Cedocam Exhibition Honors Legacy of Journalist Patricio Estévanez in Tenerife

The Center for Documentation of the Canary Islands and America (Cedocam) has reached a new milestone in preserving the region's history. The institution, managed by the Cabildo of Tenerife, is currently hosting an exhibition titled Dear Patricio: The Story Behind a Name at its facility on Calle Anchieta in La Laguna. The display will be open to the public until March 14, 2027, marking the centenary of the death of Patricio Estévanez (1850–1926).

Beyond honoring the anniversary, the exhibition highlights how private archives help shape our collective identity. It draws from the Estévanez Collection, a set of materials held by Cedocam that reconstructs the life and career of the man who served as the honorary chronicler of Santa Cruz de Tenerife. The collection includes letters, lecture notes, photographs, and personal art, providing a detailed look at the public and private life of a key figure in island journalism and politics during the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

The opening ceremony was attended by several notable figures, including José Carlos Acha, the island’s Minister of Culture, Museums, and Sports; Carlos Pallés, scientific director of Museums of Tenerife; curator Jonás Armas; and Cedocam’s deputy director, María José Vera. Speakers at the event noted that Estévanez’s legacy is significant not just for his personal biography, but for how it illustrates the social connections and cultural landscape of the Canary Islands during his lifetime.

This initiative highlights the importance of heritage management in making history accessible. By showcasing everything from publications Estévanez edited to his own handwritten notes, Cedocam is honoring a pioneer of regional journalism while giving the public and researchers direct access to primary historical sources. A century after his death, this exhibition offers a fresh look at how intellectual figures helped build the historical narrative of the archipelago.