From June 9 to 13, 2025, the 7th International Archives Week (#IAW2025) will be held under the theme #AccessibleArchives – Archives for All.
As archives evolve in the digital age, this theme highlights the importance of ensuring equitable access to archival content for all communities by overcoming physical, digital, linguistic, and cultural barriers.
Because archives belong to everyone, this week aims to:
📌 Facilitate access for all, regardless of abilities or background;
📌 Use new technologies (e.g., artificial intelligence) to make archives more accessible;
📌 Highlight the role of archives in culture, history, and collective memory;
📌 Include the voices of all communities, especially those historically underrepresented.
Through a variety of activities, shared content, and initiatives, archival professionals, researchers, and the public are invited to explore and share these documentary treasures in new ways.
The Essential Role of Archives
During this week, International Archives Day is also celebrated on June 9. Recognized since 2009, this day raises public awareness of the importance of archives, the benefits of proper recordkeeping for good governance, and the need to ensure long-term preservation and access. It also commemorates the creation of the International Council on Archives (ICA) on June 9, 1948, under the auspices of UNESCO.
In the SNJM world, we are reminded of the sisters’ early and enduring commitment to preserving documentary heritage since the founding of the congregation. Thanks to them and to both past and present leadership teams, the congregation’s archives are rich and continue to grow.
Over time, archival and leadership teams have developed resources to collect, manage, preserve, and provide access to the general and provincial archives. At the motherhouse, as in the community’s convents, a room—often adjacent to the superior’s office—was dedicated to record preservation.
Notably, the facilities and equipment acquired during the relocation of the archives to the Congregation House now ensure that the general, provincial, and Quebec mission archives are preserved in optimal conditions.
Today, despite ongoing change, one thing remains clear: the archival mission and the dissemination of SNJM heritage and charism will continue—albeit in new and evolving forms.