The National Archives of Hungary (NAH) is the nation’s record keeper and the largest memory institution in Hungary. Its mission is not only to collect, catalogue, preserve, and restore historic documents but also to serve the needs of society by assisting citizens and researchers in their inquiries.
The NAH’s network of 21 member archives stores 300 kilometers of records, 66 million microfilm slides, and 15 million digital files. This extensive collection includes 108,000 medieval charters (the oldest dating to 1109), approximately 50,000 architectural plans and maps, archives of central government offices, and records of prominent Hungarian families. Each year, the NAH serves around 2,200 Hungarian and foreign researchers, facilitating approximately 20,000 visits. Its professional and administrative staff of 660 work across 20 member institutions at 70 locations nationwide.
In recent years, the NAH has embraced new technologies to enhance the preservation of and access to national records, significantly benefiting genealogists and local history researchers. NAH’s experience in applying these innovations has helped make archival data more accessible than ever before.
According to its statute, the National Archives of Hungary acts as the central general archives of Hungary. Its responsibilities include managing records from the President of the Republic, Parliament, Parliamentary Ombudsmen, Constitutional Court, Prime Minister, Ministries, national public bodies, and their predecessors, as well as other central and foreign offices with nationwide competence. NAH’s duties also extend to:
- Elaborating methodological recommendations and auxiliary materials to ensure professional archival standards.
- Registering all public and private archives.
- Collecting and registering foreign archival records of Hungarian relevance.
- Maintaining original copies of Acts and a specialized research library.
- Providing consultations on preservation issues.
- Managing a security film repository for archival records.
- Contributing to professional training for archivists.
- Publishing an annual accession register of public archives.
- Overseeing the Archival Inspectorate and enforcing first-refusal rights as per the Archives Act.
- Reporting data on services provided by public and private archives.
As part of its international cooperation, the NAH promotes and recovers documentary heritage through collaborations and programs across Europe. It is an active member of numerous organizations, including:
- Archives Portal Europe Foundation (APEF)
- DLM Forum
- International Centre for Archival Research (ICARUS)
- European Board of National Archivists (EBNA)
- European Archival Group (EAG)
- European Expert Group of Digital Cultural Heritage and Europeana
- Time Machine Organisation (TMO)
- International Council of Archives (ICA)
By combining traditional expertise with innovative technologies and active international engagement, the National Archives of Hungary continues to uphold its mission of preserving and sharing the nation’s documentary heritage.
