SVU

CZECHOSLOVAK SOCIETY OF ARTS AND SCIENCES

Working Conference on CZ & SL American Archival Material
Washington, DC, 22-23 November 2003


under the auspices of
H.E. Martin Palous, Ambassador of the Czech Republic to US
and
H. E. Rastislav Kacer, Ambassador of the Slovak Republic to US

Location:
Sat. November 22 - Czech Embassy, 3900 Spring of Freedom St., NW, Washington, DC 20008
Sun. November 23 - Slovak Embassy, 3523 International Court, NW, Washington, DC 20008

Organizers/Sponsors: Czech and Slovak Embassies with SVU

General Theme: Archival Materials Bearing on the Czech and Slovak Presence in America and their Preservation

Language: English; Czech and Slovak during discussion possible

Participants: Invited persons and organizations from US, CR and SR, i.a., archivists, historians, heads of archival and comparable institutions, government representatives and spokesmen for major Czech/Slovak organizations in the US

Tentative Program
Saturday November 22
9 - 10 AM Official Opening and Introduction
10 -12 AM Presentation and Discussion of Various Issues and Topics
12 Noon Lunch
1- 5 PM Presentations and Discussions of Various issues and Topics
6 PM Reception

Sunday November 23
AM - 12 Noon Summation of the Problems and Agenda for the Future
12 Noon Buffet Lunch
1 PM Open and Free Discussion
3 PM Recommendations and Conclusion

Issues to Be Discussed:
1. Status of archival materials in existing depositories in US and CR and SR and their inventory
2. Status of other archival materials, including those in private hands, and their inventory
3. Placement and establishing standards for preservation of documents held in private collections
4. Inventorying and cataloging of the archival materials in existing archives
5. Setting up information system about these archival materials and depositories
6. Fostering cooperation between professionals and archival institutions
7. Concrete steps for the future

Conference Proceedings: The plans are to publish the proceedings

Contact: Interested persons should contact SVU President Mila Rechcigl:
1703 Mark Lane, Rockville, MD 20852; Phone: (302) 881-7222;
e-mail: SVU1@comcast.net

Slovak Embassy: wlachovsky@slovakembassy_us.org
Czech Embassy: broskevic@yahoo.com

General Comment: There is a prevailing feeling that this conference is extremely important and timely, considering the dismal status of the Czech and Slovak American archival materials in America. The conference could have a tremendous impact on the fate of these materials and the future efforts to preserve them and make them available to scholars.

Mila Rechcigl
SVU President

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