National Archives of Romania
Item Set
Title
National Archives of Romania
Arhivele Naționale ale României
Description
1. History of Foundation
The National Archives of Romania (ANR), known until 1996 as the State Archives, were officially created in 1862, after the 1859 unification of Moldova and Wallachia under Alexandru Ioan Cuza’s rule. The institution was and still is headquartered in Bucharest. Nowadays, it is subordinated to the Ministry of Internal Affairs. There are 42 regional branches, one in each county of Romania and one in Bucharest (holding documents pertaining specifically to the city).
2. Legal Commission and Task
In accordance with Law 16/1996, the National Archives have the following tasks: to implement measures meant to help with the managing of the archives; to inventory, select and preserve the archival documents; to preserve the documents on microfilms; to administrate the archival data base; to edit the „Revista Arhivelor” journal, as well as other specialised publications; to ensure the training of the archivists; to authorize the temporary relocation of certain archival documents for scientific and cultural purposes; to organize and participate at international conferences for archivists; to ensure the safety and protection of the documents.
3. Material relevant to the study of religions
One of the most important structures within the National Archives is The Service of the Historical and Central National Archives (ANIC), which functions as a subordinated structure. It contains more than 70 kilometers of archival documents, organized in more than 1150 collections and archival fonds, as follows: collections of documents dating from the medieval period, collections of seals, collections of personal and family documents, collections of microfilms, fonds of judicial, economic and research institutions, collections of photographies, sketches, plans, archival fonds relating to the central organizations within the former Romanian Communist Party.
Materials related to church issues, as well as family collections are some of the most requested to be researched. Religion and religious issues are covered in the files of the Ministry of Cults and Arts Fond. The fond contains laws, decisions, statements, reports, lists and other similar documents referring to religious issues. The documents reflect the activity of the Ministry between 1948 and 1983, as well as the activity of the various religious communities, referred to as sects, such as the neo-protestant communities, the Greek Catholic Church, the Old Calendarists and so on. Other fonds that contain materials relevant to the study of religions are: Direcția Generală a Poliției (DGP)-The General Police Division, Inspectoratul Regional de Jandarmi-The Regional Gendarmerie Inspectorate, Direcția Generală a Poliției și Siguranței Generale- The General Police and Siguranța Division, Inspectoratul General al Jandarmeriei- The General Gendarmerie Inspectorate. These fonds mostly contain laws, orders, reports, informative notes written by Siguranța agents, interogations, personal correspondence, confiscated photos, propaganda brochures, newspaper clips, information about the state of mind of the population, the activity of religious communities and sects, such as Adventists, Baptists, Old Calendarists, Inochentists.
More details about these fonds can be found here:
The National Archives of Romania (ANR), known until 1996 as the State Archives, were officially created in 1862, after the 1859 unification of Moldova and Wallachia under Alexandru Ioan Cuza’s rule. The institution was and still is headquartered in Bucharest. Nowadays, it is subordinated to the Ministry of Internal Affairs. There are 42 regional branches, one in each county of Romania and one in Bucharest (holding documents pertaining specifically to the city).
2. Legal Commission and Task
In accordance with Law 16/1996, the National Archives have the following tasks: to implement measures meant to help with the managing of the archives; to inventory, select and preserve the archival documents; to preserve the documents on microfilms; to administrate the archival data base; to edit the „Revista Arhivelor” journal, as well as other specialised publications; to ensure the training of the archivists; to authorize the temporary relocation of certain archival documents for scientific and cultural purposes; to organize and participate at international conferences for archivists; to ensure the safety and protection of the documents.
3. Material relevant to the study of religions
One of the most important structures within the National Archives is The Service of the Historical and Central National Archives (ANIC), which functions as a subordinated structure. It contains more than 70 kilometers of archival documents, organized in more than 1150 collections and archival fonds, as follows: collections of documents dating from the medieval period, collections of seals, collections of personal and family documents, collections of microfilms, fonds of judicial, economic and research institutions, collections of photographies, sketches, plans, archival fonds relating to the central organizations within the former Romanian Communist Party.
Materials related to church issues, as well as family collections are some of the most requested to be researched. Religion and religious issues are covered in the files of the Ministry of Cults and Arts Fond. The fond contains laws, decisions, statements, reports, lists and other similar documents referring to religious issues. The documents reflect the activity of the Ministry between 1948 and 1983, as well as the activity of the various religious communities, referred to as sects, such as the neo-protestant communities, the Greek Catholic Church, the Old Calendarists and so on. Other fonds that contain materials relevant to the study of religions are: Direcția Generală a Poliției (DGP)-The General Police Division, Inspectoratul Regional de Jandarmi-The Regional Gendarmerie Inspectorate, Direcția Generală a Poliției și Siguranței Generale- The General Police and Siguranța Division, Inspectoratul General al Jandarmeriei- The General Gendarmerie Inspectorate. These fonds mostly contain laws, orders, reports, informative notes written by Siguranța agents, interogations, personal correspondence, confiscated photos, propaganda brochures, newspaper clips, information about the state of mind of the population, the activity of religious communities and sects, such as Adventists, Baptists, Old Calendarists, Inochentists.
More details about these fonds can be found here:
4. Access for Researchers
Access to the archive is open to researchers and is free. The researcher has to fill in a research application, which can be also found online, and they will receive a research permit that is usually issued on the spot.
More information can be found here:
