Science archives: a literature review and international projects

Abstract

The connection between 'archives' and 'science' is not immediately apparent, but scientists experience this relationship in a particular way. However, this link materializes in ‘science archives’, which began gaining importance as scientific activity took on a more prominent role in society, particularly over the last four decades. This research aims to establish the context between 'archives' and 'science', which gave rise to ‘science archives’, define this type of archive, understand what kind of records they preserve, and, finally, present some of the projects and initiatives surrounding this type of collection. To achieve this, a narrative literature review was conducted, developing qualitative research based on documentary investigation. The results reveal three main types of archives: archives of scientific institutions (laboratories and academies), personal archives of scientists (not considered here), and archives of science management institutions.