French National Archives: the probability of setting up its model in other countries in the 20th century

This article deals with the implicit or explicit factors in the historiography that led in the 20th century either to the success or failure of a National Archives model implementation in some of the former colonies and provinces of the European empires (Morocco, Senegal, Vietnam, Lebanon, Poland, Estonia, Finland, Bulgaria) whose archival theory and methodological principles were developed with different degrees.

Using the material of some books and articles on the history of National Archives, having scrutinized the national laws and decrees on archives and taking into account institutional reports, we have found several criteria that should be taken into account so as to ensure success when creating efficient national archives. The author considers that the effectiveness of a national archives is set in the existence of the network of subordinated local institutions, in the presence of the establishments that prepare and implement the methods and the national policy of archives, and also in the regular and representative acquisition of the most important documents in national history and in their wide communication.

The most important criteria are the previous existence in the country of central or ministerial archives, the transfer of methodology, essential elements of theory and organizational skills from the metropolis to the local authorities, and the creation (when acquiring independence) or the previous existence (during the colonial period) of local skilled bodies of archivists.

An attempt has been made to find out if the international archival cooperation or the information, regulation, methodological and normative document exchanges have proved to be useful and effective in the creation of a national archives and what is the best frame to organize the latter.

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