ARCHIVAL WORK IN BULGARIA (1878–1951): BETWEEN CHAOS AND INSTITUTIONALIZATION
ARCHIVAL WORK IN BULGARIA (1878–1951): BETWEEN CHAOS AND INSTITUTIONALIZATION

Summary/Abstract: This article examines the development of archival work in Bulgaria during one of the most dynamic periods of national history – from the Liberation in 1878 to the establishment of the centralized State Archival Fund in 1951. The aim of the study is to trace the institutional and legislative efforts that shaped the Bulgarian archival system and to analyze the tension between the aspiration to preserve documentary heritage and the simultaneous practice of destroying it. The research is based on a methodology that combines historical-legal and comparative analysis, focusing on legislative acts published in the State Gazette, archival materials, and relevant scholarly works. A chronological approach is applied to outline the main stages and turning points in archival development, while a critical reading situates Bulgarian processes within broader European practices. The study demonstrates that, from its earliest years, the Bulgarian administration relied heavily on external models—initially Russian-Prussian, and later Soviet—without developing a coherent national tradition in archival policy. Particularly significant are the legislative acts of 1888 and 1890, which introduced the classification of “antiquities” and declared them state property. At the same time, the contradictory regulations of 1903, which simultaneously mandated rules for preservation and a law on the destruction of documents, illustrate the lack of strategic vision and institutional consistency. Special emphasis is placed on the contributions of intellectuals such as Ivan Shishmanov, Vladimir Dyakovich, Toma Vasilov, and Ivan Bogdanov, who repeatedly stressed the necessity of creating a national archive and suggested concrete steps toward this goal. However, their visionary proposals remained unrealized due to wars, political instability, and the absence of material resources. The article also highlights the role of the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, which, particularly from the 1930s onward, sought to provide an institutional framework for archival work and to integrate Bulgarian practice into both European and Soviet models. The analysis of the period 1878–1951 reveals that, although archival work in Bulgaria developed in a fragmented and chaotic manner, a series of legislative measures and civic initiatives gradually prepared the ground for the establishment of a centralized system. The Soviet model, especially after 1944, exerted a decisive influence, shaping both institutional structures and conceptual approaches. Thus, the creation of the State Archival Fund by Decree No. 515 in 1951 can be seen as the culmination of decades of efforts, representing not only an administrative reform but also a key moment in the consolidation of national archival policy.

• Details
• Contents