Scientific activity

The basic framework of the scientific activity of the National Archives is given by Act No. 499/2004 Coll., on Archiving and Records Management, further by Act No. 130/2002 Coll., on the Support of Science, Research and Development, by Government Resolution No. 729/2009 Coll., which sets out the national policy of research, development and innovation, and finally by the tradition of the institution, whose professional beginnings can be traced back to the 18th century. In 2009, the National Archives was entered in the list of research organizations pursuant to Act No. 130/2002 Coll. (in 2017, in connection with the legislative change, the NA again defended this position).

The essence of the research programme of the National Archives is a combination of basic and applied research. It performs scientific and research activities in the field of archiving, auxiliary historical sciences and related disciplines, carries out the tasks of a central scientific and research institute in the field of preventive care for archival records, conservation and restoration of records, as well as in storing and making new forms of information carriers, including documents in digital form, available.

Specific research tools are mainly:

• Building scientific infrastructure (specialized library, chemical, restoration and photographic studios, mass deacidification line, information system, digitization workplace);
• initiation and systematic support of scientific projects in pursued scientific fields;
• publishing activities;
• domestic and foreign field research;
• presentation of achieved results on various forums and platforms;
• activity within the scientific community.

The National Archives is currently working according to the development policy of the research organization for the programme period 2017–2023.

Scientific Board

The Scientific Board was established by the Civil Service Regulation of the Director of the NA No. 15 of 3 November 2017, which issues the Statute and Rules of Procedure of the Scientific Board. The Scientific Board is an advisory body to the Director of the Archives and its task is to participate in the short-term and long-term concept of the NA’s scientific activities, comprehensively support and evaluate ongoing research projects of the NA and discuss and give opinion on planned research projects of the NA.

Civil Service Regulation of the Director of the NA No. 15/2017, which issues the Statute and Rules of Procedure of the SB.

Members of the Scientific Board of the National Archives

Chair

Mgr. Jan Hrdina, Ph.D. (Prague City Archives), term of office 2018–2023

Vice-Chair

Ing. Benjamin Bartl, Ph.D. (National Archives), term of office 2018–2021

Members

Doc. Ing. Michal Ďurovič, Dr. (University of Chemistry and Technology Prague), term of office 2018–2023

Prof. PhDr. Jiří Kocian, CSc. (Institute of Contemporary History of the Czech Academy of Sciences), term of office 2018–2023

PhDr. Jiří Křesťan, CSc. (National Archives), term of office 2018–2021

Ing. Miroslav Kunt (National Archives), term of office 2018–2021

PhDr. et PhDr. Petr Mareš, Ph.D. (National Archives), term of office 2018–2023

Doc. PhDr. Jiří Šouša, CSc. (Charles University, Faculty of Arts), term of office 2018–2023

PhDr. Zdeněk Vašek, Ph.D. (Institute of the History of Charles University and Archive of Charles University), term of office 2018–2023