One of the most extensive dendrochronological field collections in South America was conducted by LaMarche and collaborators from 1973 to 1978. However, no robust chronologies had been developed from these species and/or sites because there were not enough samples collected, or simply because the materials were never processed. Here, I report on results from a re-examination of all Nothofagus dombeyi samples collected during LaMarche and collaborators' field sampling in South America. A tree-ring chronology was developed for the Alto Vilches site in Chile. For the other sites sampled by LaMarche and collaborators, there were not enough samples, or series were not sufficiently long to build a chronology or to provide adequate information about tree growth. The Alto Vilches (VIL) chronology extends into the early 1800s, and shows high mean sensitivity values and a strong common signal. As expected, the VIL chronology evidenced narrow rings for several years that correspond with low precipitation periods in Patagonia. Making available the information kept in unprocessed tree-ring samples reinforces the dendrochronological potential of this species and strengthens chronology networks developed for ecological studies in northern Patagonia. Finally, this study honors the initial work of LaMarche and collaborators and provides closure to a small part of it.