VdA (Verband deutscher Archivarinnen und Archivare)

VdA (Verband deutscher Archivarinnen und Archivare)
Name	VdA (Verband deutscher Archivarinnen und Archivare)
Native name	Verband deutscher Archivarinnen und Archivare
Formation	1983
Type	Professional association
Headquarters	Berlin
Location	Germany
Language	German
Membership	Archivists, archival institutions

VdA (Verband deutscher Archivarinnen und Archivare) is the principal professional association representing archival practitioners in Germany. It functions as a membership organization that links archivists from municipal archives, state archives, church archives, university archives and private archives, fostering professional development, standards, and advocacy. The association engages with governmental bodies, cultural institutions, academic centers and international organizations to shape archival practice and heritage policy.

History

The association was founded in the late 20th century amid shifts in archival practice and public administration, developing parallel to institutions such as the Bundesarchiv, Landesarchiv Baden-Württemberg, Staatsbibliothek zu Berlin, Werkbund, and Deutscher Historikertag. Early leaders included archivists who previously worked at the Kaiserliche Bibliothek, Preußisches Staatsarchiv, and regional archives like Hessisches Staatsarchiv Marburg and Bayerisches Hauptstaatsarchiv. Throughout the 1990s and 2000s the association responded to reunification-era reforms involving the Deutsche Einheit process, cooperating with agencies such as the Beauftragter der Bundesregierung für die Neuen Bundesländer and consulting on matters related to records from the Deutsche Demokratische Republik and the Bundesrepublik Deutschland. The VdA has historically intersected with professional currents exemplified by figures associated with the Monumenta Germaniae Historica, Deutsches Historisches Institut, and major repositories like the Staatsarchiv Hamburg and Geheimes Staatsarchiv Preußischer Kulturbesitz.

Organization and Membership

The association’s governance typically includes an elected board, regional sections, and specialist working groups reflecting the structures seen in organizations such as the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft, Kultusministerkonferenz, Verband der Landesarchivare, and professional unions like the Gewerkschaft Erziehung und Wissenschaft. Membership comprises staff from municipal entities like the Stadtarchiv München, ecclesiastical bodies such as the Evangelische Kirche in Deutschland archives, academic repositories at institutions including the Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin and the Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, as well as private-sector records managers from companies comparable to Siemens and Deutsche Bank. The association liaises with regional archives like the Landesarchiv Nordrhein-Westfalen and international bodies including the International Council on Archives through affiliate members.

Activities and Services

The VdA organizes conferences, symposia, and continuing education mirroring events held by the Archivamt, Deutsche Nationalbibliothek, and university centers at Universität Hamburg and Johannes Gutenberg-Universität Mainz. It provides career guidance for archivists aspiring to posts in institutions such as the Bundesarchiv, Landesarchiv Baden-Württemberg, or ecclesiastical archives like the Erzbistum Köln archive. The association administers awards and recognitions akin to prizes from the Stiftung Preußischer Kulturbesitz and collaborates on exhibitions with museums such as the Deutsches Historisches Museum and Haus der Geschichte. It runs specialist workshops on records appraisal, digitization projects comparable to initiatives at the Staatsbibliothek zu Berlin, and advisory services for holdings in archives like the Stadtarchiv Leipzig.

Publications and Communication

The association publishes professional journals, newsletters, and position papers paralleling periodicals issued by the VdZ and the Archivpflege in Sachsen-Anhalt series. It issues guidelines and brochures that are circulated among institutions such as the Landesarchiv Bayern, Archivschule Marburg, and libraries like the Stadtbibliothek Bremen. Communication channels include online platforms modeled after those of the Deutsche Digitale Bibliothek and collaborative portals used by the Europeana network. Publications often reference practices observed at repositories like the Archiv der sozialen Demokratie and international standards promulgated by the International Council on Archives.

Professional Standards and Education

The association contributes to the development of professional standards in ways comparable to the Archivschule Marburg, the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Informationswissenschaft und Informationspraxis, and certification schemes found in other cultural sectors. It runs training modules on provenance, arrangement, and description inspired by curricula at the Universität Leipzig and the Universität zu Köln, and supports research projects linked to the Max Weber Stiftung and the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft. The VdA’s work interfaces with legislative frameworks administered by authorities like the Bundesministerium des Innern and educational policies coordinated via the Kultusministerkonferenz.

Advocacy and Legal Work

Advocacy efforts involve consultation on records legislation and information law in discussions with entities such as the Bundestag, the Bundesverfassungsgericht, and ministries including the Bundesministerium der Justiz. The association has submitted position papers relating to data protection rules under the influence of cases before the Europäischer Gerichtshof and statutory instruments modeled on the Bundesdatenschutzgesetz. It represents archival interests in debates over cultural property, restitution claims involving institutions like the Staatliche Museen zu Berlin and commemorative processes linked to events such as the Wiedervereinigung Deutschlands.

International Relations and Collaborations

Internationally, the association maintains ties with the International Council on Archives, the European Commission’s cultural programs, and national bodies such as the British Records Association, the Society of American Archivists, and the Archivum Horti. It participates in transnational projects alongside partners like the European Archives Group, research centers at the University of Oxford, the Université de Paris, and cross-border initiatives funded by programs akin to Horizon 2020. Collaborative work includes digitization consortia with institutions such as the Bibliothèque nationale de France and exchange programs with archives like the National Archives (United Kingdom) and the National Archives and Records Administration.

Category:Archivwesen in Deutschland