The archives in France: the documentary collection and the educational mission of the Communal Archives of Arles

Abstract

The present article studies the organization of the documentary collections and the cultural and educational activities carried out by the Communal Archives of Arles. Based on a professional experience developed during three months, the main actions deployed by that institution are identified and highlighted. It is emphasized throughout the article that these actions are related to the role of the French State and the local government to make people aware of topics such as the repair of old books and manuscripts, the preservation of local history, and protection of written heritage. First of all, the French archival system is explained in a general way. Then, by describing the Archives collection of the commune of Arles, it is exposed to the sources the archivists work with to prepare school workshops. Finally, we reflect on the importance of pedagogical actions in the training of citizens sensitive to the preservation of written heritage integrity, the search for a didactic that explains local history, and the relationship between that didactic and archival digitalization.