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Basis of Archival Studies

Code: 44740
Credits: 6
2026/2027
Degree programme Type Course
Archival Studies and Information Governance OB 1

Contact lecturer

Name :
Laura Fortuny Bonet
Email :
laura.fortuny@uab.cat

Teaching staff

Laura Fortuny Bonet
Alexis Serrano Méndez

Group languages

You can consult this information at the end of the document.

Prerequisites

There are no prerequisits.

Objectives

General objectives
 
The purpose of the Foundations of archival is to provide students with a general, fundamental and essential knowledge about Archival Science. Regarding the first, the content and the methodology should help to clarify the archive-related points of debate and thought as an emerging and consolidated science, such as its subject matter of study, its relations with other sciences, different tendencies and archival schools or terminology. It also provides students with knowledge in Diplomacy, understood as a science that critically analyzes documents.
 
Specific objectives
 
L1. Introduction to Archival Science      
  • Introduce students to the object of study, purpose, methodology and principles of archival discipline.
  • To offer a global vision of the historical evolution of archival science.
  • Know and identify archives, their types and functions.
  • Know and identify archival systems and the SAC.
  • Acquire a critical vision and own opinion in relation to the points of debate and reflection in archival science and the profession, especially in the Catalan context.

L2. Diplomatics

  • Introduce students to object of study, that is Documental Diplomatics
  • Learn how to recognize the production context of the documents.
  • Gain knowledge that provides the basis or opportunity to be original in the development or application of ideas, often in a research context.
  • Use the terminology of diplomatics and apply the tools it offers to medieval, modern and contemporary documents.

 

Learning outcomes

  • CA01 (Describe the evolution of archival science and its concepts and fundamental principles.) Describe the evolution of archival science and its concepts and fundamental principles.
  • KA01 (Describe the evolution of archival science in the contexts and periods of document production.) Describe the evolution of archival science in the contexts and periods of document production.
  • KA02 (Explain archival science from the production, management and use of documents, information and data.) Explain archival science from the production, management and use of documents, information and data.
  • KA03 (Recognise the polyhedral nature of administrative, cultural and social archives from the analysis of documentation and its production.) Recognise the polyhedral nature of administrative, cultural and social archives from the analysis of documentation and its production.
  • KA04 (Differentiate between different types of archives.) Differentiate between different types of archives.
  • SA01 (Perform a basic diplomatic analysis of documents.) Perform a basic diplomatic analysis of documents.
  • SA02 (Use archival terminology in the different contexts of production and custody.) Use archival terminology in the different contexts of production and custody.

Contents

L1. Introduction to Archival Science


  1. Archival as a science
  2. Archives
  3. Archival Systems
  4. Archivistics as a profession


L2. Diplomatics


  1. Introduction to Diplomactics: concepts and historiography.
  2. Method of critical analysis of the contextual, formal and essential elements of documents.
  3. Terminology and characteristics of documents.

Learning activities and methodology

Title Hours ECTS Learning outcomes
L2.Interactive classes 19.5 0.78 KA02, KA03, SA01, SA02
L1. Study of resources and reading of bibliography 20 0.8 CA01, KA01, KA03, KA04, SA02
L1. Interactive lessons 19.5 0.78 CA01, KA01, KA03, KA04, SA02
L2. Practical activities 12.5 0.5 KA02, KA03, SA01, SA02
L2. Study of materials and reading recommended books 18 0.72 KA02, KA03, SA01, SA02
L1. Practical activities 10.5 0.42 CA01, KA01, KA03, KA04, SA02

The module combines three types of training activities. Interactive classes, led by the teacher but with an active participation by the students. Practical activities, in the form of tasks elaborated by students, and autonomous study of both bibliography and other materials related to the subject.

The vehicular language of the subject will be catalan. 

 

This subject includes the gender perspective, since archival science, like any social space, is not alien to power relations and inequalities between people. Being aware of this and of the consequences of our actions as archival professionals is vital to leave more representative archival collections to future generations.

Annotation: within the schedule set by the centre or degree programme, 15 minutes of one class will be reserved for students to evaluate their lecturers and their courses or modules through questionnaires.

Assessment

Continuous assessment activities

Title Weight Hours ECTS Learning outcomes
L1. Practical exercises 50 % 25 1 CA01, KA01, KA03, KA04, SA02
L2. Practical exercises 50% 25 1 KA02, KA03, SA01, SA02

The specific evaluation arrangements for each academic subject will be communicated by each teacher at the start of the academic year.

For this module, the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) technologies is permitted exclusively for tasks supporting the assessed activities. The student must clearly identify which parts have been generated with this technology, specify the tools used, and include a critical reflection on how these have influenced the process and the final outcome of the activity. Failure to be transparent about the use of AI in assessed work will be considered academic dishonesty and may result in a partial or full penalty on the mark for the work, or more severe sanctions in more serious cases.

The commission of any irregularity in an assessment (academic fraud, plagiarism, or improper use of AI, unless this use is expressly authorised in the course guide), which could lead to a significant change in the mark, will result in the assessment being marked as 0. In the event that the course guide stipulates that obtaining a minimum mark in this assessment is a prerequisite for passing the module or that multiple irregularities occur in the assessments for the same module, the final mark for that module will be 0. In addition, disciplinary proceedings may be initiated against any student who commits any of these irregularities.

Bibliography

L1. Introduction to Archival Science

DDAA, Manual d’Arxivística i Gestió Documental. [ Barcelona: Associació d'Arxivers de Catalunya, 2009]

MULLER, S., FEITH, J. A., FRUIN, R. (1898). Handleiding voor het ordenen en beschrijven van Archieven [Manual d’organització i descripció dels arxius]. Groningen: Erven B. Van der Kamp. [Hi ha traduccions a l’alemany (Leipzig, 1905), a l’italià (Torí, 1908 i Milà, 1974), al francès (la Haia, 1910), a l’anglès (Nova York, 1940) i al portuguès (Rio de Janeiro, 1960)]. [Última reedició de l’edició anglesa: Chicago : Society of American Archivists, 2003]

JENKINSON, Hilary (1922). A Manual of Archive Administration. Oxford: Clarendon Press. (2a ed.: London: Percy Lund, Humphries and Co. Ltd., 1965).

CASANOVA, Eugenio (1928). Archivistica. Siena: Stab. Arti Grafiche Lazzeri. (Edició anestàtica, Torino: Bottega d’Erasmo, 1966).

BRENNEKE, Adolf (1953). Archivkunde. Ein Beitrag zur Theorie und Geschichte des Europäischen Archivwesens. Leipzig: Koehler und Amelang. (traducció a l’italià de Renato Perrella, Archivistica. Contributo alla teoria ed alla storia archivistica europea. Milano: Giuffrè, 1968).

SCHELLENBERG, Theodore R. (1956). Modern archives. Principles and techniques. Melbourne: F. W. Cheshic. (Traducció al castellà de Manuel Carrera Stampa, Archivos modernos. Principios y técnicas. La Habana: Instituto Panamericano de Geografía e Historia, 1958).

Manuel d’Archivistique. (1970) Théorie et pratique des Archives publiques en France. Ouvrage élaboré par l’Association des Archivistes Français. Paris: SEVPEN.

ROBERGE, Michel (1983). La gestion des documents administratifs. Québec: Documentor. La Pocatière. (Traducció al català de Miquel Casademont i Donay, La gestió dels documents administratius. Barcelona: Diputació; AAC, 1993) (nova edició, L’essentiel de la gestion documentaire. Québec: Gestar, 2002).

LODOLINI, Elio (1984). Archivistica. Principi e problemi. Milano: Franco Angeli. (6a ed.: 1992) (traducció al castellà de Mercedes Costa Paretas, Archivística. Principios y problemas. Madrid: ANABAD, 1993).

HEREDIA HERRERA, Antonia (1986). Archivística General. Teoría y práctica. Sevilla: Diputación Provincial. (7a ed.: 1995).

ALBERCH I FUGUERAS, Ramon (2002). Elsarxius, entrelamemòriahistòricailasocietatdelconeixement. Barcelona: Pòrtic ; Editorial UOC. (Edició en castellà, Losarchivos, entrelamemoriahistóricaylasociedaddelconocimiento. Barcelona: Editorial UOC, 2003).

CRUZ MUNDET, Jose Ramon (2006). La gestión de documentos en las organizaciones. Madrid: Pirámide.

BETTINGTON, Jackie; EBERHARD, Kim; LOO, Rowena; SMITH, Clive (eds.) (2008). Keepingarchives. 3rd ed. Sydney: Australian Society of Archivists Incorporated.

JIMERSON, Randall C. (2009). Archives Power. Memory, Accountability, and Social Justice. Chicago: Society of American Archivists.

Manual d'arxivística i gestiódocumental (2009). Coordinadores: EmíliaCapelliGarriga, MarionaCorominasiNoguera. Barcelona: Associaciód’ArxiversdeCatalunya.

MILLAR,Laura (2009).Archives:principlesandpractices.London:Facet.

HILL, Jennie (Ed.) (2011). The Future of Archives and Recordkeeping.A reader. London: Facet.

BROWN, C. (ed.) (2014). Archives and recordkeeping : theory intopractice, London : Facet Publishing.

DURANTI, Luciana, FRANKS, Patricia C (eds.) (2015). Encyclopedia of Archival Science. Lanham, MD: Rowman & Littlefield.

MACNEILL, Heather, EASTWOOD, Terry (eds) (2017). Currents of Archival Thinking, 2nd Edition. Santa Barbara: Libraries Unlimited.

GILLILAND, Anne J., MCKEMMISH, LAU, Andrew J. (eds) (2017). Research in the Archival Multiverse. Clayton: Monash University Publishing

L2. Diplomatics

DURANTI, Luciana (1996). Diplomática. Usos nuevos para una antigua ciencia. Sevilla: S&C Ediciones, Carmona; 170p.

FERRO, Víctor (1987). El dret públic català. Les institucions a Catalunya fins al Decret de Nova Planta. Vic: Eumo Editorial; 606p.

GRAEBER, David (2015). La utopia de las normes. De la tecnologia, la estupidez y los secretos placeres de la burocracia. Barcelona: Ariel, 253p.

MACNEIL, Heather (2000). Trusting Records. Legal, historical and Diplomatic perspectives. Kluwer Academic Publishers, 163p.

RIDENER, John (2009). From Polders to Postmodernism: A Concise History of Archival Theory. Duluth: Litwin Books, 184p.

SENNETT, Richard (2012). Juntos. Rituales, placeres y política de cooperación: Barcelona: Anagrana; 430p.

SERRA, Jordi. (2008) Los documentos electrónicos. Qué son y cómo se tratan. Gijón: Trea, 2008 (Archivos siglo XXI; 11).

SOLER, Joan (2009). Del bit al logos. Preservar documents electrònics a l’Administració local. Barcelona: Diputació de Barcelona, estudis, 4; 359p.

SOLER JIMÉNEZ, Joan (2010). «La il·lusió d’un vocabulari comú de la preservació digital» a Lligall 31. Barcelona: AAC; p.14-43.

SOLER JIMÉNEZ, Joan (2011). «Una diplomàtica pels documents en crisi» a Lligall 32. Barcelona: AAC; p. 42-76.

Software

There is no specific software needed.

Course groups and languages

The information provided is provisional until November 30. After this date, you will be able to consult the language of each group through this link. To access the information, you will need to enter the course CODE

Type of teaching Group Language Semester Shift
(TEm) Theory (master) 1 Catalan first semester afternoon