Facade of the National Archives Headquarters Building
The oldest Algerian archives date from the Ottoman period from the 16th century to the beginning of the 19th century.
Most of them are today kept at the National Archives Center in Algiers; and represent an important part of our archival heritage, unfortunately reduced by almost all of the funds created during the colonial occupation, from 1830 to 1962, the year when Algeria regained its independence, reaffirmed its sovereignty over its entire territory, and restored its institutions.
Indeed, the Algerian archives were massively transferred to France in 1961 and 1962. A tiny part was able to be recovered, but many documents are currently kept in Aix-En-Provence. The Algerian state is still demanding their restitution. How can we not also deplore the irreparable loss of the prestigious documents of Hiempsal, consulted by Sallust, those of Ibn Rostom, the Zirids, the Hammadites and the Zianides.
The Ottoman archives, the archives of the colonial period, the archives of the national liberation struggle, and the documents from public institutions since independence, constitute the foundations of the Algerian National Archives.
Constitutive elements of collective memory, the National Archives have gradually established their legal and institutional base, in order to contribute to the tasks of national building.
From 1962 to 1971, the management and reconstitution of the national archival heritage were successively entrusted to the Ministry of National Education, then to that of National Orientation, and to the Ministry of Information and Culture.
In 1971, with the creation of a National Archives fund under the Presidency of the Council, we witnessed the first attempt to really take charge of the “ARCHIVES” function, which led to the creation in 1974 of the Directorate of National Archives, to the relaunch of the archival activities of the Regional Archives Centers of the Wilaya of Algiers; Oran and Constantine, and the promulgation of the decree of March 20, 1977 relating to the National Archives.
Between 1980 and 1987, several commissions examined the main questions relating to the National Archives, at the legislative and organizational levels. Studies on foreign archive systems have also been carried out. On a technical level, an operation to construct a specific building for the National Archives was registered in 1981, and materialized in 1989 with the inauguration of the National Archives building.
Today, the National Archives are considered one of the three pillars of Algerian cultural heritage along with libraries and museums, and are responsible for preserving the collective memory of the people.
Most of them are today kept at the National Archives Center in Algiers; and represent an important part of our archival heritage, unfortunately reduced by almost all of the funds created during the colonial occupation, from 1830 to 1962, the year when Algeria regained its independence, reaffirmed its sovereignty over its entire territory, and restored its institutions.
Indeed, the Algerian archives were massively transferred to France in 1961 and 1962. A tiny part was able to be recovered, but many documents are currently kept in Aix-En-Provence. The Algerian state is still demanding their restitution. How can we not also deplore the irreparable loss of the prestigious documents of Hiempsal, consulted by Sallust, those of Ibn Rostom, the Zirids, the Hammadites and the Zianides.
The Ottoman archives, the archives of the colonial period, the archives of the national liberation struggle, and the documents from public institutions since independence, constitute the foundations of the Algerian National Archives.
Constitutive elements of collective memory, the National Archives have gradually established their legal and institutional base, in order to contribute to the tasks of national building.
From 1962 to 1971, the management and reconstitution of the national archival heritage were successively entrusted to the Ministry of National Education, then to that of National Orientation, and to the Ministry of Information and Culture.
In 1971, with the creation of a National Archives fund under the Presidency of the Council, we witnessed the first attempt to really take charge of the “ARCHIVES” function, which led to the creation in 1974 of the Directorate of National Archives, to the relaunch of the archival activities of the Regional Archives Centers of the Wilaya of Algiers; Oran and Constantine, and the promulgation of the decree of March 20, 1977 relating to the National Archives.
Between 1980 and 1987, several commissions examined the main questions relating to the National Archives, at the legislative and organizational levels. Studies on foreign archive systems have also been carried out. On a technical level, an operation to construct a specific building for the National Archives was registered in 1981, and materialized in 1989 with the inauguration of the National Archives building.
Today, the National Archives are considered one of the three pillars of Algerian cultural heritage along with libraries and museums, and are responsible for preserving the collective memory of the people.