Arkivalier

Arkivalier are the individual records and collections within an archive that have been judged to have continuing value as evidence of an activity, organization, or period. They are created or received by persons, families, businesses, or public or religious bodies in the course of their functions, and are preserved because they document decisions, actions, and events.

Archivistic practice treats arkivalier as part of a larger whole called an arkiv or fonds. The principle of provenance and original order means the materials are kept together as they were received and used, so the relationships between records are preserved. Arkivalier can range from small sets of documents to extensive series of records, and they may include both physical and digital materials.

Typical types of arkivalier include correspondence, meeting minutes, contracts, financial ledgers, legal documents, administrative files, photographs, maps, plans, audiovisuals, and born-digital files. The precise contents depend on the creator’s functions and the archival arrangement. Archivists describe arkivalier through finding aids that outline scope, dates, content, and provenance, often following established standards to facilitate discovery and use.

Access to arkivalier can be subject to restrictions related to privacy, copyright, or security. Preservation concerns cover physical conservation, environmental controls, and, for digital arkivalier, long-term digital longevity, metadata, and format stability. Digitization and online access are common strategies to improve usability, though they must be balanced with authenticity and rights considerations.

Arkivalier are housed in national, regional, and local archives as well as in libraries, churches, and private institutions. They serve as primary sources for historical research, governance accountability, cultural heritage, and documentary evidence of societal activities.