Articles

The Origins of Modern European Archival Theory

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Abstract

There has been no systematic international history of modern archives. Both historians and archivists have neglected to apply systematically to their own professions the principles of appraisal, textual criticism of sources, and the examination of the credibility of documents. Archival history and biography should show individual contributions to archival theory and practice, but both are underdeveloped. While bits and pieces of archival history and theory may be found in national manuals and textbooks, both have usually been summoned to support other purposes. Archivists have searched the past for useful evidence rather than studying the development of archival theory and practice in the light of the needs of the past

How to Cite:

Brichford, M., (1982) “The Origins of Modern European Archival Theory”, Archival Issues 7(2), 87–101. doi: https://doi.org//archivalissues.8181