11597 - Archive Administration (1)

Learning outcomes

y the end of the course the student will know the basics of general archival and archival organization in Italy; be able to apply the theoretical principles and the basic methodology necessary for the archivist presiding over the training, organization, conservation and dissemination of the documentary heritage. They will know how to use both archival and on-line archival techniques with precision and accuracy, as required for management of the documentation produced and collected in various specific institutions, and will also know how to apply the main methods and tools for researching information and archival material, as well as applying the tools of historical analysis necessary for cataloguing, appraising, disseminating and conserving the historical and cultural heritage. They will be capable of collecting, selecting and logically organizing complex data and information, enabling them to formulate independent conclusions and opinions. They will organize information logically and outline it with methodological rigour, care and precision.

Course contents

The course aims to offer a broad overview of the origin, development and management of both public (state and non-state) and private (personal, family and business) Italian archives during the 19th-20th century. On archives between the 19th and 20th centuries, in particular, students will be offered concrete examples of documentation and archival inventories, both paper and digital. There will also be exercises aimed at familiarizing with the description of archives and producers.

Readings/Bibliography

For attending students, preparation for the exam will be based on the teaching material presented in class, accompanied by reference bibliography.

For non-attending students, we recommend studying a general manual chosen from the following:

• Giorgetta Bonfiglio-Dosio, Primi passi nel mondo degli archivi. Temi e testi per la formazione archivistica di primo livello, 5. ed., Padova, Cleup, 2023
• Federico Valacchi, Diventare archivisti, Milano, Bibliografica, 2021
• Paola Carucci, Maria Guercio, Manuale di archivistica, Nuova ed., Roma, Carocci, 2021

Teaching methods

Frontal lesson in Italian and exercises on documents and on the use of inventories and other archival tools.

There will be educational visits to public and private archives:

• April 9: Archivio di Stato di Bologna
• May 9: Archivio Storico dell'Università di Bologna
• May 15: Archivio di Storia delle Donne

Assessment methods

The exam will focus on the course program. The exercises, if carried out in writing, will contribute to the student evaluation.

For all students exam sessions are scheduled for the following months of the academic year:

• June (2 sessions)
• July (1 session)
• September (1 session)
• October (1 session)
• December (1 session)

Teaching tools

Power Point and bibliographic information for further information. The material will be shared in the 'Virtual Learning Resources' section. It should be noted that the initiatives (educational visits, seminars, conferences, book presentations ...) indicated and / or organized are to be considered supplementary to the teaching and will be recognized in the examination.

Students who require specific services and adaptations to teaching activities due to a disability or specific learning disorders (SLD), must first contact the appropriate office: https://site.unibo.it/studenti-con-disabilita-e-dsa/en/for-students.

Office hours

See the website of Federica Rossi