Collections and fonds 

[Last update: 18 March 2013]

Thematic files

Reference code:	FrSbCOE
Title:	Thematic files of the Council of Europe
Dates of creation of material:	1948-1982
Level of description:	Collection
Extent:	500 meters; 3 385 horizontal boxes which contain about 3 000 files.
Location:	Cave 7: T16-T32.

Name of creator:	Council of Europe
Administrative History:	The file sequence known as the "Historical Archive" was created at the initiative of the first archivist, Mr Murphy, who was in charge of the Archives from 1973-1978. The Thematic files collection continued to be added to until 1980. In 2006-7 the thematic files were transferred from hanging files into boxes.

The collection covers the period 1948-1982. The files contain different type of materials: official documents, working documents, correspondence, newspaper clippings, designs and photos. Selected files or documents were scanned and made available in electronic format. The contents include the following themes: - History of the creation of the organisation from 1948 to 1949; - Organisational, legal and administrative framework of the Council of Europe; - All fields of activities from 1948 to 1980 of the Organisation: Human rights, social affairs and health, culture and education, environment, local and regional democracy, legal affairs, political affairs, economic affairs; - Relations with other organisations (European Movement; Brussels Treaty Organisation and Western European Union, European Coal and Steel Community; European Economic Community; European Parliament; OECD; NATO; UN; International Labour Organization; UNESCO). Selected themes, such as the European anthem or the History of Saar after the Second World War, were prepared as thematic files available on the Archives website.

Conditions governing access:	Public after 30 years from date of issue.
Finding aids:	"Black Book": the files are arranged in a decimal sequence from 001 to 302.

Date of description:

Compiled on 12/09/2003, updated on 02/10/2009 and on 04/11/2010.