IMC 2009: Sessions

Session 705: Medieval Urban Literacy, V: Medieval Civic Archives and Civic Secrecy, 1

Tuesday 14 July 2009, 14.15-15.45

Sponsor:	Medieval Urban Literacy Project
Organiser:	Sarah Rees Jones, Centre for Medieval Studies, University of York
Moderator/Chair:	Marco Mostert, Onderzoekinstituut voor Geschiedenis en Kunstgeschiedenis, Universiteit Utrecht
Paper 705-a	Introduction: Keeping Secrets in Archives (Language: English) Michael Jucker, Historisches Seminar, Universität Luzern Index terms: Administration, Archives and Sources, Literacy and Orality, Politics and Diplomacy
Paper 705-b	North Italian Communes and Secret Keeping (Language: English) Christoph Friedrich Weber, Historisches Seminar, Technische Universität Carolo-Wilhelmina, Braunschweig Index terms: Administration, Charters and Diplomatics, Literacy and Orality, Printing History
Paper 705-c	Record Keeping in Flemish Towns (Language: English) Hannes Lowagie, Vakgroep Geschiedenis, Universiteit Gent Index terms: Administration, Archives and Sources, Manuscripts and Palaeography, Politics and Diplomacy
Abstract	These two sessions will explore the evolution and purpose of medieval civic archives in Europe. They will focus in particular on archival practices and the roles which keepers of archives were expected to fulfil in relation to the government of towns. The keeping of archives required the development of ideas about the relationship between public and private information and its correct guardianship. The papers will there address issues relating to the control of archives, their material character, permitted access to archives and developing ideas of secrecy in urban politics and diplomacy.