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Carlos F. Novella Museum

Carlos F. Novella Museum

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We support cultural and educational strengthening

The Carlos F. Novella Museum is a private institution that records, preserves, promotes, and disseminates Progreso’s tangible and intangible industrial heritage. It is a non-profit institution that seeks to be a model of values, and a leader in its line of work while supporting the cultural and educational strengthening of Guatemalan society.

The institution, named after the company’s founder Carlos F. Novella, was inaugurated on March 18, 1999, as part of the activities commemorating the 100-year anniversary of Cementos Progreso.

It was born as a concern of the 4th generation of the Novella family. They wanted the dream of its founder and his sons to be known. They created a company that became one of the most important industrial references in the country.

Museo Carlos F. Novella | Progreso, en todo lo que hacemos

Our Mission

The Carlos F. Novella Museum preserves and protects the tangible, movable, and documentary heritage of Progreso. It does this as a testimony to its 122 + years of trajectory of more. It interprets, promotes, and disseminates the research of these testimonies, which are then disseminated through articles, exhibitions, and digital media.

A group of specialists work on the necessary processes to maintain the collections in optimal conditions. They safeguard the history captured in objects, documents, photographs, books, magazines, blueprints, and audiovisual material.

Mobile Collection

The museum’s mobile collection is made up of various objects that were used in different areas of Cementos Progreso at the La Pedrera and San Miguel plants.

These objects offer information that complements the archives, anecdotes, and data research provided by former team members. Each one of them tells a story that is safeguarded, researched, and socialized by Museum staff.

For 122 years, Cementos Progreso has received various awards and diplomas for sponsoring, participating in, and helping various activities in Guatemala. In addition, it has received national and international recognition for its trajectory and work, all of which make up the category of awards and trophies.

Museo Carlos F. Novella | Progreso, en todo lo que hacemos
Museo Carlos F. Novella | Progreso, en todo lo que hacemos

Finally, there is a collection of medals from sporting events in which Cementos Progreso either participated or sponsored. The company supports and encourages practicing sports in the country.

The exchange between the Museum, the community, and former team members is vital to recovering the historical memory and industrial heritage of different companies that have forged our country’s history. Had it not been for this relationship, a great deal of data, anecdotes, and knowledge of Guatemala’s industrial and social development would have been lost. This is critical for building the country where we want to live.

Museo Carlos F. Novella | Progreso, en todo lo que hacemos

Carbide lamp

Manufacturer: Herm. Riemann, Chemnitz Gablenz, Alemania
La Pedrera Plant
Year or Historical phase: 1939 – 1974

Museo Carlos F. Novella | Progreso, en todo lo que hacemos

Volumetric Balloon

Manufacturer: Schott & Gen, Mainz, Germany
La Pedrera Plant
Year or Historical Phase: 1899 – 1938

Museo Carlos F. Novella | Progreso, en todo lo que hacemos

Letter weighing balance

Manufacturer: Ph. J. Maul, Germany
La Pedrera Plant
Year or Historical Phase: 1899 – 1938

Museo Carlos F. Novella | Progreso, en todo lo que hacemos

P & H Crane Plate

Manufacturer: Pawling and Harnischfeger
La Pedrera Plant
Year or Historical Phase: 1893 - 1950

Museo Carlos F. Novella | Progreso, en todo lo que hacemos

Aluminum Hull

Manufacturer: E.D. Bullard Co.
La Pedrera Plant
Year or Historical phase: 1939 – 1974

Documentary Collection

Today there is a specialized storage room where the photo library is kept, and another one for the document repository, the library, and the blueprint collection.

The document repository was cataloged according to the company’s corporate name and ordered according to the document date. The photographic collection was cataloged by subject, date, plant of origin, and description. The books were cataloged according to the universal Dewey decimal classification system, which is used in most libraries around the world.

Museo Carlos F. Novella | Progreso, en todo lo que hacemos
Museo Carlos F. Novella | Progreso, en todo lo que hacemos

The documentary collection is stored with acid-free materials (folders, binders and boxes), especially to conserve paper and photographs.

The Carlos F. Novella Museum document collection dates from 1860 to 2018. Most documents are in Spanish and others are in English, French, German and Italian.

To avoid physical material manipulation, the museum’s historical archive seeks to avoid the manipulation of physical materials, the collections of photographs, negatives, documents, and plans were digitized to facilitate their access and thus ensure their long-term preservation.

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