Zdzisław Chmielewski, Archiwistyka wobec problemu masowości akt współczesnych, w: Archeion, t. 100, wyd. NDAP, Warszawa 1999, ss. 51-69
"Zdzisław C h m i e l e w s k i, Archive science towards problems of the mass character of
records. Systemic changes that took place in Europe after the World War I and, in particular,
World War II, manifested, among others, in the total reconstruction of the system of the
administration of social and economic life, consequently influenced the process of record
creation: they forced the introduction of new mechanisms to regulate the development of the
mass production of records. Archives urgently had to acquire enormous masses of records
due to the liquidation, unavoidable for these transformations, of many offices and institutions
considered redundant. Records related to economic issues were becoming a separate problem,
since after the implementation of reforms in many countries (land reforms or nationalization
of industry), records were to be filed according to the principles different than up to that
moment. Archivists faced the necessity to change basic criteria of evaluating and weeding
records, as well as to work out a necessary, theoretical justification for any further activities.
In mid 50’s, studies devoted to this problem usually defined as mass records, were intensified,
in particular in Western Europe and the US. The problem of mass records, and consequently,
the need to find rational remedies, released new creative powers among archivists; it also
focused the interest of international archival bodies. The article is an effort to present the
most common ideas on this subject appearing in the world literature, and prevailing during
the proceedings of congresses on archives. It also refers to publications confirming the
directions of archivists’ search to find the most effective methods of dealing with fast
ARCHIWISTYKA WOBEC PROBLEMU MASOWOS´CI AKT WSPO´ ŁCZESNYCH 67
growing record and non-record documentation. The author also emphasizes that political and
systemic transformations of the end of the 80’s and beginning of the 90’s allowed archivists
from Central and Eastern Europe, including archivists from Poland, to participate more
directly in this exchange of thoughts and ideas."
Źródło: Archeion, t. 100
