The formation of Polish archival legislation on the eve of independence
The formation of Polish archival legislation on the eve of independence

Summary/Abstract: Summing up, before independent Poland was reborn, after 123 years of captivity, the patriotic environments, aware of the significance of archival material for studying the history of Poland and for efficient state administration, made an effort to take control of Polish archives and began work on norms which could regulate archival sphere at the highest level. The culmination of these efforts was ‘The Decree on the Organization of State Archives and Preservation of Archival Material’ of 7 February 1919. Apart from the issue whether the solutions adopted in the enacted legislation were correct or not, not mentioning the shortcomings of these regulations evident even for their contemporaries (the omission of some important issues or internal contradictions), it is necessary to note the significance of this legislation. Undoubtedly, preparing and enacting the norms regulating the archival issues laid the foundation, on the eve of Poland’s independence, for creating the network of Polish historical archives and allowed the organization of the archival service in the Second Republic of Poland.

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