Date of tip: 05/05/2008

Source: Alexandros Nafpliotis, a.nafpliotis@lse.ac.uk.

Archive: Diplomatic and Historical Archives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Greek acronym: YDIA)

Location: The Department Responsible for Ministry Research and Monitoring the Work of Academic Researchers is located on the 1^st floor of:

 Zalokosta 3, 106 71 Athens, Greece

tel: (0030) 210 368 3143 – 3176

How to get there: The archive is on a quiet, pedestrian street, off Vassilis Sofias Av. That means that it is located right at the centre of Athens, opposite the parliament (Old Palace) and just a stone’s throw away from Constitution square (Plateia Syntagmatos), where there is an underground station (connection to Athens airport) and various tram and bus stops. You can also catch a bus from the nearby El. Venizelou (Panepistimiou) and Akadimias streets. 

Language: Greek, English.

Getting started: The archive collections of YDIA are open to Greek and foreign historians and researchers, and any other citizen with a legitimate interest in them. Permission to study the files is granted after submission of an application by the interested party to the Secretariat of YDIA. The application is examined by a committee of diplomatic civil servants that meets in the first ten days of every month. This committee is presided over by the Director of the Diplomatic Office of the Minister, and recommendations are made by the Head of the Service of Diplomatic and Historical Archives. The candidate researches are requested, along with their application for permit, to submit a curriculum vitae, a synopsis of their study and should their research lead to the award of a doctorate or a post-doctorate degree should also submit a letter of recommendation.

Opening Hours: The Reading Room is open to researchers who have been granted permission to conduct research and supplied with the respective pass, from 09:30 to 14:30 during working days. The Reading Room remains closed during the months of November and August as well as during the official national and religious holidays (you can find a list of those here: http://www.worldwide-tax.com/greece/greholidays.asp).

General working conditions: The reading room is small and it can get quite busy. There is no separation of seats, thus up to 4 people can be around one large table. There is no internet access and there are no computers available to the public. There is no reference library.

Consultation: Researchers shall fill in special forms with the details of the files they are interested in viewing one day in advance. Researchers can apply for up to three files per day. Each file is given to the researchers separately and only after they have completed studying the particular file, are they allowed to begin with the second one. The files and documents should be placed flat on the work table while no small objects may be placed on the documents or files. 

The use of ink pens or fountain pens is prohibited. Lead pencils are only allowed in the Reading Room, while every researcher is accountable for the safe maintenance and return of the archival material. 

Policy on technology: Laptop computers are allowed for note taking in the reading room. The use of digital cameras is allowed, although to a limited extent and always in consultation with an archivist.

Photocopy policy: Photocopies of documents is limited to 50 copies per research topic. Photocopies are free of charge. Photocopies may be produced only by the Ministry's employee in charge of the Reading Room. Documents preceding the 20th century cannot be photocopied, nor can documents that are in bad condition.

Particularities: Researchers are obligated to sign-in as well as sign-out during their visits and use of the Reading Room of the Historical Archive. There is no cafeteria in the premises but you can find many cafes and sandwich and pastry shops in the vicinity. 

How to apply for classified files: It helps if you have the luxury to be flexible time wise. Some of the documents (esp. those that pertain to the files of Greek embassies abroad) are stored off-site, so they take more time (usually a few days) to reach the reading room. It is advisable to apply quite early, as the application for research has to be approved by a committee that meets in the first ten days of every month, and then a reply is sent to you by post (this is extremely important as this procedure may even take a couple of months).

Contact name in case of questions regarding classified files: Mr. Michalis Mantzios

Etc: The members of staff are friendly and in most cases do their best to serve your needs. You should keep in mind that the reading room is not that big and, consequently, becomes crowded in busy times, like in April or in June-July where some archivists take their summer leave. Moreover, always allow a couple of extra days of consulting the archives, as unexpected events such as strikes (general or other) are quite common in Greece.

Places to Stay: There is a variety of hostels around the centre of Athens. I would recommend one of the hostels situated at the picturesque area of Plaka (10 min. walk from the Archives), like Athens - Student & Travellers Inn (http://www.hihostels.com/dba/hostels-Athens---Student-&-Travellers-Inn-023005.en.htm), for example.

Forms: The Research request form can be found here: http://www.mfa.gr/www.mfa.gr/en-US/The+Ministry/Structure/Archives/Research+Request/ 

Funding: There is no funding available.