07078 - General Archive Administration and History of Archives

Learning outcomes

Through the historiographic discussion on the one hand, the examination of concrete situations on the other, the student reaches a theoretical understanding of the problems, and receives adequate training on the technical-operative side. At the end of the course, through the historiographic discussion and the examination of concrete situations, the student has a theoretical understanding of the problems inherent to archival, the general basics of the discipline and the historical method. It also possesses application skills on the technical-operational side.

Course contents

1. Introduction to archival science. The concept of archive and the archival constraint.

2. The different ages of the archive.

3. The current archive. Features. Sorting methods. The tools for records management. Protocol, classification and filing. The classification plan. The UNI ISO 15489-1 and UNI ISO 15489-2 standards.

4. The deposit archive. Features. Surveillance and supervision. From the concept of disposal to the concept of appraisal. From the disposal plan to the Conservation Plan. The transfer from the deposit archive.

5. The historical archive. Features. Preservation. The rearrangement. The tools and tools for research. International standards of archival description: ISAD (G); ISAAR (CPF); ISDIAH ISDF; fruition and consultability.

6. Laboratory activity focused on the use of IT tools for archival description

7. The organization of archival administration in Italy. The legislation on archives. The professional figure of the archivist between past and future. The international code of deontology of archivists.

8. Elements of the history of archives.

9. Elements of archiveconomy.

10. Archival resources on the web: the Italian and international panorama.

11. Overview on creation, management and conservation of digital archives and on electronic documents and flows management.

13. Overview on the problem of digital preservation.

Readings/Bibliography

In addition to the teaching materials provided by the teacher and covered in class, the following texts are sources of study for the exam:

- GIORGETTA BONFIGLIO DOSIO, Primi passi nel mondo degli archivi. Temi e testi per la formazione archivistica di primo livello, Cleup, Padova, 2010.

- PAOLA CARUCCI, MARIA GUERCIO, Manuale di archivistica, Carocci, Roma, 2008.

- LINDA GIUVA, MARIA GUERCIO, Archivistica, Carocci, Roma, 2014.

Teaching methods

The course includes:

- theoretical lessons;

- guided tours;

- laboratory activity on the use of IT tools for archival description.

Assessment methods

Learning is assessed through an oral test consisting of a discussion of the topics covered in class and of the assigned study texts aimed at ascertaining the knowledge and skills acquired, the exhibition and communication skills and the autonomy of judgment.

For students attending the corse, the assessment of the learning can be carried out, alternatively, through a written test, which will be held at the end of the course, and which will consist of closed questions and open-ended questions on topics covered in class.

Teaching tools

Further information on the availability of handouts, bibliographic details and resources on the web will be provided during the course.

Office hours

See the website of Stefano Allegrezza