Arquivo Geral da Universidade de São Paulo AG-USP

Overview

The Arquivo Geral da Universidade de São Paulo (AG-USP), or General Archive of the University of São Paulo, is the central archival organ of the University of São Paulo (USP), Brazil's largest and most prominent research university. It serves as the institutional repository for the university's permanent records, oversees the USP Archive System (SAUSP), and issues guidelines for records management across all university units.

History and Founding

The institutional precursor to the General Archive, the Sistema de Arquivos da Universidade de São Paulo (SAUSP), was established in November 1997 to provide decentralized records management across USP's units. After a comprehensive diagnosis of all USP archives in 2003, it was determined that a central institutional archive was needed to serve as a model and standard-setting body. The Arquivo Geral was formally created in 2005 as a structural organ within USP's administration. The archive building was constructed in phases, with the first part completed in 2005 and the second part delivered subsequently. USP itself was founded in 1934 and is Brazil's leading research university, responsible for approximately 20 percent of the country's total academic output.

Collections and Holdings

The AG-USP holds permanent records transferred from units and organs across USP, including administrative, financial, and academic documentation relating to the university's history since its founding in 1934. The archive provides custody for materials from USP's faculties, institutes, museums, and central administration, including records from the USP Truth Commission (2013 onward). It also maintains institutional memory collections under projects such as the Memória Docente (Teaching Memory) project.

Access and Usage

The AG-USP is open to researchers, students, and USP staff. It participates in cultural outreach through the Giro Cultural USP programme. The archive website is at sites.usp.br/arquivogeral. A Document and Access Assessment Committee (CADA) governs appraisal and access decisions. The archive follows open-government principles, including compliance with Brazil's General Data Protection Law (LGPD) and the Federal Law on Transparency.

Affiliated System

The AG-USP is the central organ of SAUSP (Sistema de Arquivos da USP), a networked system of sectoral archives spread across all USP units and campuses. The AG-USP issues management instruments including Classified Filing Plans (PCA) and Disposal Schedules (TTD) used across the system.