Archives of the Department of La Reunion
AIMS
The Archives of the Department of La Reunion collect, conserve, classify and interpret the archives produced in La Reunion. Created in 1946, the archives are structured by the French law of July 15th 2009 which defines Reunion archives as "the entire collection of documents, whatever their time period, form or material, produced or received by any physical or moral person and by any service or organization, public or private, in any activity". Whether written, iconographic, oral, or on film, the Archives of the Department of La Reunion are continually growing.
Archival accessions are regularly made from public organisations and government offices in La Réunion. The Archives also seek to accession private collections in the form of donations, loans legacies or purchases to enhance the existing collections.
COLLECTIONS
The collections of the Archives of the Department of La Reunion conform to French archival rules. Nevertheless, the collection and periodization also takes into account the specific administrative organization of the island of the last three and a half centuries
Older Series (1667-1815)
Divided into three series :
- C° : Period of the French East India Company (1667-1767)
- PR : Royal Period (1767-1790)
- L : Administrations of the Revolution (1790-1815)
The Old Series collections in the Reunion Archives come from the administrations of the French East India Company (1665-1767), the direct management of the royal administration (1767-1790), the administrations of the Revolution and the Empire (1790-1810), and the five years when the British occupied La Reunion (1810-1815). These collections concern the general administration of the island, landholding, commerce and slavery.
Modern Series (1816-1947)
- K : Laws, rulings, decrees (1789-1947)
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- Acts of the Central French administration (1789-1947)
- Acts of the administration of La Reunion (1815-1947)
- Minutes and files of government councils (1815-1947)
- M : General administration and economy of the colony
- N : Administration and accountants of the colony
- O : Local Administration and accounts
- P : Colony finances
- Q : Estates, land registration, property registration
- R : Military affairs and French police force
- S : Public works
- T : State education
- U : Justice
- V : Religions
- X : Welfare and social services
- Y : Penal institutions in the colony
Contemporary Archives (since 1947)
W : All state archives after 1947
Additional Collections
- 3 E : Notarial deeds and archives (17th-19th centuries)
- 4 E : Parish and civil state registers before 1849
- E deposit : Local Council archives
- Fi : Image collections
- J : Documents accessioned in diverse ways such as gifts, loans or purchases
- Mi : Microfilms
- NUM : Digital reproductions
- AV : Sound and audio-visual archives accessioned in diverse ways
Library, newspapers and periodicals
- Bib: Printed Monographs
- PB: Small pamphlets
- GB: Small booklets
- GF: Large booklets
This collection of approximately 8500 pamphlets and booklets mostly pertains to La Reunion, Mauritius, the Eastern Coast of Africa and India
Periodicals
PER : Local press, trade newspapers, directories, local government and parish publications and the administrative gazette (in which all laws, decrees and ministerial decisions are published).
NEW READERS
Access to the Reading Room
Anyone may consult holdings at the Departmental Archives of La Reunion. Entry is free of charge.
A reading room is available for anyone wishing to conduct research or consult documents.
However, French law regulates access to archive documents. Information on access conditions,
communication and consultation of documents is displayed in the entry hall.
Data Communication
Some documents cannot be consulted until a specific time period has passed.
Consultation of private archives is subject to the particular conditions of donors or lenders.
As a rule, most public archives over 30 years old can be freely consulted. However some archives have specific legal constraints.
- 50 years after death or 25 years after birth for documents including personal medical information
- 50 years for personnel files
- 75 years for documents relating to legal proceedings, civil registers (except death notices which are immediately available to the general public), and INSEE investigations
- 50 years for files concerning private life or the security of the state
Dispensations may be granted with the agreement of the Managers of the French Archive services.
CULTURAL EVENTS
Exhibition Policy
The Archives of the Department of La Reunion has an exhibition gallery, a seminar room for up to 30 people and an 80-seat auditorium. The educational department serves the general public and school pupils through cultural events, visits and exhibitions
Touring Exhibitions
Touring exhibitions are available to schools and public sector organisations in La Reunion. Exhibition loans are free of charge for a maximum of one month although the borrower is liable for transport and assembly. Three touring exhibitions are available.
« Colonial Photography in the Indian Ocean, 1880-1910 »
Departmental Archives of La Reunion, 2003
« From barter … to the Euro , 350 years of economic history in La Reunion »
Artis Facta, 2002
« Bourbon, the Archives of Slavery 1665 – 1848 »
Departmental Archives of La Reunion, 1998
ADDRESSE
Archives d
épartementales de La Réunion
4 rue Marcel Pagnol
Champ-Fleuri
97490 Sainte-Clotilde
CONTACTS
T : 02 62 94 04 14
F : 02 62 94 04 21
www.cg974.fr
OPENING HOURS
Open from Monday to Friday from 8 am to 4 pm. No annual closing, although closed on public holidays and the local holiday of 20th December
ACCESS FREE OF CHARGE
GUIDED TOURS
Please book in advance with the Educational Service..