11597 - Archive Administration (1)

Learning outcomes

By the end of the course the student will know the basics of general archival and archival organization in Italy; be able to apply the theoretical principles and the basic methodology necessary for the archivist presiding over the training, organization, conservation and dissemination of the documentary heritage. They will know how to use both archival and on-line archival techniques with precision and accuracy, as required for management of the documentation produced and collected in various specific institutions, and will also know how to apply the main methods and tools for researching information and archival material, as well as applying the tools of historical analysis necessary for cataloguing, appraising, disseminating and conserving the historical and cultural heritage. They will be capable of collecting, selecting and logically organizing complex data and information, enabling them to formulate independent conclusions and opinions. They will organize information logically and outline it with methodological rigour, care and precision.

Course contents

The course aims to provide a broad overview of the history of archives and archival science, the Italian archival system, and archival management. Specifically regarding archives from the 19th and 20th centuries, examples of documentation and tools — both paper-based and digital — will be presented. Practical exercises and visits to local archives will also be included to familiarize students with archival fonds and the entities that created them.

Readings/Bibliography

For attending students, preparation for the exam will be based on the teaching material presented in class and the study of the following articles:

• G. Cencetti, Sull'archivio come universitas rerum, «Archivi», s. 2, IV (1937), pp. 7-13
• C. Pavone, Ma è poi tanto pacifico che l’archivio rispecchi l’istituto?, «Rassegna degli Archivi di Stato», v. 30, n. 1 (1970), pp. 145-149
• Introduzione, in Guida generale degli Archivi di Stato italiani, v. 1, Roma, Ministero per i beni culturali e ambientali, Ufficio centrale per i beni archivistici, 1981, pp. 1-32
• A. d'Addario, Lineamenti di storia dell'archivistica (secc. XVI-XIX), «Archivio Storico Italiano», v. 148, n. 1 (543) (gennaio-marzo 1990), pp. 3-35
• G. Penzo Doria, Una nuova definizione di archivio, «Jlis», 13, 2, 2022, pp. 156-173, on-line
• S. Moscardelli, A proposito di archivi d'artista (e non solo). Spunti da una recente pubblicazione, «Archivi», XIX/2 (luglio-dicembre 2024), pp. 69-86 (shared with publisher's permission)

For non-attending students, we recommend adding a general manual:

• Giorgetta Bonfiglio-Dosio, Primi passi nel mondo degli archivi. Temi e testi per la formazione archivistica di primo livello, 5. ed., Padova, Cleup, 2023
  

Teaching methods

Frontal lesson in Italian and exercises on documents and on the use of inventories and other archival tools.

There will be educational visits to public and private archives.

Assessment methods

The exam will focus on the course program. The exercises, if carried out in writing, will contribute to the student evaluation.

Following the end of classes, exam sessions will be held in June, July, October, and December.

AI can be a useful tool to support independent study through in-depth analysis, summaries, and self-assessment exercises. Regarding the assessment of learning, limited, declared, and non-substantial use of AI is permitted for support activities (such as summarizing or rephrasing). Substantial use of AI to complete parts of the assessment itself is not permitted.

Teaching tools

Power Point and bibliographic information for further information. The material will be shared in the 'Virtual Learning Resources' section. It should be noted that the initiatives (educational visits, seminars, conferences, book presentations ...) indicated and / or organized are to be considered supplementary to the teaching and will be recognized in the examination.

Students who require specific services and adaptations to teaching activities due to a disability or specific learning disorders (SLD), must first contact the appropriate office: https://site.unibo.it/studenti-con-disabilita-e-dsa/en/for-students.

Office hours

See the website of Federica Rossi