Students today must be able not only to work with information, but also to understand its true value. Especially when it comes to documents, archives, and historical memory that preserve the histories of people, families, and the entire country.
It was with this experience that students and teachers of the Department of Document Studies and Information Activities (705) of KhAI set off for a unique meeting that opened up the world of working with the past for them in a new way.
The occasion for the conversation was a large-scale historical and cultural project — the presentation of a book by Victoria BELIM — an American journalist, volunteer, Doctor of Philosophy in Political Science, and a teacher at the University of Versailles.
Her research is based on real, sometimes painful, but extremely important family archives of the Poltava and Kharkiv regions. This story has gained wide international resonance and has already been published in 18 countries around the world.
Using this book as an example, students saw how unique archival documents are transformed from “dry” papers into a living foundation of national memory, behind which stand real human destinies and the cultural heritage of Ukraine.
During a lively and frank discussion, future information scientists and document experts analyzed cases that you will not find in textbooks:
- how to correctly “read between the lines” ancient documents;
- what challenges do researchers face when searching for the truth in archives;
- why international cooperation in archival affairs is a powerful tool for Ukraine’s cultural diplomacy on the world stage.
It was especially valuable that Viktoriya BELIM, with sincere openness, agreed to hold another meeting for a wider circle of KhAI students, supporting young people in their pursuit of scientific research and comprehension of historical truth.
So ahead are new meetings, a great scientific search, and an even deeper comprehension of our history without embellishment.
Special respect and sincere gratitude to the Director of the Central State Scientific and Technical Archive of Ukraine (CSSTUA) Marat BALYSHEV. Thank you for the impeccable organization, the extremely warm atmosphere, and for making this event not just an official event, but a true intellectual and spiritual dialogue that inspires action!
