This year marks the 80th anniversary of the signing of the UN Charter in San Francisco and the creation of the United Nations. To celebrate this important milestone, the Archives and Records Management Section (ARMS) has been hosting archival tours for both UN staff and delegates of Permanent Missions.
In addition to original artifacts from San Francisco, including the gavel used in debates (still in pristine condition) and one of the original pens used to sign the Charter, visitors have the opportunity to learn about the UN’s predecessor organizations and other locations the UN occupied before the Headquarters was built in Manhattan.
They can also see an original draft of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and documents specific to the group’s department or Permanent Mission.
A special visit
Our most recent visitor was the First Lady of Guatemala, Lucrecia Peinado, who came with a delegation from the Permanent Mission of Guatemala to the United Nations. Guatemala was one of the original 50 members who met in San Francisco in 1945, which means ARMS has documents going back to the very beginning of their participation in the Organization.
Among the highlights, the First Lady noted an agreement signed by her late father-in-law and former President of Guatemala.
"I wish to express appreciation for the dedication and tireless efforts of all the members of the Archives and Records Management Section," she said at the end of the tour.
"The historic jewels shown during our visit not only pay tribute to those that came before us but also provide insight into the path paved for our present efforts and future generations. You are not acknowledged enough. Thank you for your valuable work!"
Schedule an UN Archives tour
For those who are interested in having a tour for their department or office, which usually takes about an hour, please contact ARMS at arms@un.org. We will gladly schedule it.
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Originally published in UN Intranet (iSeek)
18 December 2025