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Archivalia of the Month

The online column Archivalia of the month has been published since January 2011. Its purpose is to promote the Archives of the Republic of Slovenia and its archival holdings. Presented in the column are archival documents that are interesting visually and content-wise, as well as newly acquired documents or the ones that have so far been overlooked. Also published are documents relating to various anniversaries, current events and many more.

Archival documents are presented in word and image. The number of reproductions we present depends on the size and the visual appeal of the document. In addition to the actual reproductions of documents, short introductory texts are prepared to briefly describe the document (especially its particularities), there is also a short summary, abstract or translation of important parts of the documents. Also described is the context of the document’s creation or a person, event or process depicted by the presented document. 

Archivalia of the month is entered into online library system Cobiss as an electronic periodical. Since November 2011, the English version of each monthly archivalia is published as well.

While being published online, the original (if possible) of each presented document is at the same time also displayed in the hall of Gruber Palace in front of our reading room, so that our visitors can have a live view of our selection of Slovenian archival legacy.

We believe that presenting our documents in such a way will provide the public with an insight into our work, and offer us a chance to gradually in word and image create a unique mosaic made up of fragments from our archival fonds and collections.  

Archivalia of the Month September 2023

  • September 2023

    The Olms from Postojna Cave in Germany: Stolen or Donated?

    Although the underground waters of Hermann's Cave are now a home to seven olms, which today are considered to be the cave's main attraction, these aquatic salamanders actually originate from Postojna Cave and were only introduced to their new habitat in Hermann's Cave artificially. At the end of 1956, the removal of thirteen olms from Postojna Cave caused a major scandal that reverberated across the former Yugoslavia and the East and West Germany. Some of the preserved archival records on this story is presented here as this month's archivalia.