State Agency of Archives of Kosovo ASHAK

Overview

The State Agency of Archives of Kosovo (Albanian: Agjencia Shtetërore e Arkivave të Kosovës, ASHAK) is Kosovo's principal archival institution, responsible for collecting, protecting, preserving, and making available documentary materials of permanent archival value. It operates under the government of the Republic of Kosovo.

History and Founding

The origins of the institution date to 1948, when the Provincial Directorate for Education and Culture established an Archival Center in Kosovo following World War II. On March 20, 1951, the Kosovo State Provincial Archives were formally established by decision of the Provincial Council. The institution grew through the 1960s as regional and municipal archives were added across the territory. Following the 1998–1999 war in Kosovo, the archives moved between various institutional homes. In 2006, under Law No. 02/L-80, the archives were reorganized as a state agency within the office of the Prime Minister, before being transferred to the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport. Since 2017, the agency has operated as an independent institution under law.

Collections and Holdings

The agency holds materials with permanent archival value produced by government ministries, institutions, public enterprises, and private creators. Its oldest manuscript dates to 1437 and its oldest document to 1608. Holdings include the Vakufnameja e Mehmet Pasha Kaçaniku (1608), photographs, the Constitution of Kaçanik, materials from the constitutional assembly of the Republic of Kosovo, as well as more recent administrative records. Digitization has been underway since 2007, with paper documents, microfilms, and maps being processed using scanners provided through OSCE support and the Ministry of Public Administration.

Access and Usage

The agency is open Monday through Friday, 08:00–16:00. Researchers may access holdings at the reading room in Pristina. The agency's website provides some finding aids. Digitization continues to expand online access.