Research & Documentation Centre (RDC)

Main Objectives of the RDC

• To identify and collect relevant documents.

• To preserve collected Eritrean historical records.

• To create awareness of documentation within the society.

• To give training on records and archives management.

• To organize and allow public access to the documents.

Holdings of RDC as a National Archives

• Archival Collection• Italian period (1890-1941) • British period (1941-1952)• Federal period (1952-1962) • Ethiopian Period (1962-1991) • Armed Struggle period (1961-1991)• Records of post Independence period

Stone inscription in Dahlak

Stone inscriptions found in Dahlak

Early stages of Italian period’s records

Original manuscripts of Italian period

Arabic

5. Religious Parchments

• Inventory of Islamic parchments

• Inventory of Orthodox parchments

• Inventory of religious artifacts

Sample of inventoried parchments

Sample of inventoried artifacts

Sample of Islamic manuscripts

Sample of Islamic Manuscripts

One of the Oldest Mosques in Eritrea as well as in Africa

Sample of Old Mosques

Sample of Old Mosques

Sample of Old Mosques

Workshop to Create Awareness on Preservation of Religious Manuscripts

2. Digitisation

– The audio studio transfers audiocassettes and reel-to-reel into recommended archival digital Minidisks.

– The video studio transfers analogue VHS, Hi-8, Betacam, Betamax, and U-matic records into recommended archival Digital Betacam formats.

Storage room of analog and digitized audio-visual collections

Audio-visual digitisation studios

3. Microfilming Written Documents

–Takes pictures of old documents and preserves them in microfilm formats.

Microfilm Studio

Portable Microfilm Camera

4. Scanning

• The RDC scans microfilmed records for friendly use purposes.

• Picture Abeba

Microfilm scanning Studio

5. Photographic studio

• Digitizes positive, negatives films and slides

Digital Photographic Studio

Scanning and editing damaged photos

Thank you