International Archives Day: ‘The guardians of collective memory’
International Archives Day is celebrated on 9 June with the aim of recognising the importance of archives as guardians of collective memory and promoting the appreciation and preservation of these sources of knowledge for society.
The date, established by the International Council on Archives during its General Assembly in Quebec, has been celebrated since 2007.
Alice Borges Gago, a researcher in archives at the Centre of Religious History Studies at the Universidade Católica Portuguesa (UCP-CEHR), highlights the crucial role of archives in society and education. The researcher considers archives "guardians of collective memory" and adds that archives and archivists play an "important role in accountability, transparency, the need to adopt access measures, the preservation of society's heritage and memory", concluding, "in understanding the past and the present and in building the future".
The contact with documentary sources she had during her undergraduate and master's degrees in History, and later a postgraduate course in Documentation Sciences, motivated her interest in pursuing further studies in the area. After her PhD in History, where she specialised in archives, the opportunity arose to work in archives, in the archive organisation projects developed at the UCP-CEHR and in various consultancy and archive organisation projects. "I've always been interested in organising funds or collections that reveal unpublished or little-known documentation", says Alice.
The researcher analyses the evolution of the profession, especially with the advance of digital technology, considering that the digital transition in archives has "reinforced the importance of the archivist in information management". New technologies have made it possible to organise and disseminate information quickly, enabling global access to archives and documents. With this new reality, "the profile of the archivist has changed", observes Alice, emphasising that the role has also become that of "information manager, incorporating the responsibility of defining document management policies, applying them in context and promoting the dissemination of information".
For the Universidade Católica Portuguesa, archives play an invaluable role, both institutionally and educationally. "University archives are the institution's memory", emphasises Alice Borges Gago. It is through the archives that the evolution of the university, curricular renewal and scientific research are documented.
It also details that among the archives preserved at UCP are the archives of the various services that make it up (rectory, general services, human resources, student secretariat, treasury, among others) but also those of the faculties, research centres and the library. In addition to the general collection, there are also collections of old books and archives that have been donated.
In 2022, a very important project began at UCP: the organisation of the Rectorate's archives since the founding of the University. "We're currently in the archival description phase of these units, with around a quarter of the work already completed", says Alice.
The work of archivists is essential for preserving the memory and heritage of the Universidade Católica Portuguesa, ensuring that future generations can understand and value the history and evolution of this institution.