United Nations (Other)
This section of the guide covers United Nations organizations, which do not have
archives in either New York or Geneva.
It should be noted that some organizations do not keep archives or have simply proven
incommunicado. In such cases, it is still worth contacting the switchboards of
organizations in question, just in case the situation has changed.
Table of Contents
UNESCO
IMF
World Bank Group
Bank for International Settlements
FAO
IAEA
UN-HABITAT
UNIDO
ICJ/PCIJ/Nuremberg Trials
ICAO
1
2
3
4
4
5
6
7
7
8
UNESCO
http://www.unesco.org/archives/new2010/index.html
Paris, France
UNESCO/SIO
Guide: http://www.unesco.org/archives/sio/Eng/presentation.php?idOrg=1031
Address:
UNESCO Archives
7, Place de Fontenoy
75352 Paris 07 SP
France
Phone:
(00) 33 1 45 68 19 49/55
Fax:
(00) 33 1 45 68 56 17
Email:
archives@unesco.org
Hours:
Closed:
Transport:
Monday – Friday, 9.30am – 1pm, 2pm – 5pm
Holidays
Metros 6 (Cambronne), 8 (Ecole Militaire), 10 (Segur); Buses 28, 87
The UNESCO Archive is held at UNESCO in Paris. A registration form must be sent by
email, and an appointment made for a first visit to the archives: photo ID must be
brought for entrance via the main UNESCO lobby.
Many files are constantly being made available online via UNESCO’s digitization
project. The physical archives stretch over 10,000 metres, and include not only the
records of UNESCO, but the International Institute for Intellectual Cooperation, and
UNESCO’s formal predecessors. It also holds nearly 4,000 films, 200,000
photographs, and 30,000 radio tapes. Field records are ordinarily kept at the field
office in question, but the UNESCO archive holds the records of the UNESCO
Research Center on Social and Economic Development in Southern Asia; the
UNESCO Regional Office for Latin America and the Caribbean; the Middle East
Science Co-operation Office; the UNESCO School Building Institutes; the
International Institute of Educational Planning; the UNESCO Liaison Office with the
UN Economic Commission in Africa; the Washington and Venice Offices; and many
more.
The UNESCO History Project was founded in 2004: a list of research already
completed is hosted at UNESDOC.
Collection
description:
http://www.unesco.org/archives/new2010/en/research_strategy.
html
AtoM (archival descriptions): http://atom.archives.unesco.org/
Finding aid (clickable
.pdf): http://www.unesco.org/archives/files/finding_aids.pdf
International Monetary Fund (IMF)
http://www.imf.org/external/np/arc/eng/archive.htm
Washington, D.C., USA
UNESCO/SIO Guide:
http://www.unesco.org/archives/sio/Eng/presentation.php?idOrg=1020
Address:
International Monetary Fund
Archives and Records Management
Room CN-200
700 19th St., NW
Washington, D.C.
USA 20431
Phone:
(00) 1-202-623-4913
Fax:
(00) 1-202-623-7175
Email:
archives@imf.org
Hours:
Closed:
Monday – Friday, 9.30am – 12.30pm, 1.30pm – 4.45pm
IMF Holidays
The IMF Archive is held at IMF Headquarters in Washington, D.C.. The archives hold
a wide range of materials, including institutional and audiovisual files. There is also
a collection on the Bretton Woods conference of 1944, mostly composed of
American views.
At least 10 days in advance of a visit, which must be scheduled in consultation with
the IMF, researchers must contact the archive in English only, giving details of the
research subject and the files to be consulted. Researchers must present a valid
photo ID.
Photocopying is not possible in the archive, and visitors are strongly advised to
bring a digital camera (a stand is provided to aid this). Visitors without a camera can
use the archives’ own, but must bring their own AA batteries (4). Digitized
documents can be found be downloading the appropriate finding aid and, if
available, clicking the link.
IMF Archives Catalog:
http://www.imf.org/external/adlib_IS4/default.aspx
IMF Archives FAQ:
http://www.imf.org/external/np/arc/eng/searchfaq.htm
World Bank Group
http://go.worldbank.org/GGMLF575S0
Washington, D.C., USA
UNESCO/SIO Guide:
http://www.unesco.org/archives/sio/Eng/presentation.php?idOrg=1040
Address:
Phone:
Fax:
The World Bank Group
Archives
1818 H Street, NW
Washington, D.C.
USA 20433
(00) 1-202-473-2841
(00) 1-202-477-1499
Hours:
Monday – Friday, 10am – 4.30pm (by appointment only)
The World Bank Archive is held at the headquarters of the World Bank in Washington,
D.C.. Files extend to over 193,000 linear feet, including lending project files, country
files, sector and policy studies, oral histories, and audiovisual materials.
Request access to holdings:
http://go.worldbank.org/447LASKWQ0
Finding aids (A-Z):
http://go.worldbank.org/7WIP106QV0
Online files:
http://go.worldbank.org/PUV1RAE540
Digitised records of John J. McCloy:
Records of President John J. McCloy
Digitised records of Robert S. McNamara:
Records of President Robert S. McNamara
Bank for International Settlements (BIS)
http://www.bis.org/about/archive.htm
Basel, Switzerland
Address: Applications:
BIS Archive
Bank for International Settlements
CH-4002 Basel
Switzerland
Reading room:
BIS Tower
Centralbahnplatz 2
CH-4051 Basel
Switzerland
Phone: (00) 41 61 280 8061; (00) 41 61 280 8281
Fax:
(00) 41 61 280 9100; (00) 41 61 280 8100
Email: archive@bis.org
Hours: Monday – Friday, 9am – 12.30pm, 2pm – 5.30pm (by appointment only)
The archives of the Bank for International Settlements, set up in 1930, are held in
Basel and operate under a thirty-year rule. Only two researchers are allowed access to the
files at any given time, and then solely if they are working on the same project. For
access, potential researchers should apply to the mailing address given, with the names,
addresses, and telephone numbers of two referees, one of whom (if appropriate) should
be a thesis supervisor. Valid photo ID will then be required on arrival, if access is
granted.
Access:
http://www.bis.org/about/usingarchive.htm
Finding aid:
http://www.bis.org/about/arch_guide.pdf
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)
http://www.fao.org/library/library-home/en/
Rome, Italy
UNESCO/SIO Guide:
http://www.unesco.org/archives/sio/Eng/presentation.php?idOrg=1011
Address: The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
Archives
CSAI D-123
Viale delle Terme di Caracalla
SNC 001153 Roma
Italy
Phone:
(00) 39 06 5705 2832, (00) 39 06 5705 2289
Fax:
(00) 39 06 5705 4057
Email:
archives@fao.org
Hours:
Monday – Friday, 9am – 4pm
Closed:
Holidays
The FAO Archive is currently closed for registry restructuring.
The FAO Archives are located in FAO Headquarters, and have been maintained by the
Records and Archives Unit since 1957. It possesses around 3,800 linear metres of files,
25,000 microfilms, and audio-visual material. The archive has no dedicated website, so it
is best to use the UNESCO/SIO page for further information and a list of fonds, or to
contact the archive directly.
Upon request, the archive can provide finding aids relating to the major fonds: either for a
specific Division of the FAO, or for subjects covering 1945-1964. Researchers who
contact the archive in advance are able to access most files, given the demonstration of a
legitimate interest, and the provision of appropriate professional credentials and two
letters of introduction from their institution. Files are available 15 years after they have
been closed, where special restrictions do not apply.
International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)
http://www.iaea.org/About/history.html
Vienna, Austria
UNESCO/SIO Guide:
http://www.unesco.org/archives/sio/Eng/presentation.php?idOrg=1013
Address:
Phone:
Email:
Mr. Leopold Kammerhofer
International Atomic Energy Agency
MTGS/Archives and Records Management Section
Archives Unit
P.O. Box 100
A–1400 Vienna
Austria
(00) 43 1 2600 21191; (00) 43 1 2600 23030
archives@iaea.org
Hours:
Monday – Friday, 8.30am – 5.30pm
The archives of the International Atomic Energy Agency hold files dating back to the
agency’s founding in 1957. It also holds sound recordings from 1946 onwards (from the
UN Atomic Energy Commission), and films from 1957. The files cover all of the IAEA’s
activities.
There is, as of yet, no website for the archives, though the UNESCO/SIO page is soon to
be updated. Researchers may have access to the IAEA files under a forty-year rule.
Access is by appointment only at the archive in Vienna: researchers should contact the
archives directly for further information. Finding aids and databases are available onsite.
Some information is online, and unpublished documents may be available soon.
Published
documents: http://www.iaea.org/About/Policy/GC/GC01/Documents/index.html
Historical
photos: http://www.flickr.com/photos/iaea_imagebank/collections/7215762644787011
0/
UN–HABITAT
http://www.unhabitat.org/categories.asp?catid=1
Nairobi, Kenya
Address:
Information Management Unit
Information Services Section
United Nations Settlement Programme
UN–HABITAT
PO Box 30030-00100
Nairobi, Kenya
Phone: Operator:
(00) 254 20 7621234
Information Services: (00) 254 20 7623120
Fax:
Information Services: (00) 254 20 7623477
Email:
hellen.nyabera@unhabitat.org
UN-HABITAT is the UN agency responsible for human settlement. It is mandated by the
General Assembly to promote socially and environmentally sustainable urban
settlements, with the ultimate goal of providing adequate shelter for all.
The current UN-HABITAT Archives and Records Management policy was approved in
2007, and the organization is still in the process of instigating an archive. Many of the
records have been appraised, but no archive is yet described, and there is as of yet no
finding aid.
However, scholars interested in working on UN-HABITAT can contact the organization,
as paper archives are stored centrally, and information is provided to individuals on
request as long as the records have reached their public viewing date.
United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO)
http://www.unido.org/index.php?id=7845
Vienna, Austria
Address:
Phone:
Fax:
Email:
Vienna International Center
Wagramerstrasse 5
P.O. Box 300
A–1400 Vienna
Austria
(00) 43 1 260260 (switchboard)
(00) 43 1 2692669
unido@unido.org
The archives of UNIDO are held at the organization’s Vienna headquarters. There is
almost no access to scholars, mainly for technical cooperation projects, and some
financial and procurement documents.
There are no specific contact details with which researchers might contact the archives.
Individual requests can be received through the main UNIDO email address. A separate
request would likely also have to be sent to General Support Services for prior approval.
However, researchers should also check the new feature on the UNIDO website called
‘Industrial Development Abstracts’. This contains many unpublished documents, and
may be of some assistance.
International Court of Justice (ICJ)
Permanent Court of International Justice (PCIJ)
Archives of the Nuremberg International Military Tribunal
http://www.icj-cij.org/registry/index.php?p1=2&p2=4&p3=0
The Hague, The Netherlands
UNESCO/SIO Guide:
http://www.unesco.org/archives/sio/Eng/presentation.php?idOrg=1016
Address:
The Registrar
International Court of Justice
Peace Palace
Carnegieplein 2
2517 KJ The Hague
The Netherlands
Phone:
(00) 31 70 302 23 23
Fax:
(00) 31 70 364 99 28
Contact form:
http://www.icj-cij.org/homepage/mail.php
The Library and Archives of the International Court of Justice are closed to the public,
and access from ‘outsiders’ is absolutely forbidden.
The Archives of the International Military Tribunal of Nuremberg consist of film
footage, written documents, recordings of the hearings, and so on. These archives are
open to the public: a request (in English or French) should be addressed to the Registrar
of the Court.
The Archives of the Permanent Court of International Justice, the forerunner of the
ICJ which operated between 1922 and 1946, are all available for download online at
http://www.icj-cij.org/pcij/index.php?p1=9.
International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO)
http://www.icao.int/icao/en/adb/wla/libinfo.htm
Montreal, Quebec, Canada
UNESCO/SIO Guide:
http://www.unesco.org/archives/sio/Eng/presentation.php?idOrg=1015
Address:
Phone:
Fax:
Email:
International Civil Aviation Organization
999 University Street
H3C 5H7 Montreal, Quebec
Canada
(00) 1 514 954 8219 (switchboard)
(00) 1 514 954 6077
icaohq@icao.int; jbello@icao.int (Registry and Archives Unit)
Hours:
Monday – Friday, 9am – 5pm
The archives of the International Civil Aviation Organization, as well as the
Provisional International Civil Aviation Organization, are held at ICAO headquarters.
They include all ICAO publications, as well as unpublished documentation, and a large
collection of photographs, maps, and charts.
Potential researchers are advised to contact the ICAO direct, in advance of any visit: all
requests for access and help with scholarship are dealt with on an ad hoc basis.