My archival work or an example of the rearrangement of archives of the Diocesan Archives in Krk

Abstract

With regard to these central diocesan archives, the question of whether to transfer to Krk the archives of the former Rab Diocese, which is now in the custody of the Rab Rectory, remains open. Namely, it is now a widely accepted practice that artistic creations, including archives and libraries, should not leave their point of creation and present custody. The tendency is to leave them »in situ«, where they were created. However, care must be taken to keep them in proper conditions, and also to provide adequate access for consulting, which remains an open theoretical and practical question. Apart from these questions, which are under the competence of higher ecclesiastical (and state?) authorities, the ultimate question remains: what is the role and position of a parish priest in this matter? Priests, parish priests and chaplains keep parish archives and must be aware that this parish treasure, even if of a lesser stature, is closely linked to archival documents kept in diocesan archives. Obviously, not all of them have, nor are they required to have, a particular interest and affinity for such valuable archival material. Nevertheless, all of them should learn the value and uniqueness of the material and take at least basic steps to preserve it, namely, to take care of the environment where the archives are kept (the room must be dry and protected from animals) until somebody comes who will arrange it respecting, as much as possible, its internal, mostly chronological, order of creation and all the rules of modern archival profession.