June 9 Holiday: International Archives Day is celebrated around the world
Every year on June 9, the world celebrates International Archives Day—a professional holiday for archivists and all specialists involved in the preservation of historical documents. This date is intended to draw attention to the important role of archives in preserving cultural heritage, historical memory, and documentary evidence of the past.
History of International Archives Day
The holiday was established in 2007 on the initiative of the International Council on Archives. The date was not chosen at random: it was on June 9, 1948, under the auspices of UNESCO, that the International Council on Archives was established, bringing together archival institutions and specialists from around the world.
The main goal of the holiday is to highlight the importance of archival documents for society, science, public administration, and the preservation of historical truth.
Why archives are important
Archives preserve documents that reflect the lives of nations, organizations, and individuals. It is thanks to archival materials that historians can study past events, and citizens can verify their rights, family ties, or biographical facts.
In today’s world, archives are increasingly transitioning to digital formats, making important documents more accessible to researchers and the general public.
How Archivists Celebrate the Holiday
In many countries, International Archives Day is marked by exhibitions of unique documents, thematic lectures, conferences, and open house events at archival institutions. Experts share their experience in preserving historical materials and introduce visitors to interesting documentary finds.
On this day, archivists, employees of public and private archives, scholars, and everyone working to preserve the documentary heritage are also honored.
Interesting facts about archives
- The oldest archival documents in the world are over four thousand years old.
- Archives can store not only paper documents but also photographs, maps, audio recordings, and video materials.
- Many historical discoveries have been made precisely thanks to archival research.
- Today, digital archives allow access to documents from anywhere in the world.
International Archives Day is an opportunity to thank the people who work every day to preserve humanity’s documentary memory. Thanks to their work, future generations have the opportunity to study history and better understand the events of the past.
