Provincial Archives Research Articles

Count Leopold I Berchtold and his contacts with Great Britain as a source of inspiration for his philanthropic activities

This paper deals with the British contacts made by Count Leopold I Berchtold (1759–1809), a prominent philanthropist from the Czech lands, as well as examining how these contacts influenced his activities and the spread of scientific knowledge to the Czech lands and presenting a rather unusual kind of cultural transfer between Britain and the Habsburg Monarchy involving philanthropism and medical science. The paper is based on the analysis of the sources stored in the Moravian Provincial Archive in Brno relating to Leopold’s life as well as on the analysis of some of his writings.

“What Is Labour’s Stake?”

Although counterintuitive for many academics and lay people alike, the Canadian environmental movement has long included significant engagement from organized labour. More surprising, perhaps, the most dedicated labour environmentalists came from unions representing workers in the auto, steel, mining, chemical, and oil industries. This was certainly the case in Alberta during the 1970s. There, the Oil, Chemical and Atomic Workers (ocaw) used their outsized influence within the Alberta Federation of Labour (afl) to conjoin growing concern about occupational health and safety with developing awareness about air and water pollution beyond the workplace. Drawing on fonds at the University of Calgary Glenbow Archives, Provincial Archives of Alberta, and Library and Archives Canada, this article chronicles and assesses efforts by ocaw officials within the afl to introduce and sustain a labour environmentalist agenda. It also makes an argument for historians interested in the origins and evolution of the Canadian environmental movement to pay closer attention to organized labour.

VYBRANÉ ÚMRTNOSTNÍ UKAZATELE OBYVATELSTVA V RAKOUSKÉM SLEZSKU NA PODKLADĚ ZDRAVOTNÍCH STATISTIK (1896–1908)

In this article, health statistics were used primarily as a source of information for the study of some mortality phenomena in Austrian Silesia at the turn of the 20th century. The period is determined by the preservation of the sources, as these are statistics stored in the Provincial Archives in Opava, i.e., the original written sources compiled by the district doctors. These sources made it possible to track the numbers of births and deaths in the individual political districts and statutory towns in Austrian Silesia. In the birth statistics, the share of children born with qualified obstetric assistance was examined. In the death statistics, the composition of deaths by age and cause of death was monitored. Additionally, the seasonal distribution of these phenomena was also examined to the extent permitted by the data sources. At the beginning of the study, a thorough check of the credibility of the sources, i.e., health statistics, was conducted.

History, a compulsory component of basic education in South Africa from 2023 – Are South African archivists ready?

History helps society understand its past and its influence on the present and future. South Africa is a country with a unique history, comprising of varying accounts from the different people that make up its ‘rainbow’ nation. In 2018, South Africa’s Department of Basic Education; announced that history would be a compulsory subject for learners from Grades 10–12 starting from 2023. Changes would include a revised curriculum, teacher training and other issues. Expectedly archives would also be factored into this transformation process, as they are integral to history. Therefore, this study investigated the involvement and readiness of archivists in South African public archival repositories to support this development. Nineteen (19) archivists from the National Archives and Records Service of South Africa and the nine (9) Provincial Archives participated in an online survey. The findings indicate that there was minimal involvement of archivists. Nevertheless, the archivists were confident that they had the content and skills, to some extent, to support the revised curriculum. The study recommends that archivists be more proactive in raising awareness about the archives and linking various stakeholders, such as the Department of Basic Education, with these valuable records.

Aksesibilitas Pemustaka Penyandang Disabilitas Di Dinas Kearsipan Dan Perpustakaan Provinsi Sumatera Barat Berdasarkan Standar IFLA Checklist

This research aims to analyze the accessibility of library and archives services for people with disabilities in the West Sumatra Provincial Archives and Library Service, the accessibility of users with disabilities in the West Sumatra Province Archives and Library Service based on IFLA Checklist standards, and the obstacles faced in fulfilling accessibility for people with disabilities at the Provincial Archives and Library Service West Sumatra. This research uses qualitative research with descriptive methods. Data collection techniques use observation, interviews and documentation studies. The data validation technique uses triangulation, namely triangulation of data sources. The data validation technique uses the Miles and Hubermen model which consists of data reduction, data presentation, drawing conclusions and verification. The results of this research are as follows. Firstly, accessibility at the West Sumatra Provincial Archives and Library Service has not yet been fully realized because there are still many shortcomings found in the implementation of accessibility services for people with disabilities, such as the ease of library users in meeting their needs has not been fully realized and the only library material collections available are books with braille printing. Second, accessibility at the West Sumatra Archives and Library Service based on the IFLA Checklist Standard reached 40.54%. Thus, it can be said that accessibility for users with disabilities in the Archives and Library Service is still not in accordance with the IFLA Checklist standards. The research results from the IFLA Checklist standard amounted to 111 items which were 45 items which were appropriate while which were 66 items which were not appropriate. Third, the obstacles faced by the West Sumatra Province Archives and Library Service in fulfilling accessibility for disabled users from various aspects such as the lack of available funding, lack of technical knowledge of implementation, and limited human resources who are competent in providing services for users with special needs or disabilities.

Development of Open Education Resources to Teach Oral History: Perspectives of a Sports Heritage-Engaged Scholarship Initiative in Gauteng, South Africa

Gaps exist in archival practices, and developments are in progress to decolonise and transform archives by supplementing existing archival collections with oral history accounts. This is a recent development in the archival field, requiring archivists and records managers to become aware of how oral history collections should be undertaken to preserve testimonies related to socio-economic, sociopolitical, and cultural events not yet captured by South African public archivists. An open educational resource (OER) was developed in 2022 as part of an engaged scholarship initiative to instruct archivists on oral history research techniques and how to apply research ethics when undertaking such projects. The research paradigm for this study was a postmodernist qualitative study. Action-based research was used in the research design. Action research is a flexible methodology uniquely suited to research and support change. It integrates social research with exploratory actions to promote development. Action research outcomes are both practical and theoretical. The knowledge it generates directly and continuously impacts the changing practices of the participants. Data from participants were collected through recorded project workshops and meetings. The content for the OER was developed from observing online videos showcasing oral history interviews, consulting literature on OER development, and discussions with archivists and heritage collectors at the South African National Film, Video and Sound Archives, the South African National Parks Board, and the Gauteng Provincial Archives. The OER was developed to enable collaboration to ensure that the oral narratives of postcolonial Africa, particularly post-apartheid South Africa, are not lost but captured by the public archives’ services for the benefit of South Africans and other interested stakeholders.

Implementasi Komunikasi Efektif Dalam Pemberian Pelayanan Prima Di Dinas Perpustakaan Arsip Dan Dokumentasi Provinsi Sulawesi Utara

The purpose of this study was to determine the implementation of effective communication in providing excellent service at the North Sulawesi Provincial Archives and Documentation Library Agency by considering the factors of skills, knowledge and attitudes in the process of providing up to providing messages or information to users both verbally and non-verbally. This research design is qualitative. The focus of the research is the implementation of effective communication in providing excellent service. Selection of informants using proposive sampling technique. Data collection was done by observation, interview, and literature study. Credibility (trust). Communicators must have credibility in delivering messages so that the information conveyed is right on target. Cotext, language and information conveyed must be in accordance with the conditions and environment where communication takes place. Content, the content of the message or material delivered to the audience. Clarity, the information conveyed must be clear so that there is no misunderstanding with the communicant. Continuity and consistency, continuous delivery of information. Capability of Audience, communicant understanding of the content of the message is influenced by factors of educational background, social status and age. Channels of Distributions, the use and selection of media as a means of communication, both print and electronic media so that the information

Effect of converted buildings on the management of records and archives in the Eastern Cape Provincial Archives of South Africa

Archival buildings play a pivotal role in the management of records and archives. This paper highlights the findings of a case study that investigated the effect of converted buildings on the management of records and archives in the Eastern Cape Provincial Archives in the Eastern Cape province in South Africa. The study population consisted of all archives and records personnel in the Eastern Cape Provincial Archives. The sample comprised 13 purposively selected participants. The participants had the requisite knowledge and experience pertaining to the management of records and archives in their respective records and archives in the provincial archives offices. These included the director, assistant directors, archivists, and assistant archivists. Data were collected using interviews, observations, and document analysis. Collected data were analysed using emerging themes based on the objectives of the study. The findings of the study revealed that all archival offices and repositories of the Eastern Cape Provincial Archives are housed in converted buildings. There was a clear lack of adequate and suitable office and working space, and repositories for effective management of records and archives. This has serious implications for adequate processing, storage, access to, and preservation of, records and archival materials. It was recommended that more resources should be allocated for the management of records and archives by revamping the existing facilities while resources are provided for planning and building of requisite infrastructure for records and archives management for the Eastern Cape province.

Hubungan Desain Interior Terhadap Kenyamanan Pemustaka Di Dinas Kearsipan Dan Perpustakaan Provinsi Sumatera Barat

The interior design plays a very important role in today's modern era of modernization. It is evident that the beauty of a space greatly influences people's work activities and performance within it. A library, as a storehouse of knowledge, should consider the aesthetics of the space to allow patrons to work, learn, and create more freely in the library to meet their information needs, which will ultimately impact the patrons' loyalty to the library. The Provincial Archives and Library Service of West Sumatra still appears to be lacking in terms of aesthetics, furniture arrangement, noise levels, and the utilization of space, which is a significant concern for the library to make it more appealing to patrons as a place to seek information.

Invigorating Records Management Success through Archival Services in the Limpopo Provincial Government, South Africa

The study that informed this paper investigated the possibilities of invigorating records management success through archival services in the Limpopo provincial government in South Africa. A multi-method research approach was used, with a questionnaire and interviews to collect data. It was discovered that provincial archive institutions in the Limpopo Province were under-resourced and, therefore, unable to render supportive services to the departments to enhance their records management. The provincial archives could not render services like training and support visits owing to a shortage of staff and lack of transport, among other reasons. The study provides a framework for invigorating records management success through archival services in the Limpopo provincial government, South Africa. This may help the provincial government of Limpopo to avoid audit disclaimers and litigation costs, to list only a few. The findings and recommendations of the study may serve as a resource and benchmark for organisational policymakers and strategists in improving records management services. Implementation of the proposed framework and recommendations may assist organisations in coming up with the best practices for the effective use of resources and support for smart records management strategies. Implementation of the recommendations of the study may also result in the best practices to properly manage records of enduring value, thereby preserving the memory and heritage of the state for citizens’ access. It will also strengthen proper administration and accountability for public services in the departments.

Limpopo Provincial Archives Public Programming Initiatives from 2015 to 2020

Public archival repositories house records of value to society. Even though such records are essential, these institutions remain largely unknown and underutilised. For this reason, public programming initiatives have become a necessary function in public archives. The Limpopo Provincial Archives was officially opened in 2015, but recent records show that only a few people engage with the records at this repository. The repository has conducted various public programming initiatives to raise awareness about the archives since its establishment. However, since 2015 there has been no effort to evaluate the effectiveness of these initiatives. This study, therefore, aimed to assess the effectiveness of these public programming initiatives at this repository starting from 2015 up to 2020. A mixed-method approach to data collection was applied to gain information to address the objectives of this study. Participants in the study included 14 archivists and 100 community members. The study’s findings revealed that though the archivists had engaged in various public programming initiatives, more people did not engage with the archives. Challenges such as budget constraints and government red tape further complicated the archivists’ efforts. The study recommends measures such as collaboration, perfecting advocacy skills, and soft power to strengthen the repository’s public programming strategy.

Online presence of public archival institutions of South Africa

Purpose In the wake of the fourth industrial revolution, where most information is accessible online, archives should be visible online for them to fulfil their legislated mandate and facilitate access to information resources. The Covid-19 pandemic has further underscored the importance of online platforms in making archives accessible without the public having to visit archival institutions physically. The purpose of this study is to examine the extent to which public archival institutions of South Africa are visible online with the view to deepen their understanding of how archives promote themselves online. Design/methodology/approach The study employed content analysis to establish the online content of public archival institutions in South Africa. A google search was conducted using the names of the archival institutions as search terms. The top results obtained after the search were recorded for further analysis. Findings The findings suggest that public archival institutions in South Africa have limited online presence. Only the National Archives of South Africa had an active website with collections that are accessible online. Some provincial archives had websites hosted by their parent bodies while others had no websites at all. Only the Limpopo and Eastern Cape provincial archives had their Facebook pages in the top results. There were no signs of other social media sites in the top results. Originality/value The study concludes that public archival institutions are not visible online. All provincial archives need to have websites where they can be accessed. The use of social media platforms needs to be prioritised. In this fourth industrial revolution age, people communicate and interact online. Public archival institutions should therefore make it their primary mandate to take the archives to where the people are currently meeting.

Implementation of legislative framework governing records management throughout the life cycle in the Limpopo provincial government of South Africa

Purpose This study aims to investigate a framework for implementation of legislative framework governing records management throughout the life cycle in the Limpopo provincial government of South Africa. Design/methodology/approach This quantitative multi-method study used a semi-structured questionnaire, document analysis and interviews to collect data. The dominant approach was quantitative, with some support from limited qualitative data, which served to clarify the statistical data. No sampling method was applied, as the study targeted the entire population of 135 records management participants from the provincial departments with the questionnaire, while nine participants from provincial archives participated in interviews. Findings The study revealed that the role of the provincial archives in enforcing compliance with legislative frameworks for the proper management of records was always disrupted by a lack of key resources such as staffing, for inspecting and training records-creating departments and working resources at the departmental levels. Research limitations/implications The findings will contribute to the field in respect of future studies into compliance with records management legislation, and the proposed framework may be applied as a theoretical basis for, or part of, a conceptual framework. Practical implications The study will serve as a resource or benchmark for archivists and records management professionals in the industry, as they count amongst the policymakers who find ways of monitoring, evaluating and enforcing compliance with the legislation governing proper records management. Social implications The proper implementation of recommendations from this study will lead to significant improvements in the management of records with enduring value, allowing them to finally be transferred to an archival repository to serve the public interest as heritage, national memory, or resources for researchers and authors, amongst others. Originality/value The study proposes a framework for implementation of legislation governing records management with greater ease in the Limpopo provincial government of South Africa.

Role of Sir Sahibzada Abdul Qaiyum Khan in constitutional reforms in the North-West Frontier Province of the British India

This paper analyses the services of Sahibzada Abdul Qaiyum Khan in granting constitutional reform to North-West Frontier. Quaid-i-Azam of Sarhad, Sahibzada Abdul Qaiyum, after his retirement from government service in 1919, started a struggle for constitutional reforms to the North-West Frontier. The constitutional reforms introduced in British India since its inception in 1901 were not extended timely to North-West Frontier, due to which it remained a Chief Commissioner's Province till 1932. Sahibzada Abdul Qaiyum pleaded the case on all fronts, including the Bray Committee, Indian Legislative Assembly, Delhi Proposals, annual sessions of All India Muslim League, Simon Commission, Haig Committee, and Round Table Conferences held in London. After a long struggle, North-West Frontier was levelled from a Commissioner Province to a Governor Province, and a Legislative Council was formed in 1932. After the elections, Sahibzada Abdul Qaiyum was elected as the Minster of the Transferred Departments of N-W.F.P. After five years, according to the Act of 1935, the Legislative Assembly was formed, and he was elected as the first Chief Minister of N-W.F.P. in 1937. The article reviewed primary and secondary data available in the provincial archives, Peshawar, National Documentation Centre, Islamabad, British Library, London, and other libraries.

Archiving the voices of the once voiceless: strategies for digital preservation of oral history at the KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Archives

With the urge for instant access to records resulting from the rapid development of technology, there is a need for the digital preservation of vulnerable oral history records. Oral history records are primary sources that confirm certain aspects of historical events and preserving oral history records is crucial to ensure societal memory. In the South African context, oral history has given a voice to the people who were voiceless in the past due to colonialism and the apartheid system. This study investigated possible digital strategies and techniques for preserving oral history records at the KwaZulu-Natal Archives and Records Service (KZNARS) Oral History Unit (OHU). A qualitative approach was used, and data were collected using semi-structured interviews from purposely selected members of the OHU staff. In addition, an observation guide was used to collect data regarding the current playback equipment, storage conditions and the state of the oral history records. Content and thematic analysis was used to analyse data. The findings revealed that the strategies and techniques used for the preservation and access to oral history records have been ineffective. Issues identified included legislation that does not provide for the preservation of oral history records in the contemporary digital era, the lack of policy, deficient strategies for preservation and access, and a shortage of resources, funding, and qualified staff. Various recommendations, stemming from the issues identified, are made.

Contextualizing pandemics: Respiratory survivorship before, during, and after the 1918 influenza pandemic in Newfoundland

AbstractBackgroundResearch on the 1918 influenza pandemic often focuses exclusively on pandemic years, reducing the potential long‐term insights about the pandemic. It is critical to frame the 1918 pandemic within the underlying population dynamics, health, and sociocultural context to understand what factors contributed to pandemic mortality and survivorship, with respect to observed inequality, and consequences of the pandemic.Materials & MethodsIndividual death records and censuses from The Rooms Provincial Archives and Memorial University of Newfoundland Digital Archives for three major causes of death—influenza and pneumonia; tuberculosis; and pooled bronchitis, measles, and whooping cough—were collected for three periods in the early 20th century: pre‐pandemic (1909–11), pandemic (March 1918–Janaury 1919), and post‐pandemic (1933–1935). We calculated pooled age‐standardized mortality rates and changes in pre‐ to post‐pandemic mortality rates by region. We fit Kaplan–Meier and Cox proportional hazards models to each period, controlling for age, cause of death, and region.ResultsPandemic mortality was higher than that of pre‐ and post‐pandemic periods. Post‐pandemic mortality was significantly lower than pre‐pandemic mortality in all regions, except Western Newfoundland. Survival was lowest during the pandemic and increased significantly post‐pandemic (p < 0.0001), with no significant differences among regions during the pandemic (p = 0.32). Significant differences in survivorship in 1933–1935 were driven by increasing differences in survivorship for P&I among the regions more than other causes of death.DiscussionMyopic perspectives of pandemics can obscure our understanding of observed outcomes. Inequalities in respiratory disease mortality are evident in pre‐ and post‐pandemic periods, but these would have been missed in investigations of the pandemic period alone.

Public archives determination of social memory in appraising local government records in South Africa

A hybrid version of macro-appraisal is used by South African public archivists when separating records of enduring value from ephemeral records. This appraisal function should occur immediately after the filing systems have been approved by the national and provincial archivists. However, in most cases, this function only occurs two years after the filing system has been approved. In the 1990s, the South African National Archives changed its traditional appraisal methodology from a Schellenberg approach to formulate a sound appraisal policy based on the macro-appraisal model. One of the key elements identified was the need to identify gaps in the written records that could be filled during the appraisal process. These gaps could be complemented by the collection of oral history. This study used qualitative data obtained through content analysis and literature to review the appraisal policy guidelines and approaches of the National Archives and the Gauteng Provincial Archives in relation to the process of appraisal, issuing of disposal authorities and capturing of oral history projects in relation to Gauteng local governments. This study used a case study design and specifically focused on the appraisal of Gauteng local government records. Interviews were held with officials of the National Archives and Gauteng Provincial Archives involved in the function of appraisal of public records. This study indicated that there were gaps in archival collections, which should be supplemented by the collection of oral history testimonies. The oral history testimonies collected from individuals and communities affected by socio-economic and socio-political events are not captured by the country’s public archivists. These narratives of post-apartheid South Africa are being lost and may not be captured by the national and provincial archives services. The key recommendation of this study is that there should be clear policy guidelines relating to the process of appraisal and transparency on how these processes are undertaken in South African public archives.

Records and information management in evidence-based decision-making public schools in South Africa

Records are important assets in the decision-making process and promote transparency and accountability. The successful provision of educational and training services in public schools relies on reliable and authentic records. Thus, evidence-based decision-making can help address the challenges in the basic education sector in public schools. The challenges manifest as weaknesses between the different sectors and departments responsible for early childhood development services and poor quality of school education outcomes in public schools. The said challenges were identified in the National Development Plan 2030 and their resolution can contribute to the achievement of education and training goals. The main purpose of this study was to outline the role played by records and information management in supporting evidence-based decision-making in public schools in South Africa. This study adopted the qualitative research approach and used content analysis to identify challenges hindering national development plan goal achievement in the basic education sector. A content analysis of available literature consisting of policy documents, internet sources, books and journal papers was used to identify and describe the challenges and propose solutions. It is guided by the Association of Records Managers and Administrators’ Generally Accepted Record Keeping Principles as a framework. The study found that poor educational outcomes could be improved through proper records management practices enabling evidence-based decision-making to thrive. The study recommends that governmental bodies in South Africa utilise the power of records and information management to enable goal achievement, with the professional assistance rendered by the National Archives and Records Service of South Africa (NARSSA) and provincial archives.

Trevor J. Dadson (1947–2020)

Trevor J. Dadson (1947–2020)

ДОКУМЕНТЫ ИЗ ФОНДОВ АРХИВА ПРОВИНЦИИ ХЭЙЛУНЦЗЯН О СОТРУДНИЧЕСТВЕ КРАСНОЯРСКОГО КРАЯ С КИТАЕМ В КОНЦЕ ХХ В.

The development of historical research is impossible without expanding the source base. In order to study the history of Russian-Chinese relations in Russia, it is necessary to introduce into scientific circulation sources of Chinese origin, including archival documents in Chinese. The most important component of Russian-Chinese relations at the end of the twentieth century. There was cooperation at the regional level. The main partner of the Krasnoyarsk Territory in China was the northern province of Heilongjiang, where the Harbin Fair has been held annually since 1990. The Heilongjiang Provincial Archive has a separate fund "Harbin Trade and Economic Fair Office". We examined several archival files from this fund, which contains documents reflecting the cooperation of the Krasnoyarsk Territory with China from 1990 to 1997. Among the most valuable and meaningful documents, we singled out the “Minutes of the Meeting of the People's Government of Heilongjiang Province of the PRC with the delegation of the Executive Committee of the Krasnoyarsk Territory of the Soviet Union. Harbin, June 8, 1990”; "Successful development of negotiations in the trade and economic sphere between our province and the Krasnoyarsk Territory" and "Meeting of Vice Governor Wang Zongzhang with the Russian delegation of the government of Krasnoyarsk." documents from the Heilongjiang Province Archives introduced into scientific circulation expand the historical picture of events and help to better understand the problems of the history of the Krasnoyarsk Territory and Russian-Chinese relations.