Dissident and pioneer - It s all about the people! Community | MEMORJA project - International Centre for Archival ...
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ISSN 2413-4600
2/2019
Archives and people in the digital age
Archives of the University of Zagreb | Vlatka Lemić
Dissident and pioneer
Community | MEMORJA project
It´s all about the people!
ICARUS4all | The new ones are here!
The new ICARUS4all team
co nte nt
Ladstätter
e d it o rial
© Markus
Dear colleagues,
3 cover story
This year we have been celebrating the 50 anniversary of the first moon landing.
th
Dissident, pioneer, ambassador
“That’s one small step for a man, one giant leap for mankind” – these were the by Saskia Blatakes
famous words spoken by astronaut Neil Armstrong when he first set foot on the
moon on July 21, 1969. All over the world the media and scientists have been put- 6 community
ting special focus on the significance of this “step” this year. It´s all about the people!
What was then the moon for the people who lived 50 years ago could in the fu- by Charles J. Farrugia
ture well be the mass digitisation of historical documents. For many, this seems
unimaginable, almost like a look upon the stars; for ICARUS, it is the next logical 7 projects
step that is just around the corner. In this year’s month of May, the Time Machine The challenging implications of
Organisation was founded, also known by its abbreviation TMO. The organisation inconsistent data
headquartered in Vienna aims at making the European archives accessible across by Alban Frei
the continent to everyone. Two months after its foundation, TMO already has 400
members from all over Europe. 8 members
This edition presents some of the pioneers from the world of archives who have ac- How to set up an archive
companied TMO right since the beginning. Look forward to Vlatka Lemić who is cur- from scratch
rently setting up the new archive of the University of Zagreb as well as to the three by Armin Bernauer
people behind ICARUS4all, Elisabeth Kultscher, Christina Eggeling and Otto Amon.
And who knows – maybe we will be celebrating the 100th anniversary of the first 10 ICARUS4all
moon landing side by side with the 50th anniversary of TMO in the year 2069! The new ICARUS4all team
by Christina Eggeling, Elisabeth
I wish you pleasant reading! Kultscher and Otto Amon
Dagmar Weidinger
ICARUS press and public relations
Legal notice
Publishing and distribution: ICARUS – International Centre for Archival Research, Erdberger Lände 6/7, 1030 Vienna
Email: info@icar-us.eu · Place of publishing: Vienna · Art direction: ICARUS | Kerstin Muff · Printing: SAXOPRINT
GmbH, Dresden · Editor-in-chief: Kerstin Muff · Translations: Gabi Rudinger · Cover photograph © Damir Humski ·
Re-orders: editor@icar-us.eu
insights provides information about the international archival community today, including archival institutions as
well as the related user groups.
ISSN 2413-4600
“The European Commission support for the production of this publication does not constitute endorsement of the
contents which reflects the views only of the authors, and the Commission cannot be held responsible for any use
which may be made of the information contained therein.“
cover stor y
2/2019
insights
Portrait: Vlatka Lemić | Archives of the University of Zagreb
Dissident, pioneer, ambassador
As head of the Croatian State Archives, Vlatka Lemić started a fight with the government
and lost her position. Now she is setting up the archives of the University of Zagreb.
An interview with a woman of conviction.
by Saskia Blatakes
Fotos: Damir Humski
© ICARUS
Vlatka Lemić and ICARUS share many successes. At her instigation, Patriarch Louis Raphaël I Sako and Father Michael Najeeb
from Iraq came to the ICARUS Convention in St. Pölten in 2015. The subsequently founded Chaldean Heritage Taskforce conti-
nues to support Father Najeeb in his digitisation activities of Christian-Chaldean manuscripts in Iraq.
l ooking back from where she is chives, where she had been working “The system was modernised on pa-
today, she calls herself a dissident since 1998, at the beginning of 2019. per, but practice remains the same as
and “enemy number 1” of the offi- Since then, some time has passed. it was”, she says and adds with some
cial establishment. In 2013, Vlatka But the situation between herself bitterness: “There is no professional
Lemić became head of the Croatian and the Ministry of Culture has not organisation on the national level.”
State Archives and was faced with yet been sorted out. Meeting for a Experiences like these could make
the situation that archival work was talk with Vlatka Lemić now – even somebody depressed or even give
outsourced to ten private compa- if the talk is only a virtual meeting up. With Vlatka Lemić it is quite the
nies. She involved auditors who con- on video chat – does not show that contrary, she seems to draw stub-
firmed irregularities of this practice. there have been any hard feelings. born strength from what she has
The Ministry of Culture subse- She seems relaxed and agile while been going through. She will cer-
quently ruled that the outsourcing saying sarcastically: “I have learned tainly need it while facing her new
was unlawful. She therefore cancel- to make the best of it. Things go challenge: Setting up the University
led the contracts with these compa- their own way. After all it is a fact archives in Zagreb.
nies – who threatened to sue her. that in my country, there is a conflict
The situation was tricky because one between public and private inte- The archives that do not yet exist
of the companies was connected to rests. And archives are no exception In January 2019, the 47-year-old was
the brother of the Prime Minister of in this matter.” appointed head of the University Of-
that time (in Austria, the daily news- Even some changes to regulations in fice for archives. But there is one detail
paper Der Standard reported on the recent years as well as new archival that might make her new job a little bit
story). But nothing happened. Except laws that took effect in 2018 couldn´t harder: The archives do not even exist
for the fact that Vlatka Lemić was re- resolve the issues of outsourcing to yet. Unlike other European countries,
moved from her position in 2016 and private companies in general and Croatia has so far not had any speci-
that she had to leave the State Ar- have not made much of a change. alised archives but only a network of
3
cove r stor y
This document records the first honorary doctorate at the University of Zagreb. It was awarded
in 1913 to professor Tadija Smičiklas, historian, distinguished public, official and full professor,
dean, rector, president of Matica hrvatska and of the Yugoslav Academy of Sciences and Arts.
Collection: University Archives
State archives. Vlatka Lemić must th- other academic disciplines and em-
erefore start from scratch. In practice, ployees of Universities, museums
this means that she first needs to and cultural institutions.
find the right location, obtain funding
and hire employees. Next, the new A workaholic, even on vacation
University archivists will be facing Vlatka Lemić is also teaching archival
kilometres of documents from 35 fa- sciences at the University of Zagreb
culties which have not even and is currently writing her
been listed. od second book. Furthermore,
“It feels go she supports the ICARUS pro-
But Lemić enjoys the chal- to set up jects Time Machine and the
First name, last name:
lenge of this pioneering something topotheque. She particularly
por trait
Vlatka Lemić
work: “Something big is new.” cares for the latter project
My favourite memories from about to be created here, as it includes the public. The
my professional life: something good. And it feels topotheque is Croatia’s largest ar-
Feedback from people who are disco- great to set up something new.” chival digitisation project. Side by side
vering archives as well as collaborative In ICARUS she has found the perfect with other institutions, participants
projects that bring together good framework for her ambitious endea- are primary schools, museums and
people and ideas. vour. Vlatka Lemić has been one of many academic institutions. In 2019,
its Vice Presidents since 2008 and is the number of collections reached
When I am alone at the archive … highly appreciative of the associa- twenty. Vlatka Lemić has been highly
I go through archival documents, work on tion. International collaboration is successful in winning history teachers
descriptions and publishing, check online the most important inspiration in her for the project who will now bring it
material to update data and search for work. She is therefore particularly into their classrooms.
new information on archives in general. proud of the “ICARUS Days Croatia” Even during her vacation, she is de-
which took place for the fifth time in dicated to the topotheque. While
Coffee or tea?
March 2019, this time in Pula on the travelling through Croatia she visits
Coffee at work, tea at home.
peninsula of Istria. 200 participants schools to promote it. How does she
I am impressed with… from 23 countries came to Croatia succeed in achieving all of this? “I
good ideas and engaged associates, de- – archivists as well as scientists of don’t sleep much”, she laughs. And
dicated professionals and enthusiastic
people in all spheres of life.
I am good at… From the team´s point of view
doing too many things and having too
many ideas at the same time, which Zlatko Draganović (Head of Sector for legal, international and EU affairs,
often makes planned activities challen- Ministry of the sea, transport and infrastructure): “Once Vlatka has set
ging to realise in practice. her mind on something, she knows how to engage with the right people,
creates a network and facilitates communication and cooperation. She is
My “favourite object“ at the archive:
proud of her work which she pursues with dedication.”
The series of inaugural speeches
made by rectors in the course of the
Anne Gilliland (Professor and Director of the Archival Studies specia-
University’s history. They are inspiring
lization in the Department of Information Studies at the University of
and relevant at all times.
California Los Angeles | UCLA): “Vlatka has an unbelievable amount of
Three things I love about archives: energy. By taking the lead in the development of ICARUS HRVATSKA she
A multitude of stories, a wealth of infor- has been a major force in ensuring that Croatia is an integral player in
mation and being of service to the people. European cultural initiatives.”
My connection with ICARUS: Tamara Štefanac (Archivist at the National and University Library in
Ten years of collaboration and Zagreb): “Vlatka's efforts in teaching at the faculty of philosophy in Zagreb
support with outstanding friend- are particularly noticeable whenever theory gets tested in day-to-day ar-
ships, new ideas and innovative chival routine. In her work Vlatka reaches out to a great number of archi-
activities ... Invaluable. vists that primarily focus on practical archival issues. She guides them into
understanding how archivists differ from historians and digital humanists,
4 highlighting their specific expertise and how synergies can be achieved.”
cover stor y
2/2019
apart from her dog Leo, she has no In her capacity as a professor, her On her own authority
further hobbies. Her parents are hel- most beautiful moments are “he- When she was removed from her of-
ping her with her two children when aring my students say with ama- fice as the leader of the State Archi-
she turns night into day for her job zement that I had just told them ves as well as any other professional
insights
or her vocation, or when she travels something new which they had not duties, her bilateral projects were
through Croatia and Europe as an known. This gives me the strong also stopped. But she continued
ambassador for archival matters. feeling of having contributed so- them on her own authority, held pre-
Maybe the strength she needs for her mething important to society. It is sentations, submitted proposals –
tireless commitment is based on an incredibly rewarding.” and founded “ICARUS Hrvatska”. She
experience she made as a student: In a certain way, the situation was also launched “@rhivi”, a Croatian
In her hometown of Zagreb, Vlatka better in the 1990s than it is today. version of “insights”.
Lemić first studied archaeology and Kolanović, the former head of the ar- But now her new job at the University
later on museology and archival chives, was very progressive and had and the setup of the archives are wai-
sciences. Together with her professor an excellent international network. ting for her. And with the University
Josip Kolanović she visited the State Her former mentor is still her role of Zagreb celebrating its 350th anni-
Archives in the course of a lecture. model. He was the one who recogni- versary this year, there is enough to
She still remembers the feeling of sed her talent and passion and hired do for the newly installed University
awe she had on entering the impres- her for the State Archives while she archivist who looks back in order to
sive building in the style of Croatian was still a student. look ahead.
Secession, and her thoughts that Not least because of her own ex-
would guide her way: “Every single periences, international and in-
document on the history of my coun- terdisciplinary collaboration have Name of the institution:
fa ct s h eet
try is here, in this place.” been extremely important to her Archives of the University of Zagreb
until today. This is why she also at- Web address:
Burnt books tends conferences of other acade- www.unizig.hr
This was in the 1990s. The Homeland mic disciplines such as fine arts or
War had just ended in Croatia, and linguistics to explain tirelessly how Oldest collection:
many documents were lost forever. archives are functioning and why University of Zagreb fond
“We were a young state, something they are so important. She does (1866 - ... )
in-between. It seemed important not go there to preach. Quite to
to me to present our identity and to the contrary – she wants to remain Odest object/best-known archival item:
show that we were a part of the Eu- inspired: “Collaboration gives a cle- The University Annual Calendar
ropean history. Seeing those burnt arer view on your own work. 1874/1875, denoting the beginning of
books and those destro- It also shows me the direc- the modern period of the University
-
yed documents awake- “Collabora tion I want to take. I gain so of Zagreb. It contains a list of pro-
a
ned a strong desire inside tion gives many good ideas from my fessors, faculties, courses, lectures
c le a re r view schedules and other information.
of me to restore objects, n colleagues from other coun-
and particularly to present on your ow tries. We all help each other Most loyal visitors of the reading room:
them to the public.” work.“ in terms of resources.” University professors and
academic researchers
Alphabetical directory of registered listeners of University
programmes covering the period 1874-1918.
Collection: University Archives
Saskia Blatakes studied Poli-
tical Science at the University
of Vienna and the Institute
for Advanced Studies. She
works as a freelance journa-
list, presenter and editor.
© Luiza Puiu
comm un i ty
It´s all about One of the protago-
nists of the interviews
with bus drivers, Mi-
chael Cutajar known as
the people! ‘iż-Żinnu’, interviewed
in front of his bus.
One of the main projects of the National Archives of Malta is
called MEMORJA. It aims at recording Malta’s “private” history
– the personal stories of the people, those that cannot be found
in public records.
© private
s tarting in January 2017, a team of Protecting the bus drivers’ feelings ments. We have received all kinds of
five took the first steps towards cre- The available oral testimonies − of artefacts, from knifes to medals and
ating MEMORJA. The main objective which there is still a substantial num- artefacts of clothing. Even though we
of the project has been to employ ber − strive to preserve daily experien- have been restricting the amount and
innovative research methodologies, ces as felt by the people. Whether it is typology of artefacts (as they bring
theoretical and archival approaches the war veterans, fishermen, fireworks about new challenges of storage) we
and techniques to record, transcribe, enthusiasts, bell ringers or hawkers are still departing from the traditio-
preserve and make available all depo- − they are all providing individual nal focus on public records. There is
sited material detailing the history of narrative experiences that are often a need to discuss these new realities
the Maltese islands. In doing so, the overlooked in official documentation. and build bridges to other professions
archives have fundamentally changed A case in point is the history of the in order to rise to the challenge of a
their role − from a memory-capturing Maltese buses. Whoever visited Malta more pro-active approach − from the
institution whose traditional task has in the past got an idea of its unique old passive archivist to the archivist as a
been to preserve government records buses − all extremely colourful (both creator of records. This is also what we
to one that now creates its own, new literally and metaphorically!). These are doing at conferences and through
records in the form of oral history in- days they are no longer around! A re- journals and other publications.
terviews, personal photographs, do- form carried out eight years ago led to
cuments and other ephemera. a change of buses, which caused the If you have similar experiences
i nfo
At the beginning of the project, one bus drivers a lot of pain. Historically, to share, feel free to contact the
of the main intellectual challenges their passion for their job was com- colleagues from Malta at
was to select a certain number of pletely overlooked − until today. With customercare.archives@gov.mt
precise research themes. The follo- MEMORJA, their perspective is making
wing five topics seemed particularly its way into the public records, side by Links:
relevant: Maltese emigration; Expe- side with the official version already
riencing war: survival, shelter and archived, filling a gap in the nation’s nationalarchives.gov.mt
food; British expatriates in Malta; Pu- collective memory. facebook.com/NationalArchi-
blic administration; and Bell ringing/ The incoming material is very diverse vesMalta
campanalian culture. and not restricted to traditional docu-
Ms Teresa Cachia Zammit, one of the interviewees, pictured with her 'ancestors', July 2017.
© private
Charles J. Farrugia is chairperson of EURBICA, Malta’s national
archivist and serves on the executive board of ACARM. Farru-
gia is a lecturer in Archives and Records Management at the
Department of Library Information & Archive Sciences at the
Faculty of Media & Knowledge Sciences, University of Malta.
6
projec ts
The challenging
implications of
inconsistent data
aiming at higher efficiency in the digital search of historical persons and places, the
Swiss project histHub is working on the linking and standardising of data to comple-
ment existing infrastructures and services in the area of digital humanities.
in the 14th and 15th centuries, the ting information to the maximum Switzerland, the tools, data models
dynasty of the counts of Werden- extent would therefore make it pos- and ontologies developed by histHub
berg-Sargans was very influential sible to compare data across sup- are certainly of interest to the inter-
in today’s Canton of Graubünden. pliers as well as increase the visibility national community.
In 1388, for example, Hartmann IV of the databases.
was elected Bishop of Chur. While histHub is currently working on a so- histHub is a cooperation project
the date of his election is clearly lution which allows to uniquely assign carried out by Diplomatic Docu-
i nfo
documented, the conditions sur- and link data. The platform thereby ments of Switzerland, the His-
rounding it are not. Hartmann IV’s pursues two strategies complemen- torical Dictionary of Switzer-
year of birth is also ambiguous, his ting each other. On the one hand, the land, the ortsnamen.ch project
day of death, however, is considered portal supplies standard data on his- of the Swiss idioticon as well as
verified to be September 6, 1416. It is torical persons, places, organisations the Law Sources Foundation of
quite typical for historical persons and concepts. This is achieved on the the Swiss Lawyers Society. Ad-
from the late Middle Ages or the basis of typologies and controlled ditional financing is provided by
early Modern Period to show a mix vocabularies. The entities are model- swissuniviersities.
of clearly documented and unclear led in a way as to make it possible to
or even contradictory dates side by enter even the slightest historical dif-
side. A variety of different spellings, ferences with their respective sources. Link:
bynames, surnames and names of Permanent IDs ensure that the data is histhub.ch
places or functions is also charac- unique for IT processing.
dodis.ch
teristically coexisting. Hartmann
IV von Werdenberg-Sargans is for From Switzerland into the world hls-dhs-dss.ch
example also known as Hartmann The second strategy pursued by hist-
idiotikon.ch
de Sanegans or, making the danger Hub is aimed at linking existing data-
of confusion significantly higher, as bases in an automatic or semi-auto- ortsnamen.ch
Hartmann II von Chur. matic way. Concordances are stored, ssrq-sds-fds.ch
making it possible to link “like with
Unique and linked like”. All the while, data sovereignty
Alban Frei is a historian and research mana-
This example highlights a problem remains entirely with the supplier. ger. He acquired a doctorate from ETH Zurich
that typically arises within the con- By using innovative technologies, and has been Managing Director of histHub
text of historical data on persons: It histHub can search and link a large since 2017.
is frequently very difficult to make number of data from third parties.
a unique identification. In addition, The histHub linking tool for place in-
many persons have been entered into dications for example currently gene-
various different databases. Multi- rates links from more than ten inter-
ple existences of database entries national suppliers for “Sargans”. Even
© private
equally concern data on places, orga- though the project currently focuses
nisations or keywords. Linking exis- on data pertaining to the history ofme mb e rs
How to set up an archive
from scratch
The documents held by the Secular Franciscan Order (Ordo Franciscanus Sae- sible if we succeed in establishing
cularis, O.F.S.) have so far been stored in five different regions in Austria and the necessary conservatory require-
South Tyrol. This is about to change with the foundation of a dedicated archive ments. While the entire archival ma-
at the Franciscan monastery of Pupping in Upper Austria. A brief look at an terial will be described on the basis
archive’s genesis. of the archival standard ISAD(G), ar-
chivis pro will be used as the archival
t
information system.
he idea to set up a central archive Scattered documents
for OFS Österreich, the Austrian Our first task consisted of drawing Scientific work and
branch of the Secular Franciscan Or- up a list of all the places that were public presentations
der (Ordo Franciscanus Saecularis), holding analogous or digital archival In 2021, the archive will be particu-
was born in 2017. Such an archive had material in order to be able to bring larly brought to the attention of
never existed before. It was therefore everything together. Given the fact the public as that year will mark the
necessary to start from scratch, since that OFS does not have any dedica- 800th anniversary of the Order’s first
neither a concept nor the necessary ted monastic homes, the archival rule (1221, “Memoriale Propositi”).
infrastructure or the required budget material is moving around together To that purpose and going beyond,
were there. with the ministers of the regional new publications on the history of
This was to change in December 2017 and local fraternities. In addition, orders in Austria will be released and
when I was officially appointed the some material is held by the Austrian events on specific topics will be held.
first archivist, when the rules of usage diocesan archives and the diocesan Already, a cooperation with Prof. Dr.
were decided and financial support for archive of Bolzano-Brixen, the Aust- Ines Weber, Institute of Church His-
the years 2018 and 2019 was supplied rian provincial archives, the Austrian tory at the Catholic Private University
from the current budget. The most State Archives, several monastery Linz, has been established. The new
important tasks could now be started. and parish archives, municipal ar- archive is an exciting assignment, and
In the future, financing will have to be chives as well as by the provincial or its story is about to be written!
met on the basis of donations and house archives of the Minorites, the
sponsorships which have yet to be ob- Franciscans or the Capuchins.
tained. P. Fritz Wenigwieser, Vicar Pro- In a first step, only the archival ma-
vincial and Guardian of the Franciscan terial that is available digitally will
Link:
i nfo
monastery of Pupping, provided us therefore be consolidated. Moving
with our first archive room and also the analogous OFS archival mate- archivofsat.hypotheses.org
supplied us with further infrastructure rial from those other archives to the ofs-oesterreich.at
in the form of cabinets and tables. central OFS archive will only be pos-
Behind the cloistered skylight in the middle lies Armin Bernauer (Br. Johannes, OFS) is living
the new OFS Central Archive. in Eferding, Upper Austria, and works among
others at the monastery archives of the Sisters
of the Cross in Linz. He is currently doing two
master’s studies in parallel and is also very
interested in archival matters, history, music,
theatre, swimming and museums.
© Manfred Loimayr
© Br. Johannes OFS
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Attention!
Something is going on at ICARUS4all!
Since the beginning of 2019, ICARUS4all has three new team members who recently
took over the task of taking care of the organisational matters of the Friends'
Association. All three may be new in their role at ICARUS4all, but in fact all three
are well-known faces in the community. Behind the scenes they have been acti-
vely involved in the Friends' Association for some time. Now they are the official
contact persons for all matters concerning ICARUS4all. But now it´s time to let the
three speak for themselves!
d uring my first term of studying It is a great honour for me that I am
history at the University of Vienna I now also a board member of ICA-
already came to know about Monas- RUS4all. Together with Otto Amon
terium. Later on, this virtual archive I am responsible for meetings and
became a companion I would not events. Our tasks include the or-
want to miss in any of my historical ganisation of general assemblies
research activities. Until today, my and board meetings as well as the
work has focused on topics covering keeping of the meetings’ minutes.
the Middle Ages, in particular patron We are also responsible for the pre-
saints and relics. Some time later I parations of excursions, visits and
met Thomas Aigner at a scientific festivities. Together with the finance
© private
conference where I learned about his and member administration team
work and came to appreciate it. Out we take care of our activities with a
of that emerged an inspiring and fri- lot of enthusiasm, engage in lively
Christina Eggeling is a visual artist, art his-
torian and historian. Alongside her work for endly collaboration, in particular at discussions on potential optimisa-
the Vienna Instituto Cervantes she is an ho- various conferences for historians and tions and come up with new ideas.
norary board member of ICARUS4all and a genealogists. In this way I also gained
member of the research team of historians
with regard to the former Benedictine mo- new insights into the world of family
nastery of Mariazell im Wienerwald. researchers and met with so many
nice people! I particularly like to think
back to my volunteering at the Late
Summer Meeting at the monastery of
Geras in Lower Austria in 2015. Since
then I have also been a member of the
ICARUS4all community.
10titelgesc hi c hte
2/2019
i first learned about Matricula in July And how did I find my way to ICA- of the Past” up to the “Time Ma-
insights
2013 and instantly came to appreci- RUS4all? Out of gratitude! The in- chine”. And I appreciate being able to
ate it. This coincided with the death formation I gained from Matricu- somewhat participate in a “missioni-
of my father at the age of almost 90. la-online not only enlarged my pe- sing” capacity.
I often told my mother about the digree enormously, it also extended
discoveries I had made in the church my circle of friends and family and
registers, but she would follow my recently motivated me to study his-
father in November of the same year. tory. It is incredible how we all seem
Suffering from Alzheimer, she enjo- to be directly or indirectly related
yed listening to what I told her but with each other. As an atheist, this
could no longer remember anything. gives me a feeling of security despite
I have inherited my passion for family the awareness of our transience as
research from my parents who both single, short-lived individuals.
came from the same village. He was
the son of a farmer and became a In 2015 I was offered the opportunity
vet, she was the daughter of an inn- of presenting my findings at the Late
© private
keeper. They had known most people Summer Meeting at the monastery
from their place for three of four ge- of Geras. From then on, I was invited
nerations back. My research allowed to participate time and again, most
Otto Amon is working as an independent
me to “solve” some of the “puzzles” recently by Thomas Aigner asking me IT consultant and is studying history at
from the sixth or seventh genera- to join the board. It is very exciting to the University of Vienna. In December
tions, but unfortunately, I could no see the cross-country cooperation of 2018 he started to organise regular mee-
tings on the research of the history of his
longer tell my parents about them. archives that ranges from “Big Data home town.
i originally joined ICARUS4all to I am responsible for member admi-
express my enthusiasm and appre- nistration as well as for the ente-
ciation for the digitisation of church ring of incoming payments. At the
records and documents. My glowing moment we are heavily involved in
passion turned into a long and inti- finding the perfect way of managing
mate relationship that was deepe- our files in order to organise our
ned by the considerable efforts that workflows as easily and efficiently
were taken for the members, the ex- as possible. I am honestly happy
cursions that were offered, the Late whenever a new member joins ICA-
Summer Meetings and the network RUS4all, and it is a pleasure to see
© private
that developed. When I was asked the community constantly grow
whether I would like to actively par- bit by bit. The friendly cooperation
Elisabeth Kultscher is the archivist of Wil- ticipate there was only one possible among the “administration team”,
helmsburg in Lower Austria and is an ent- answer: Yes, I do! the commitment, the new ideas,
husiastic family and local history resear- the nice sharing of thoughts and
cher. Besides her work as a board member
of ICARUS4all she is also organising the the pleasure of working together are
monthly meetings of genealogists from particularly motivating. I am happy
the Mostviertel region and is also part of a
that I may be a part of it.
small team that operates the topotheque
of Wilhelmsburg.
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