Dear all
Last year I was very privileged to be invited to the Croatian Archival
Society's Annual Conference as an SoA representative. They key points in
the Conference were:
1. Bosnian archivists lost over 50% of their state records
2. The speech by a Franciscan friar on how he managed to save the 500 year
old archive from destruction at Mostar. This was done single- handedly and
he was keen to stress that he was not a qualified archivist!
It was only when I heard such accounts and met Croatians and Bosnians that
I truly realised the enormous destruction. Three years on, the Croatian
archivists are trying to rebuild the whole profession and there is a lot of
enthusiasm and hope. It is galling to think that we did absolutely nothing
to help them or the archives.
I therefore support the proposal to bring this up this matter at the SoA
AGM next week.
Again these views are my own personal views.
Gillian Whichelo
----------
> From: [log in to unmask]
> To: [log in to unmask]; [log in to unmask]
> Cc: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: RE: SAA Statement on Balkans Conflict
> Date: 15 April 1999 11:37
>
> Speaking as someone who was both astonished and appalled by the ICA being
so
> ready to be used in a government public relations exercise in China,
despite
> a jolly time being had by all, I can quite understand why people are
> expressing puzzlement over the SAA worrying about records rather than
> people.
> Nevertheless, trying with great difficulty to be dispassionate about an
> obscene programme of deliberate genocide, and looking at the "big
picture",
> if we as a professional community do not highlight this situation with
> regard to a nation's documentary heritage, then who will?
> Of course the issue has to be approached with the utmost sensitivity with
> regard to the numerous individual human tragedies escalating daily, but I
> think it is up to us a profession to highlight the fact that this
systematic
> destruction is being carried out. It is clearly part of a planned agenda
to
> destroy a nation's distinct identity and national memory, along with the
> horrifying mis-treatment of the female Albanian population of Kosovo now
> being reported.
> Perversely, the Serb actions with regard to these historical records adds
> proof to what we are continually trying to demonstrate; that the archives
of
> any organisation or institution - national, corporate or whatever - are a
> priceless and irreplaceable component of that institution's identity, the
> loss of which would damage its future development. Clearly, the Serbs at
> least believe so.
>
> I support the action of the SAA, and believe that the Society should
produce
> something similar. Thank you, Sarah, for bringing this to our attention.
>
> As a sad postcript, I must stress that these are my own personal views,
and
> I do not in any way speak for my employer who facilities I am employing
to
> express them.
>
> David Hay
>
> * (0171) 492 8799
> * (0171) 242 1973
> * [log in to unmask]
>
>
>
>
>
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: Flynn, Sarah J [SMTP:[log in to unmask]]
> > Sent: Thursday, April 15, 1999 9:42 AM
> > To: [log in to unmask]
> > Cc: Janet Smith (E-mail)
> > Subject: SAA Statement on Balkans Conflict
> >
> > Morning everyone
> > The appended text was sent to the US archives listserv yesterday -
> > apologies
> > to those of you who have already seen it, also for the lack of
punctuation
> > therein.
> > It led to various responses on that list - some sarcastic, some earnest
-
> > along the lines of 'why are SAA [the Society of American Archivists]
> > bothering their heads about the archives while people are being
killed?'
> > Recalling our discussions on this list a few years ago over holding ICA
> > meetings in China, I wonder a) how the UK archives community feels
about
> > the
> > systematic destruction by the Serbs/Yugoslavs of personal and other
> > records
> > relating to Kosovar Albanians, and b) if we should look to produce a
> > similar
> > statement at the SoA AGM next week. I am copying in the Hon Secretary
of
> > the Society, Jan Smith, on this message in case she would like to
respond.
> > yours, never afraid to get a thread going, Sarah
> >
> > +++++++++
> >
> >
> > Date: Wed, 14 Apr 1999 11:35:00 -0500
> > From: [log in to unmask]
> > Subject: SAA Resolution on Destruction of Archives in Kosovo and
> > Yugoslavia
> >
> > Please excuse the cross-postings=2E
> >
> >
> > On April 14, 1999 the SAA Council voted to approve the following
> > resolution on the destruction of archives in Kosovo and Yugoslavia:
> >
> > The Society of American Archivists notes with grave concern reports
> > of the systematic destruction of archives in Kosovo and war-caused
> > devastation to archives throughout Yugoslavia
> >
> > Archives hold the valuable records of the accomplishments of a nation,
> > of a government's actions, and of its people's lives Destruction of
the
> > archives eliminates a vital link in a nation's connection to its past
and
> > destroys a people's ability to learn about themselves and to defend
> > their rights and interests
> >
> > Although felt most deeply by those directly affected, the loss of
> > archives anywhere in the world is an irreparable tragedy for all
humankind
> > Once destroyed, archives cannot be recreated, and the cultural
> > patrimony of the world is permanently diminished
> >
> > With these considerations in mind, the Society of American Archivists
> > deplores the loss of archives that has taken place to date in the
> > Yugoslav conflict and urges all military forces to recognize the
> > significance and sanctity of archives and to take all actions necessary
> > to protect them to the greatest extent possible wherever they may be
> > found
> >
> >
> > ******
> >
> > Sarah J A Flynn
> > Archivist (Historical Records)
> > Information Management and Analysis
> > Glaxo Wellcome Research and Development
> > Greenford Road
> > Greenford
> > Middlesex UB6 0HE
> >
> > Direct line: 711 2395 / 0181 966 2395
> > Fax: 711 2240 / 0181 966 2240
> > Email: [log in to unmask]
> >
> > ******
> >
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