Juan Villarruel's photographic archive donated to regional museum

The family of the late photographer Juan Villarruel has donated his complete professional archive to the Museo de la Comunicación Regional (MCR) at the Universidad Nacional del Comahue. The collection spans over 65 years of work and serves as a significant visual record of the Patagonia region, specifically the Alto Valle area.

The donated materials include historical negatives, vintage cameras, enlargers, radios, and an open-reel tape recorder. Among the most notable items are photographs documenting pivotal social and political events in Neuquén and Río Negro, such as the 1969 El Chocón strike and the 1972 'Rocazo'.

Villarruel, a longtime photojournalist for Diario RÍO NEGRO from 1962 to 1994, passed away in March 2026. The museum will now begin a process of evaluation, inventory, and digitization to preserve the collection and provide public and educational access for students and faculty.