Humboldt Digital Project: methodology for the digital transformation of the documentary heritage

Abstract

Introduction: The article examines the research results from the digitization, scholarly digital edition and adopting new technologies during the Humboldt Digital Project carried out between 2019 and 2023 by the Academy of Sciences and Humanities Berlin Brandenburg and the Office of the Historian of the City of Havana.

Objectives: To preserve and to disseminate the work of Prussian scientist Alexander von Humboldt and to propose a methodology for digital humanities projects with direct impact on social science research, particularly in the Cuban context.

Methods: The project employed an interdisciplinary approach combining academic interest in the history of science and colonial culture with digital humanities methods and technologies. A collaborative team from Germany and Cuba digitized historical documents and created a digital collection of sources. The process included continuous development of digital skills and capacities through ongoing learning.

Results: The project produced a digital dosier titled “Alexander von Humboldt and Cuba”, providing open access to a curated collection of historical sources related to Humboldt. This initiative preserves Humboldt’s legacy and creates new opportunities for research and teaching, highlighting the relevance of his work in Cuba.

Conclusions: The Humboldt Digital Project demonstrated that digital transformation in cultural institutions is a comprehensive process beyond technology adoption. It strengthened Cuba-Germany collaboration and emphasized digitization’s crucial role in cultural heritage preservation, opening new paths for academic research in social sciences.