Sonderband 2. International Council on Archives. Dritte Europäische Archivkonferenz, Wien 11. bis 15. Mai 1993. Tagungsprotokolle (1996)

4. Session / Séance. Strategies for Links with Historical Research / Stratégies de Communication envers la Recherche historique - Nebiker, Regula: Towards a New History of Europe (pre-integration period). The Archival Point of View / Pour une nouvelle Histoire européenne (avant l’intégration) (english 373 - français 382)

4. Session/Séance: Nebiker, Towards a new History of Europe

Their intermediary role requires that archivists go outside their repositories and become public relations practicioners. They must show that their work does not only consist of piling files on shelves. A close dialogue between historical research and archives is the most fertile way, especially where a critical approach to documents is concerned. For example, it is necessary that discussion of appraisal of records usually be held jointly with historians'8.

But let us return to the „New History of Europe“, as we defined it at the begining of this presentation. We said that this history must play a part in the debate on European integration, and that it could possibly make a najor contribution towards a better understanding and make suggestions for constructive solutions within the framework of the process of integration.

For investigations of this sort, sources for contemporary history, that is to say records of the recent past will be very important. Archives of this sort appear only rarely in detailed finding aids. The help offered to historical research is one of the chief goals of archives. Research depends on the work of archives: on the one hand, research can only be carried out on what has come down to us; on the other, experience shows that it is concentrated on those fields for which there are well-listed archives.

There are reserved in all archives, heaps of interesting sources, which have not yet been appraised, either because they have not been axamined or because they are not known to exist. Archivists must look into the problem of research which is in abeyance and think about sources which could provide answers thereto.

For example, there is, in archives, a whole body of material, which could throw light on the evolution of public opinion within the population. Research could, without doubt, provide interesting information about the reluctant acceptance of European integration to be seen since the public was included in the process.

Diplomatic archives, which are preserved by all national archives, are another example of sources for a field of European history, usually established, truth to tell for political reasons. The reports of representatives in foreign countries to their governments are a remakable source for the study of international relations. These accounts of the state of affairs are often exchanged between archives in the form af manuscript or other kinds of copies so as to form a complement to reports on the domestic state of affairs18 19. It is true that active collection of copies fo sources releat- ing to one’s own country held in another, so as to complement natinal documentation is something not much practised today.

One of the biggest problems arising from the study of contemperary history is created by access to recent sources. Searchers are confronted by differences in laws, regulations relating to access, restrictions on opening as well as data protection as

18 Cf. in this context the papers delivered at the last Congress of German archivists, in: Der Archivar 43 (1992) and Archivmitteilungen 3 (1991).

19 Cf. Meyrat, Walter: Die Abschriftensammlung des Bundesarchivs. Bern 1977 (Veröffentlichungen des Schweizerischen Bundearchivs).

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