Mission

In a period where free access to information constitutes a fundamental right, in General State Archives we do not just store and preserve documents but also ensure free access, manage information stored in multiple formats and protect state’s and citizens’ rights.

We play an important role in the historical research, administrative information, communal service and cultural activities. We preserve our national heritage and our main objectives are the appraisal, disposal, selection, preservation and make historical records of the state available for use. Furthermore, as the National Archival Institution, our role is to set policies and act as the best advisor for the administration, monitoring the documents throughout their lifecycle (from creation to their disposal or their preservation in perpetuity). Extroversion is a strategic goal for us. We pursue collaborations and we play an active role in the international archival community by following and shaping the international advancements with our peers via our participation in the respective international institutions. Our efforts focus on promoting archival awareness in the Public Administration and, at the same time, on cultivating the importance and the usefulness of the archives for citizens. Our goal is presented in detail in Law 1946/1991 (art. 9, p. 3).

The General State Archives aims to:
  1. Monitor, rescue, concentrate, maintain, record, microfilm, classify and index the national archival material for the purpose of researching public and private archives, documents and manuscripts, which are reported in the history and in the cultural heritage of the Greek nation and its relation to the administrative, economic and social life of the Greek state.
  2. Identify and index public archives of historical interest, select and preserve them in the General State Archives in order to make available to research.
  3. Collaborate with the Church, Ecclesiastical Institutions, Monasteries and other Religious Institutions for the preservation of archival material.
  4. Collaborate with holders of private collections and/or archives of historical interest.
  5. Monitor special files from the wider public sector as specified in the art. 39 of Law.
  6. Issue publications (periodical and non-periodical) to the aim of enhancing the country’s historical sources.
  7. Participate in research programmes in collaboration with other national or international scientific institutions.
  8. Enrich our archival material by either purchase or accept donations from private holders and facsimiles of archival material found abroad.