Introduction to Archiving

or how the archive was born

The subject is taught by: Mgr. Martina Orosová, PhD.

Teaching method: lecture

ECTS:

Objective:

The subject is intended not only for students of archival science and museology, but also for all those interested in archival cultural heritage, its protection and accessibility. It provides an overview of the world history of archives from the earliest times to the establishment of organized archives. It will also present the development in Hungary and the current system of archives in Slovakia. Graduates will understand basic archival terminology, learn about the main activities of archives as scientific-administrative and memory institutions, and the work of archivists in the professional processing and accessibility of archival documents to the public. They will become acquainted with the international community of archivists and their International Council on Archives, and as part of their own research, delve deeper into the work of the most important archives today.

Brief outline:

Introductory information and basic archival terminology
History and function of Archives from ancient cultures to the emergence of organized archival science in revolutionary France
Development of Archives and archival science in the 19th and 20th centuries
Archives in Hungary and the organization of Archives in Czechoslovakia in the 20th century
Archival law and current legislation
The system of Archives in Slovakia and the characteristics of individual types of Archives
The mission and obligations of Archives in the protection of cultural heritage
Professional activities of Archives in making archival documents accessible
Archival services for the public and their future
International Council on Archives in Paris

Requirements for graduation:

Regular attendance at lectures, three missed classes without an excuse are accepted.
Preparation of a presentation on the selected archival institution according to the given structure and participation in the final colloquium or seminar paper – inventory of personal collection (50%).
Completion of the final online knowledge test (50%).

Recommended literature:

ŽAŽOVÁ, Henrieta – HRIVŇÁK, Štefan – FEJEŠOVÁ, Mária – RÍMSKY, Marek (eds.). Biografický slovník slovenských archivárov (úvodné kapitoly). Bratislava, 2023.
Archívy po roku 1989 – víťazstvá a prehry. Zostavila: Júlia Ragačová. Bratislava, 2011.
Archívy v krízových situáciách. Zostavili: Júlia Ragačová a Monika Péková. Bratislava, 2009.
KERESTEŠ, Peter (ed.). Dejiny archívov – archívy dejín. Nitra, 2018.
VELIČKA, Tomáš. Archivnictví v meziválečném Československu (1918 – 1939). Ústí nad Labem, 2023.
ŠAMBERGER, Zdeněk. Studie k dějinám československého archivnictví. Praha, 2005.
DUCHÁČEK, Milan. Václav Chaloupecký. Hledání československých dějin. Praha, 2014.