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Key research themes
1. How did early modern archival practices in Spain shape the organization, governance, and use of documentary memory?
This theme investigates the emergence of new archival cultures in early modern Spain from the late fifteenth to the seventeenth centuries, focusing on administrative reforms, the consolidation of diverse archives, systems of order and control of documents, and the multifaceted uses of archives in governance and historiography. It is significant because it connects archival developments with broader political, social, and cultural transformations during state formation, illustrating how practices of record-keeping contributed to the consolidation of power and memory.
Key finding: The paper reveals how Spanish monarchs Ferdinand and Isabella initiated policies in the early 1500s that centralized and ordered royal and municipal documents, inaugurating the Archive of Simancas and new record-keeping... Read more
2. What role did early modern archives play in the production and circulation of knowledge across political, scientific, and cultural domains?
This research area centers on the methodological study of archives as epistemic spaces that were not limited to historical records but were active sites of knowledge generation and management in early modern Europe. It emphasizes the shared practices of collecting, organizing, and empirically engaging with documents across disciplines—from natural philosophy to law and politics—challenging disciplinary boundaries and introducing new frameworks to understand knowledge cultures.
Key finding: This work challenges the historiographical divide between sciences and humanities by showing that scientific research institutions integrated libraries and archives as fundamental research sites. It demonstrates how archives... Read more
Key finding: Friedrich’s historical investigation of the archive highlights its role as a material and institutional site where access to knowledge is controlled and contested. Using the case of archival thefts and recoveries in... Read more
3. How are archival theory and practice evolving to address digital challenges and enhance the discovery and accessibility of archives?
This theme discusses contemporary debates and methodological advancements in archival science aimed at reformulating traditional archival theory to manage the explosion of digital records, improve automated archival functions, and enhance the exploration of archives by users and researchers. It focuses on theoretical refinements that incorporate ontology, taxonomy, and semiotics, advocating a move toward formal, precise conceptual frameworks to meet the demands of digital information ecosystems.
Key finding: The paper critically assesses contemporary archival theory’s shortcomings in dealing with digital information, proposing a conceptual and methodological reformulation. It advocates shifting archival theory’s focus from... Read more
Key finding: This reflective essay identifies the paradigm shift in archival use and management resulting from digitization. It stresses that digital archives demand new skills for critical source evaluation, transparency about digital... Read more
Key finding: Tracing archival science from its French Revolutionary origins through the 19th and 20th centuries, the paper identifies a dominant historical-technicist paradigm rooted in traditional archival management and the principle of... Read more