Archival Research“ (Abbrev

ACROSS BORDERS – MEETING THE INFORMATION CHALLENGE TOGETHER In 2001, when we started out digitising the FOREWORD manuscripts of those old monasteries in Lower Austria without any particular further objectives, we could not possibly have foreseen where this project would lead us. Also – and I am very sure about that – we are today, nine years later, even less able to venture a guess at what the coming years will bring.

These past years were characterised in general by quickly changing conditions for the keepers of cultural heritage and by the political upheavals within Europe in particular, due to the many countries moving closer to or entering the European Union. Both developments helped unite areas formerly separated by rigid borders which in regard to archives meant creating awareness for the necessity of cross-border cooperation.

Meanwhile, the formerly small project restricted to the region of Lower Austria turned • In terms of technology, with more than 250,000 records of some 80 archives in 12 countries into the world’s largest online platform for medieval and early modern documents, • In terms of institutional expertise, into a network of participating archives and scientific institutions and an invaluable source of experience, knowledge, competencies as well as professional and personal relationships.

At the same time budget cuts and staff reductions in the public sector made it clear that a high level of coordinating administrative support would be needed to unlock the potential of this joint treasure.

In front of this backdrop said institutions joined together in 2008 to establish the „International Centre for Archival Research“ (abbrev. ICARus), whose aim is not only to cooperate in the area of document digitisation but to tackle the challenges of the digital era in general.

ICARUS is a common platform created by its members that can be individually used whenever it makes sense and adds value, either for acquiring knowledge, or handling mutual projects, or raising funds to overcome administrative and financial obstacles. Imprint: ICARUS – INTERNATIONAL CENTRE FOR ARCHIVAL RESEARCH This brochure is intended to give you an overview of (ZVRNr. 250156583) what ICARUS is today: Our vision, our mission, our A-1030 Vienna, Erdberger Lände 6/7 Tel./Fax: +43/(0)1/545 09 89 activities – and: how to become a member…. Email: [email protected], Web: www.icar-us.eu Platforms: www.monasterium.net, www.matricula-online.eu Vienna, 1st March 2011 Text: Karl Heinz and Thomas Aigner Background images: © Plze State Archives (CZ), © Austrian State Archives (AT), © Upper Austrian Provincial Archives (AT), © Czech National Archives, Prague (CZ), © Zagreb State Archives (HR), © Czech National Archives, Prague (CZ) Thomas Aigner, Design: deleatur.com President CULTURAL HERITAGE UNIQUE DOCUMENTS COMPLEX AND TRANSFORMING ISSUES ARCHIVES … Europe’s numerous archival in- All existing archives and the stitutions may well be seen as records they keep are unique, An archive’s tasks are complex and the essential guardians of Eu- as they contain unique and sin- manifold, however, in the age of IT rope’s historical memory, be- gular source material, no matter subject to a fundamental transfor- ing as they are the keepers of whether we talk about a small mation process whose further de- invaluable documents about community archive or a major velopment is not yet to be fore- the history of the continent and national institution. seen. This also goes for the change its regions. The source mate- The core stock of each archive from archiving analogue materi- rial stored in their depots doc- consists of the documents from al to exclusively digital material in uments a common historical those institutions allocated to the future, new collaborative index- background that started out it. Consequently, each docu- ing methods as well as moving the in medieval and early modern ment and each archival record presentation of archival materi- times and constitutes the his- is exclusively stored in one sin- al from archive buildings to virtual torical basis of today’s life in gle archive only – as opposed to reading rooms. Europe. Archival records are ev- library material, seeing that a idence of tangible transactions printed book could theoretically such as administrative dealings, be found in other places as well. business activities or other Since archival records bear au- kinds of interactions between thentic witness to dealings people. in the past, they are used as sources for historical research and as such turn into important cultural assets.

ARCHIVES should be seen as society’s public memory that should be accessible for everyone.

ARCHIVES keep only unique copies that can be found and viewed at one location. © Croatian State Archives, Zagreb (HR) In light of a fundamentally changing world and all the challenges OUR VISION … arising thereof, ICARUS’ visions are the following: TO OVERCOME TO MEET THE TO GUARANTEE TO ENABLE BORDERS AND INFORMATION ACCESS FOR NEW FORMS OF BARRIERS CHALLENGE EVERYONE COOPERATION TOGETHER The political separation The access to archival Hitherto existing of 20th-century Europe Information technology material which has so differences in has caused severe has led to profound far been restricted to the scientific and disparities in people’s changes both in the an archive’s location professional methods lives and mentalities in creation of written and operating hours is of operation between opposition to thousands records away from rendered independent the keepers of cultural of years of common analogue material of space and time heritage and users history with countless towards digital media – notwithstanding will largely disappear. similarities in culture, as well as in terms of citizenship, social and Methods and strategies economy and science, presenting archival financial status or level will cross-link and merge deeply manifested in the materials to the user. of education. It is a following the Best- European archives. This entails new direct contribution to Practice principle. The and highly complex democratising the access old one-way street of The common historical challenges that can to historical information. “archive – user” will heritage has to become hardly be faced by the turn into a highway visible across borders individual institutions of bustling two-way and free from national simply on their own. traffic: Today’s user will restrictions for all become tomorrow’s most Europeans alike. ICARUS strives to support archives on their important partner. way into and through the age of IT by cross- linking experience and knowledge and assisting in the execution of concrete projects.

© Upper Austrian Provincial Archives (AT) © Central Archives of Evangelic Church, Speyer (DE) © Sopron County Archives (HU) International – ICARUS Centre – ICARUS is Archival – ICARUS Research – ICARUS OUR MISSION … is an all-open network a central contact point deals with all aspects perceives itself as a with the aim to overcome for cultural heritage and challenges archives link between archives borders and, with mutual institutions who want are faced with in today’s and historical research. respect and appreciation, to benefit from an digital times. Among Thanks to new ways of put what we share above international network others, this includes presentation researchers what separates us. while at the same time digitisation, technical have completely new contributing to it. standards, financing tools at their disposal as well as new ways of to get answers to communication. hitherto open questions and uncover so far undetected connections.

© Austrian State Archives (AT) © State Archives in Zagreb (HR) © Slovak National Archives (SK) © Hungarian National Archives, Budapest (HU) © Bosnian State Archives, Sarajevo (BIH) © Bavarian State Main Archives, Munich (DE)

© Dornbirn City Archives (AT) © Archives of the Republic of Slovenia, Ljubljana (SI) © Stirian Provincial Archives (AT) © University Frederic II, Naples (IT) © Montenegrinian State Archives (MNE) © Vienna University Archives (AT) ... INTER- AND ... NETWORK ... CROSS-BORDER ... THE NON- TRANSNATIONAL AND SUPPORT IN STRATEGIES PROFIT ICARUS ... COORDINATION PROJECT ASSOCIATION MANAGEMENT ICARUS overcomes ICARUS cooperates with obstacles in terms of The non-profit association regional and international ICARUS is a non- space, time, language and was established in 2008 institutions in the scientific profit platform for money that bar the way under Austrian law, its and cultural sector. assisting the European to the sources of shared primary goal being the archives in coping with execution and promotion ICARUS utilizes the history and culture. the challenges of ever of archival projects as principle of synergy, ICARUS assists European changing frameworks and well as the linking of all while at the same time archives to reposition environments. participating institutions. safeguarding its partners’ themselves in a virtual full autonomy and ICARUS keeps regular world by establishing The association is borne individuality. contact to various sustainable digital by its members out of institutions at national, currently 13 different ICARUS acts in libraries. (e.g. www. international and EU level, countries (CH, DE, AT, coordination with national monasterium.net) ensuring its members’ CZ, SK, HU, SR, SI, HR, and international archival ICARUS joins efforts with competent support in all IT, BIH, PL, ME), who are institutions. its partners to develop kinds of activities. represented equally in the ICARUS fills existing cross-border strategies ICARUS is specifically decision-making bodies. gaps without creating for the electronic indexing dedicated to opening The management of the competition or burdening and accessibility of up alternative ways of association is incumbent its members in terms of archive material. financing, one of its on the President money, organisation or ICARUS makes particular services being (currently AT) and its Vice time. geographical borders consulting and advice Presidents, representing disappear through ICARUS promotes in the area of financial each member state. its partners’ wide cooperation among its aids and non-commercial The management is international range. members by means of outsourcing. responsible for the regular meetings and its ICARUS offers support in implementation and website www.icar-us.eu. initiating and mediating execution of projects and The continuous admission archiving projects, notably strategies. The main focus of new selected members in the IT sector. The lies in the area of scientific adds to the platform’s assistance provided during and administrative diversity. a project will depend on coordination, public the partners’ individual relations and technical needs. assistance and development.

© Tebo State Archives (CZ) © Bregenz City Archives (AT) © Veszprém Episcopal Archives (HU) NETWORKING EDUCATION CONNECTING PROVISION DIGITISING PEOPLE AND PROJECTS OUR ACTIVITIES … Semi-annual Workshop series MAINTENANCE meetings “ICARUS@work” Experts exchange OF DIGITAL Support of partners’ (2-3 times a year) programmes: digitisation projects Exchange of PLATFORMS Archivists work in by providing knowledge and Educational other archives for a Bringing special equipment and experience programmes with certain period of time types of separated knowledge. focus on archives Providing to get to know other archival content and information Carrying out communication methods of work and together by enabling technologies digitisation projects platforms become acquainted new possibilities of to make content Conferences on with colleagues from cross-border and Coordinating available online. topics such as cross-institutional international abroad. “Archives on the research. co-operations and Linking the web” or “Digital strategies neighbourhood Monasterium (www. diplomatics” © Vorarlberg Provincial Archives (AT) programme: ICARUS monasterium.net) for members cooperate instance is today the with non-members most comprehensive in neighbouring online resource for countries (workshops, medieval and early staff exchange, modern charters. digitisation projects) ICARUSNet and Travel Grant ICARUSweb Programme: In will create new order to ease the opportunities for © Tuzla Canton Archives (BIH) burden of travelling the transnational and accommodation provision of archival costs during data and institutional meetings, workshops cooperation (starting and other events, 2011). ICARUS supports The all-time principle its members in that is not to create respect. something new, but to act according to the current relevant developments and strategies in Europe (e.g. EUROPEANA and APENet)

BENEFITS … Becoming a part of a European ICARUS membership is easy to obtain. archival network

By joining the member meetings The membership form can be and other events, participating in downloaded on www.icar-us.eu the international discussion on Membership is only open to archival matters institutions who appoint individuals Participating in international as representatives projects (EU programmes) Please send the undersigned form to Becoming a part of the digital platforms of ICARUS (Monasterium, ICARUS – International Centre for Matricula, etc.) Archival Research Erdberger Laende 6/7 Getting support in digitisation A-1030 Vienna projects Participating in expert exchange Membership is free of charge! programmes

© Scuola Normale Superiore, Pisa (IT) Getting support regarding travelling and accommodation In case of questions please contact: costs during ICARUS meetings Caroline Maximoff Free use of the ICARUS guestroom [email protected] during research stays in Vienna Tel./Fax: +43 (0) 1 / 545 09 89 Web: www.icar-us.eu

© Salzburg Provincial Archives (AT) © Hungarian National Archives, Budapest (HU) © Provincial Archives Opava, District archives Olomouc (CZ) © Budapest City Archives (H) MONASTERIUM.NET (WWW.MONASTERIUM.NET)

With more than 250,000 medieval and early modern charters from around 80 archives in 12 European countries, Monasterium.Net is the world’s most comprehensive portal of its kind. Numerous national, regional and church archives use this platform to make their oldest documents available online free of charge to an interested public 24 hours a day. Thanks to EditMOM, the embedded web 2.0 system, a vast audience is able to participate in the scientific research and processing of the documents independent of time and space.

MATRICULA (WWW.MATRICULA-ONLINE.EU)

For most Central Europeans, the church registers of the various religious denominations build the basis for research on family history (baptisms, weddings, deaths). Matricula perceives itself as an inter-denominational and international platform for the online presentation of historical books. The portal was initiated by the Archive of the Diocese of St. Pölten, of whose inventories more than 90% are already available online. With more than 3 million available pages out of several Austrian and German archives, Matricula is one of the largest archival online resources in Central Europe.

CADASTRAL MAPS

The Cadastral Maps Project aims at the virtual consolidation of the cadastral maps drawn up during the 19th century of the entire Habsburg territories. Apart from taking stock of the material in all countries involved and clarifying terminological issues, the project focuses on digitisation and the development of common presentation standards. The Budapest Metropolitan Archive is in charge of coordinating the project with administrative support from ICARUS.

WWW.ICAR-US.EU

With financial support by