Historical Archive National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (HA.NKUA)

Overview

The Historical Archive of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (H.A.NKUA) is Greece's largest archival institution focused on higher education. It preserves and provides access to over 2,000,000 items documenting the history of the oldest university in the modern Greek state, founded in 1837, as well as the broader social, cultural, and scientific history of modern Greece. The Archive is housed in an interwar building owned by the University at 45 Skoufa Street, in the Kolonaki district of central Athens.

History and Founding

Until 1991, the university's archival material had been dispersed across numerous buildings occupied by the institution during its gradual expansion from its 1837 founding. The Historical Archive was established in 1991 as an administrative and research department of the University to consolidate, classify, and make accessible this scattered material. Digitization of the collection began in 1999, and the digital archive was integrated into the Pergamos Digital Library System in 2006, developed through support from the EU's 3rd Community Support Framework.

Collections and Holdings

The Archive's collections, spanning the period from the university's founding in 1837, comprise approximately 2,000,000 items organized into several main series:

• Faculty secretariat archives (Theology, Law, Medicine, Philosophy, Natural Sciences) and central administrative archives (Senate, Protocol, Public Relations).
• Personal archives of University of Athens professors, gathered through a coordinated effort with emeritus faculty.
• Photographic, audio, and cinematographic material from University cultural events.
• A collection of portraits of University professors.
• Archives from institutions established by the University, including the Aeginitio Hospital, the University Church, and the University Club.
• Material relating to the student movement and the Teachers' Union.

Notable Materials Related to Journalism and Media

The Archive holds documentation relevant to media and communications history through its Faculty archives, particularly those of the School of Philosophy and later the Department of Communication and Media Studies. Senate and administrative records trace institutional responses to major political and media events in twentieth-century Greece. Personal archives of professors active in public intellectual and press life are also held.

Access and Usage

A reading room on site accommodates researchers and members of the public tracing personal or ancestral records. Digitized materials produced before 1933 are freely accessible through the Pergamos platform. Material produced after 1932 is available for research under specific conditions. Public display of documents is permitted after 30 years; records concerning individuals require 75 years before public release.