THE DIGITAL COLLECTION OF THE HISTORICAL ARCHIVE
During previous years the HA has focused on the digitization and electronic management of this massive archival material, aiming to preserve information from the old paper archives, in order to provide historical research with the advantages of technology, regarding classification of documents, accessing and processing information. The completeness of the material offers a valuable resource for the study of modern Greek history. The researcher may find documents on the history of the largest and oldest university institution in the country and for the social, economic, scientific, institutional and cultural history of modern Greece.
The digitization of the collection began in 1999 and continued supported by the 3rd Community Support Framework, under the supervision of the Information Society (the Greek managing authority of the European Union operational program), as an action of Measure 1.3 (Documentation, Management and Promotion of Greek Cultural Heritage, Call Number: 65), under the title “Digital Collection of the Historical Archive”- Scientific Supervisor: Prof. M. Dermitzakis. The HA participated in this project in collaboration with the Libraries Computer Center of NKUA, from the beginnings of 2005. Within this framework the HA has been equipped with the necessary technological infrastructure for digitization (Computers and photographic systems).
The outcome of this project is the digitization of 475.000 pages of different kinds and themes. Along with the digitizing process run the project of organizing the information by creating a specified cataloguing system, with itemized descriptions and entries for the documents. The criteria for selecting the documents to be digitized were the physical condition of the material, the significance of the theme and the ability to form complete units.
The priority was given to book-bound manuscripts, unbound documents, printed pages and photographic material.
The final form of the Digital Collection includes:
- Archives of the Senate Secretariat (1837-1983)
Proceedings of the Meetings of the Senate (1837-1983).
Proceedings of the Meetings of the Senate committees (1967-1983).
Book of Board Elections (1837-1959).
Archive with Registry documents (1837-1954)
- Archives of the Faculty of Philosophy (1838-1964)
Proceedings of the meetings of the School ofPhilosophy (1838-1964)
- Archives of the Faculty of Law (1837-1970)
Proceedings of the meetings of the Faculty of Law (1866-1970)
- Archives of the Faculty of Physics and Mathematics (1896-1980)
Proceedings of the meetings of the Faculty of Physics and Mathematics (1896-1980)
- Archives of the Faculty of Theology (1857-1967)
Proceedings of the Meetings of the Faculty of Theology (1857-1967)
- Archives of the Faculty of Medicine (1851-1982)
Proceedings of the Meetings of the Faculty of Medicine, volumes 1-44 (1851-1982)
- Photographic Archive (Archives of University Public Etiquette) (1961-1996)
Photographs from cultural events organized by the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens.
- Publications of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens
Yearbooks, Centenary books, Philosophy, poetry, literature competitions.
The digital collection of the HA is part of the digital library system Pergamos since December 2006. Access is permitted to documents produced during the time period from the foundation of the University in1837 until the end of 1932, which is the limit for the opening of archives according to legal restrictions. Public display of archival material is allowed after thirty years, for files and documents and seventy-five years, for information concerning individuals. Material produced after 1932, which will not be displayed at Pergamos, may be accessed, for research and study purposes, through the HA under specific regulations. A concise catalogue of the complete collection of HA is available for downloading at:
The Historical Archive’s primary aim for the future is to accelerate the procedure and complete the project of digitization for the entire collection.