OUR MISSION:
To support the educational and professional advancement of the Maya people and neighboring indigenous cultures in southern Mexico, Belize and Central America, and to sustain programs that foster study, preservation and understanding of those cultures.
 
DONATE BY MAIL OR PHONE:
If you prefer to donate by mail, please make check payable to Maya Educational Foundation and send to:
 
Maya Educational Foundation
P.O. Box 1483
Wellfleet, MA 02667, USA 
 
Or call us at:
 
Tel. (508) 349-1330
 
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MEF is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. All contributions are U.S. tax-deductible.
 
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CIRMA (Centro de Investigaciones Regionales de Mesoamérica) 
 
Since its creation in 1978 and up to the present day, CIRMA, one of Central America’s premier social science research centers, is dedicated to creating a new culture of research and public dialogue on the challenges facing Central America today, preserving the region’s historical memory, and fostering a new generation of social, cultural, and academic leaders. CIRMA was designated by the National Library of Guatemala to serve as one of several regional centers to house a core collection of Guatemalan literature.
 
 
               
CIRMA's interior court and patio
MEF’s support of CIRMA focuses on their unique historical and photographic archives and their comprehensive library specializing in books and periodicals pertaining to the Central American region. The collections consist of materials acquired by CIRMA, as well as collections of current, historic and rare materials donated from private collections.
 
For more information on CIRMA's recent activities, see our annual newsletter.
 
Library
CIRMA's inaugural project was the creation of the Central American Social Science Library, which today is both quantitatively and qualitatively one of the largest of its kind in Central America. The library houses approximately 70,000 volumes, dating from the seventeenth century to the present day. 
 
 
 
Photographic Archive
The Guatemala Fototeca (Historical Photograph Collection), created in 1980, represents the most important effort to rescue the visual historical memory of Guatemala. It traces different ethnic, social and political groups from 1850 to the present day and provides a rich visual record of the country's historical evolution. It is the most important collection in Guatemala and Central America alike, and its contents reflect cultural traditions, daily life, art, architecture, politics and even natural disasters. The Fototeca currently houses over a million images. 
 
Historical Archive
In 1997, CIRMA founded its Historical Archive, unique in all of Central America. Its collections range from the eighteenth century to the present day, with special emphasis on the contemporary period. The archive's mission is to rescue, organize, preserve and promulgate documents from non-governmental institutions and individuals alike. Currently, the Historical Archive houses 42 collections totaling some seven million documents. Each year, an average of 5,000 new documents are added. The Archive plays a key role in recuperating the historical memory of the nation. 
Maya Educational Foundation • P.O. Box 1483 • Wellfleet, MA 02667, USA
Tel. (508) 349-1330 • Fax (508) 349-0252 • mef@mayaedufound.org