Postęp czy regres w działalności naukowej archiwów państwowych? Garść refleksji
The research activity of state archives - progress or decline? A handful of observations

Summary/Abstract: This paper examines the research activity of archives and seeks to answer the question: are archives making progress in this area or are they actually taking a step back? In the Polish literature, there are no comprehensive studies dedicated to the research activity of state archives. However, pursuant to the brief provisions of the Polish act on the national archival fond and archives, as well as the articles of associations of state archives, these institutions are obliged to undertake such activity. One symptom of decline is conflating or identifying the research activity of archives with their cultural or educational undertakings. One factor that greatly affects the progress or decline in the discussed area are the policies implemented by heads of individual branches of state archives, as these tend to be inconsistent and unpredictable. On state archives’ websites, mentions of research activity of Polish archivists are barely noticeable among their other tasks. Also, state archives very rarely use their own websites to directly communicate their research activities. These activities are marginalized in defectively designed annual reports on the activity of archives. However, the argument that archives are undergoing a crisis in terms of research can be challenged by the growing number of publications (including journals) by the archives, as well as papers presented by their employees at academic conferences.

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