Puerto Rico's history is more than a collection of documents it is the story of our families, our communities, and our identity. Today, many of the records that preserve that history face an uncertain future. Decades of limited resources, environmental challenges, and catastrophic weather events such as Hurricane Maria have placed countless historical documents at risk from humidity, mold, deterioration, and natural disasters.

For many of us, this is deeply personal. Parish registers, civil records, military records, wills, land records, and other historical documents connect generations of Puerto Ricans to their ancestors and preserve the cultural heritage of our Island. Once these records are lost, they cannot be recreated.

Puerto Rico's historical archives represent an irreplaceable part of our collective heritage. Preserving them is not only important for genealogical research, but also for historians, educators, students, cultural institutions, and future generations seeking to understand the Island's rich and diverse history.

Digitization is one of the most effective ways to protect these fragile records while reducing the need to handle aging originals. High-quality digital preservation can help ensure that, even if physical documents continue to deteriorate over time, the information they contain will remain available for future generations.

This petition is intended to demonstrate public support for the long-term preservation and responsible digitization of Puerto Rico's historical records. As this initiative develops, we hope to engage in constructive dialogue with the institutions that steward these collections—including churches, archives, libraries, cultural organizations, researchers, and government agencies to explore collaborative solutions that respect their responsibilities while advancing preservation efforts.

Our goal is not to assign blame or dictate a single course of action. Rather, we hope to encourage cooperation among all stakeholders so that these invaluable records can be preserved before additional history is lost to time, climate, and deterioration.

By signing this petition, you are expressing your support for preserving Puerto Rico's documentary heritage and encouraging continued collaboration to identify practical, responsible, and sustainable solutions for safeguarding these records.

Together, we can help ensure that Puerto Rico's history remains protected, preserved, and accessible for generations to come.