Teaching Document Appraisal

An Overview of Archival Studies Programmes in Brazil

Abstract

The trajectory of archival practices in Brazil began with the creation of the National Archives in 1838, then known as the Public Archives of the Empire. However, formal archival education was only implemented in 1977, with the institutionalization of the first undergraduate course through Decree No. 79.239, following the transfer of the National Archives’ Permanent Archival Course to the then Federation of Isolated Federal Schools of the State of Rio de Janeiro, now the Federal University of the State of Rio de Janeiro. Currently, Brazil offers 18 undergraduate programs in Archival Science, 16 of which are provided by public universities in person, and two by private universities through distance learning (EaD). These programs are distributed across all regions of the country, with the South and Southeast standing out for offering courses in every state. The teaching of records appraisal in undergraduate courses is relatively recent. It was first included as a dedicated subject in 1994 at the Federal University of Santa Maria. Prior to that, the topic was addressed transversally within subjects related to records management. Given the complexity and centrality of the topic in archival practice, it has been gaining increasing attention in both academic and professional forums, nationally and internationally. In this context, the research aims to investigate the central question: how is the teaching of records appraisal structured in undergraduate archival science programs in Brazil? From this main question, secondary questions arise: how is appraisal education reflected in the curricula? And what are the impacts of the presence or absence of this subject in the courses? The general objective of the research is to analyze how this function is addressed in the curricula and syllabi of undergraduate archival science courses in the country. To this end, three specific objectives were defined: (1) to present the conceptual, theoretical, and methodological foundations that guide the records appraisal function; (2) to examine the institutionalization process of Archival Science in Brazil, focusing on the creation of undergraduate programs; and (3) to identify, systematize, and analyze the curricula and educational profiles of appraisal teaching in existing courses. The analyses indicate that, despite common content in archival programs, there is considerable diversity in pedagogical approaches, which compromises the uniform training of professionals. The uneven emphasis between theory and technique hinders the development of a critical and adaptable professional profile. It is necessary to incorporate innovative methodologies, update bibliographies, and include topics such as digital records. A national articulation among programs is proposed, respecting specificities but ensuring common guidelines, to train archivists prepared for contemporary challenges, committed to social memory and citizenship.