Dr. Péter Balázs: Guide to the archives of Hungary (Budapest, 1976)

Az Esztergomi Főszékeskáptalan Levéltára (Archives of the Esztergom Cathedral Chapter)

The Archives of the Cathedral Chapter also returned from Nagyszombat to Esztergom in 1820. Later it was placed in the first floor stack-room of the Basilica, built in 1856, where it is still in safe custody. The furnishment of the stack-room consists of drawers and open shelves along the walls. The level of its arrangement does not reach that of the Primatial Archives, always managed more carefully,but research is easy in its most valuable material. The Archives did not suffer any considerable damage. The Archives of the Cathedral Chapter is in the property of the Esztergom Cathedral Chapter, a member of which (at present Dr. Antal MESZLENYI, canon protonotary) is supervising, as prefect, the safety and the activity of the Archives and exercises the proprietary rights. The Archdiocesan Authority, being naturally the superior authority of the cathedral chapter too, gives moral and material support to the Archives. Its ecclesiastical supervisor is the National Catholic Collections Center, the professional state control is exercised by the Archival Board of the Ministry of Culture. The Minister of Culture declared it a special archives in 1970. The archival material totals 135 running metres. Its most important parts are the following: Collection before Mohács (1158-1526). It consists of 3000 charters, each in a separate envelope. The most ancient original dates from 1156, issued by the archbishop Martirius. The most ancient transcript is the foundation charter of Garamszentbenedek from 1075. Acta Radicalia. It contains in the order of "ladulae" the most important economic material according to the estates of the chapter, the contracts securing rights, the measures defining economy, the records of grants. Separate "ladulae" are allotted to the papal bulls, matters of tithes and taxation, affairs of the main beneficiaries of the chapter and those of the archdeacons. Besides the contemporary finding aids of these 45 running metres in 84 "ladulae" there is a hand-written modern finding aid, presenting the subjects of the single "ladulae" with the addition of the bundle, and each charter prior to Mohács separated from them, with dates. This material covers the time span from 1526 to 1890. Records of the inner life of the chapter: consistorial (Chapter sitting) journals, affairs concerning the ecclesiastical foundations managed by the chapter, etc.