The archives of the International Council on Archives (ICA) offer a valuable resource for anyone interested in the history and development of the organisation and the international archival community. 

The ICA Secretariat’s archival holdings, which date back to the organisation’s establishment in 1948, consist primarily of paper records that trace the evolution, functions, and major initiatives of the Council. They include documentation of international congresses, landmark resolutions, and key publications, as well as records reflecting ICA’s relationships with other international bodies and with countries around the world. 

Access and Inventories 

The ICA archives, covering the period from 1950 to 2022, are deposited at the Pierrefitte-sur-Seine site of the French National Archives. They are fully open to the public. Please note that the catalogues are available in French only, and the archives are accessible in paper format only. 

You can consult the inventories of the ICA fonds through the following links: 

Archives of ICA Forums, Regional Branches, Sections, and Expert Groups 

Records produced by ICA’s Forums, Regional Branches, Professional Sections, and Expert Groups are generally maintained either within their respective regions or by the groups themselves. 

For further information, please contact us at ica@ica.org.