Personal archives for what? Dynamics of the usefulness of archives accumulated by individuals
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.1590/1808-5245.31.145116Keywords:
personal archives, documentary heritage, collective memory, identityAbstract
Personal archives, as assemblages of documents accrued by individuals over the course of their routine activities – whether personal, familial, or professional – and preserved according to the wishes and needs of their creators or their heirs, form part of the documentary heritage produced by humanity. Although initially constrained by the limitations of private spaces and uses, these archives transcend their origins to hold broader significance. In contrast to the official nature of public archives, which serve as pivotal tools for administrative efficiency and social history, personal archives are indispensable for constructing individual and collective histories and memories. This recognition underpins efforts to institutionalize personal archives. This exploratory study, grounded in a literature review, examines the social utility of personal archives through two conceptual categories: (1) archives as evidence and (2) archives as information or testimony. The discussion highlights the importance of personal archives beyond the reasons for their creation and accumulation, typically tied to their evidential value, and underscores their social relevance, emphasizing their secondary value as sources of information about and for society.
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