Date of tip: April 2005

Source: Benn Williams, bwilli7@uic.edu

Locations: Archives Départementales de la Savoie

244, quai de la Rize

73000 Chambéry – France

Contact Details: Tél. (33) (0)4-79-70-87-70, Fax. (33) (0)4-79-85-79-25, Email: ad@cg73.fr

How to get there: The archive provides a map at: http://www.sabaudia.org/v2/archives73/images/p-acces2.gif

By train: Chambéry is served by fast trains (TGV) but you may find it easier to book a TGV to Lyon-Part Dieu and then a regional train to Chambéry. It is about a fifteen minute walk from the train station to the archives. There is also a bus that goes past the archives; ask at the accueil at the SNCF station.

Language: French. 

Getting started: Upon arrival, first-time users must fill out a form and furnish one piece of identification (passport, driver’s license) in order to be included in their database. 

Preliminary research can be done beforehand by visiting the Archive’s website. For a list of finding aids, visit http://www.sabaudia.org/v2/archives73/series/73_inventaire.php

Opening Hours: Monday – Friday 8:30 – 5:30 and by reservation Saturday 8:30 - 12. No annual closure.

After your first day, documents can be reserved in writing (mail, fax, email, or by on-site reservation card). (See réservation ). For Saturday, reservations must be received and processed before 4 p.m. Friday.

General working conditions: The reading room is bright and airy with approximately twenty work stations with an insufficient number of electrical outlets. Bring your own electrical strip.

There is a limit on the number of boxes/microfilms that can be consulted per day.

Microfilm readers are tucked away in a separate room to the right of the incoming/outgoing documents counter.

As for food/dining facilities, there are no dining facilities on the premises but there is a coffee machine and two small areas for lunching or taking a coffee break. Bakeries, small restaurants, and a grocery can be found on the way from the train station, so consider stocking up in the morning. Otherwise, cross the river and take the first street to the right for a kebab and other options.

Policy on technology: In general, there are no restrictions on the use of laptop computers, digital cameras, and scanners although specific private collections and classified public archives may prohibit the reproduction of documents. Bring your own electrical strip!

Photocopy policy: Photocopying is available and is done by the staff after you have submitted a request. It is done at fixed times: 11am and 4pm. Costs are as follows, though always check the website to see if this has changed:

• A4: €0.30; student price is €0.15
• A3: €0.45; student price is €0.30
• Minimum price for copies sent by correspondance: €4.50
• Copie by CD-ROM, regardless of the number of items on the disk: €38
• Copy of a document by microfilm, the microfilm being done for the whole of the dossier: €0.45

Particularities: Preliminary searching can be done online: at the bottom of the homepage, click on “instruments de recherche en ligne.” Unclassified documents must be ordered via designated computers and the process can be confusing the first couple of times. Classified documents must be ordered in person at the counter in the reading room. Bring copies of dérogation authorisations to avoid delays and hassles. All documents can be placed on overnight reserve via the computers.

Lockers are available and mandatory. Upon entering the building, they are tucked away in a small room off to your left. Remember the four digit code showing when you closed the locker! 

Don’t hesitate to ask for the responsable for your period/general subject of interest; e.g., before beginning the derogation paperwork, I was able to consult a yet unpublished finding aid and speak with its author. Furthermore, the director is extremely competent, technologically savvy, and happy to see serious researchers. He is the president of a national archivists organisation and the website is exemplary.

How to apply for classified files: Restrictions generally imposed by the donor (of private collections) and by the law of 1979 governing access to public documents. A dérogation filed with the archive can take two to twelve months.

Contact name in case of questions regarding classified files: email ad@cg73.fr

Etc.: The Archives départementales de la Savoie and de la Haute Savoie share the same web portal.

Places to Stay: There is no youth hostel in town, but there a few hotels near the train station. Short-term housing might be available at the university during the summer vacation.