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The GDR in German Archives: A New Reference Guide

The German Historical Institute in Washington D.C. has just published its new up to date reference guide ‘The GDR in German Archives’. Featuring central, state, church and specialized archives as well as information on major research institutions and libraries, this publication provides a helpful first orientation and overview on sources pertaining to the history of the Soviet Zone of Occupation and the German Democratic Republic. (Download as PDF file)

Archives in Germany: An Introductory Guide to Institutions and Sources

This reference guide serves as an introduction to the German archival system and is intended as a basic orientation for a complicated field. As a basic reference tool, the guide is divided into seven main parts: state archives; church archives; business and economic archives; media archives; parliamentary, party, and association archives; university archives; and other archives. […] Each entry contains contact information, including address, phone, fax, e-mail and Web sites where applicable, business hours, names of contacts, and a brief description of holdings and further references. Very helpful for foreign visitors!

Florida State Library and State Archives

The Florida State Genealogical Society, an umbrella organization of more than 80 societies in the state, strongly opposes Gov. Jeb Bush?s budget proposal to dismantle the State Library of Florida and the State Archives and move the contents to other state departments. We feel that other departments, such as the Department of Environmental Protection, are not qualified to oversee and preserve the historical and archival materials. Beginning of the statement of the Genealogical Society (visit the website for more actual information). Genealogical researchers in Florida fear that Gov. Bush’s proposal would:
1.Dismantle a popular and priceless library collection […]
2.Breakup our one-stop genealogical research complex that contains the State Library, State Archives, and State Museum, all next to each
other. […]
7.Threaten the State Archives’ Florida Memory Project that makes available online many of the state’s historical and genealogical records, including more than 90,000 photographs, pension application files, Spanish land grants, and Call and Brevard Family Papers.

The Society of Florida Archivists is part of a coalition to oppose Governor Bush’s proposed budget regarding the dismantling of the Florida State Library and Archives. You can read the news at the Listserv of the Society’s mailing list.
Press’ Articles from Florida are linked in a Florida Weblog.
Residents outside the U.S. can also sign the Online Petition for saving the State Library.
Please show your solidarity!
NB: An update can be found here.

Online-Publication on Archival Appraisal

The Proceedings of the DLM-EXPERTS’ MEETING IN TAMPERE, FINLAND, November 11-12, 1999 are online.
PRINCIPLES OF APPRAISAL AND THEIR APPLICATION IN ELECTRONIC ENVIRONMENT
– European models and concepts (2000)
Contents:
Hans Hofmann: Presentation of the goals and achievements of the DLM-Forum
Jari Lybeck: a project of the Finnish National Archives and its international context
Raimo Pohjola: Appraisal and disposal of electronic records
Mats Burell: Appraisal and information theory
Eljas Orrman: Structural complexity of electronic records as a factor guiding decisions on permanent retention
Peter Horsman: Appraisal and disposal as a function of records management systems
Theo Thomassen: Teaching the appraisal and disposal of electronic records
Angelika Menne-Haritz:
Appraisal and disposal of electronic records and the principle of provenance: appraisal for access – not for oblivion
Jaana Kilkki: Electronic records management systems of defence administration in Finland
Martti Favorin: Integrated information system in the Ministry for Foreign Affairs

Scotland’s Written Legacy

The Scottish Archive Network is a free online collection of digital texts from Scotland. It includes an index of wills and testaments of Scots who died between1500 and 1875. The Scottish Archive Network is supported by the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF), the Genealogical Society of Utah (GSU) and the National Archives of Scotland (NAS). Our key aim is to open up Scotland’s rich archival heritage to everyone. [Thanks to Peter Suber, FOS News]

An Archivist’s Weblog from Canada: Ten Thousand Year Blog

The Ten Thousand Year Blog is written by David Mattison. He writes about his weblog (born 2001): Electronic records and digital preservation catch your fancy? If you’re an archivist or historian or just plain anyone worried about the digital future, The Ten Thousand Year Blog is for you. The title is inspired by physicist and speculative fiction author Gregory Benford’s DEEP TIME: HOW HUMANITY COMMUNICATES ACROSS MILLENNIA (1999).