On conducting an excursion for employees of the Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Belarus in the Belarusian State Archive of Film and Photo Documents

On October 27, 2022, the Belarusian State Archive of Film and Photo Documents hosted an excursion for employees of the Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Belarus, planned as part of the events dedicated to the Year of Historical Memory and the Centenary of Archival Service. The director of the archive A.N. Gonchar introduced the guests to the composition of documents stored in the funds, as well as to the peculiarities of searching with the help of a scientific reference apparatus. In addition, the specifics of technological processes aimed at preserving the unique audiovisual heritage were covered in detail: restoration and preventive measures, digitization of all types of documents, features of technical control over the condition of document carriers. Also, the focus of attention was focused on the special storage conditions in storage facilities.

Visitors were given a unique opportunity to get acquainted with the original photo albums of N.A. Kuchevsky (1913 – 1971) and G.A. Lukovnikov (1860s – 1950s), as well as collections of photographic documents dedicated to the agricultural exhibition in Gomel (1954) and the history of the Minsk Tractor Plant. Also, the participants of the tour were able to see rare records, including the original recording of the USSR anthem, carriers of photographic documents. The guests were treated to the sounds of Russian romances, which are stored on graphite plates. The highlight of the tour is the demonstration of film documents in the cinema hall of the archive. The guests were shown the films «Retribution» (1962), which tells about the open trial in the city of Baranovichi over collaborators, and «Socialist Belarus» (1960) about the achievements of the country in the post-war period.

The daily and difficult work of the archive workers to preserve and enhance the audiovisual heritage of the country made an indelible impression on the participants of the excursion. The words of gratitude of the guests became an award for the staff of the BGAKFFD. And the guests themselves received unexpected tasty and useful gifts – apples from the garden of the archive.

1. Excursion participants get acquainted with the work of the technical control department (October 27, 2022, BGAKFFD)

2. The moment of the excursion. In the laboratory of document restoration (October 27, 2022, BGAKFFD)

3. The moment of the excursion. In the Film Repository (October 27, 2022, BGAKFFD)

4. Group photo of the excursion participants (October 27, 2022, BGAKFFD)