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Committee of Expert Archivists, International Archives Guide
International Archives Guide, 1934. Committee of Expert Archivists, International Institute of Intellectual Cooperation.
UNESCO’s work on archival development began with its predecessor organization, the International Institute for Intellectual Cooperation (IICI). The IICI established a permanent Committee of Expert Archivists in 1931, which studied and promoted important archival issues, such as access to and use of archives, training, conservation, and more. In 1934, the IICI published the first International Archives Guide.
UNESCO’s work on archival development began with its predecessor organization, the International Institute for Intellectual Cooperation (IICI). The IICI established a permanent Committee of Expert Archivists in 1931, which studied and promoted important archival issues, such as access to and use of archives, training, conservation, and more. In 1934, the IICI published the first International Archives Guide.
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?UNESCO
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Indian Sources for African History, Volume I; and A Manuel of Tropical Archivology
Indian Sources for African History, Volume I, 1988, from the series Guides to the Sources of the History of Nations; and A Manual of Tropical Archivology, 1966. International Council on Archives.
Founded in Paris by UNESCO in 1948, the International Council on Archives (ICA) is the world’s international professional association for archivists. Active to this day, the ICA maintains close ties with UNESCO and advocates for archives on an international level, through the creation of archival standards, networks, resources, training, and through International Archives Day. In collaboration with UNESCO, the ICA published the 60-volume Guides to the Sources of the History of Nations from 1958 to 1984, anticipating the research needs of newly independent countries in Latin America, Africa, Asia, and Oceania. Other ICA publications include A Manual of Tropical Archivology, written for the Indian Ocean International Historical Association in 1966, in co-ooperation with UNESCO and the French National Center for Scientific Research.
Founded in Paris by UNESCO in 1948, the International Council on Archives (ICA) is the world’s international professional association for archivists. Active to this day, the ICA maintains close ties with UNESCO and advocates for archives on an international level, through the creation of archival standards, networks, resources, training, and through International Archives Day. In collaboration with UNESCO, the ICA published the 60-volume Guides to the Sources of the History of Nations from 1958 to 1984, anticipating the research needs of newly independent countries in Latin America, Africa, Asia, and Oceania. Other ICA publications include A Manual of Tropical Archivology, written for the Indian Ocean International Historical Association in 1966, in co-ooperation with UNESCO and the French National Center for Scientific Research.
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?UNESCO
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Records and Archives Management Programme (RAMP)
Records and Archives Management Programme (RAMP), CD-ROM, 2008. UNESCO.
UNESCO’s Records and Archives Management Programme (RAMP) was launched in 1979 to better meet the needs of UNESCO Member States in the areas of archival administration and records management. Aimed at developing countries, one of its main goals was to raise awareness among governments of the value and usefulness of archives as basic information sources. For over three decades, more than 100 RAMP studies were published and UNESCO specialists provided Member States with on-the-ground archival expertise. RAMP activities concentrated on infrastructure development, archival training, standard setting instruments, protection of archival heritage, promotion of modern information technologies, and research in archival theory and practice. RAMP studies were disseminated free of charge. Text taken almost entirely from: Axel Plathe, “UNESCO and Archives” in UNESCO Sources, June 2001.
UNESCO’s Records and Archives Management Programme (RAMP) was launched in 1979 to better meet the needs of UNESCO Member States in the areas of archival administration and records management. Aimed at developing countries, one of its main goals was to raise awareness among governments of the value and usefulness of archives as basic information sources. For over three decades, more than 100 RAMP studies were published and UNESCO specialists provided Member States with on-the-ground archival expertise. RAMP activities concentrated on infrastructure development, archival training, standard setting instruments, protection of archival heritage, promotion of modern information technologies, and research in archival theory and practice. RAMP studies were disseminated free of charge. Text taken almost entirely from: Axel Plathe, “UNESCO and Archives” in UNESCO Sources, June 2001.
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?UNESCO
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Safeguarding the Documentary Heritage of Humanity brochure
Safeguarding the Documentary Heritage of Humanity brochure, 2010. UNESCO Memory of the World programme.
Calling against collective amnesia and the need to preserve and widely disseminate archives and documentary heritage, UNESCO launched the Memory of the World Programme (MoW) in 1992. Its vision is that the world’s documentary heritage belongs to all, should be fully preserved and protected for all, and with due recognition of cultural mores and practices, should be permanently accessible to all without hindrance. The International Register of the Memory of the World was created in 1997 to recognize documentary heritage meeting the criteria of world significance and outstanding universal value. Inscription on the Register affirms the significance of the documentary heritage, increases visibility, and supports greater access to it. As of December 2017, there are 432 inscriptions on the International Register.
Calling against collective amnesia and the need to preserve and widely disseminate archives and documentary heritage, UNESCO launched the Memory of the World Programme (MoW) in 1992. Its vision is that the world’s documentary heritage belongs to all, should be fully preserved and protected for all, and with due recognition of cultural mores and practices, should be permanently accessible to all without hindrance. The International Register of the Memory of the World was created in 1997 to recognize documentary heritage meeting the criteria of world significance and outstanding universal value. Inscription on the Register affirms the significance of the documentary heritage, increases visibility, and supports greater access to it. As of December 2017, there are 432 inscriptions on the International Register.
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?UNESCO
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International Conference The Memory of the World in the Digital Age and 2015 UNESCO Recommendation
International Conference The Memory of the World in the Digital Age Conference, 26 to 28 September 2012, Vancouver. The Conference helped to inspire the 2015 Recommendation concerning the preservation of, and access to, documentary heritage, including in digital form.
The Recommendation concerning the preservation of, and access to, documentary heritage including in digital form recognizes, on an international scale, the need to proactively preserve and provide access to documentary heritage. Adopted by the UNESCO General Conference in November 2015, it highlights the vulnerability of documentary heritage in the face of threats from conflicts, natural disasters, under-resourcing, and rapid advances in technological developments. The Recommendation reflects the aspirations of several international declarations, conventions, and targets, including the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals; the 2011 Moscow Declaration on Digital Information Preservation; and the 2012 UNESCO/UBC Vancouver Declaration Memory of the World in the Digital Age: Digitization and Preservation. The Recommendation provides a set of internationally agreed-on norms and principles that can be used by governments, memory institutions, and other bodies.
The Recommendation concerning the preservation of, and access to, documentary heritage including in digital form recognizes, on an international scale, the need to proactively preserve and provide access to documentary heritage. Adopted by the UNESCO General Conference in November 2015, it highlights the vulnerability of documentary heritage in the face of threats from conflicts, natural disasters, under-resourcing, and rapid advances in technological developments. The Recommendation reflects the aspirations of several international declarations, conventions, and targets, including the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals; the 2011 Moscow Declaration on Digital Information Preservation; and the 2012 UNESCO/UBC Vancouver Declaration Memory of the World in the Digital Age: Digitization and Preservation. The Recommendation provides a set of internationally agreed-on norms and principles that can be used by governments, memory institutions, and other bodies.
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?UNESCO
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UNESCO Musical Atlas. World Day for Audiovisual Heritage
UNESCO Musical Atlas, 1972. World Day for Audiovisual Heritage.
In 2005, UNESCO declared October 27th as World Day for Audiovisual Heritage (WDAH). The World Day provides an occasion to raise awareness of the need to take urgent measures and to recognize audiovisual records as a priceless heritage. UNESCO’s contribution to audiovisual heritage includes the creation of reports and publications focused on audiovisual preservation, and fieldwork supporting efforts in audiovisual conservation around the world. UNESCO’s own archives house an important body of films and audio recordings, a portion of which were digitized through the project Digitizing Our Shared UNESCO History (2017-2020). From 1961 to 2000, UNESCO also published the Collection of Traditional Music of the World in collaboration with ethnomusicologist Alain Daniélou and the International Music Council, consisting of more than 100 pioneering audio recordings of the world’s traditional and folk music.
In 2005, UNESCO declared October 27th as World Day for Audiovisual Heritage (WDAH). The World Day provides an occasion to raise awareness of the need to take urgent measures and to recognize audiovisual records as a priceless heritage. UNESCO’s contribution to audiovisual heritage includes the creation of reports and publications focused on audiovisual preservation, and fieldwork supporting efforts in audiovisual conservation around the world. UNESCO’s own archives house an important body of films and audio recordings, a portion of which were digitized through the project Digitizing Our Shared UNESCO History (2017-2020). From 1961 to 2000, UNESCO also published the Collection of Traditional Music of the World in collaboration with ethnomusicologist Alain Daniélou and the International Music Council, consisting of more than 100 pioneering audio recordings of the world’s traditional and folk music.
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?UNESCO
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Inauguration of UNESCO Chair
Inauguration of UNESCO Chair: Archives in the Service of African Nations and Societies, 14 March 2023, Cité internationale universitaire, Paris. Audray Azoulay, UNESCO Director General
The first of its kind focused on the archival discipline, the UNESCO Chair for Archives in the Service of African Nations and Societies was launched in March 2023 in partnership with the Ecole Nationale des Chartes. The purpose of the UNITWIN/UNESCO Chairs Programme is to promote international inter-university cooperation and networking to enhance work in UNESCO’s key priority areas. Since its founding in 1992, the programme has engaged over 950 institutions in 110 countries. Archives in the Service of African Nations and Societies will address current challenges to archival access and preservation in Africa, by providing archival training to African partner institutions and promoting access to heritage and awareness-building for African networks.
The first of its kind focused on the archival discipline, the UNESCO Chair for Archives in the Service of African Nations and Societies was launched in March 2023 in partnership with the Ecole Nationale des Chartes. The purpose of the UNITWIN/UNESCO Chairs Programme is to promote international inter-university cooperation and networking to enhance work in UNESCO’s key priority areas. Since its founding in 1992, the programme has engaged over 950 institutions in 110 countries. Archives in the Service of African Nations and Societies will address current challenges to archival access and preservation in Africa, by providing archival training to African partner institutions and promoting access to heritage and awareness-building for African networks.
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?UNESCO/Christelle Alix