The “Custodial Period” of the Royal Land Archives in Zagreb Through the Activities of Ivan Bojničić and Emilij Laszowski

Abstract

The development of Croatian archival science is inextricably linked with the activities of the Royal Land Archives in Zagreb. Although the beginnings of the care of archival materials can be traced back to the middle of the 17th century, it is difficult to talk about organized and systematic protection until the end of the 19th century and the work of two prominent social officials, historians and archivists, namely Ivan Bojničić and Emilij Laszowski. Through their efforts in the next three decades, i.e. until the 1920s, the Land Archives was transformed into a significant institution with a permanent scientific journal and newly renovated spaces built according to the standards of the archival profession, for the preservation, protection and use of archives. This period, however, was also characterized by the complete absence of theoretical considerations of archival science. According to social, political and financial circumstances, it was necessary to think about the elementary preservation of archival materials to save them from complete decay. Due to all the above, the mentioned period in the development of the Zagreb Land Archives can justly be called “custodial.”