13576 - General Archive Administration

Learning outcomes

At the end of the course the student must have the following knowledge and skills: - Knowledge and understanding: distinguish the different stages of life of an archive and to highlight its constituent elements; know the operations and the archival tools used in each phase. - Ability to apply knowledge and understanding: be able to perform an analysis of an archival fund. carry out the archival description of a fund using one of the computer tools illustrated in the lesson. - Autonomy of judgment: know how to establish the criteria to follow in the phases of creation, management and conservation of archives, motivating their methodological choices. - Communication skills: know how to illustrate with logical rigor and terminological issues also techniques related to a specific topic. - Learning ability: know how to deepen independently the issues related to the discipline.

Course contents

The course will examine three core aspects of the archival universe:

• Basic grammar of archives and archival science.

• Archives in Italy.

• The perception of archives in contemporary culture (literature, cinema, popular culture, video games).

Through this approach, the course will critically analyze the principles and methods of archival science, provide an overview of its history, explore archives in contemporary society, and examine how digital technology and the web have transformed archival research tools and methodologies.

Course Structure

• Theoretical Component: Focuses on using archival categories as tools to interpret documentary corpora and historical-institutional contexts.

• Practical Component: Involves the analysis of concrete case studies on archives and inventories.

Readings/Bibliography

Isabella Zanni Rosiello, Gli archivi tra passato e presente, Bologna, il Mulino, 2005, pp. 7-121

Stefano Vitali, Di angeli, di paperi e di conigli, ovvero dello strano mestiere dell'archivista in “Archivi per la storia”, 2001, pp. 179-187

Stefano Twardzik (a cura di), Introduzione allo studio dell’Archivistica, Milano, Biblion Edizioni, 2023, pp. 31-98 (capitoli 2-4)

Giorgetta Bonfiglio Dosio, Primi passi nel mondo degli archivi. Temi e testi per la formazione archivistica di primo livello, Padova, CLUEP 2023 (5^ edizione)

Letture consigliate

Linda Giuva, Stefano Vitali, Isabella Zanni Rosiello, Il potere degli archivi. Usi del passato e difesa dei diritti nella società cintemporanea , Milano, Bruno Mondadori, 2007

Arnaldo D’Addario, Lineamenti di storia dell’archivistica (secc. XVI-XIX), in «Archivio storico italiano», 148/1 (1990), pp. 3-35

Alle studentesse e agli studenti che siano impossibilitati a frequentare le lezioni in presenza sarà assicurata la possibilità di fruire di materiale didattico e di sostituire la frequenza delle lezioni in presenza con lo studio di alcuni testi integrativi rispetto ai quali il docente assicura supporto allo studio e alla preparazione dell'esame.

Teaching methods

The course includes online and in-person lectures, as well as workshop-based sessions held directly at archival institutions.

Site Visits

Guided visits will be scheduled to the following institutions:

 

• State Archives of Ravenna (Archivio di Stato di Ravenna)

• Archives of the Fondazione del Monte di Bologna e Ravenna

• Other local archives within the province.

Assessment methods

The examination consists of an oral exam and the preparation of a written report on the activities carried out in the archive (to be submitted one week prior to the exam date).

Evaluation Criteria

Students will be assessed on the following:

• Knowledge of the topics discussed during lectures and the recommended bibliography.

• Understanding and application of archival research tools.

• Critical and methodological skills developed during the course.

Exam Structure and Use of AI

Regarding the assessment of learning outcomes, the exam is divided into two main components:

• A section that involves the substantial use of AI (for problem-solving and content generation).

• A mandatory critical analysis section.

Office hours

See the website of Dario Taraborrelli