Darvas Lóránt et al. (szerk.): A Csíki Székely Múzeum Évkönyve 5. Régészet, történettudományok (Csíkszereda, 2009)
Művelődéstörténet - Bernád Rita Magdolna: Római katolikus gyűjtőlevéltárak Hargita megyében. A Gyergyószentmiklósi és a Székelyudvarhelyi Gyűjtőlevéltárak fondjegyzékei
A CSÍKI SZÉKELY MÚZEUM ÉVKÖNYVE 2009 - I.__________289-306 Bernád Rita Magdolna RÓMAI KATOLIKUS GYŰJTŐLEVÉLTÁRAK HARGITA MEGYÉBEN A Gyergyószentmiklósi és a Székelyudvarhelyi Gyűjtőlevéltárak fondjegyzékei Abstract: [Roman-Catholic archives in Harghita county. Fund-registers of the Archives of Collection from Gheorgheni (Rom.; - Hung.: Gyergyószentmiklós) and Odorheiu Secuiesc (Rom.; - Hung.: Székelyudvarhely)] The historical past of the parishes in the Archdiocese of Transylvania (instituted a thousand years ago) may be pursued through existing churches today or those which are in ruins. The administrative, religious life of the communities we passed through but of their writings, which are found in the archive collections of parishes. Preserving these unique sources in proper conditions is a human task and one of the Christianity. The purpose of setting up archives of collections by the Roman Catholic Archbishopric was to protect the written heritage of the Transylvanian Catholicism. Thus were outlined territory of competence of these collection centers, and the parish archives were concentrated in archives of collection organized at the level of archdeaconry. At the start of this collecting program in 2003, we focused on the written heritage of parishes in diasporas, since they constitute a priority because of the continuous and irreversible depopulation; this was necessary due to a dead host parishes. During the six years between 2003-2009, for 15 archdeaconry forming the Archdiocese, we managed to appoint ten centre s of collection, of which seven have been established as it follows: in Alba Iulia, Bistriţa, Gherla, Sfântu Gheorghe, Gheorgheni, Odorheiu Secuiesc and in Târgu Mureş. The establishment of three similar archives is at the early projects and the organization, until the realization of the financial frameworks. Since the archdeaconry and parish archives, which constitute the historical source of the geographically extended Archdiocese of Transylvania, are beyond capacity of the archiepiscopal archives in Alba Iulia, it was necessary to establish more centres like. Each archive collection includes the archives of parishes in one or two archdeaconry. Collections of documents belonging to parishes constitute an indispensable source for local historians, but for ecclesiastical historians and historians of education, too. Here we could also line the genealogical tree researchers who often resort to parish registers. As a model for these archives of collections served the Archbishopric Archive and of the Chapter from Alba Iulia. Each warehouse of these collection-centres were arranged according to modern European trade prescriptions and they are provided with metal (dexion) shelves and the archive material is stored in non-acid boxes to prevent further deterioration. Archives parishes are in close connection with history and background of their creator. From the period of the Middle Ages, parishes - whose archive material has been collected already, unfortunately, do not preserve documents. Written entries of Roman Catholic parishes in Transylvania start at the end of 17 century, and they become regular since the mid 18 century, from the Catholic restoration. Therefore we value with special attention every written source during Principality of Transylvania. The second part of the study presents in brief the archives of collections in the territory of Harghita county, registering in the annex the funds of Archives Collections already established in Gheorgheni (Gyergyószentmiklós) and Odorheiu Secuiesc (Székelyudvarhely). They contain 22 and respectively 34 funds. 289
