Archives départementales des Alpes-de-Haute-Provence

The Departmental Archives were created by the law of 5 Brumaire An V (26 October 1796), which ordered the"reunification in the chief towns of the departments of all titles and papers acquired by the Republi". They were initially made up of the archives of the Ancien Régime administrations abolished during the Revolution, those of the ecclesiastical establishments and the families of emigrants. Since then, documents from the revolutionary period, then the papers of all the public administrations based in the department, as well as donations, purchases and deposits of documents of private origin, have enriched the department's archival heritage. The Archives of the Basses-Alpes (the department's first name) were initially housed modestly in the attic of the prefecture (the former Ursuline convent). The first construction of an archive building was decided upon in the"Soleille-Boeu" district in the departmental garden adjacent to the court of Digne. The Archives remained there until 1996, when they moved into the present building.  

Public archives that can be freely communicated may be reproduced. Readers are authorised to take photographs without flash in the reading room, provided that this activity does not disturb the operation of the reading room and that the reproduction does not damage the document or the filing. The Departmental Archives may make photocopies of unbound documents in sizes up to A3, if their physical condition permits and within the limits of the department's resources. Reproductions are subject to a fee set by a departmental order. This photocopying service is a facility granted to readers and not a right. Documents requested to be reproduced must not be taken from the bundles, but identified by bookmarks provided by the staff. Documents whose consultation has been granted by derogation from the legal deadlines for free communication may be reproduced if permission has been given. For communicable public documents that have already been digitised, the Departmental Archives may transmit digital copies by e-mail or via a platform. In this case, an estimate for making the copies available can be drawn up on request. 

Access to the reading room of the Alpes-de-Haute-Provence Departmental Archives is free of charge but requires prior registration with the receptionist (presentation of an identity document with photograph). Consultation of the library's works in the reading room is subject to a request via a form, in the same way as for archive documents. You can prepare for your visit to the Departmental Archives by downloading the document request form and filling in the reference numbers you wish to consult in advance. The completed form should be placed on the reading room's loan bank to be registered by the archives' staff on the day of your visit. The first collection (distribution of documents) takes place at 9.15 a.m. and the last collection at 4.15 p.m. Computers are available for consulting digitised archives and databases. The staff is available to guide and direct readers in their research.