The Fundación Consejo España-EE.UU. presented yesterday the premiere screening of Reminiscencias de un viaje, an audiovisual piece that explores the process of research, documentation, and creation of the exhibition “Invisible Immigrants. Spaniards in the U.S. (1868–1945)”, within the framework of the XI International Congress on links between Spain and North America.

The session, held at the University of Alcalá de Henares, allowed attendees to delve into the fieldwork carried out by the project’s curators, who reconstructed the stories of thousands of Spaniards who emigrated to the United States between the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

Through the documentary, attendees discovered how these materials were collected directly from the descendants of those emigrants, many of whom preserved family stories that, over time, had taken on an almost mythical character. Photographs, letters, and oral testimonies shaped a narrative that rescues from oblivion a key chapter of the shared history between Spain and the United States.

After the screening, a discussion took place with Luis Argeo Fernández, James D. Fernández, and María Luque Larena, curators and director of the exhibition project, moderated by Estibi Mínguez.

During the debate, marked by strong audience participation, the curators highlighted the deep gratitude of the descendants for seeing their ancestors’ stories recognized and made visible. María Luque, in turn, reviewed the creation process of the exhibition and its incorporation into the Fundación, emphasizing the evolution of a project that has continued to grow over time.

It was also highlighted that the relationship with the families remains close and ongoing, to the point of having become an almost familial bond, reflecting the emotional and human impact of this initiative.

This commented screening is part of the XI International Congress on links between Spain and North America, organized by the Instituto Franklin-UAH in collaboration with various institutions, and offers an intimate and reflective look at one of the most unknown —and yet most revealing— chapters of the shared history between Spain and the United States.