June 9 — International Archives Day: history and significance, theme of 2025

International Archives Day is celebrated in different countries on June 9th. The commemorative date was established in order to preserve and develop the world's archival heritage, as well as to draw the attention of the general public to the problems of archival science. In 2025, the celebrations will be held on Monday. Read about how the holiday appeared and what traditions are associated with it in the Izvestia article.

When is International Archives Day in 2025

The date for the holiday was not chosen by chance. It was on this day in 1948 that UNESCO decided to establish the International Council of Archives (ICA), a professional organization of the archival community, which has about 1.5 thousand members from more than 190 countries.

For the first time, International Archives Day was celebrated in 2008, on the 60th anniversary of the founding of the council. Today, the holiday serves as an occasion to once again emphasize the importance of preserving archival documents and the work of archival workers who are responsible for the preservation of the documentary heritage of both individual peoples and states, as well as the whole of humanity.

However, even before the adoption of a common date, many countries had their own national archive days. In Russia, the professional holiday of archival workers is celebrated annually in early March.

International Archives Day - 2025: theme and events

Various educational events and actions are timed to coincide with the festive date. The main event of the holiday is the International Archives Week. In 2025, it will be held for the seventh time from 9 to 13 June.

History in digital: Izvestia's archive of issues from 1917 is available on the Web

Its launch is timed to coincide with the 108th anniversary of the newspaper and will start simultaneously with the project "80 Days to Victory"

This year's event will be held under the motto "Archives for all". It was selected in a public survey conducted by the International Council of Archives. It was attended by more than 300 people from all over the world.

This year's theme highlights the critical importance of accessibility in archival practice. It aims to inspire professionals, institutions, and communities to reflect on and advance efforts to create open, inclusive archives.

During the International Week, the organizers will highlight initiatives that make archives more accessible. They will also consider how digital technologies and artificial intelligence can transform access to documentary heritage. You can join the event on social media using the hashtag #archivesareaccessive.

And, of course, on this holiday, specialists working with archived data will be honored all over the world. After all, the preservation of historical documentation largely depends on their work. On this day, all archival workers are congratulated by the management of the departments. The best are traditionally awarded with prizes and diplomas.

Interesting facts about the International Archives Day

The preservation of historical documentation has always been one of the most important tasks of the state. The first beginnings of archival work began to appear simultaneously with the birth of writing. Later, the archives were kept in monasteries, where cultural treasures were located along with the documents. Later, separate rooms were allocated for them.

In Russia, for the first time, the concept of "archive" and the profession of an archivist appeared in the 18th century as a result of the reforms of Peter I. In 1720, the emperor signed the "General Regulations or Charter", which ordered all authorities to keep archives. Although even before that, some territories had their own archives. So, at the beginning of the XV century, the Moscow Grand Ducal Archive was organized. It appeared after Moscow became the center, and played an important role in the unification of the Russian lands.

Nowadays, the activities of archival funds are regulated by the federal law "On Archival Affairs in the Russian Federation" of 2004. And the largest archive in the country is the State Archive. It has more than 3 thousand funds, which contain about 7 million files on the history of Russia.

Earlier, Izvestia reported on the International Museum Day, an annual celebration of other keepers of the historical and cultural heritage of the past, which was celebrated in mid—May.