Historical science and archives movement

Abstract

The Archives and History academic communities both deal with documentary sources, yet the two disciplines tend to be independent. In the coming years, both will cooperate in the creation of databases and networking. Computers have been introduced to documentation work for three reasons: first, the overwhelming numbers of papers which are the sources for both our fields, secondly, the necessity for precision in recorded information, and thirdly, data sharing. However, it is still not easy to persuade society to recognize the importance of developing databases and networks. Both the history education sector and regional archives sector should undertake the role of initiating discussion in these matters. Archives are part of our society. However, it is important to introduce the idea of ‘modern, international standards for archives’ to Japan. It should be stressed, though, that Japan is still subject to a particularity which resists acknowledgement of their importance. The nature of the issue suggests that various academic communities such as those of law and economics as well as history have to be involved in serious discussions on their contribution to developing society’s consciousness of archives.