatemala
1953
1953
Jan. 5-May 22
Jan. 5-May 22
5
Apr. 15-Aug. 30
Apr. 15-Aug. 30
6
June-Oct.
June-Oct.
7
Sept.-Dec.
Sept.-Dec.
8
Nov.-Dec.
Nov.-Dec.
1954
1954
Jan.-Mar.
Jan.-Mar.
9
Mar.-June
Mar.-June
10-11
Archives of the Federation of Trade Unions and
Confederación de Trabajadores de América Latina
11
Sindicate de Trabajadores en Educación de
Guatemala
Minutes of the National Teachers
Association
12
Miscellaneous Correspondence of the
Confederación General de Trabajadores de Guatemala
13
Correspondence of the Confederación General de
Trabajadores de Guatemala Secretary of Organization
14
Correspondence of World Federation of Trade
Unions and Confederación de Trabajadores de America Latina
15-16
Records and Correspondence of the Confederación
General de Trabajadores de Guatemala and Confederación de Tradajadores
Guatemala
17
Correspondence of the National Textile
Federation for 1954
1954
18
Personnel Papers of Victor M.
Gutierrez
19
Correspondence of Partido Acción Revolucionaria
Partido de la Revolución Guatmalteca, Confederación Nacional Campesina de
Guatemala
20
Various Papers of J. M. Fortuny, Roberto Alvardo
Fuentes, Partido Acción Revolucionario and Civil Guard
21
Miscellaneous Correspondence of the Partido de
la Revolución Guatemalteca
22
Documents Concerning Tortures Perpetrated by the
Árbenz Regime
23
Miscellaneous Documents Pertaining to the
Confederación General de Trabajadores de Guatemala and the Sindicato de Acción
y Mejoramiento Ferrocarrilero
24
Miscellaneous Documents Pertaining to the
Confederación General de Trabajadores de Guatemala and the Sindicato de Acción
y Mejoramiento Ferrocarrilero
25
Confederación de Trabajadores de
Guatemala
26
Miscellaneous Correspondence of the Partido de
la Revolución Guatemalteca
27-28
Sindicato de Acción y Mejoramiento
Ferrocarrilero
29
Patronage and Loans to Political
Figures
30
Sindicato de Acción y Mejoramiento
Ferrocarrilero Miscellaneous Correspondence
31
Sindicato de Acción y Mejoramiento
Ferrocarrilero Correspondence
32
Sindicato de Acción y Mejoramiento
Ferrocarrilero Biographic Files of the Executive Committee Members
33
Minutes of the Directive Council of the
Railroadmen's Mutual Aid Association
34
Federación Sinducal de Guatemala and Federación
de Trabajadores del Departmento de Guatemala
35
Confederación General de Trabajadores de
Guatemala, Sindicato de Trabajadores de la Educación de Guatemala, and
Confederación de Trabajadores de Guatemala
36
Minutes of the National Executive Committee of
the Sindicato de Trabajadores de la Educación de Guatemala
37
Confederación de Trabajadores de Guatemala,
Relaciones Campesinas
38
Correspondence of Alianza Femenina Guatemalteca,
Maria Árbenz, Guatemalan Alliance of Democratic Youth, Peace Organizations and
Various Political Parties.
39
Partido Guatemalteca del Trabajo
40
Sinciato de Acción y Mejoramiento
Ferrocarrilero
41
Confederación de Trabajadores de
Guatemala
42
Correspondence of Individual Labor
Unions
43
Correspondence of Individual Unions
44
Sindicato de Trabajadores de la Educación de
Guatemala Correspondence
45
Minutes of Meetings of Sindicato de Trabajadores
de la Educación de Guatemala for various periods from 1947 to 1954
46
Records and Correspondence of Sindicato de
Trabajadores de la Educación de Guatemala
47
Records and Correspondence of Sindicato de
Trabajadores de la Educación de Guatemala
48
Records and Correspondence of Sindicato de
Acción y Mejoramiento Ferrocarrilero, Partido Acción Revolucionaria, and
Confederación de Trabajadores de Guatemala
49
Records and Correspondence of Various Unions and
Political Parties
50-52
Correspondence of the Confederación Nacional
Campesina de Guatemala
53-55
Miscellaneous Union Material
56
Miscellaneous Correspondence of the
Confederación General de Trabajadores de Guatemala
57-58
Records and correspondence of various
unions
1-27
Special Series, 1944-1954
1944-1954
Enlargement prints of correspondence and documents of particular importance
withdrawn from other series.
Grouped by type of organization and arranged alphabetically therein.
1
Guatemalan Government
Agencies and Programs
Agriculture
Armed Forces
Communications and Public Works
Congress
Economy and Labor
Education
Foreign Affairs
2
Foreign Affairs
Government
Guardia Civil
3
Institute of Development
Laws
Municipal
Other Latin American Countries and
Organizations
Patronage
Presidency
Pressure on Judiciary
Propaganda
4
Provincial
Provisional Government
Publications
Treasury
Unclassified
5
Support of Guatemalan Government
Amigos de Guatemala
Defense of Regime
Exploitation of Intervention
Issue
Opposition to “U.S. Intervention”
Rallying to Defense of Regime
Solidarity from Latin American
Unions
Support from other countries
Support of Regime
6
Political Parties and Organizations
Asociación General de Industriales de
Guatemala
Alianza Femenina Guatemalteca
Árbenz
Committee Against High Cost of
Living
Committee for Defense of
Sovereignty
Cooperation of Parties
Frente Autentico Revolucionario de
Orientacion Socialista
Frente Demorático Nacional
Friction Within Revolution
Frente Popular Libertador
Juventud Revolucionaria
Guatemalteca
Labor and Government under
Arevalo
Liga de Inquilinos
Miscellaneous
Partido Acción Revolucionaria
7
Partido Acción Revolucionaria
Partido Acción Revolucionaria and
Communism
Partido Communista de Guatemala
Partido Guatemalteco del Trabajo
8
Partido Guatemalteco del Trabajo
9
Partido Integridan Nacional
Partido Revolución Guatemalteca
Partido Revolución Nacional
Partido Revolución Obrero de
Guatemala
Partido Socialista
10
Confederación Nacional Campesina de Guatemala
(CNCG)
Acción Campesina
Agrarian Reform
Amor Velasco
CNCG General Files
11
Collaboration in Defense of
Regime
Congresses
12
Denials of Communism
Dissatisfaction with Progress of Agrarian
Reform
Government
Guardia Civil
Internal Affairs
International Labor and Front
Groups
Land Reform
Operating Techniques
Political Relationships
13
Political Relationships
Relations with CGTG
Unions
14
Agrarian Reform
Agrarian Reform Laws
Agrarian Reform Personnel
Background of Agrarian Reform
Banco Nacional Agrario
Communist and Execution of Agrarian
Reform
Complaints
Degree of Penetration by
Communists
Departmento Agrario Nacional
Government
Pellecer and Agrarian Reform
15
Confederación de Trabajadores de
Guatemala
Comité Nacional de Unidad Sindical
Comité Politico Nacional de los
Trabajadores
16
Federación Sindical de Guatemala
17
Transport Congress,
1951
1951
Unity Congress, 1951
1951
18
Confederación de Trabajadores de
Guatemala
Assemblies
Cardoza y Aragon
Communism
Frente Democratico
Government
Gutierrez
Internal Matters
19
Operations
Judiciary
Labor Relations
Minister of Communications
Minister of Government
Political Relations
Partido Acción Revolucionaria
Partido Revolución
Guatemalteca
Partido Renovacion Nacional
Relations with member unions
Rural Operations
Social Security
Unions
United States Government
20
Individual Unions and Leaders
Campesinos
Federación Laboral Autónoma
Guatemalteca
Federación de Trabajadores del Departamento
de Guatemala
Gutierrez
Pinto Usaga
Sindicate de Acción y Mejoramiento
Ferrocarrilero
21
Sindicate de Acción y Mejoramiento
Ferrocarrilero
Sindicate de Trabajadores de la Educación de
Guatemala (STEG)
22
Sindicate de Trabajadores de la Educación de
Guatemala
Front Activities
International Connections
Patronage
Peace Activities
Politics
Propaganda
Role of STEG in CTG
Support of Regime
23
Unclassified Unions
24
International Labor
Confederación de Trabajadores de América
Latina
Federación Sindical Mundial (FSM)
Agricultural and Forestry
Workers
CGTG Relations
Escuela Sindical
Federación Internacional Sindical de la
Enseñanza
Front Groups
Instruction from FSM
Interest of FSM in Guatemala
May Day Celebrations
25
Metal and Engineering
Department
Relations with FSM
Support for strike in Honduras
Unions affiliated
26
Communist Activities and Front
Groups
Alianza de la Juventud Democrática
Guatemalteca
Anti-Communism
Arevalo
Asociación de Comedores y Guarderias
Infantiles
Communist Operations
Confederación General de Trabajadores de
Guatemala, Relations with Iron Curtain Countries
Congresses
27
Death of Stalin
Exile Groups
Fiesta de la Amistad
Fortuny
Frente Universitario Democrático
Individuals
Infiltration
Instituto Guatemalteco de Seguridad
Social
Other Latin American Governments
Peace Activities
Pressure on Governments
Pro-Communist Youth
Soviet Films
Soviet Propaganda
28-72
Correspondence and Official
Papers, 1944-1954
1944-1954
Enlargement prints of correspondence and documents.
Grouped by title of organization and chronologically therein.
28
Confederación de Trabajadores de
Guatemala
1945, Jan.-1950, Aug.
1945, Jan.-1950, Aug.
29
1950, Sept.-1951, July
1950, Sept.-1951, July
30
1951
1951
Aug.-Dec.
Aug.-Dec.
Nov.-Dec.
Nov.-Dec.
31
1952, Jan-Oct.
1952, Jan-Oct.
32
1952, Nov.-1953, Jan.
1952, Nov.-1953, Jan.
33
1953
1953
Jan.-Mar.
Jan.-Mar.
34
Mar.-Apr.
Mar.-Apr.
35
May-July
May-July
36
Aug.
Aug.
37
Sept.- Dec.
Sept.- Dec.
38
1954, Jan.-June
1954, Jan.-June
39
Confederación Nacional Campesina de
Guatemala
1951, Jan.-1952, June
1951, Jan.-1952, June
40
1952, July-Dec.
1952, July-Dec.
41
1953, Jan.-Sept.
1953, Jan.-Sept.
42
1953, Oct.-1954, Jan.
1953, Oct.-1954, Jan.
43
1954
1954
Feb.-Mar.
Feb.-Mar.
44
Apr.-June
Apr.-June
45
Sindicato de Acción y Mejoramiento
Ferrocarrilero
1945-1946
1945-1946
46
1947-1949
1947-1949
47
1950
1950
48
1950, Jan.-1951 June
1950, Jan.-1951 June
49
1951, July-Dec.
1951, July-Dec.
50
1952, Jan.-Aug.
1952, Jan.-Aug.
51
1952, Sept.-1953 June
1952, Sept.-1953 June
52
1953, July-1954 June
1953, July-1954 June
53
Correspondence of Individual Unions
1944-1947
1944-1947
54
1948-1949
1948-1949
55
1949, Jan.-1950
1949, Jan.-1950
1950
1950
June
June
56
July-Dec.
July-Dec.
57
1951
1951
58
1951, Jan.-1952 June
1951, Jan.-1952 June
59
1952, July-Oct.
1952, July-Oct.
60
1952, Nov.-1953 June
1952, Nov.-1953 June
61
1953, July-1954 June
1953, July-1954 June
62
Federación Sindical de Guatemala,
1946-1954
1946-1954
63
Sindicato de Trabajadores de la Educatión de
Guatemala
1945-1948
1945-1948
64
1949-1951
1949-1951
65
1952-1954
1952-1954
66
Partido de la Revolución
Guatemalteca
1950-1952
1950-1952
67
1953-1954
1953-1954
68
Partido Acción Revolucionaria,
1946-1954
1946-1954
69
Partido Guatemalteca del Trabajo
Partido Integridad Nacional
Frente Popular Libertador
Other Political Parties,
1949-1953
1949-1953
70
Guatemalan Government
1948-Apr. 1953
1948-Apr. 1953
71
1953, May-1954
1953, May-1954
72
International Relations,
1945-1954
1945-1954
73-83
Minutes, 1945-1954
1945-1954
Enlargement prints of minutes of nine organizations.
Arranged alphabetically by title of organizations and chronologically
therein.
73
Asociación de Auxillio Mutuo
Ferrocarrilero.
1945, Aug.-1947, March
1945, Aug.-1947, March
74
1947, April-1948, March
1947, April-1948, March
75
Confederación de Trabajadores de Guatemala,
1945, June-1946, Sept.
1945, June-1946, Sept.
76
Federación Sindical de Guatemala,
1948
1948
77
Asamblea General de la Federación de
Trabajadores del Departamento de Guatemala, 1947, Dec.-1951,
Mar.
1947, Dec.-1951, Mar.
78
Minutes of Conference between Representatives of
Sindicato de Acción y Mejoramiento Ferrocarrilero and the Railroad
Management
1947, Jan.-1950, Apr
1947, Jan.-1950, Apr
79
1950, May-1954 June
1950, May-1954 June
80
Sindicato de Acción Mejoramiento Ferrocarrilero
Executive Committee, 1948, Mar.-May
1948, Mar.-May
81
Sindicato de Trabajadores de la Educación de
Guatemala
1945, Jan.-1947, Oct.
1945, Jan.-1947, Oct.
82
1946, June-1949, Mar.
1946, June-1949, Mar.
83
Sindicato de Trabajadores en Madera y Vidrio,
1947, June-1949, Mar.
1947, June-1949, Mar.
84-87
Financial Accounts, 1947-1954
1947-1954
Enlargement prints of accounts of six organizations.
Grouped by title of organization and arranged chronologically therein.
84
Confederación General de Trabajadores Guatemala,
1952, Apr.-1954, Feb.
1952, Apr.-1954, Feb.
Confederación Nacional Campesina de Guatemala,
1952-1954
1952-1954
Confederación General de Trabajadores Guatemala,
1948, July-1952, Feb.
Dry Cleaners' Union, 1950,
Sept.-1953
1950, Sept.-1953
85
Federación Sindical de Guatemala, 1948,
June-1951, July
1948, June-1951, July
86
Sindicato de Acción y Mejoramiento
Ferrocarrilero
1949, July-1954, Mar.
1949, July-1954, Mar.
87
1947, Jan.-1952, June
1947, Jan.-1952, June
88-94
Miscellany, 1947-1954
1947-1954
Enlargement of small groups of correspondence, documents, membership cards,
telegrams, and original printed matter.
Grouped by type of material.
88
Second Congress of Confederación General de
Trabajadores de Guatemala, 1954, Jan.
1954, Jan.
89
Papers of the Secretary of Conflicts of
Confederación de Trabajadores de Guatemala, 1948
1948
90
Documentation Concerning Tortures Perpetrated by
the Árbenz Guzmán Regime, 1954
1954
91
Membership Cards of the Guatemalan Communist
Party, 1952-1954
1952-1954
92
Labor Union Telegrams,
1947-1954
1947-1954
93
Guatemalan Publications
Democracia y Tiranias en el
Caribe
Guatemala ante America
Legislación Cooperativa
Regimenes Agrarios
Transmisión del Poder
Presidencial
94
Boletin del Banco Guatemala
En Buen Camino
El Triangulo de Escuintla
Falange en Guatemala
La Democracia Amenazada
Legislación Revolucionaria