The Czech Archive Society (Česká archivní společnost – CAS) is a voluntary professional association of archivists that includes pensioners, university teachers, and students of historical auxiliary sciences and archiving, other backers, and sympathizers from the ranks of the professional and general public alike. The CAS currently has more than 350 members. It was formed on May 4th, 1990.



The principal task of the Czech Archive Society is to support the specialised activities and interests of archivists in the Czech Republic, including their application in archives. It is for this reason that that the CAS is dedicated to the theory of archiving, archiving practice, historical auxiliary sciences, and other fields of interest, such as history and historiography. The CAS helps in the acquisition, the spreading, and the deepening of the latest knowledge essential for successful activity in these branches.



Part of the work done by the CAS involves reinforcing personal and social contacts and the mutual cooperation of archivists in both the Czech Republic and abroad. Our cooperation with the governing bodies of Czech archiving is an essential pre-condition for CAS activity. It is both the co-creator and opponent of programmes that affect the branches and members mentioned. It contributes its opinion to find the best solution to problems and expresses itself with regard to the latest events in the world of archiving. Last but not least, the CAS is under obligation to protect the creative and professional interests of its members and to effectively contribute to the protection and assertion of the social and material rights of archivists in the Czech Republic in the private and public sphere.



The CAS carries out its ideas in a number of ways. Every two years it organises conferences in cooperation with the branch of the Czech Information Society at the State Central Archive in Prague and with the Archive Administration of the Ministry of the Interior of the Czech Republic. These conferences have a broad plenum (regularly more than 200 participants), are devoted to the problematic issues of archiving, and are a valuable platform from a social perspective. The society also organises professional excursions, lectures, (particularly involving foreign guests), or seminars or participates in the organisation of such events. It maintains contacts with similar professional associations, particularly those in neighbouring countries. The Chairman of the CAS stays in regular contact with the governing organisations of Czech archiving and is a regular guest of the Scientific Archive Council.



The Czech Archive Society has also issued its own yearbook since the year 2002, a book to replace the stagnant Archive Quarterly. This year’s edition informs the public about the activities of the society and about certain problems related to archives and archivists. Part of the yearbook also consists of a social chronicle of archivists.



One of the most distinguished projects of the CAS is this very website. It is our intention to present information here about the events of the Czech Archiving Society and also about events from the world of archiving in general so that this website can become a permanent and useful instrument for all of those who want to or have to come into contact with archives and archivists.

Directory of archives in the Czech Republic



National Collection Register (Archival Fonds [Archive Groups] in the Czech Republic)