Public access to government archives in contemporary Japan

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  • 近現代における行政アーカイブズ公開の歴史的検証
  • 近現代における行政アーカイブズ公開の歴史的検証--明治後期～昭和戦前期の図書館と府県庁記録
  • キンゲンダイ ニ オケル ギョウセイ アーカイブズ コウカイ ノ レキシテキ ケンショウ メイジ コウキ ショウワ センゼンキ ノ トショカン ト フケンチョウ キロク
  • The role of the library in the preservation of prefectural government records between the late Meiji and pre-war Showa periods
  • 明治後期～昭和戦前期の図書館と府県庁記録

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Abstract

<p>Modern archival systems did not develop in Japan between the Meiji and pre­war Showa periods. However, some classes of archival materials from prefectural governments were transferred to their libraries and were opened to the public. Those materials include records generated by the preceding feudal lords and the formal records of administration compiled under the Dajokan government system of the early Meiji period. They were regarded as local history materials and local governments were aware of the potential embodied in them which could be used to acculturate their‘subjects．’The potential of the archives was selectively controlled.</p><p>At the same time, leading librarians gradually became aware of the need for the proper management of those materials. Backed up by professional library associations, they collected the non­current records of the contemporary prefectural governments as well as local history materials and argued that setting up prefectural libraries as“reference institutions for local administration”was a necessity. Having realized the “unique nature of archives，” they then went further in arguing that proper archival institutions should be set up. Yamaguchi Prefectural Library provides one of the best examples. As an outgrowth of the library service,it led to the establishment of the Yamaguchi Prefectural Archives after WWII, the first modern archive institution in Japan.</p>

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