General State Archive Of Greece And Archive Studies

Abstract

The term “archive,” derived from the Greek word “archeion,” refers to the systematic collection and preservation of official documents whose processes have concluded. State archives, a specific type of archive, can be described as the historical memory of states, serving as repositories for all official correspondence, telegrams, letters, and reports related to state affairs. Through their archives, nations can protect both their state’s rights on the international stage and individual rights within their country. Therefore, another crucial aspect of maintaining national memory is ensuring that archives are well-preserved and securely passed on to future generations. Archival documents, providing insights into the social, cultural, and economic contexts of nations, play a vital role in historical and international relations research. From this perspective, states do not regard agreements, correspondence, and reports with other states throughout history as mere paper materials but as information resources that are documented and illuminate the future. All types of archival materials that constitute historical and legal evidence represent the future, not the past. This article examines archives, which represent the historical memory of states and underpin the originality of academic studies, with a particular focus on the Greek State General Archive (GAK). The article also catalogues archives of other institutions and organizations actively operating in Greece. In the introduction, historical terminology is elucidated through the Ranke tradition, which prioritizes documents. The first chapter provides a brief chronological summary of Turkish-Greek relations. The second chapter discusses the establishment of the Greek State General Archive and the classification of archival resources, emphasizing state records as the predominant archival documents. The third or final chapter offers a brief evaluation of the challenges encountered in utilizing various documents obtained from the Greek State General Archive and other Greek archives in historiography.

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